Quite possibly our favorite Pinot under $20. This is not a thick syrupy version of Pinot, but if you're a fan of balanced and delicate (and delicious) Pinot Noir we highly recommend grabbing a bottle. It comes from one of the top pinot producers on the Central Coast. Jim Clendenen makes great wine vintage after vintage, using exceptional fruit even in this entry-level beauty. Easy to drink with strawberry and plum notes, good texture, acidity and fruit. Good pinot for $20? Believe it. The Wine Spectator writes: "Floral, perfumed and peppery berry arom... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

91 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright red. Fresh red berries and Asian spices on the nose, with notes of rose and magnolia adding complexity. Lively and precise in the mouth, showing nervy redcurrant and strawberry flavors and a pungent floral quality. Finishes with very good seamless length and a strong echo of sweet red berries." (Nov/Dec '09) The new Verna's Estate Pinot Noir is a perfect example of the frugal drinkability Melville has to offer. From the get-go the nose tells you that you are going to be in for a wildly de... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points from Robert Parker: "The dark ruby/purple-colored 2005 Pinot Noir Bulldog Reserve (65% from the Solomon Hills Vineyard and the rest from Bien Nacido and a handful of other small plots) is a 500-case cuvee offering beautiful black cherry, tapenade, strawberry, and loamy soil aromas, medium to full body, and superb structure and length. With good acidity and moderate alcohol (by Californian standards) of 13%, this Burgundian-styled Pinot should evolve nicely for a decade." (08/07) The 2005 Bulldog is a classic representation of what I feel the 20... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

A stunning, cherry and cranberry-filled Pinot Noir wrapped up with an earth and spice bow. The fruit comes from Foley's Rancho Santa Rosa, part of the original Spanish Land Grant, and one of Santa Barbara's most historic properties. Planted into a steep hillside in one of the coolest parts of the Santa Ynez Valley, the site is ideal for growing bright, structured Pinot Noir. Aged in 50% new French oak barrels, which smooth the wine's texture and add spicy notes that complement the crisp acidity. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The Wagner clan must have wine in their veins. Belle Glos is the project of Joseph Wagner, son of famed Caymus winemaker Chuck Wagner, devoted entirely to distinctive, single-vineyard pinot noirs. Planted near the corner of Clark Avenue and Telephone Road in the Santa Maria Valley in in 1972. This wine is pure Clark & Telephone - full of the cookie spice, mint, black tea and cranberry aromas and flavors the vineyard is known for. Bright, with firm acidity and fine-grained tannins. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

The Taz Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir is a best-of-both-worlds wine. It takes two distinct expressions of Santa Barbara County and blends them into a balanced wine with plenty of nuance. The first component of the blend comes from Taz's North Canyon Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. This vineyard lies at the northern edge of Santa Barbara, butting up to the San Luis Obispo County line. The Pinot Noir from North Canyon is soft and silky with delicate floral notes and red fruit character. These elegant lots are complemented by grapes from Fiddlestix Vi... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Pinot Noir yields were down in 2007 by 20% as compared to historic averages. As with many low-yielding vintages, the grapes were healthy and the flavors very good. Due to cool weather, this 2007 Estate Pinot Noir has slightly higher acidity. In a true test of the vintage?s merit, this wine did not require fining. All lots of Pinot Noir showed concentrated color upon de-stemming. The cold soak was 3 days and a quick fermentation occurred over a 4-day period. The Estate Pinot was aged for 11 months in an exclusive selection of French barriques, a combinati... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Aromatic and velvety Julia's Pinot Noir, named for owner Barbara Banke's younger daughter, is a signature wine of this great estate, and a very typical Pinot for this widely applauded zone. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

93 points Robert Parker: "A fabulous introduction, the generic cuvee, the 2007 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills (just over 1,000 cases produced), possesses a deep plum/ruby hue as well as gorgeously sweet, sexy, plum, cherry, forest floor, and spring flower notes. Sensual and medium to full-bodied with great fruit, good acidity, and an incredible Burgundian-like character that suggests something from Morey-St.-Denis or further north, it should drink well for 7-8 years." (09/09) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "You can taste and feel the stem inclusion in this whol... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

This wine is simply great. Once again, it's a less intense, easy to drink version of some of the trophy Pinots made from throughout this trendy appellation. But it still has the kind of character that has prompted many growers over the last few years in the Sta. Rita Hills to plant more grapes. The mouth on this one is full of cherries and spice, which has become a very welcome standard. Great with food! 

