Press & Reviews

So balanced, focused and pure, the wine is packed with black cherries and blackcurrants, lively in texture yet nicely rounded and velvety. Redwood forest, clove and woodsy mushroom accents add complexity. Moderate tannins

Boysenberry, ripe raspberry, and citrus on the nose. Medium-bodied with nuanced acid and fine tannin texture. Crisp and focused. Citrusy. Drink or hold.

There are around 3,000 cases of the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, which was brought up in 40% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet also fresh and lively 2019 has a darker, richer style in its black cherry, mulberry, scorched earth, and earthy, forest aromas and flavors. I love its balance, it has richness without weight, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years.

Ripe-plum, red-cherry, pine-cone, cedar and vanilla aromas. Some iodine, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with soft tannins. Gently bitter with a warm, medium finish. Drink now.

Leading off the two Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is an outstanding wine that reveals a vivid ruby color to go with textbook notes of framboise, candied violets, orange peel, and flowery incense. It’s medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with a nice spine of acidity and a great finish. Drink this terrific Russian River Valley Pinot Noir over the coming 5-7 years.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley opens with a lovely floral perfume—lilacs and lavender—over notes of black raspberries, black cherries and mulberries plus a hint of stewed tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of plump, ripe, juicy fruit, supported by a lively line and fine-grained tannins, culminating in a perfumed finish.

A fruit-forward pinot with lots of bright strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and layered with ripe, integrated tannins and lots of fruit at the finish. Just the right amount of bitterness at the end. Drink or hold.

Moving to the reds, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley comes from multiple clones and was mostly destemmed. Aged in 35% new French oak, it offers outstanding strawberry and earthy cherry fruits as well as plenty of forest floor, smoky oak and violets. With medium-bodied richness and terrific elegance, drink it over the coming 4-6 years.

A flamboyant pinot noir with dried strawberries and dried flowers. Full body. Tight and toned tannins buttress the ripe fruit. Flavorful finish. Drink now or hold.

Fermented for 11 months in 35% new French oak,the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley (already bottled) is medium ruby-purple colored and has a lovely black cherries, black raspberries and baking spices nose with black pepper, dried herbs and underbrush. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with plush texture and great fruitiness supporting the vibrant red and black cherries flavors, finishing long.

A sinewy strong tannin structure wraps around earthy black tea, black cherry and forest, the medium-bodied wine showing a strong sense of savory character and complexity.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is beautiful, with a fresh, lively, floral style. Black cherry, red plum, spice and spring flowers all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, impressively textured, silky beauty. It’s already beautiful but will keep for a decade.

A juicy and straight up Russian River red with dried berry and chocolate character. Full and layered. Delicious finish. What you expect. Drink now.

This is a rich and flavorful pinot with lots of strawberry, smoke and spice character. Full body. Very fresh. Elegant for the vintage. Drink now.

Starting out the upper tier bottling, the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers plenty of black cherry and forest floor, with classic Pinot Noir elegance and purity. It has impressive purity, a silky, fine texture, and a good finish.

Plenty of dark fruit character with hints of dried leafs and dark tea. Full body, chewy and lightly gritty tannins. This shows tension and focus. Drink now or age.

This balanced wine manages to retain some heft on the palate. A triple threat of ripe berry, cinnamon and forested notes combine effortlessly around a core of vibrant acidity. Medium bodied and lengthy on the finish, it needs to open to reveal its charms.

Earthy, tart cherry and strawberry paint a pretty picture in this aromatic, inviting wine, a bold, fruity offering accented by luscious streaks of herb. Well-integrated and composed, dustings of cocoa and cola spice build steam on the finish, the overall package just lightly oaked.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Reserve Pinot Noir leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of black and red cherries, black raspberries, and violets, followed by hints of cardamom and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate has a racy backbone and fine-grained texture supporting the bright red berry and floral layers, finishing long and perfumed.

Complex aromas of blackberries, black cherries, ripe strawberries and hints of flowers. Orange peel and leaves. Full-bodied with a tight tannic frame and a horizontally driven finish. Excellent length. Drinkable, but give it time to open.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve is a soft, juicy wine to drink now and over the next few years. Bright red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and a touch of whole cluster savoriness lend gorgeous nuance throughout. There’s terrific purity here, and fine balance that make this silky Pinot hugely appealing.

Aromas of dark cherries, cola, dried herbs and cedar. Medium-bodied with sleek tannins and bright acidity. Crunchy and juicy with a core of dark fruits on the center palate and a flavorful finish. Excellent length. Drink or hold.

Black cherries, mulberries, violets, and Provençal herb notes (rosemary, thyme) all emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Reserve, which is a mix of clones and from vineyards on Olivet Lane and the hillsides above Starr Road. This lifted, exotic, perfumed Pinot Noir is medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, and rock-solid overall balance. There are 3,900 bottles, and it’s going to cruise for 5-7 years if stored correctly.

