In This Newsletter:
California Pinot Noir Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Benoit Dehu
Shop the Burgundian Wines from our Esteemed Southern Neighbors!
Stock Up & Save On:
California Pinot Noir
California Pinot Noir Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Benoit Dehu
Shop the Burgundian Wines from our Esteemed Southern Neighbors!
Stock Up & Save On:
California Pinot Noir
We love the Willamette, but what’s not to love about our neighbor to the south? California has been crafting world class Pinot Noir for quite some time. We adore these precious reds for their class and texture. With prestigious names like Racines, Hirsch, and Rhys in stock, you’re certain to fall in love with these magnificent wonders.
New to Cali Pinot? We’re featuring options from prime growing areas, including the AVAs of Sta Rita Hills, Sonoma Coast, Fort Ross-Seaview, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Santa Rita Hills rests within the Central Coast and is mostly planted to our beloved grape. With the cooling influence of the Pacific funneled across the vines by the surrounding hills, the wines offer restraint and elegance with bright acidity.
The Sonoma Coast was created in 1987. Though one of California’s largest, just small portions are planted to vines. The terroir varies widely, but most vineyards line the coast. Within it, one finds Fort Ross-Seaview. Here, vineyards line the rocky cliffs and hillsides above the fog line. The poor, quick-draining soils make the vines struggle, resulting in concentrated flavors without sacrificing freshness and acidity.
Best known for its challenging terrain and Cabernet Sauvignons, the Santa Cruz Mountains is also planted to Pinot Noir. With its high elevations, intense sun, and cooling winds, this region is known for its long growing season. The resulting wines offer “rich varietal character and firm, structured acidity,” per Wine-Searcher.
New to Cali Pinot? We’re featuring options from prime growing areas, including the AVAs of Sta Rita Hills, Sonoma Coast, Fort Ross-Seaview, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Santa Rita Hills rests within the Central Coast and is mostly planted to our beloved grape. With the cooling influence of the Pacific funneled across the vines by the surrounding hills, the wines offer restraint and elegance with bright acidity.
The Sonoma Coast was created in 1987. Though one of California’s largest, just small portions are planted to vines. The terroir varies widely, but most vineyards line the coast. Within it, one finds Fort Ross-Seaview. Here, vineyards line the rocky cliffs and hillsides above the fog line. The poor, quick-draining soils make the vines struggle, resulting in concentrated flavors without sacrificing freshness and acidity.
Best known for its challenging terrain and Cabernet Sauvignons, the Santa Cruz Mountains is also planted to Pinot Noir. With its high elevations, intense sun, and cooling winds, this region is known for its long growing season. The resulting wines offer “rich varietal character and firm, structured acidity,” per Wine-Searcher.
5% off any 4-7 in-stock bottles of California Pinot Noir
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of California Pinot Noir
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, August 29th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of California Pinot Noir
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, August 29th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer twenty-two in-stock California Pinot Noir options on sale now, including:
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Beau Marchais Clos Pepe Vineyard Est (East) Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $85, that’s $80.75 at 5% off and $76.50 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “While there won’t be any releases from Santa Lucia due to smoke, they were able to release their Clos Pepe Pinot Noirs. The 2020 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Est Vineyard saw 25% stems, 48 days on stems, and aging all in new barrels. Lots of mulberry, chocolate covered strawberries, and plum fruits as well as notes of orange blossom and spice emerge from the glass, and it’s a rich, full-bodied, textured beauty that packs one heck of a mid-palate. With ripe tannins and an expansive, supple texture, drink this hedonistic, sexy Pinot Noir on release and over the following 7-8 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cline Cellars Seven Ranchlands Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $19.50, that’s $18.53 at 5% off and $17.55 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Seven Ranchlands is an amazing Pinot Noir, offering an array of red berry characters with depth and richness on the palate making this a superb wine to pair with many cuisines. “
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hirsch Vineyards Block 8 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “At this stage, the 2020 Pinot Noir Block 8 seems to have escaped impact from the season’s devastating heat and wildfires. It has complex aromas of strawberry jam, rhubarb, hibiscus, black tea, mushroom and mossy bark. The medium-bodied palate is silky and refreshing and boasts highly concentrated flavors and a very long, perfumed finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Morlet Family Vineyards En Famille Pinot Noir, Fort Ross-Seaview 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $124, that’s $117.80 at 5% off and $111.60 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 96 points “The En Famille Pinot Noir comes from a vineyard planted in 1990 to Goldridge soils, right next door to the “Coteaux Nobles” vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview. Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2018 Pinot Noir En Famille sashays out of the glass with gorgeous scents of cranberry jelly, pomegranate and raspberry preserves, leading to suggestions of underbrush, dried lavender and orange peel. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with red fruit preserves and earthy layers, supported by very finely grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a refreshing lift. 360 cases were made.”
