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Carneros Pinot Noir

Overview

  • Buying Guide: Top Carneros Pinot Noirs
  • Wine Ratings

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It is a commonly accepted fact that Pinot Noir ripens quite beautifully in most of Carneros.  Utilizing the special climatic character of the region, most growers keep it on the windy sides of hills where harvest season molds occur less frequently.  In other regions these molds can be particularly troublesome in gullies and on northern exposures because of wind shelter and lack of drying sunshine.  

 

Cameros Pinot Noirs are spicy, with red cherry and earthy nuances, and many show extra dimensions of richness and depth.  To make a regional comparison, some describe the style as falling between that of Russian River Pinot Noir and Santa Barbara County Pinots in both flavor and texture. A Carneros Pinot Noir is typically lighter, more delicate, and more attenuated in the middle of the flavor profile than that produced in coastal areas such as Russian River Valley or Santa Maria.  A typical one is also not quite as rich or ripe or fat as the Russian River's best, nor quite as pungent with herb or mint as the Santa Barbarans. But it will have more herb or mint than a Russian River, and more flesh than a Santa Barbaran.

The subtle differences between Carneros Pinot Noirs lead many fans of the wines to separate them into two distinct categories.  One, epitomized by Etude’s Deer Camp bottling, and the other by Talisman’s Wildcat Mountain Pinot Noir.  These are rich and well oaked, and will develop beautifully in the cellar for many years.  Others, for all their early appeal, mature rather quickly, and are fruitier and fresher, with a blend of cola and other spiced, earthy aromas.

 

 

 

 

 

Buying Guide: The Top Carneros Pinot Noirs

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X Truchard Vineyard Pinot Noir CarnerosX  Truchard Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $25

 

 

 

 
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Signorello Hudson Vineyard Pinot Noir CarnerosSignorello  Hudson Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $50

 

 

 

 
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Etude Carneros Pinot NoirEtude  Deer Camp Pinot Noir Carneros $60

 

 

 

 
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Saintsbury Brown Ranch Pinot Noir CarnerosSaintsbury  Brown Ranch Pinot Noir Carneros $60
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Talisman Wildcat Mountain Carneros Pinot NoirTalisman  Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $38

 

 

 
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Artesa Reserve Pinot Noir CarnerosArtesa  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Kazmer and Blaise Carneros Pinot Noir
Kazmer & Blaise  Primo's Hill Pinot Noir Carneros $50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Market: Carneros Pinot Noir

$11 to $20
$21-$30
$31-$50
$51+

88 Etude  Rosé Pinot Noir Carneros $20
88 Dancing Bear Cellars  Pinot Noir Los Carneros $18
88 Saintsbury  Vin Gris of Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Carneros $14
87 Grove Street  Pinot Noir Napa-Carneros $18
86 Jacuzzi  Pinot Noir Carneros $20
85 Madonna Estate  Madonna Estate Pinot Noir Carneros $20
84 Mountain View  Pinot Noir Carneros $14
84 Fleur de California  Vin Gris Pinot Noir Carneros $13
84 Castle Rock  Pinot Noir Carneros $11

93 X  Truchard Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $25
93 Artesa  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $25
92 Dalton  Martin Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $25
91 Trinitas  Pinot Noir Carneros $27
91 Robert Mondavi  Pinot Noir Carneros $21
91 Molnar Family  Poseidon's Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $30
91 MacRostie  Pinot Noir Carneros $28
90 Valley of the Moon  Pinot Noir Carneros $20
90 Schug  Pinot Noir Carneros $22
90 Merryvale  Pinot Noir Carneros $29
90 Mahoney  Pinot Noir Carneros $24
90 Dalton  Martin Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $25
90 Carneros Creek  Pinot Noir Carneros $24
89 Bouchaine  Pinot Noir Carneros $23
89 Arger-Martucci  Pinot Noir Carneros $30
88 Molnar Family  Poseidon's Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $25
87 Schug  Rouge de Noirs Pinot Noir Carneros $30
87 Marshall  Pinot Noir Carneros $28
87 MacRostie  Pinot Noir Carneros $30
87 Diamond Oaks  Pinot Noir Carneros $21
87 Bouchaine  Pinot Noir Carneros $30
86 Saintsbury  Pinot Noir Carneros $30
86 La Crema  Pinot Noir Carneros $29
86 Harrington  Iund Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $30
86 Domaine Chandon  Unoaked Pinot Noir Rosé Rosé Blend Carneros $20
85 Sterling  Winery Lake Pinot Noir Carneros $25
85 Imagery  Pinot Noir Carneros $25
85 Castle  Estate Pinot Noir Carneros $30
85 Carneros Creek  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $22
85 Bouchaine  Pinot Noir Carneros $30
84 Home Hill  Pinot Noir Carneros $30


