Cherry Pie Cherry Tart Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

Highly popular and sought after, Cherry Pie Cherry Tart Pinot Noir (featuring a photo of three cherry tarts on its label) is a blend of three Pinots hailing from Santa Barbara County, Monterey County and Sonoma Coast. The name of the wine is a bit of a misnomer, however, as it has no literal cherry pie or tart taste. Bottled in 2014, this Pinot is a touch tawny in color, showing its age. Nonetheless, it’s still mostly red and translucent — a classic Pinot burgundy color.

The nose is especially wild; some might even call it overpowering, as it can be discerned in a room after several glasses are poured. There are intense sauvage notes present, which are often found in Burgundian wines.

Simply stated, the taste of Cherry Pie Pinot Noir is not as powerful as its aroma. There’s a bounty of rich fruit, especially red cherries (hence the name). But it’s a complex wine, with subtle earth tones, served up alongside what approximates a smidgen of singed bacon fat, yielding an ever-so-slightly burnt quality. Overall, Cherry Pie is a delicious wine that does especially well with food (see its pairings below). The winery is located at Stanly Ranch, in the Carneros appellation of Napa.

• AVA: California 
• Cherry Pie Cherry Tart Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 14.5%
• Retail Price: $30.00
• Restaurant Price: $54.00
• Pairings: The Cherry Pie Cherry Tart Pinot would pair wonderfully with pulled pork, pork belly, or any dish with bacon or pork.

O. Cyrot Bourgogne Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

The O. Cyrot Bourgogne is a French Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France. But while it’s a Burgundian Pinot Noir, it’s not earthy in color; instead, it’s a bright, beautiful, gem-like, purplish-red. Not exactly crystal-clear in translucency, it has a tint of haze to it.

The nose is lovely; one immediately picks up on abundant fruit and herbs. There’s also an unmistakable aroma of garrigue, which is the product of an amalgamation of different sagebrush plants found in Provence, such as sage, lavender and juniper. Sage and lavender are especially prominent, along with a hint of cherry. Unlike many French wines, the O. Cyrot Bourgogne lacks feral notes, which is ironic, as the two other Pinots in this review possess this conspicuously.

For us, the flavor of the O. Cyrot Bourgogne is a bit of a let down. Up front, there are cherry notes, but the middle is mostly hollow. And while there are some herbs detectable in the finish, the flavor drops off and disappears quickly; it’s thin, with a sharp acidity. The O. Cyrot Bourgogne isn’t a horrible wine, but it falls unexpectedly flat.

• AVA: Bourgogne Rouge, France 
• O. Cyrot Bourgogne Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 13%
• Retail Price: $28.00
• Restaurant Price: $50.00
• Pairings: The O. Cyrot Bourgogne Pinot Noir would pair well with herbed dishes, such as tabouleh.

Halleck Vineyard Hillside Cuvee Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

The Halleck Vineyard Hillside Cuvee Pinot Noir is a blend of different Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs originating in vineyards that are each within a few miles of each other.

The Hillside Cuvee Pinot is crystal-clear and ruby-garnet in color. The nose integrates feral notes that are balanced out by those of fruit, but the scent is much more subtle than that of the Cherry Pie Pinot. Cranberry and white pepper are additionally evident, along with a pleasant minerality.

Surprisingly bright and fruity, the Hillside Cuvee fills the mouth. One perceives the same earthy tones that are present in the nose; there are smatterings of spices, white pepper and minerals. This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a grippy wine, without being over the top.

• AVA: Sonoma Coast, California
• Halleck Hillside Cuvee Alcohol Content: 14.3%
• Retail Price: $55.00
• Restaurant Price: $114.00
• Pairings: The Halleck Hillside Cuvee Pinot Noir would pair excellently with game meats, particularly those that are mesquite-grilled.

Wine Reviews [Video]

Pinot Heros Wrap Up

While the Cherry Pie Pinot has a cultish buzz about it, its taste didn’t necessarily live up to the promise of its nose. The French O. Cyrot Bourgogne was a disappointment along the same lines but was quite dissimilar to the two other wines we sampled. The Hillside Cuvee ended up somewhere in the middle between the promises of the first two Pinots, demonstrating a texture and astringency imparted by its tannins that outshone those of its competitors. I

For a truly memorable, intimate wine tasting in Sonoma, join us at our Sebastopol estate (by appointment only) any Friday, Saturday or Sunday to taste our fine collection of Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noirs, as well as our California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Gewurztraminer and bone Dry White Zinfandel.

