Apr 102014
 
papapietro perryPapapietro Perry Pinot Noir 2011, Nunes Vineyard, Russian River Valley, CA, $56 – Rating 92

An excellent Pinot Noir from a special vineyard. A deeply textured nose bursting with aromas of ripe cherry, spice and camp smoke. Medium-bodied with hints of jamminess, supple tannins and balanced acidity. Flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry with a touch of pepper and spice. Subtle notes of cola in the finish. Buy This Wine

Apr 022014
 

Last October we attended a wonderful event, Pinot on the River, on the town square in Healdsburg. It is a Pinot Noir lover’s dream, featuring over 100 of Sonoma’s best Pinot producers. As you’d expect, we tasted some amazing wine and met some outstanding winemakers.

Bucher Vineyard

John and Diane Bucher

As the afternoon crowd dwindles towards the end of the event, the buzz begins from those in the know. Some of the loudest buzz was around Bucher Vineyard, a 38 acre vineyard in the Russian River Valley, not far from Healdsburg. Single vineyard designated Bucher Vineyard Pinot Noirs have been created by some of the most renown Sonoma vintners, including Williams Selyem, Siduri Wines, Papapietro Perry, Arista, HoldredgeC. Donatiello Winery, and Thralls Family Cellars.

While I was familiar with the vineyard name and the wines made by other producers, the buzz was actually about the wines under the new Bucher Vineyard label. So we had to check them out. I must say they were indeed buzz-worthy. Just a day later we spent a few relaxing hours with John and Diane Bucher at their home on their 360 acre ranch which includes the vineyard and a 700 head organic dairy farm. Continue reading »

Dec 022013
 
2010 Papapietro Perry Nunes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA, $54 – Rating 93

They say wine is grown in the vineyard. It shows with this wine from Fred and Wendy Nunes’s Russian  River terroir-driven Pinot vineyard. Aromas abound of cherry, raspberry and brown baking spices. Juicy acidity and smooth tannins well suited for food pairing, offering flavors of cherry, blueberry, strawberry and spice with definite notes of cinnamon in the long finish. A wine worth pondering. Buy This Wine