Inventory: Hollywood

96 points Wine Enthusiast: "This wine is as fine as anything from Santa Rita Hills. Although it’s young and tight now, its future is assured by the brilliant combination of audacious fruit and classic structure. The blackberry, currant, cherry, anise and clove flavors are wrapped into rich, silky tannins, and brightened with crisp acidity. Best now, with decanting, and for the next 6–8 years." (3/1/2008) 92 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright ruby. Intensely floral aromas of red berries, fresh rose and minerals. Lush, creamy r... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

The thing we like most about this is the fact that the wine does not taste like syrah. So many of the Central Coast, and more recently other California appelations, pinot noirs have become too monsterous, too spiced. These wines have more in common with wines from the Northern Rhone, than wines from Burgundy. I don't know about you but I like my pinot to taste like pinot. Well the J Wilkes does in a big way. Full of tangy pomegranate seeds and bright cranberry this screams pinot. Add a growing nutmeg spice from nice french oak barrels and some kirsch... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

This is Hitching Post's answer to weekday Pinot, and it delivers on this winery's repuation and then some! This Central Coast Pinot offers bright berry fruit, exotic spice and a forward, supremely appealing character. Medium bodied and a touch rustic, it would marry well with grilled King salmon, French lentils, wild mushroom pizza, or anything well suited to a light, crisp red. 

Inventory: Hollywood

93 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: "A beautiful Pinot Noir, lush and immediately likeable, as Pinots from this fine vineyard tend to be. Shows forward flavors of cherries, red currants, rhubarbs, cola, anise, tangerine zest and smoky sandalwood, wrapped into very fine tannins and balanced with crisp acidity. Such is the balance that this wine should develop bottle complexity over the next six years." (11/15/2009) La Encantada is a certified organic vineyard on the cool, western side of Santa Barbara County's Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Aged for a... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

95+ points Robert Parker: "The 2007 Pinot Noir Mount Carmel cuts a stylistic path between the rich, fruit-driven Melville and the more earthy, barnyardy, terroir-driven Clos Pepe. The Mount Carmel offers plenty of blue and red fruits intermixed with hints of smoke, roasted herbs, earth, pomegranate, and underbrush. The sweetness of the tannins, beautiful full-bodied mouthfeel, and good acidity all reflect another brilliant Pinot Noir from this exceptionally talented duo. It should drink well for 10-15 years." (09/09) 93 points Wine Enthusiast: "A big, r... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

The Wathen-Doré team behind Foxen vineyards have found a recipe for success: take top-notch fruit from great vineyards, don't mess with it, and then sell it at an affordable price. The 2008 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir illustrates this plan perfectly. Blending frut from the famed Bien Nacido and Julia's Vineyards that's fermented slowly and then aged for eight months in fine-grained French oak barrels. Characterized by fresh blue and red fruit complemented by fine spice and earthy undertones, this is elegant Pinot that will be enjoyable over the next 2-... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

Sta Rita's famously long growing season is what imparts the complexity of flavor and fruit intensity to this wondrous Pinot Noir. Partially (24%) aged in French oak from Burgundy The complexity of flavor found in Pinot Noir from Lafond Vineyard is a wonderful match with savory foods and a classic with grilled salmon or mushrooms. 