Along with other results, Google returned these Pinots from the first three vineyards. And we added our own Three Sons Cuvee to the list and reviewed them all. 

Wine Reviews [Video]

Hahn SLH Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

The “SLH” after the Hahn name stands for “Santa Lucia Highlands,” which is the mountainous AVA of this Pinot. The wine is made from grapes grown on the sprawling Hahn Estate in Soledad, which is also known for its fine Syrah. The Hahn Estate isn’t far from notable Carmel and Salinas wineries to the north and west.

The color of the Hahn SLH Pinot Noir is a deep, beautiful shade of translucent ruby red. Its nose is large, disclosing notes of red cherries, cinnamon, spices and woodsy hints of cedar. The Hahn’s mouthfeel is full and rich; this wine exhibits fine tannins, contributing to a satisfying structure.

The Hahn SLH’s taste boasts bright red cherry notes that are extant in the nose; a pleasant woodiness is evident in the center of the palate. The finish echoes the cinnamon/spice essences of its aroma. Overall, the Hahn SLH represents a good value for a Pinot Noir. 

• Vintage: 2019
• AVA: Santa Lucia Highlands, California
• Hahn SLH Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 14.5%
• Retail Price: $19.99
• Restaurant Price: approximately $45.00
• Pairings: The Hahn SLH Pinot would pair splendidly with pork tenderloin.
• Buy Hahn SLH Pinot Noir

Prophecy Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

The color of the Prophecy Pinot Noir is a strikingly deep translucent purple, while its nose is overwhelmingly fruity and reminiscent of sweet cherry or other fruit candies (perhaps Jolly Ranchers), or even Hawaiian fruit punch. The mouthfeel is medium and alludes strongly to fruit juice.

The taste of the Prophecy Pinot Noir is extremely fruity, like a fruit punch or a cherry cola, carrying through the notes found in the nose, with a long-lasting finish. There’s also an herbal element present. While the Prophecy’s flavor may be immoderate, its alcohol content is almost perfect for a Pinot Noir at 13.8%.

• Vintage: 2019
• AVA: California
• Prophecy Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 13.8%
• Retail Price: $10.99
• Restaurant Price: approximately $30.00
• Pairings: The Prophecy Pinot Noir would pair well with holiday ham.
• Buy 2018 Prophecy Pinot Noir

Castle Rock Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

The Castle Rock Pinot Noir is a deep, dark, rich purple-red color. Its nose is meaty — specifically suggesting a cured meat, such as pepperoni, mixed with a dried cherry or other red fruit constituent. Its mouthfeel is medium.

The taste of the Castle Rock Pinot is savory and earthy, with huge umami. Mostly meaty, it doesn’t apportion much fruit to the palate. There’s a tinge of bitterness, but it’s not a bad bitterness; it’s more akin to the combination of meat and fruit that’s intimated by the nose. Other than the Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Cuvee below, the Castle Rock Pinot is the priciest Pinot on this list at $23.95. It can be found at leading online retailers, such as Vivino and TotalWine.

• Vintage: 2017
• AVA: San Benito, California
• Castle Rock Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 13.9%
• Retail Price: $23.95
• Restaurant Price: approximately $50.00
• Pairings: The Castle Rock Pinot could possibly pair with sausage and mushroom pizza.
• Buy 2018 Castle Rock Pinot Noir

Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

The Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir is lighter in tone and more translucent than the other Pinots described above; the color can be described as more garnet and less ruby red. Its nose offers up fresh floral fragrances, including lilac. There’s a nuance of deep, dark, Pinot-esque cherry, as well as a classic Burgundian forest-floor component that can be found in the scent. Christmas spices, such as cinnamon, clove and pepper, are also detectable.

The Cuvee’s complex flavor starts with cherry, transitions to the previously referenced forest-floor/cinnamon/clove element in the mid-palate and finishes with black pepper.

The Russian River Valley where the Three Sons Cuvee is cultivated takes its name from the Russian River that winds its way through this densely forested region. Coastal influences, including thick fog and a cool climate, produce a distinct flavor profile in the Pinot Noirs produced here. Russian River Valley Pinots tend to be naturally radiant, with well-integrated tannins, revealing colorful layers of red fruit.

