CONTEST CLOSED: Congrats to CHIEF GRAPE!
Just tell me your favorite Sonoma County pinot noir producer (the smaller the better) and you'll be entered.
6th Annual Pinot on the River Pinot Grand Tasting event on Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 12 - 4 p.m. at Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg.
Hundreds descend on the Russian River to swirl, spit and profess their undying love notoriously difficult grape. One of most-notable pinot gatherings of the year, more than 100 artisan producers attend, including buzz-worthy names like Black Kite, Sea Smoke Cellars (Santa Rita Hills), Etude, Littorai, MacPhail, Merry Edwards, Les Claypool's Claypool Cellars and dozens of others you've heard spoken only in hushed whispers of awe. See all participants.
Things get rolling on Friday night with a dinner at Roessler Cellars, followed by pinot-focused seminars (Rising Stars of Pinot Noir, Vintage focus for 2008 Pinots and a Discovery Tasting). Sunday's the big event, however, is with the Grand Tasting from noon to 4pm.
Despite the some pretty high falutin' wines, Pinot on the River is far from stuffy. It's a walk-around affair that's shorts and tee-shirt friendly.
Need more proof: Pit master Larry Vito will be on hand with his mobile bbq unit. Cheeseheads can raise a fork to nibbles from Cypress Grove, Bellwether Farms, Achandinha, Marin French Cheese, Redwood Hill, Bohemian Creamery, Cowgirl, Valley Ford Cheese Company and Shamrock Artisan Goat Cheese.
Proceeds from the event help support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma County.
Tickets still available at http://www.pinotfestival.com,
See you there!
Have you ever had the pinots made at little Arista Winery on Westside Road? They are very special! Yum, I want a glass right now!
Moshen Pinot Noir is awsome
Valley of the Moon
KOSTA BROWNE has the best Pinot bar none!!! Hartford and Lynmar are close seconds
My favorite Pinot is Tandem Winery. Easy to pair and yummy!
Flowers!
J Vineyards has superior PINOT!!!
Recently had Lattanzio Pinot Noir....awesome! Fruit, cherry, perfect acid, awesome finish!
Charles Krug
Vision Cellars
MacPhail
Siduri
Merry Edwards
I love many fine Pinots..like..Ahh winery,Arista,De La Montanya and Chasseur.My current favorite is Skewis.
Not so small, but we like McMurray Ranch. Also, Kosta
Brown.
Moondance Cellars formerly of Kenwood now in Sebastopol.
So many Pinots, so little time. Tandem and Williams Selyem and although not so little, BUT oh so yummy...Hartford!
Dehlinger
Pinot
Very silky smooth with incredible fruit
I like pinot from Dutton-Goldfield, especially the McDougall Vineyard Pinot. Quite nice.
Wow, hard to pick a favorite! Kosta Browne gets my vote! However, love Roessler too!
Hanzell great Pinot
Sunce has the best pinot. Year after year they consistently produce outstanding wine. I especially love the Zora's Estate Vineyard Winemaker's reserve.
Alysian - RRV Gary Farrell's new label back to doing what he loves...
Lynmar for Hugh Chappelle's complex yet elegant style of Pinots, from the RRV label all the way up to 5 Sisters!
You want small and only 40 case left: "Andrea LaRue" 06, Sonoma Coast. Hard to find., Notes: Berries, balanced, low on the tannins. Lovely. Bargain!
Lynmar creats a number of excellent Pinots!
Rochioli has one of the best pinot's I have tasted. I went there for their sauvignon Blac and wound up discovering their yummy Pinot. If you have a chance to go out to that winery in the fall it is a beautiful drive and a relaxing place to stop.
Scherrer Sonoma Coast Pinot... or Kosta Browne, however, it is mostly UNACCESSIBLE. Arrgghh.
What is always accessible and kinder to the wallet? Balletto makes pretty good Pinot. Can I have the tickets now? :)
Claypool Cellers...... unbelievable
2006 Sheldon 'Kendric' Pinot Noir
180 Cases hand picked, foot stomped and basket pressed.
Unfiltered and Unfined because sterile wines have no soul.
This wine makes me giggle. Its that good. Rich, round and seductive with gorgeous structure and vineyard born spice.
Woodenhead, unfined, unfiltered... it's oooh so yummy.
Papapietro Perry with nine fabulous Pinots
Alysian - the new Gary Farrell wines
Chandon Russian River Valley Pinot Noir because it is a wonderful wine and Chandon is my favorite winery to visit...my mother took my visiting grandmother to Domaine Chandon when my mother was two weeks past her due date while pregnant with me and she went into labor there! It always feels like going "home!"