Inventory: Hollywood

91 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid red. Spicy redcurrant and cherry aromas are complicated by anise, rose, black tea and minerals. Medium-weight red fruit flavors enter sweet and are quickly firmed by juicy acidity. Silky tannins gain strength with air and extend through the long, sappy finish. Quite graceful, and already drinking very well." (Nov/Dec '08) A full and rich pinot noir from Jim Clendenen's renowned Au Bon Climat winery. The fruit comes from Block Two of the famed Bien Nacido Vineyards. Plum fruit and warm spic... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

We could not agree more with J. Wilkes philosophy and style when it comes to the making of fine Pinot Noir. What this means, in brief, is that according to this producer Pinto Noir should taste different from heartier reds like Cabernet and Syrah. To this we say, yes! This 2008 Santa Maria is a great example, wherein J. Wilkes has managed extraction while maintaining the natural delicacy of the grapes, and done so beautifully and economically, too. You'd be hard pressed to find a better more authentic Central Coast Pinot anywhere near this price point. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

93 points Robert Parker: "Also ageworthy is the flamboyant, deep bluish/purple-hued 2007 Pinot Noir Melville Vineyard. Sweet scents of spring flowers, kirsch, black raspberries, earth, and spice emerge from this deep, full-bodied wine. It possesses silky tannins as well as a layered, full-bodied, concentrated finish with no hard edges." (08/09) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse San Francisco

According to Robert Parker: "Allspice, plum, currant, and sweet as well as sour cherry characteristics emerge from the crisp, spicy, medium-bodied, ruby/garnet-colored 2002 Pinot Noir Talley-Rincon Vineyards. It should be consumed over the next 5-6 years." (08/04) 

Inventory: Redwood City

There were only 135 cases of this pinot noir, from Block One of the famous Bien Nacido Vineyard produced. Its beguiling perfume of ginger, tangelo, kirsch and black truffle wraps you up in its exotic warmth. In the mouth it is wonderfully concentrated with a smoke meat component and hints of tar that complement the chalky tannins and blue fruit flavors. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

One of Summerland's most expressive Pinots, the Rancho Santa Rosa is a clear, bright ruby red. It entices with a spicy, cedary nose, with hints of cherry, espresso and menthol. Powerful on the palate, with more red fruit - cherry, pomegranate and raspberry - with underlying bacon fat richness and sweet vanilla that fill the mouth and linger, with sweet tannins, on the finish. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

90 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light, bright red. Sharply focused red berry and spice aromas are impressively pure and fresh. Taut, finely etched redcurrant and wild strawberry flavors are seamless and clean, with slow-mounting minerality contributing energy. Finishes with gentle sweetness and a jolt of dusty minerals. This will need a bit more time than the Edna Valley bottling." (Nov/Dec '08) One star from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "The lightest and least weighty of the Talley bunch, this bottling shows a ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

Dragonette's 2006 Pinot Noir combines fruit from the famed Fiddlestix Vineyard in the western Sta. Rita Hills appellation with fruit from the nearby Gaia Vineyard. These sites are wonderfully close to the ocean, allowing the fruit to develop slowly. The results are beautifully complex, illustrating why pinots from this region in California have gained so much traction in the market. Voluptuous strawberry and cherry aromas spiked with cedar, juniper and Asian Five-Spice notes start the seduction on the nose and continue onto the palate, lingering on the f... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

93 points and a "Cellar Selection" designation from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: "There’s a fine Pinot in here, but it’s like buried treasure. Currently locked down with tannins, the wine shows extravagant extravagant flavors of dusty Asian spices, rhubarb, pomegranate, cola, cherryskin and sandalwood. Desperately needs time, but should be very fine. Drink 2011 through 2015." (8/1/2009) 

Inventory: Redwood City

When Richard Sanford moved to the Santa Ynez Valley nearly 40 years ago he hoped to make wines that could hold their own against the best from France. The wines from his first label, Sanford Winery, did just that. In 2005 Richard and his wife Thekla embarked on a new venture - Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards - where they continue to raise the bar for the regions's wines. Their 2007 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is bursting at the seams with black cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors, along with hints of sweet roasted beets, spice, cola and violets. Slightly... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