• Vintage: 2018
• AVA: Russian River Valley, California
• Halleck Three Sons Cuvee Alcohol Content: 14.1%
• Retail Price: $49.00
• Restaurant Price: approximately $90.00
• Pairings: The Halleck Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir would pair well with a rack of lamb.
• Buy 2018 Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir

Pinot Hero Wrap Up

Although the Halleck Pinot is a bit more expensive than the other Pinots sampled here, the old adage of “you get what you pay for” very much applies in this case. The complexity of the Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir is commensurate with its price and is on a level that’s well above and beyond the three other Pinots we sampled. If you’d like to give it a try, join us for a Sonoma wine tasting at our Sebastopol estate. And if you’d like to try something even more special, check out our Kosta Browne Pinot Noir vs Halleck Estate Pinot Noir review.

Caveat emptor!

When you search “Pinot Noir,” out of all the search results, Google ranks these brands at:

• Cloudline (#22)
• Four (#25)
• Goldeneye (#26)

Wine Reviews [Video]

If you want to learn about other popular Pinots, we’ve been reviewing top ranking brands online and so far we’ve tasted:

First up is Cloudline. This is one that I had high hopes for. I’ve seen the bottle at Costco before, but it wasn’t until I turned it over and read the back label that I realized this wine is produced by the Drouhin family, known for superior Oregon and French Pinot.

Cloudline and Four Graces are both from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Goldeneye is from California’s Anderson Valley in Sonoma. And as I mentioned previously, our Haas Vineyard Pinot is from Sonoma Mountain.

It should be noted that Willamette Valley has been getting a reputation for playing fast and loose with their grape sourcing. “With Willamette Valley becoming a globally recognized region for Pinot Noir, [producers] are putting their reputation at risk if they can technically ‘play by the rules,’ but still use vines of any age, additions of sugar or acid, and other grape varieties to blend a wine that becomes unrecognizable as what is generally accepted as Willamette Valley Pinot Noir,” says Barney Treadway, the founder of Denver’s Wine Education Institute.

This has become a big-enough concern that there are currently bills in the Oregon state legislature to assure better transparency for consumers. But it’s uncertain when these would take effect; some industry observers say 2030 might be the earliest date.

Cloudline Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

Darker than the average Oregonian Pinot, the color of the Cloudline is a pretty, deep, translucent ruby-purple. The nose exhibits notes of old-school, Luxardo maraschino cherries, licorice (that reminds one of Sambuca liquor) and earthiness, while the mouthfeel is medium-to-full.

In terms of taste, the Cloudline’s flavors bring forth the rich, damp, mineral-y earth character detected in the nose. There’s also a hint of fruit at the front of the palate.

There are old-world, Burgundy-like traces to the flavor. The acidity is a bit sharp and could be better integrated. But if this wine is consumed with food – and this is definitely a wine intended to be served with a meal – it likely won’t be noticeable.

A good value for its price, the Cloudline Pinot Noir reviews well and can also be purchased online at the link below. 

• Vintage: 2019
• AVA: Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Cloudline Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 13.5%
• Retail Price: $18.99
• Restaurant Price: approximately $40.00
• Food Pairings: This wine would pair well with any foods containing mushrooms. Try it with mushroom burgers (perhaps with chimichurri) or mushroom risotto. Uncommonly for a red wine, it might also work well with a halibut steak.

Buy Cloudline Pinot Noir

Four Graces Pinot Tasting Notes

The Four Graces is darker in color than the Cloudline. It’s a deep ruby, with a touch of even deeper purple. It’s certainly not transparent; there’s definitely some opaqueness to it.

The nose contains elements of blackberry candy. There’s a sweeter, bramble-ish character, with a hint of cinnamon — a classic Pinot element. Overall, it’s much more “fruit-forward” than the Cloudline, despite hailing from the same AVA. The mouthfeel is characterized by a hole in the mid-palate.

The taste of the Four Graces is earthy. It has a good structure, with better-integrated and more pronounced tannins than those in the Cloudline. So this one is even more appropriate for consumption with food. The finish has nuances of cloves and pepper.

Those who are favorable to the 2019 Four Graces may also appreciate this winery’s Dundee Hills Reserve. This is yet another, albeit more pricey, Willamette Valley AVA.