Racines Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $115, that’s $109.25 at 5% off and $103.50 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “From organic vineyards along the Santa Rosa Road corridor, this Pinot Noir from Racines is a straightforward cooler site Pinot Noir from Sta Rita Hills. Aromas of strawberry fruit leather give way to notes of turned earth and crushed black basalt. The palate is savoury, with underlying dried fruit flavours. Montmorency cherries, garden soil and clove, evolve into notes of savoury herbs and streaks of graphite minerality.”
Racines Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée is a terrific introduction to the range. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, rose petal and a touch of whole cluster savoriness are all beautifully delineated. This is suh a gorgeous and expressive Pinot.”
Racines ‘Sainte Rose’ Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “From organic vineyards along the Santa Rosa Road corridor, this Pinot Noir from Racines is a straightforward cooler site Pinot Noir from Sta Rita Hills. Aromas of strawberry fruit leather give way to notes of turned earth and crushed black basalt. The palate is savoury, with underlying dried fruit flavours. Montmorency cherries, garden soil and clove, evolve into notes of savoury herbs and streaks of graphite minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 1.5L Displayed Price: $279, that’s $265.05 at 5% off and $251.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Matthew Luczy-Wine Advocate 96+ points “As is consistent at this site, the 2018 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard is aromatically slow to open but unstoppable once it starts. After coaxing, the nose combines captivating aromas of cured meat, brown sugar, spice box and truffle. The palate is svelte and generous, coating the palate with a core of polished fruit flavors, silky texture and mouthwatering acidity. The finish features precise, powerful tannins and a refined frame, concluding this beautifully complex wine and urging the taster to start again. While I found this surprisingly accessible at this stage, it will undoubtedly continue to pay dividends to those who avoid the temptation to pull corks.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Rhys Vineyards Mt. Pajaro Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $87, that’s $82.65 at 5% off and $78.30 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Matthew Luczy-Wine Advocate 94 points “Lovely and coniferous on the nose, the 2019 Pinot Noir Mt. Pajaro Vineyard opens with black cherry, blueberry, redwood duff and evergreen aromas. The palate perfectly summarizes the Corralitos region’s medium-bodied, seamless red-fruited profile and lifted saline energy. The elegant finish is already beginning to integrate, showing a solid tannic grip but emphasizing refreshing acidity. The Rhys team is confident that this site will produce Pinot Noir on par with its flagship Horseshoe and Alpine sites with time, and this vintage provides some foreshadowing of that future.”
“Readers who have not tasted these incredibly distinctive Champagnes owe it to themselves to do so.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The eighth generation Champagne winemaker in his family, Benoît Déhu cut his teeth at Bollinger before striking out on his own in 2010. Working with his family holdings in the Marne and barrels made from the forest bordering the property, Déhu meticulously crafts some of the finest grower Champagnes available.
In Stock Now:
Benoit Dehu ‘Initiation’ Brut Nature NV (2020) 750ml $79 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “[Review for 2019-base] The NV Initiation, a blend of 77% Pinot Meunier and 23% Pinot Noir from two parcels in Fossoy, is a fine entry-level offering. Dried flowers, mint, spice and ginger all grace this attractive, mid-weight Champagne. There is a bit of reduction, but it works well in this style. I especially admire the finish here. Bottled with no dosage.”
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’ Brut NV (2015) 750ml $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV (2015) Extra Brut Cuvée La Rue des Noyers speaks with real authority, and yet the 2015 is one of the more delicate versions of this cuvée so far. Time in the glass allows the wine to blossom nicely. Dried pear, smoke, herbs and dried flowers fill out the wine’s creamy frame effortlessly. Once again, the Rue des Noyers is one of the most distinctive wines in Champagne. Dosage is 1 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2017.”
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’ Brut NV (2016) 1.5L $269 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Sparkling White) The NV (2016) Cuvée La Rue des Noyers, 100% Meunier, is bright, effusive and full of energy. In 2016, the Rue des Noyers is not as overt as it can be, but instead makes its case with energy and verve more than sheer power. I find it especially distinctive and elegant. Exotic dried flowers, ginger, apricot and spice linger. There is so much to like, and also so much to look forward to as the 2016 develops in the cellar. No dosage. Disgorged: May, 2021. (Drink between 2022-2030).”
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’ Brut NV (2019) 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV (2019) Cuvée La Rue des Noyers is a gorgeous, beautifully understated wine. Citrus confit, mint, white pepper and slate are beautifully lifted in this striking, precise Champagne. As always, the Rue des Noyers is an especially savory Meunier. This is not the most obvious or overt Meunier out there, but it is among the most fascinating because of its dynamic energy and overall complexity. Disgorged: March 21, 2024.”