The Thorne "Rio Vista Vineyard" Pinot Noir comes from the cool Sta. Rita Hills appellation on California's Central Coast. Beguiling high toned red fruit and floral aromas balance earthy garrigue, savory herb and spice notes that follow to a delicate palate. Strawberry and cranberry flavors tickle your tastebuds, with hints of cinnamon and dried herbs and a finish of vanilla that washes over your palate in a wave of refined acidity. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

92 points Wine Enthusiast: "A very rich, layered Pinot that stands out for its depth and ageability. Fully dry and supported with crisp acidity, the wine has cherry, currant and cola flavors that finish a little primary and direct right now. Give it a year or so to attain greater polish, and should really hit its stride by 2010." (12/08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

Ken Brown's Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir is born of fruit from three of the region's top vineyards - Garey, Clos Pepe and Ranch La Viña. Together these sites produce a Pinot with lovely underlying earth tones and spice to complement the dark fruit aromatics and flavors. Plush structure with friendly, fresh acidity, this bright, small production wine belies its moderate price. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

The Stone Corral Vineyard, located in the cool Edna Valley, was extremely temperate over the coarse of the 2007 vintage, except for a slight heat spike in September. The vines yielded just .87 tons per acre, and the concentrated fruit was fermented using native yeras and the wine aged for 18 months in 35% new French oak barrles. Plum, framboise, anise and wet stone aromas integrate for a layered bouquet. In the mouth, the velvety tannins deliver cedary spice, blackberry and raspberry flavors. This is lighter in style than the Rincon and can be paired wit... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Of the three Talley Pinots that K&L carries right now, this one is sits smack in the middle in size. The Rincon is big, the Stone Corral is much more delicate, and the Rosemary's Vineyard Pinot is medium-bodied, balanced with blue fruit, sandalwood, cola and cookie spice on the nose and palate. This would be perfect for duck or squab. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

Part of the Fess Parker family of wines, this medium to full-boided Pinot is packed with juicy strawberry and cherry fruit aromas and flavors, kissed with clove, sage and nutmeg notes on the finish. 

Inventory: Redwood City

From two of the best known Santa Rita Hills vineyards - La Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict The combination of different exposure vineyard blocks and clones add complexity to this wine, which has a gorgeous ultra-violet color. Mountain sage and cherry aromas spiked with pepper make your mouth water and your mind wander toward savory eats, while the palate delivers in flavor, with supple tannins and bright acidity. Try it with duck. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

91 points Wine & Spirits: "A massive wine, this needs several hours of air to resolve its youthful tension. Firm tannins bind flavors of dark plum and ripe strawberry. Give this several years in the cellar for the tannins to meld with the fruit, or decant it a few hours before serving with a thick-cut pork chop." 

Inventory: Redwood City

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light, bright red. Sexy, strongly perfumed bouquet evokes spicy red berries, cinnamon and potpourri. Deeper black raspberry and candied cherry flavors coat the palate and are firmed by juicy minerality. A refreshingly tangy cherry skin note lingers on the long, focused finish. Very pretty wine, and delicious right now." (Nov/Dec '08) According to Wine Spectator: "Firm and intense, this is supple-textured, with savory earth, cola, herb, dried currant, ripe plum flavors that are complex, ending with a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

The Gaineys were among the first to recognize the potential for growing cool climate varietals like pinot noir in Santa Barbara's Sta. Rita Hills. The majority of the fruit for the 2006 vintage of this wine comes from the winery's Evan's Ranch, which was planted in the early 1990s. This is an excellent follow-up to the 2005 vintage, even more focused and classic than its predecessor. Wonderfully structured with notes of sweet cherries and Asian Five spice, it's framed by fine, supple tannins that act as a foundation, without overwhelming the fruit or the... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

Fragrant, floral and redolent with black-cherry fruit, the 2007 Pinot Noir exhibits the delicacy and allure of this captivating varietal. Hints of rose petal, caramel and forest floor weave through the jammy fruit core. The mid-palate is pleasant and smooth with fine tannins. Subtle cola and perfume nuances alight the finish for lingering enjoyment of this pretty red wine. Enjoy with gamey flavors such as duck, venison or wild mushroom pasta. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

Inventory: San Francisco

What happens when you combine the food and wine passions of two talented people? Give up? You get Bonaccorsi Wine Company, a winery devoted to producing food-friendly wine since their first vintage in 1999, devoting much of their attention to the up-and-coming Central Coast region of California over the past few vintages. There were only 300 cases of this berry-ful vineyard-designated Cargasacchi produced. The wine smells like fresh strawberry French toast with vanilla bean and cracked black pepper, all of which carries over to the full-bodied palate. 

