Joseph Swan Saralee’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
£59.95Review to follow
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United States
Showing 37–48 of 80 results
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Kelley Fox Durant Vineyard Lark Block Chardonnay 2022
£45.95“A bright yellow hue with green highlights, the 2022 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard is expressive in its lacy perfume of jasmine, tarragon, salty earth, and bright green apple. Medium-bodied, it offers beautiful, pristine, ripe fruit, a pithy texture, and a delicate arch to its rounded mouthfeel, with no harshness. It’s refined and graceful, with a floral flourish of lemon blossoms lasting long on the finish. Drink: 2024-2034. 95 points”
Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com (09/23)
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Kelley Fox Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2022
£37.95“The 2022 Pinot Blanc Freedom Hill Vineyard opens with a rich and spicy blend of crushed stone, dried apricots and mint. Soft, silky textures soothe, filling the palate with masses of mineral-tinged orchard fruits and savory spice. It tapers off with a saline character and dramatically long, leaving lingering hints of lemon oil and raw almond. Drinking window: 2024-2025. 93 points
Anyone looking for Oregon Pinot Noir purity and transparent communication of terroir from the soil to the vine to the bottle must explore Kelley Fox Wines. When thinking about a vineyard, Fox looks beyond the soils, the exposures and the vines. She looks to the trees surrounding the vineyard, flora and fauna to create an honest wine, true to its source. In my opinion, the result is one of the most exciting portfolios of wines made in the United States. The vineyard bottling that first drew me in was Fox’s work with the legendary Maresh vineyard. As of 2021, the portfolio consists of Maresh Vineyard Liminal, Golden Crowned Sparrow Blocks and the Star of Bethlehem Flower Block (which unfortunately will not be made after 2021 as Fox lost access to this parcel). Each of these wines uniquely interprets the vineyard yet three different places. Exploring the range is fantastic for the wine geek in all of us. Fox also presented me with several 2022s, a vintage that played right into her hands. The ethereal fruit and perfume style beautifully matches the lifted and remarkably fresh vintage character. For the truly devoted, look for a bone-dry blueberry wine produced in tandem with Jim Anderson of Patricia Green Cellars. There may not be a note for this bottling, but I can tell you that it’s worth chasing down.”
Eric Guido, Vinous (01/24)
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Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Golden-Crowned Sparrow Blocks Pinot Noir 2022
£89.95“The 2022 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard Golden Crowned Sparrow Blocks is darkly alluring with crushed woodland berries complicated by blood orange and pine hints. Silky textures and stimulating acidity soothe, washing tart red fruits across the palate guided by zesty acidity. This finishes wonderfully fresh and long with a staining of red and black fruit and crunchy tannins. Drinking window: 2024-2032. 94 points
Anyone looking for Oregon Pinot Noir purity and transparent communication of terroir from the soil to the vine to the bottle must explore Kelley Fox Wines. When thinking about a vineyard, Fox looks beyond the soils, the exposures and the vines. She looks to the trees surrounding the vineyard, flora and fauna to create an honest wine, true to its source. In my opinion, the result is one of the most exciting portfolios of wines made in the United States. The vineyard bottling that first drew me in was Fox’s work with the legendary Maresh vineyard. As of 2021, the portfolio consists of Maresh Vineyard Liminal, Golden Crowned Sparrow Blocks and the Star of Bethlehem Flower Block (which unfortunately will not be made after 2021 as Fox lost access to this parcel). Each of these wines uniquely interprets the vineyard yet three different places. Exploring the range is fantastic for the wine geek in all of us. Fox also presented me with several 2022s, a vintage that played right into her hands. The ethereal fruit and perfume style beautifully matches the lifted and remarkably fresh vintage character. For the truly devoted, look for a bone-dry blueberry wine produced in tandem with Jim Anderson of Patricia Green Cellars. There may not be a note for this bottling, but I can tell you that it’s worth chasing down.”
Eric Guido, Vinous (01/24)
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Kelley Fox Mirabai Pinot Noir 2023
£42.95“The 2023 Pinot Noir Mirabai mixes vivid crushed blackberry with bouquet garni, nuances of wet slate and rose petals. Juicy and pure in style, it entices the senses with depths of ripe black cherry and a cascade of autumnal spice. Acidity wins the day—long and staining yet incredibly fresh. The finish tapers off with a lovely licorice tinge that calls the taster back to the glass. Drinking window: 2026-2034. 93 points
Kelley Fox’s portfolio has expanded organically, to the delight of fans who have found these wines increasingly hard to source. Two thousand twenty-three marks Fox’s final vintage working with Maresh Pinot Noir, a mainstay of her stable for nearly two decades, but the new wines in the lineup show the same energy and soul she brings to the entire range. The Pinot Noir Carter Vineyard, from a site planted in 1983 on volcanic Jory soils, is especially impressive, with the Weber, Shafer and Stater Pinot Noir bottlings close behind. Fox also champions Pinot Blanc, a variety she believes deserves more respect in the United States.”
