Peay Estate Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California

With the oak singing backup, the depth and purity of raspberry and cherry fruit with a wet slate earthiness are what get your attention.  Pair with truffle risotto or silky grilled salmon with fresh thyme. Mmm!

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Pfendler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California

Stunningly supple and fragrant with the dark cherry, chalk and rose petal potpourri notes of a great Burgundy.  Pair with roast duck or osso buco with truffle.

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Rochioli Russian River Pinot Noir, California

Sweet cherries and spiced herbal tea, with a gorgeous silkiness and laser purity and acidity that rings like a bell in every bottle and, carries the wine to graceful, earthy-truffly maturity for ten years easy in the cellar.

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Williams-Selyem Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

You have to search but it's worth it to see what Pinot as it's meant to be in America tastes like:  silky-sleek, red fruits, dried flowers, delicate spices, a finish that lingers then slowly dances away.  Pair it with pork, like vintner Bob Cabral does. Cellar 7-10 years, easy.

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Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

Sweet strawberry fruit wrapped in a cloak of smoke, pipe tobacco and autumn leaf notes.  Play up the earthiness by pairing with roasted root vegetables, mushroom ravioli, or pork chops with bacon-y lentils.

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Deloach Russian River Pinot Noir, California

This wine offers earthy-smoky, cinnamon-spiced rhubarb jam flavors and a snappy acidity that pairs well with pates, mild sausages and roast turkey.

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Cambria (CAME-bree-uh) Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, California

I love this wine's pumped-up cherry kirsch scents and flavors, kissed with notes of sweet baking spices.  Play on the exotic notes by pairing with five-spice duck, Moroccan couscous, or pork with a spicy fig stuffing.

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Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir, California

More exciting than many pricier Pinots, with silky-smoky raspberries and gamy notes on the palate, plus a satiny succulence and soft earthiness that pairs great with tender mushrooms or pillow-soft gnocchi.

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Meiomi by Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California

A Delta pick, whose bewitching scents of sweet balsamic, dark cherries, hoisin sauce and baking spices are a sensory treat even at 30,000 feet!  Pair with pork tenderloin, or pasta with butter and sage. Watch Video.

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