J Gabriel-Ryland

9.5

Excellent w/ salmon & mac/cheese in Beverly Hills … soft texture & robust — 5 months ago

Christine Chapin

9.0

Russian River Valley 2018 — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Donum harvest party in Carneros!!

2018Donum Russian river pinot
2019 Donum Carneros three hills pinot
2019 Donum Carneros estate chardonnay
2017 Donum Anderson valley pinot
2016 Donum Carneros blanc sparkling — 5 years ago

with Karin and Brenda

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Drive by this winery all the time-located on Bear Creek Road in the Los Gatos Hills - Pale ruby color. Aromas of cherry, violets and baking spices. Gorgeous flavors of cherry and those baking spices at the finish. — 6 years ago

Tim L

9.2

Almost great just really good full-bodied balanced and refined full flavor Russian River single vineyard vino. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is a $30 retail Chardonnay that just hit K&L this week at $14.99. To quote Ralph their Senior Buyer who buys their Bordeaux wines, “The best screaming deal in richly styled California Chardonnay I've tasted in my 40 years here. When I tasted this here at my desk with our buyer Ryan Woodhouse, I said to myself, wow this is very good, expensive Chardonnay.”

The nose shows big, round richness. Lots of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice, volcanic minerals, good presence of nice chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies.

The palate is, round, rich and phat. It’s beautiful over the palate. Loads of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit with apricots dominating, slight notes of honey, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice with some palate heat, grainy volcanic minerals, good presence of; beautiful, moist, powdery chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies. The acidity is round and voluptuous. The long, rich finish is; elegant, well balanced, hedonistic and persists minutes.

Nice to see a newer release California wine at 13.4% ABV.

Drinks nicely even beyond its full retail price!

A little background on their Winemaker, Dan Fitzgerald. Dan cut his teeth as Brack Mountain’s founding Winemaker. Prior to that, he worked with Winemaker Bob Cabral at Williams Selyem Winery in the Russian River Valley, rounding out his trifecta of Pinot noir and Chardonnay winemaking. Also, had experience at James Halliday’s Coldstream Hills Winery in Australia’s Yarra Valley and Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley.

The Sierra Mar Vineyard was planted by the Pisoni Family and sits adjacent to the famous Gary’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni. The vineyard has been in their family for three generations. “Mountain Sea” translates in Spanish to Sierra Mar. The vineyard sits just over 1000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Photos of, the barrels this vineyard is fermented, WineMaker Dan Fitzgerald and their Sierra Mar Vineyard. — 7 years ago

with James and Christina

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with sweet cherries, raspberries, black plums, light oak, chocolates, spices, coffee and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This Single Vineyard Petit Verdot is rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and spicy, with a nice mouthfeel.

Bold and good by itself or with food.

Petit Verdot grapes were aged for 18 months in all new Russian oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$50. — 10 months ago

Howard Schoenfeld

9.0

If tasted blind I would have assumed it was from the Russian River. Quite fruity. None of this is to say not delicious but doesn’t seem to reflect the terroir. — 4 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

10

One of few wineries that have the grape in California. Breaths the Pacific breeze and is growing on the soil sanctified by Russian Orthodox chapel. — 5 years ago

Mary Christoph

8.9

Great Chardonnay from a local Russian River winery — 6 years ago

Louis Martin

8.9

Gifted to us at Palomar Hotel in Beverly Hills. Decent bottle, pairs well with Manchego cheese and fruit. — 7 years ago

Keith Keltner

8.9

Smooth and thirst quenching — 7 years ago

Tyler Stephens

9.0

Doesn’t suck, higher profile similar of Santa Lucia Highlands / Rita Hills. Much great — 8 years ago

Stuart Pollack

9.0

Leave this open at least one hour before consuming. Good and somewhat elegant Pinot Noir. Solid berry flavor, elegant finish, but a slight aftertaste that mars the bottle. Almost a top-notch bottle similar to an Eola Hills Pinot Noir if not for the aftertaste. At $36 a nice value. — 2 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.3

Really nice. Definitely Sonoma coast with a bit of Russian river influence. Strawberries, baking spices galore, decomposing redwood forest, some cherry and maybe a bit of plum. It’s great but similar to a lot of other Pinots from that area. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Donum customer appreciation party at their Sonoma Carneros estate.

2018 Russian River estate chardonnay
2018 Russian River reserve pinot
2018 Anderson Valley pinot
2018 Three Hills Carneros pinot.
2017 Carneros Estate pinot.
2018 White Barn Carneros pinot.

Amuse bouche to go with the wine at each wine station and a Salumi carving station.....Yum!! What a beautiful 75 degree morning in Sonoma!! — 5 years ago

with Brenda

David L

9.4

16’ Hartford Court Jennifer's Vineyard Chardonnay. Vineyard is located in Sebastopol Hills in Russian river.
As of late. I’ve noticed California Chardonnay’s have changed for the better. Now they have power and finesse. Which I absolutely adore. This is a perfect example of just that.
It’s a balance beam act of pear, slightly more citrusy fruits then I picked up in there other single vineyards. A bit of spice & the right amount of acidity. Very well-made wine. Something I wouldn’t age. Drink them all up by 2022. — 7 years ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.0

A BTG offering at Angèle and what a delight. Pleasant Hill - aka JENKINS RANCH - is a proven Pinot Noir site in the as yet unofficial “Sebastopol Hills” area of Russian River Valley AVA. 2014 with 3-4 years of bottle time is bridging youthful juiciness with a flicker of aged character. Nice work — 7 years ago

Tim L

9.4

Another great Siduri Pinot from Russian River, Clos Pepe Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills 2017! Wine club delivery single vineyard. Big body dark berry supple full flavor with a subtle touch of brightness that enhances palate balance...maybe best yet...has it all... — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2014 vintage. Biodynamically farmed Maboroshi vineyard in Sebastopol Hills, the Southern part of the Russian River Valley AVA. Goldridge soils. Beautiful nose with red berries, griottes, violets, subtle spices and a hint of strawberry jam. Elegant and energetic in the mouth with deliciously pure red fruit, fresh acidity, velvety tannin and good depth. Perfectly integrated oak. Terrific value. — 8 years ago