Pick Pinot!
Bacchus “Ginger’s Cuvée” Pinot Noir – 2022 $13.96
Two qualities that I respect in the Bacchus wines are affordability and deliciousness. Both are found in spades with this Pinot Noir! David Gordon, one of New York’s first recognized sommeliers, and the architect of Tribeca Grill’s famous wine list, created Bacchus to craft an authentic wine that would over-deliver when compared to the everyday “house” wine. And does it ever! He even chose this wine to be named “Ginger’s Cuvée” after his daughter. While this isn’t world class Burgundy, it is true California wine at an incredible price point. That’s the beauty of these hidden gem private label wines. Cherries, pomegranate, and even those root-beer-like sarsaparilla notes welcome your taste buds with a delightfully smooth texture. – Alex Malecki, Sales Manager
Presqu’ile Winery, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County – 2023 $25.96
As a universal truth in wine shopping, good Pinot Noir can be difficult to find on a budget and is often measured against the wines of Burgundy. In California, Pinot usually shows a little “bigger” than the more delicate wines of Burgundy, with more concentration of fruit and higher alcohol – like Pinot on steroids. I’m pleasantly surprised by how the Presqu’ile Santa Barbara County Pinot shows as reminiscent of Burgundy. Light and delicate, yet expressive and nuanced – ripe cherry, strawberry and plum with hints of graham cracker, spice, and fallen wet leaves – it checks all of the boxes! Family-owned and sustainably farmed, Presqu’ile is dedicated to crafting elegant “cool climate” wines, and this Pinot shows a complex balance of fruit, earth and spice, with a delicate touch that any Pinot lover will appreciate. – Michael Cook, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Sean Thackrey “Pleiades” XXX – MV $21.97
Like an impressionist painter, Sean Thackrey takes the familiar and reveals it in a new light, playing with our expectations. This ‘edition’ of the Pleiades employs an unlikely palette of Sangiovese, Viognier, Pinot Noir, and Mourvèdre. The resulting wine is light in body, yet robust in flavor. Red cherry, violet, orange zest and a touch of smoked meat harmonize with gentle tannins and soft-but-present acidity. As with all good art, you can experience this wine again and again, and always find something new. – Doug Yacka, Operations Manager
Belle Glos “Las Alturas” Pinot Noir – 2021 $48.99
A big, ripe, yet absolutely approachable and seriously crushable Pinot Noir from Belle Glos (pronounced ‘Bell Gloss’). This one sourced from their high altitude Las Alturas vineyard, in the Santa Lucia highlands of Monterey County, where, according to winemaker Joe Wagner, “they matched various pinot noir clones to individual slopes and soil attributes of the land, and yields are kept low to preserve the fruit intensity these clonal choices have given us.” On the nose, raspberry, gooseberry and cherry lozenge harmonize perfectly. On the palate, mixed berry preserves, cherry cola, flaky milky chocolate and a hint of nutmeg take us to a warm and immensely satisfying finish. And yes, that’s a lot of wax on the bottle, but it comes off very gracefully with an easy pull tab. There’s even easy directions on the bottle so no one gets lost. – Simon Gouldstone, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Beaune 1er Cru “Les Epenottes”, Claudie Jobard – 2020 $84.99
Claudie Jobard comes from a long line of winemakers and growers (her mother was the winemaker at Joseph Drouin and her father runs a vine nursery) but ever since she took over the family winery 20 years ago she’s become renowned in her own right for making top-notch organic wines. This premier cru from Beaune is a prime example of her talents. The 2020 vintage was a balanced year, producing wines with both fruit and structure, augmented by aging in 20% new oak. The result is a full-bodied wine with dark red fruit, spice and savory notes. Approachable now, though will age beautifully. – Amy Miller, Sales Manager