• Vintage: 2019
• AVA: Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Four Graces Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 13.5%
• Retail Price: $24.99
• Restaurant Price: approximately $50.00
• Food Pairings: The Four Graces Pinot Noir would pair well with German sausage and/or German red cabbage. German food in general would likely be a good match for this Pinot.

Buy Four Graces Pinot Noir

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

Goldeneye from Gowan Creek Vineyard is a dark wine that’s close to fully opaque. The color is purple, leaning toward the shade of a red Zinfandel.

The nose nearly explodes with spices that remind us of Christmas and holiday foods. It makes us think of pumpkin pie, honey-baked ham and glazed carrots. But perhaps another way to describe the aroma is “Christmas dinner in a glass.”

The mouthfeel is silky.

The Goldeneye has a markedly delicious taste; the Christmas spices from the nose are fully present.

Hinting at a mulled wine, the flavor is fruit-forward and not earthy. But the fruits remind us of plums or dried fruits. Overall, the Goldeneye is a light and delicate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

• Vintage: 2018
• AVA: Anderson Valley, California
• Goldeneye Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 14.5%
• Retail Price: $79.99
• Restaurant Price: approximately $150.00
• Food Pairings: The Goldeneye would pair wonderfully with baked ham.

Buy Goldeneye Pinot Noir

Haas Vineyard Pinot Tasting Notes

The familiar (to us, at least) Haas Vineyard is translucent, shiny and jewel-like, with a tinge of purple. Its nose contains intriguing herbal notes, including a bit of eucalyptus. And the aroma reminds us of sloes (as in sloe gin) or Sarsaparilla, the root beer-like soft drink. The mouthfeel is rich and silky.

The Haas Vineyard Pinot fills your mouth with velvety, smooth flavors of blackcurrant, fruit and violets; there’s some acidity, along with a floral character.

Its Sonoma Mountain source is unusual for a Pinot. Its taste is markedly different from other Sonoma County AVAs, like Russian River Valley Pinot Noir or Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. 

• Vintage: 2018
• AVA: Sonoma Mountain, California
• Halleck Haas Vineyard Alcohol Content: 13.1%
• Retail Price: $67.00
• Restaurant Price: approximately $130.00
• Food Pairings: The Haas Vineyard would pair splendidly with classic lamb chops or a rack of lamb.

Buy Halleck Haas Pinot Noir

The Final Word

It’s priced higher than the Oregonians. But the Haas Vineyard was a more satisfying wine than the Willamette or Anderson Valley Pinots, despite its lower alcohol content.

Whether the Willamette Valley wines are “pure” Pinots, as discussed in the beginning of the review, remains unknown. But in the future, this may become a more contentious topic of discussion.

In this post, we’re in Sebastopol wine tasting and comparing these popular Pinot Noir wines to our Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir.

In our last wine review, we compared Mark West vs Elouan vs Erath Pinot Noirs. These are the fourth, fifth, and sixth ranking pinot brands on Google. And before that, we reviewed Meoimi vs Belle Glos vs La Crema, which are the first, second and third ranking Pinots.

Wine Reviews [Video]

Popular Pinot Noir and AVA Wine Definition

In tasting wines (and these Pinot Noir wines, specifically), a question that often recurs is what difference the AVA (or American Viticultural Area, which refers to where the grapes for the wine were grown) makes.

The simple answer is that the larger the AVA is in terms of area, the more difficult it will be to characterize the wine. Thus, a very large, whole-state AVA, such as California, won’t give you much of a clue about a wine (even a Pinot).

Some non-state AVAs (such as California’s Central Coast) are still nonetheless the sizes of small states. So, again, there isn’t much that can be ascertained from this information simply because of the diversity of those regions’ viticultural output. By contrast, the smaller an AVA is, the easier it will be to typify its grapes and predict the characteristics of its wines.

In this review, the highest-ranking of these Pinot Noirs on Google is also from the largest AVA (California). We’ll work our way down to the smallest AVA (Sonoma Mountain) to compare Pinots. And we’ll see if this trait has any discernible bearing on color, nose, taste, etc. 