Benoit Dehu Cuvee de L’Orme NV (2017) 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV (2017) Cuvée L’Orme is another impressive Champagne from Benoît Déhu. Aromatic and light on its feet, L’Orme shows the more delicate, nuanced side of Pinot Noir off to great effect. Kirsch, wild flowers, mint, spice and dried flowers are all nicely lifted. L’Orme is classy, understated and impossible to resist. Bright acids and veins of salinity extend the finish effortlessly. No dosage.”
Benoit Dehu Cuvee de L’Orme NV (2019) 750ml $159 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs L’Orme, Dehu’s 100% Pinot Noir, is quite the extrovert in this vintage. A rush of red-toned fruit, spice, crushed flowers, mint and tangerine peel makes a strong opening statement. Bold and effusive, the 2019 is long on personality. Time in the glass brings out the wilder, gamier side of Pinot Noir to round things out. Disgorged: January 25, 2024.”
Benoit Dehu ‘Initiation’ Rosé Brut Nature NV (2021) 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 points “The (2021) Extra Brut Rosé Cuvée Initiation is superb. Here, the addition of 7% still red Pinot fills out the mid-palate and gives the wine some of the textural presence that is missing in the Blanc de Blancs bottling. Chalk, cranberry, mint and white pepper build into the tense, sinewy finish. Disgorged: January 25, 2024.”
The eighth generation Champagne winemaker in his family, Benoît Déhu cut his teeth at Bollinger before striking out on his own in 2010. Working with his family holdings in the Marne and barrels made from the forest bordering the property, Déhu meticulously crafts some of the finest grower Champagnes available.
In Stock Now:
Benoit Dehu ‘Initiation’ Brut Nature NV (2020) 750ml $79 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “[Review for 2019-base] The NV Initiation, a blend of 77% Pinot Meunier and 23% Pinot Noir from two parcels in Fossoy, is a fine entry-level offering. Dried flowers, mint, spice and ginger all grace this attractive, mid-weight Champagne. There is a bit of reduction, but it works well in this style. I especially admire the finish here. Bottled with no dosage.”
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’ Brut NV (2015) 750ml $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV (2015) Extra Brut Cuvée La Rue des Noyers speaks with real authority, and yet the 2015 is one of the more delicate versions of this cuvée so far. Time in the glass allows the wine to blossom nicely. Dried pear, smoke, herbs and dried flowers fill out the wine’s creamy frame effortlessly. Once again, the Rue des Noyers is one of the most distinctive wines in Champagne. Dosage is 1 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2017.”
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’ Brut NV (2016) 1.5L $269 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Sparkling White) The NV (2016) Cuvée La Rue des Noyers, 100% Meunier, is bright, effusive and full of energy. In 2016, the Rue des Noyers is not as overt as it can be, but instead makes its case with energy and verve more than sheer power. I find it especially distinctive and elegant. Exotic dried flowers, ginger, apricot and spice linger. There is so much to like, and also so much to look forward to as the 2016 develops in the cellar. No dosage. Disgorged: May, 2021. (Drink between 2022-2030).”
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’ Brut NV (2019) 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV (2019) Cuvée La Rue des Noyers is a gorgeous, beautifully understated wine. Citrus confit, mint, white pepper and slate are beautifully lifted in this striking, precise Champagne. As always, the Rue des Noyers is an especially savory Meunier. This is not the most obvious or overt Meunier out there, but it is among the most fascinating because of its dynamic energy and overall complexity. Disgorged: March 21, 2024.”
Benoit Dehu Cuvee de L’Orme NV (2017) 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV (2017) Cuvée L’Orme is another impressive Champagne from Benoît Déhu. Aromatic and light on its feet, L’Orme shows the more delicate, nuanced side of Pinot Noir off to great effect. Kirsch, wild flowers, mint, spice and dried flowers are all nicely lifted. L’Orme is classy, understated and impossible to resist. Bright acids and veins of salinity extend the finish effortlessly. No dosage.”
Benoit Dehu Cuvee de L’Orme NV (2019) 750ml $159 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs L’Orme, Dehu’s 100% Pinot Noir, is quite the extrovert in this vintage. A rush of red-toned fruit, spice, crushed flowers, mint and tangerine peel makes a strong opening statement. Bold and effusive, the 2019 is long on personality. Time in the glass brings out the wilder, gamier side of Pinot Noir to round things out. Disgorged: January 25, 2024.”
Benoit Dehu ‘Initiation’ Rosé Brut Nature NV (2021) 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 points “The (2021) Extra Brut Rosé Cuvée Initiation is superb. Here, the addition of 7% still red Pinot fills out the mid-palate and gives the wine some of the textural presence that is missing in the Blanc de Blancs bottling. Chalk, cranberry, mint and white pepper build into the tense, sinewy finish. Disgorged: January 25, 2024.”
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Cayuse
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Cayuse
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Cayuse
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Cayuse sale ends Friday, August 28th at 9 am Pacific.