Inventory: Redwood City

91 points Wine Enthusiast: "Shows a purity of texture, with a velvety-soft mouthfeel yet firmed with undertones of chalky minerals. Flavor-wise, it's all black and red sour cherry candy, Asian spices and smoky sandalwood. Not ready yet. Better mid-2010 and beyond." (10/09) 90 points Wine & Spirits: "This feels relaxed and cool, its generous black cherry flavors wrapped in silky tannins. It becomes more saline with air, a mineral mark to contrast the lasting flavors of plum and smoke in the finish. Decant a bottle for seared duck breast." And, according... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

A lighter, spicy style of Pinot Noir with strawberry and cherry fruit aromas, hints of loamy soil and spicy white pepper aromatics. The sweet red fruit on the attack is carried by refreshing acidity and a full-fruited finish. 

Inventory: Hollywood

91 points Wine Spectator: "Shows more richness, flavor and body than most 2006s from this appellation, with a complex medley of ripe plum, black cherry and wild berry fruit that turns elegant and spicy, ending with a long, full, focused finish. Drink now through 2012. 150 cases made." (08/08) 91(+?) points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 08: "Bright red. Pungent, strongly perfumed bouquet of redcurrant, strawberry, botanical herbs and minerals. Spicy and deeply concentrated, offering sweet red berry and bitter cherry flavors, with sl... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

Don't think you can ignore this fiesty pup. Black fruits, exotic spice, cocoa powder and chalky minerality make this a pinot that warrants your undivided attention. 88-90 points Robert Parker: "Ambullneo’s 2006 Pinot Noir Bulldog Reserve was made from Dijon clones primarily from the Solomon Hills Vineyard combined with a small amount from Laetitia Vineyard. Thirty percent or more was whole clusters. Its dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by notions of spicy oak, plums, black cherries, pomegranates, and currants. This well-made, pure, rich 2006 does n... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

From the winery: "Winegrower, James Ontiveros, farmed this fruit mindfully, and with attention paid to the notion of terroir. As a result, the Pinot Noir possesses a specificity that is undeniable." 

Inventory: Redwood City

According to Wine Spectator: "Perfumed black cherry and wild berry scents are a bit leaner on the palate, with a nice mix of acidity and tannins providing backbone and structure. Drink now through 2011." (06/08) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

91 points Robert Parker: "The fruit and glycerin levels may be even more impressive in the 2007 Pinot Noir Turner Vineyard. There are fewer nuances in the aromatics, but the wine offers a beautiful blue and red fruit, incense, forest floor, earth, and spice-scented bouquet. Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, more aromatics should emerge with another year or two of bottle age." (08/09) 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

This is a lush, earthy Pinot Noir for wine lovers who want New World spice with purity of fruit, but an underlying complexity. Duncan's Cuvée blends fruit from some of the Sta. Rita Hills' top vineyards, including Rio Vista, Clos Pepe, Cargasacchi and Sanford & Benedict. We love the bright cherry and plum notes, the cookie spices on the nose and palate and the supple, drinkable texture and we're sure you will too. Enjoy now with braised chicken or pasta alla norma. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

93 points from the Pinot Report: "You will find this Pinot Noir draws its special appeal from three of the finest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation: Turner Vineyard, The Yard Vineyard and Lindsay's Vineyard. This is a well balanced, delicate wine with a lovely garnet color. Aromatics of spicy vanilla, lush black cherries and cola are followed by a soft, silky mouthfeel." 303 cases produced. 

Inventory: Hollywood