Bread and Butter Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

The color of the Bread and Butter Pinot Noir is very light — lighter than the other popular Pinot Noirs sampled here. It’s extremely translucent, with almost the hue of a dark rosé. Note, however, that in general, color doesn’t necessarily indicate the depth or complexity of a wine. It merely serves as a clue that must be confirmed via consumption. The nose of the Bread and Butter was unconventional. It exhibited a musky character, with a scent of raspberry-ish caramel or butterscotch (although without the abundance of sweetness associated with either of these). The body of this Pinot could be readily described as medium.

The taste of the Bread and Butter delivered on the promise of its nose. It contains creamy, unignorable butterscotch-like notes, while being much more dry than sweet. That said, it still maintains a decent balance and acidity. 

• AVA: California
• Bread and Butter Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 13.5%
• Retail Price: $19.99
• Pairings: This Pinot would pair well with pasta Alfredo or other creamy pasta sauces, or with sausage.

Flowers Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

[Editor’s Note: Greg La Follette, the founding winemaker of pioneering cult wine brand Flowers, tutored and mentored the Hallecks of Halleck Vineyard. Flowers was recently purchased by a larger concern.]

The Flowers Pinot Noir is from the Sonoma Coast (California) AVA. This is an area of about half a million acres, of which about 60,000 acres are planted vineyards. Besides this Pinot, which specifically comes from their Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard, they also produce a Pinot Noir from their Sea View Ridge Vineyard. This vineyard is on Smith Ridge, roughly 1,600 feet above sea level.

The ocean fog cools this latter acreage, which is planted almost entirely with Pinot Noir, with the exception of two acres of Chardonnay and 1.7 acres of Pinot Meunier. Unfortunately, their popular Sea View Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir could not be acquired for this review.

The Flowers Pinot Noir wine is beautiful and gem-like in color; it’s deep ruby red, with just a touch of purple. The nose is quite profound. Feral/animale aspects leap out, followed by a sagebrush scent not commonly associated with Sonoma Coast wines, which can be very Burgundian in style. Also, there were notes of licorice and/or fennel, as well as a hint of fresh cranberries. The cranberry hint is characteristic of the Sonoma Coast.

The mouthfeel of the Flowers Pinot Noir was rich and leathery. It coated the mouth, but revealed a prominent hole in the middle of the palate.

We found that, following through on the nose, the Flowers Pinot tasted of fresh cranberry and bits of clove and spices. This is backed by a white peppery finish with pomegranate-like acidity.

• AVA: Sonoma Coast
• Flowers Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 14.1%
• Retail Price: $69.99
• Pairings: The Flowers Pinot Noir would pair well with grilled meats, such as lamb sirloin, duck sausage or pork tenderloin.

Josh Cellars Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

California’s Central Coast is an extremely large AVA, encompassing 6.8 million acres. As such, it’s much harder to determine overall characteristics for it. Due to wildfires in 2020, many vineyards were tainted by smoke, ruining crops. However, we’ve assumed that the grapes in this Josh Cellars 2020 vintage escaped this fate.

Darker than the Flowers Pinot above, the Josh Cellars Pinot is almost a shade of amethyst, while still being quite translucent. The nose is fruity, suggesting pluot — a cross between a plum and an apricot. It was light, but indistinct; it didn’t “leap out of the glass.” This isn’t to suggest that it was varietally incorrect or unpleasant — just that it wasn’t clear or well-defined.

[Note that Halleck Vineyard partnered with singer Josh Groban to produce special, limited edition Pinot Noir to benefit his Find Your Light Foundation. But this philanthropic effort shouldn’t be confused with the Josh Cellars Pinot Noir.]

The Josh Cellars Pinot Noir tasted varietally correct, but indistinct, or “gray,” in the words of tasting cognoscenti. The popular Pinot Noir was fruity, to be sure, with a pleasant acidity. It wasn’t a flat wine, but it didn’t have a significant finish; for our purposes, it could be termed “serviceable.”

• AVA: Central Coast
• Josh Cellars Pinot Noir Alcohol Content: 14.1%
• Retail Price: $24.99
• Pairings: The Josh Cellars Pinot Noir is a wine that could possibly pair with pork tenderloin, or perhaps a fruit compote.

Haas Vineyard Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

As opposed to the other AVAs outlined above, the Sonoma Mountain AVA where this Pinot originates from is just 5,000 acres. Specifically, this Pinot is from a single vineyard, the Haas Vineyard, that’s just two acres in size. So this particular varietal could never be a popular Pinot Noir. There’s not enough of it to satisfy a large population of win drinkers.

