Top Sonoma pinot recommendations

WINE TALK
1

I am really in love with Sonoma pinots. I am discovering new ones all the time, but am intrigued with some of the ones that are consistently listed on here as top 15 wineries. Such as Peay, Kutch, Rivers-Marie, Occidental, Raen, Merry Edwards, Failla, Littorai, Cobb, Solstice, Benovia, Ceritas, Chev, Radio-Coteau, etc.

I am not interested in the top end wines, with silly pricing such as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Verite, Aubert, etc.

I know and love Boheme (very under rated) Paul Matthews, Siduri, Macrostie, Flowers, Walter Hansel, Sojourn, Walt, Kistler, Hirsch, Williams-Selyem, Kosta Browne, Cirq, Freeman, Patz & Hall, Arista, Domaine Della, Dutton, Three Sticks, and some others.

Any recommendations, comments, experiences, or tasting notes, are appreciated.

2

A few different options. Dehlinger is superb and the prices have remained very reasonable. Dumol has gotten a bit more expensive, but the wines are consistently superb in a somewhat bigger style. James McPhail does a great job at Tongue Dancer (and on the Sangiacomo wines). Lando is in the old KB style (much like Domaine Della), while Lombardi (also a KB alumni) is a bit more restrained with some added complexity. Twomey’s new winemaker has elevated quality there so keep an eye on those. And just so I don’t get killed at home, my fiance is making some fine Pinots under her eponymous Moret-Brealynn label.

Adam Lee
Clarice Wine Company

5 Likes
3

Six Cloves
Scherrer

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4

Sandler
Keller Estate
Rhys

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5

I would add Ferren to your list

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6

+1 on Scherrer
Wayfarer
Hanzell

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7

I would add Patz & Hall. They have some stunning single vineyard designate pinots available through the winery that rarely make it out of the marketplace.

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8

Walter Hansel

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9

If I were you, I would consider looking at auction sites like Winebid. At the moment, they have 458 Sonoma Pinots listed. You can find older vintages for many of the names you listed, and some of the prices are pretty close to current vintage retail. (But don’t forget to add about 30% to your winning bid, to account for the vig, tax, and shipping.)

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10

When did Rhys become Sonoma?

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11

Nope, I should take that out. Was just top of brain thinking on what I have and liked. I have a few vintages of Rhys Alesia Sonoma Coast. Think they stopped with that though.

12

Lots of great options already listed, and I would also add:
-Anthill Farms - well made, affordable wines from great sites in Sonoma and Anderson Valley
-Castalia Pinot Noir Rochioli Vineyard - The long-time cellarmaster at Rochioli, Terry Bering, makes a couple hundred cases of single vineyard Rochioli Pinot Noir and you can find it in the $65 range. Well worth the tariff and about half the price of the J. Rochioli single vineyard Pinots.
-Lynmar - Given the other RRV producers you’ve mentioned, this should also be a winner for you.

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13

Lynmar!

Great call.

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14

I forgot about that bottling. I still have a mag somewhere.

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15

Three Sticks Gap’s Crown

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17

Some great recommendations. Thanks guys, and yes I do use winebid, but as you know some of those tiny producers never come up.

18

I like Lynmar, but find some of their wines to be real fruit bombs, with little complexity.

19

Thanks alot. Will look out for some of those.

20

Ross Cobb is making some really nice wines under his Cobb label.

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21

Dutton Goldfield Redwood Ridge