Williams Selyem on Westside Road in Healdsburg offers Pinots from 12 different vineyards mostly from the Russian River Valley. Yummy!
2007 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir
2007 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir...mmmm
2007 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir.....mmmmmmm
Favorite pinot ever- 2004 or 2005 Tandem, Sangiacomo. I also enjoy Chasseur and Williams Selyem.
I second the sentiment on Kokomo - the Peters Pinot is awesome. I also enjoy the variety of Pinot at Eric Ross (saralees vineyard is great). and Diane and Dennis in the tasting room are so nice too!
Tasted about 20 producers at Harvest Fair a few weeks ago, best was by D'Argenzio, I believe it was a 2004.
Baker Lane, in Sebastopol.
Papapietry Perry for the sheer magnitude of their Pinot book.
For you bargain hunters my favorite $10.00 Pinot
is always Castle Rock and it rocks for this price.
the Monterey and Mendocino are the picks.
Bingo! the biggest bang is Brogan.
Too bad they don't make the Summa anymore, so grapey its the best ever full flavor of that big grape tasste. Ya Daddyo!
It's gotta be the Eddie Vedder special-
from Siduri
2004 Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir
loads opulent fruit! Earthy, so smooth and oooh so yummy!
Nikolai Stez at Woodenhead makes some amazing Pinot Noir. 2006 Troika is my favorite, then the 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot noir
commercially: Kosta Brown or Littori get my vote. Actually, my homemade Pinot from Petersen Vineyards is right up there!
Kokomo Winery
I love the Flowers, Andreen- Gayle vinyard,
Superb!
Such layers of dark fruit and so velvety!
Roessler Cellars on the Sonoma Square has at least 8 great pinots to taste. The 2007 La Brisa Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was delicious and affordable!
It's gotta be Dunah! mmmmm.. scrumptious.
Freestone Vineyards!
My favorite small SoCo pinot noir producer is Kanzler
Merry Edwards is super yummy!
Dehlinger
2007 Chasseur Freestone Station pinot noir
The best? 2007 Kanzler
Williams Selyem Precious Mountain Vineyards (Caz Hills dry farmed )
Flowers 2006, Sonoma coast pinor noir
Favorite: Dutton-Goldfield's McDougall Vineyard Pinot Noir
I've been blown away by Claypool Cellars. Really outstanding for a rock star.
Papapietro Perry, fun and delicious
Heartsong - good luck finding it...
2007 Paul Hobbs
Moshin Vineyards
2007 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir.....mmmmmm
My vote is for Anthill Farms in Healdsburg.
Also Radio-Coteau
Hanna is so well known for its Sauv Blanc but it has some really tasty wines overall, including two great Pinots!
TR Elliott -- Go Ted!
My favorite- Peters Vineyard, Papapietro Perry
Papapietro Perry - without a doubt.
Radio-Coteau
You said the smaller the better. This vineyard is extremely small: Elsbree Vineyard in Windsor, CA. Their Pinot is exceptional. They only sell to their wine club members. Chuck & Diana are great people. Their grapes are bottled by Pappapietro Winery whose wines are great also.
Athair
Leveroni
Benovia
Kosta Browne - no question
either Keefer Ranch or 4 Barrel (it's really hard to choose just one!)
Kosta Browne - no question
either Keefer Ranch or 4 Barrel (it's really hard to choose just one!)
Williams Selyem!
Lynmar for sure!
DuMol - consistently good. And Chardonnay, too.
Williams Selyem!
Matanzas Creek Pinot !
Gotta give the love to J winery. Amazing fine Pinot Noir they make from those awesome Sonoma grapes.
Gary Farell
Kosta Browne! You wonder what all the fuss is about, and then you taste it--no need to wonder after that!
Portalupi Winery makes an elegant Russian River Pinot Noir. That's my choice!
DuMol
DuMol
Hawley
Adler Fels of course but....get there fast they're running out!
Flower's Sea View Ridge for coastal Pinot and Rochioli West Block for Russian River.
Rochioli
J Winery has an incredible Pinot Noir - and their Pinot Gris is also heavenly!!!
Kosta Browne winery
Papapietro Perry
Willowbrook Pinot!!!
Davis Family
Hansel
Papapietro Perry
Manzanita Creek
Merry Edwards
Anthill Farms
Anthill Farms
Anthill Farms
Inman Family
Sea smoke.
Tandem -- Greg La Follette
Favorite Pinot Producer is....
Radio Coteau
Lynmar
My very favorite Pinot producers are Ken and Akiko Freeman of Freeman Winery.
Favorite Pinot: Peay