While many growers like to grow Pinot Noir grapes in cold climates, Sonoma Mountain can stay warm, even well into evenings. That makes this a somewhat unique wine.

The color of the Halleck Vineyard Pinot Noir from Haas Vineyard grapes is dark ruby, with a touch of amethyst. The nose is quite prominent, containing pleasing essences of deep, dark, fresh fruit, such as black cherries or black currant. There are also flowery intimations, including hints of violet. The mouthfeel is remarkably rich and lush.

The fresh black currant flavor comes through on the palate, along with mineral notes. It’s smooth, but still retains acidity. Rather than being flat, it “pops” in the mouth. There’s a floral character and a suggestion of fresh elderberries [note that some parts of elderberry bushes are poisonous. Research them before consuming their fruit]. The finish is long, with an inkling of fruit and violets. 

• AVA: Sonoma Mountain, California
• Halleck Haas Vineyard Alcohol Content: 13.1%
• Retail Price: $67.00
• Pairings: The Halleck Haas Vineyard Pinot Noir would pair well with beef, veal or venison.

Pinot Heros Wrap Up

As you can see from the above, the AVA of a wine (and specifically, a popular Pinot Noir) can play a large part in determining a wine’s character. The larger the AVA is in size, the more diverse its yield will be. Thus, you may have to resort to firsthand experience to judge the qualities of a wine from a sizable AVA.

Not all results from different parts of the world are the same, but fourth is their average ranking. This means that Google thinks Mark West Pinot Noir is the fourth best Pinot Noir brand in the US. But are they correct?

In our last wine review, we compared Meoimi, Belle Glos and La Crema, which rank first, second, and third most searched.

The fifth and sixth most popular Pinot Noir brands are Elouhan and Erath. In this wine review, we cover the fourth through sixth most popular Pinot Noirs. If this article is TLDR, here’s a…

Our search results were based on Google’s US index. Interestingly enough, two of the these top ranking pinots happen to be from Oregon. We were curious to see how this varietal from Oregon tasted against Russian River. 

Wine Reviews [Video]

Popular Pinot AVAs

Where wine comes from is important because climate is one of the main factors influencing taste. In the wine world, the climate is designated by geography, or American Viticultural Area, AVA. France sanctions AVAs, using the term Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. All Champagne labeled as such is from the Champagne Valley in France. Otherwise, they can’t call it Champagne. It’s just sparkling wine.

In terms of AVAs, California possesses a whopping 139. Oregon has a mere 18, as many as are in California’s Sonoma County alone. This means that California’s AVAs are much more diverse in terms of their climate and wine output. Some of the best Pinot Noir is from Sonoma County.

Another point to consider is that Oregon’s AVAs are expansive, whereas California’s AVAs are smaller, more defined locations. Because of these conditions (and others), it cannot be stated that there’s a collective, overarching “style” of Californian versus Oregonian Pinots. One can only compare individual wines to one another.

Top Ranking Pinots

According to Google, after Meoimi (1st), Belle Glos (2nd) and La Crema (3rd), these are the most popular Pinot Noir wines in US: 

• Mark West Pinot Noir (4th)
• Elouan Oregon Pinot Noir (5th)
• Erath Oregon Pinot Noir (6th)

Along the way, we characterize the taste of these Pinots, to help you choose the best one for your palette. Read on if you want to see which of the popular Pinots to shop for and why.

We tasted our own Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir alongside these popular brands. Halleck Vineyard is a much smaller winery. We make Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. But we produce approximately 1,500 cases of wine per year. So there’s no way we could come close to satisfying the US demand for Pinot Noir. That’s what commercial wines are for. Our vintages are small and sell out quick to the discerning few.

If you go to the grocery store and pick up a bottle, you’ll probably be choosing from one of these six. So this will give you some guidance in choosing a Pinot. Because if you’re at the market and need to buy a bottle on short notice, you may want some help picking the best one. Use the tasting notes to learn the differences between the three wines we tasted. 

Mark West Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

The color of the Mark West Pinot Noir can be described as deep ruby red and translucent. It is a classic Pinot Noir color, and the nose (or aroma) of the wine we sampled was redolent of dark cherries and cinnamon. There were no “holes” to be found in the flavor of the wine in the mouth. It delivered flavors from the front to the middle to the back of the palate.

