I like to do some of my US Pinot Noir buying in the 375ml format, so that my wife can open a half-bottle if I’m out of town or if I’d opened something fruitier/heavier that isn’t to her tastes. Our main go-to 375ml PN has become JKCarriere’s Vespidae. However, that winery recently announced it won’t be making a 2020 Vespidae in light of the fires.
Does anybody have other ideas about US wineries that bottle high-quality pinot in 375ml format? I’ve had some ROAR 375ml PN in the past but I’m not sure if they’re still making them. And I suppose I could buy Rhys PN futures in 375ml, but I’d rather buy them in 500ml
Patricia Green Cellars has done so in the past, though I think they’ve said they won’t be doing too much more of that (just can’t justify the cost in light of sales)
We stopped. New bottling line and we did not purchase the necessary guides to handle half bottles. Market is weak for that format and costs are sky high. Not a good combination.
Belle Pente was having a case special on the 375’s of the 2014 Belle Pente Reserve while we were visiting in August last summer. I bought a case at the winery. It was added to the website a few months ago and it’s still there. I haven’t opened a 375, but I’m sure that it’s delicious. Tell Brian that I sent you. Be well!
Cristom has a wide range of pinots in a 375 ml format. They were also running great deals on them out of their tasting room last summer. It maybe be work an inquiry.
ordered one today! fingers crossed it shows up. btw, there is a interesting (long) podcast with Hirsch on IDTT for anyone interested in his life/vineyards.
separately, if its structurally difficult/costly for small pinot growers/vintners to bottle up halves, and a consumer really likes drinking a smaller amount of wine, consider the Repour corks or investing in a Coravin system. one will also be able to taste more wines that the smaller spectrum in that format, and over the long run, it likely costs less since my general feel is that halves cost 60% of full bottles.