94 Signorello  Hudson Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $50
94 Kazmer & Blaise  Primo's Hill Pinot Noir Carneros $50
93 Talisman  Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $38
93 Signorello  Las Amigas Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $32
93 Carneros Creek Pinot Noir Grail  Pinot Noir  Carneros, California $35
92 Mahoney  Mahoney Ranch Pinot Noir Carneros $36
92 Mahoney  Las Brisas Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $36
92 Cuvaison  Block F5 Pinot Noir Carneros $45
92 Clos du Val  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $42
92 Beringer  Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir Carneros $30
91 Molnar Family  Poseidon's Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $30
91 Lost Canyon  Las Brisas Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $42
91 Domaine Carneros  Pinot Noir Carneros $35
90 Signorello  Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $50
90 Saintsbury  Toyon Farm Pinot Noir Carneros $45
90 Gary Farrell  Ramal Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $50
90 Clos Pegase  Mitsuko's Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $35
90 Clos Du Val Carneros Pinot Noir   Pinot Noir  Carneros, California $30
90 Beaulieu Vineyard  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $35
89 Saintsbury  Toyon Farm Pinot Noir Carneros $45
89 Robert Mondavi  PNX Pinot Noir Carneros $35
89 Kent Rasmussen  Pinot Noir Carneros $35
89 Crichton Hall  Truchard Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $32
89 Bouchaine  Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $45
88 Saintsbury  Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir Carneros $45
88 Robert Stemmler  Estate Pinot Noir Carneros $36
88 Mayro-Murdick  Pinot Noir Carneros $35
88 Cakebread  Pinot Noir Carneros $44
87 Talisman  Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $40
87 Gloria Ferrer  Jose S. Ferrer Selection Pinot Noir Carneros $35
87 Castle  Sangiacomo Vineyards Pinot Noir Carneros $32
87 Carneros Creek  Grail Pinot Noir Carneros $40
87 Artesa  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $38
86 Toad Hall  Dijon Clones Pinot Noir Carneros $40
86 Robert Stemmler  Estate Grown Pinot Noir Carneros $32
86 Patz & Hall  Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $50
85 ZD  Pinot Noir Carneros $33
85 Toad Hall  Lavender Hill Pinot Noir Carneros $40
85 Signorello  Las Amigas Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $42
85 Roche  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $43
85 Robert Stemmler  Ferguson Block Pinot Noir Carneros $44
85 Carneros della Notte  Pinot Noir Carneros $48


96 Etude  Deer Camp Pinot Noir Carneros $60
96 Etude  Heirloom Pinot Noir Carneros $90
95 Etude  Temblor Pinot Noir Carneros $60
94 Saintsbury  Brown Ranch Pinot Noir Carneros $60
93 Ambullneo  Mastiff Pinot Noir Carneros $80
92 Buena Vista  Ramal Vineyard Swan Selection Pinot Noir Carneros $0
92 Signorello  Las Amigas Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $38
92 Robert Mondavi  Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros $55
92 Domaine Carneros  The Famous Gate Pinot Noir Carneros $68
90 Acacia  Beckstoffer Las Amigas Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros $60
90 Donum Estate  Pinot Noir Carneros $60
90 Adastra  Proximus Pinot Noir Carneros $56