Is the Mark West Pinot dry or sweet? The simple answer is that it’s dry, as are the other Pinots we reviewed. But the more fitting answer is that in tasting this wine, we recognized the cherry and cinnamon-spice notes from the nose. We also detected traces of burgundy and earthiness on the palate. And there is a bit of bitterness at the back of the throat (although with food, this likely wouldn’t be noticed). The cinnamon-spice element led into the finish, which was pleasant.

It can be stated there’s a lot to like about this wine; for the money, it’s an incredible value. Tending on the lighter side, it’s delicate and well-made. That said, it’s simple tasting. It should be noted they also produce the popular Mark West Carneros Pinot Noir, but we couldn’t get a bottle of it, although we did try the Acacia Pinot Noir from Carneros in another wine review.

Stats

AVA: California 
Alcohol Content: 13.5% 
Retail Price: $10.99 
Pairings: Lighter holiday meats like turkey, chicken or pork.
  

Elouan Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

This is an Elouan Pinot Noir 2018 vintage review. We didn’t review the controversial 2017 vintage — a California wine that was mistakenly labeled as originating in Oregon, causing a stir — but the price is around the same.

The color of the Oregon Pinot from Elouan is different from that of the Erath and the other wines reviewed. It was both deep purple and opaque to our view, giving it the appearance of a Zinfandel.

The nose of this wine is sizable, rich and “meaty” (meaning it’s full-bodied). It has a “stewed fruit” character, rather than that of a classic Pinot, which may be to some people’s liking. A fair amount of “heat” can be detected, which comes from its higher alcohol content. The mouthfeel of the wine is lush, rich and heavy, yet at the same time, surprisingly delicate. 

The notes detected in the nose are larger than those observed on the palate. We found essences of flowers and herbs — violets and lavender — present, along with some acidity. In general, the flavors are fruity, balanced and better integrated than those of the Erath. The finish is pleasant and long.

Stats

AVA: Oregon
Alcohol Content: 13.7%
Retail Price: $24.99
Pairings: Salmon or delicate, less fatty meats — such as filet mignon — seasoned with Herbes de Provence.

Erath Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

Compared to the Mark West, the color of the Erath has a beautiful Pinot character. It’s more of a dark purple, but still translucent.

In terms of the nose, it’s a single note, which could be characterized as fruity (blackberry-ish). But it’s the sort of flavor that might be found in taffy or candy, as opposed to juice. The mouthfeel of the wine can be termed medium — it’s thicker than that of the Mark West.

 The fruit notes of the nose are present in the taste, but they give way to an earthy quality that can be described as bramble-ish or underbrush-like. In short, this wine doesn’t have a classic Pinot Noir flavor. It’s “underbrush” quality has a sharp acidity that isn’t well-integrated into the rest of the flavor of the wine. The finish has a touch of bitterness which wasn’t to our taste. If you don’t like bitter, skip this one.

Stats

AVA: Oregon
Alcohol Content: 13%
Retail Price: $24.99
Pairings: Hanger steak or aged cheese, such as Gouda or Parrano.

Halleck Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir Tasting Notes:

The Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Cuvee Russian River Pinot Noir is garnet-colored, with a gem-like shimmering transparency; its nose leads with earth and fruit. It could be referred to as Burgundian. There are “animale,” “sauvage” or “feral” notes present, but these are balanced by the fragrance of dark cherry.

You can detect hints of pepper and Christmas/baking spices, as well as a classic Pinot Noir forest-floor scent. The mouthfeel is rich and filling in comparison to the previous wines.

The taste of the Three Sons Cuvee delivers on the promise of the nose, which is the hallmark of any good wine. The spices are prominent, along with traces of minerality. This is a complex yet balanced Pinot. It’s produced in California’s Russian River Valley — an area known for superb Pinot Noir grapes. The Three Sons name comes from the three sons of the Halleck family. Their names and ages are inscribed on the back of the bottle.

Stats

AVA: Russian River Valley, California 
Alcohol Content: 14.1%
Retail Price: $49.00
Pairings: Filet mignon or any other luscious, lean meat.

Next, we’ll be tasting the seventh, eighth and ninth most search Pinot Noir brands, which are from Bread and Butter, Flowers and Josh Cellars.

We’re also planning to cover New Zealand and French Pinot Noirs in another post as well.