Eric Guido, Vinous (07/25)
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Lady of the Sunshine Bassi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024
£49.95“The 2024 Pinot Noir Bassi Vineyard is sourced from two hillside blocks and was fermented with one-third whole clusters. It beams from the glass with a radiantly floral and red-fruited bouquet, followed by a silky palate enlivened by vibrant acidity. The finish continues this high-toned profile, lingering with a bright core of fresh fruit laced with fine-grained tannins and savory undertones. Drink: 2025-2030. 92 points
Mikey and Gina Guigni are key figures in the wine scene of the San Luis Obispo Coast, a role that’s only solidified since acquiring the acclaimed Bassi Vineyard outside Avila Beach. The couple is dedicated to revitalizing and stabilizing the vineyard through regenerative organic methods, dividing their attention between older blocks that can be rehabilitated versus those that require replanting. They take a long-term view of the site’s health and vitality, aiming to achieve the 25-year lifespan that has become typical across the Central Coast due to trunk disease issues compounded by previous viticultural practices aimed at boosting yields. Some steps toward these goals include increasing organic matter in the site’s rocky, sandstone soils, more intentional and gentle pruning and more efficient sulfur spray application with less soil compaction. Replanting efforts have focused on adjusting rootstock choices and vine density, with plans to test hybrid varieties for their greater resistance to the mildew pressure prevalent in the region. Alongside this newly acquired estate site, the couple manages farming over 40 acres of vines in the greater San Luis Obispo Coast, including Casa Contenta, MarFarm, Chene and Mountain Meadow, all of which hold biodynamic certification. Sources for purchased fruit have historically included sites in Santa Barbara County, which are gradually phasing out in favor of a complete focus on the San Luis Obispo Coast.
While Scar of the Sea and Lady of the Sunshine once represented a “his and hers” relationship, Scar of the Sea has evolved into a more collaborative effort in recent vintages, producing around 5,000 cases annually. Cellar practices for red wines focus on native fermentations, basket-pressing, élevage in neutral Stockinger, Damy and François Frères barrels—typically, with thicker staves than those used in the Lady of the Sunshine offerings—and bottling before the following harvest. The Chardonnay bottlings undergo a second winter of maturation and include a small portion of perpetual reserve dating back to 2014, which adds textural richness and the illusion of new wood use while maintaining the lineup’s signature marine-driven freshness. In contrast, Lady of the Sunshine is entirely Gina’s project, producing about 2,000 cases annually. The most significant difference from Scar of the Sea lies in the white wine production, with the Lady of the Sunshine wines being noticeably more phenolic and a touch more transparent due to foot-treading and the lack of textural bolstering via solera. The white wines for both projects complete malolactic fermentation and use minimal sulfur, with the first additions often made four to six weeks before bottling. Whole-cluster retention varies by site: wines from Bassi are typically at least partially destemmed because of a naturally herbal, botanical profile, while the Chene and Mountain Meadow sites generally retain their stems for added structure.”
Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate (12/25)
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Lady of the Sunshine Chene Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
£49.95“The 2023 Chardonnay Chene Vineyard leads with an understated, elegant nose of yellow orchard fruit, citrus blossoms and wet chalk. The palate balances juicy, refreshing citrus and orchard fruit flavors with touches of gentle breadth. The finish is crisp and delicate, with refreshing acidity and accents of lees-driven textural richness. This is primed for early consumption but should develop additional complexity after a few years in bottle. Drink: 2024-2030. 92+ points
Biodynamic farmer and winemaker Gina Guigni comes from a farming family in the Sierra Foothills and founded Lady of the Sunshine in 2017. Her vineyard sources focus on biodynamic and regenerative organic practices, which, in the case of the Chene and Mountain Meadow Vineyards, she farms herself. The wines are produced using exclusively natural methods and, for the most part, undergo short élevage to capture as much vibrancy and energy as possible. Her releases are charming overall and experimental at times, commonly utilizing esoteric varietal combinations to arrive at fresh, focused and beautifully earth-tinged wines.”
Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate (07/24)
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Lady of the Sunshine Chene Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
£49.95“The 2023 Pinot Noir Chene Vineyard opens with a stunningly transparent and deft nose, showing vibrant aromas of blueberries, persimmon, black cherries and iris bounding from the glass. The palate perfectly balances silky, textural richness and understated red fruits, leading to a pure, swelling, fine-grained and chalky finish with persistent grip. This lovely wine was very reactive to aeration and should develop beautifully over the next 5-7 years. Drink: 2025-2032. 92 points
Biodynamic farmer and winemaker Gina Guigni comes from a farming family in the Sierra Foothills and founded Lady of the Sunshine in 2017. Her vineyard sources focus on biodynamic and regenerative organic practices, which, in the case of the Chene and Mountain Meadow Vineyards, she farms herself. The wines are produced using exclusively natural methods and, for the most part, undergo short élevage to capture as much vibrancy and energy as possible. Her releases are charming overall and experimental at times, commonly utilizing esoteric varietal combinations to arrive at fresh, focused and beautifully earth-tinged wines.”
Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate (07/24)
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Littorai Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
£105.00“The 2023 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is quite expressive, even in the early going. Lifted aromatics and mid-weight structure are its signatures. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, mint, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and blood orange all grace the palate. A wine of dimension and class, the Hirsch opens gradually with some coaxing. Deceptively medium in body, the 2023 Hirsch is deep and layered. Brisk saline notes and a kick of whole-cluster nuance explode on the finish. Drinking window: 2026-2035. 96 points
Littorai is one of my favorite visits in Sonoma County because I taste two vintages each time: the young vintage that is just about to be bottled and the bottled wines I tasted from cask the year prior.
Proprietors Ted and Heidi Lemon turned out a strong set of wines in 2024. Ted Lemon describes 2024 as a year with big berries and thick skins that required considerable crop thinning all the way to the weeks before harvest in the latest sites. Fermentations were very slow, and total tank times were long. Even so, some of the wines are on the lighter side structurally. The Wendling, Haven and Thieriot Pinots were bottled in November 2025. I tasted all the other 2024 Pinots from tank just prior to bottling and before final sulfur additions, always a tricky time. I won’t be surprised if the wines turn out even better than these first impressions suggest. Today, the Pinots are a bit reticent, but that is not unusual at this address. As is the custom, Pinots see a good bit of stem inclusion, 25-35% for most wines, although some can be zero. Sites such as Savoy and Mays Canyon are often higher. The 2024s have a bit more stem inclusion than most years. I was deeply impressed with the 2024 whites, which offer a combination of richness and energy that is hugely appealing.
The bottled 2023s are just as compelling as they were last year. Richardson Ranch and Mays Canyon were the only Pinot sites picked in September. Everything else was harvested throughout October and into the first week of November, when the Thieriot Pinot was picked. This is a very special set of wines from one of Sonoma County’s and Anderson Valley’s leading grower estates.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (01/26)
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Littorai The Pivot Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
£107.50“The 2022 Pinot Noir The Pivot Estate Vineyard is such a classy wine. Silky and aromatic, with striking fruit purity, the 2022 is seriously impressive. Crushed red berries, chalk, mint, white pepper and slate lend notable brilliance throughout. The sculpted style is so appealing. Drinking window: 2025-2032. 95 points
My annual tasting at Littorai is always one of the highlights of the year because the wines encompass so many top vineyards in Sonoma County and Anderson Valley. Explorations of site. That’s what this range is all about.
Cold, foggy weather was a constant in the early part of 2023. Conditions were much more favorable in Anderson Valley, where growing degree days outpaced those of Sonoma through late May. “Between the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley, we had the most radically different start to the year as I have ever seen,” Ted Lemon noted. “It was the exact opposite of 2022.”
July saw high temperatures that were problematic in some spots, notably Savoy, where Lemon dropped a significant amount of the crop because of sunburn. Cluster sizing continued throughout August and September, leading to fruit being dropped as late as mid-September. The Pinots were picked starting on September 20 with Mays Canyon and Richardson Ranch. All the other Pinots were harvested in October, with two picks on November 1. For Chardonnay, harvest ran from October 10 to 25, almost a month later than 2022. The Pinots were vinified with a fair proportion of whole clusters. I tasted all the 2023s from tank, except for the Charles Heintz Chardonnay (which was still fermenting). Lemon opted to bottle a handful of Pinots early because of their softness. Those wines are reviewed from bottle.
There aren’t a lot of surprises with the bottled 2022s. The whites are soft and open-knit, as they were last year, while the Pinots are every bit as exciting as they were when I tasted them from barrel. Stem inclusion is in the 20% range for most Pinots, a bit less than in 2023. Stylistically, the 2022 are quite supple, while the 2023s are more delineated.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (01/25)
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