From vineyards on Starr Road, Windsor Ridge and Olivet Lane in the Russian River Valley planted to 777, 667 and Pommard clone, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Reserve was made with 15% to 20% whole cluster and aged 11 months in 50% new Francois Freres and Taransaud barrels. Already bottled, it has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and comes charging out of the glass with bold black cherries, red plums, warm cranberries and raspberry pie scents plus wafts of lavender, tilled soil, bouquet garni and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long.

A bigger, richer wine, the 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve also comes from the Russian River Valley and boasts a terrific nose of darker berry fruits, scorched earth, forest floor, and sappy herbs. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it too has a beautiful spine of acidity, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It can be enjoyed now, but I think a year of bottle age is warranted, and it should evolve for 5-7 years as well. This is another beautiful wine from this team that’s well worth your time and money.

Dried cherries and ripe strawberries with some smoky and light vanilla undertones. It’s full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a creamy-textured finish. Lovely now, but has the richness and structure to age. Drink or hold.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve shows a more virile expression of Pinot. Dark cherry, plum, licorice and spice come forward in this powerful wine. The 2018 needs time to recover from its recent bottling and absorb its oak, but this is nicely done.

Aged 11 months in 40% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Reserve (already bottled) is medium to deep ruby-purple colored, with redcurrants, cranberry jelly, pomegranate and black raspberries notes with touches of cardamom and menthol plus a waft of forest floor. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with a firm, tight-knit frame of fine-grained tannins, finishing long and refreshing.

The Pinot Noirs (as well as the Chardonnay) are made by Jesse Fox. The 2017 Pinot Noir Reserve offers a ruby color as well as a rich bouquet of black raspberries, mulled cherries, forest floor, spice, and chocolate. It’s a rich, rounded, broad effort that has loads of fruit and character. This cuvée comes from multiple sites in the Russian River Valley and spent 11 months in 40% new French oak.

This is very tight and beautiful with dark-berry, strawberry and lemon-peel aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, refined and structured. A good amount of whole cluster fermentation. Drink or hold.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Reserve offers more lifted, higher toned notes as well as some herbal, earthy, forest floor notes. With lots of strawberry and black raspberry fruit, medium body, and juicy acidity, it’s an outstanding effort that will drink well for 4-6 years as well. I prefer the base Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Aged for 13 months in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Reserve has a medium ruby-purple color and gives up notions of wild strawberries, warm cranberries and Black Forest cake with touches of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm frame with plenty of perfumed flavors and a good long finish.

Steely and tensile, with slate and spice accents to the dried red fruit flavors. Notes of forest floor emerge on the well-sculpted and firmly tannic finish. Drink now through 2023.

A dense and rich red with berry, chocolate and spice character. Full and powerful. Dense and chewy. A big and bold wine. What you expect.

Spicy acidity wraps around a lengthy and intense experience of full-bodied concentration and power in this well-made wine. Forest pine, red cherry and vanilla combine effortlessly to provide a robust flavor profile that’s memorable and rich.

I love the softness and beauty of the wine with strawberry, hints of walnut and freshness. Medium to full body, soft and silky tannins. Drink now or hold.

This is a rich yet soft and perfumed reserve-tier wine. It offers an explosion of dense black fruit, oak and tannin atop a singular foundation of clove and cinnamon-cola spiciness. Full bodied, it’s youthful and not quite approachable, finishing in a muddle of cranberry crispness on the finish.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard is darker and earthier (I wrote “Burgundian” in my notes) with ripe red plum and black cherry fruit giving way to more black tea and orange blossom notes. It’s medium-bodied, has good concentration, and just a slightly earthier edge. Give it a year or two.

Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir bursts with bold notes of Morello cherries, raspberry coulis, and fresh blackberries with hints of lavender, charcoal, and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is firm and taut, with muscular black berry flavors framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and lifted.

Very structured with very fine tannins that run the length of the wine, showing black fruit, graphite and blue fruits. Medium- to full-bodied with a compacted character. Deep. An impressive and racy wine. Drink after 2025 but already great to taste.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard is a powerful, deep Napa Valley Pinot. It shows all the classic Hyde signatures. Dark red/purplish fruit, game, incense, tobacco, dried herbs and earthiness are nicely pushed forward. Overall, the 2021 is pretty soft for a Hyde Pinot, but all the elements are nicely balanced.

Fermented with 5-10% stems, the 2021 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard offers up a gorgeous nose of mulberries, violets, spring flowers, and sassafras. With medium-bodied richness, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and outstanding length, it’s going to be another gem from this team.

So pretty, floral and spiced in aroma, the wine is rich but elegant, showing delicious red and black cherries with clove and cinnamon accents. Layered, slightly firm in texture, the wine comes from Calera clone vines, was fermented on native yeast and was aged in 50 percent new French oak

From more than 30-year-old vines planted to Beba clone, the 2018 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard fermented with 12% whole cluster and was aged in 40% new Francois Freres barrels for 13 months. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, it offers up the most beautiful perfume of red roses, candied violets and black raspberries with nuances of kirsch, garrigue, tilled soil and moss-covered tree bark. Medium-bodied, the palate is delicately played with loads of finely crafted red and black berry layers and a firm line of fine-grained tannins, finishing long and earthy.

From a site in Napa, the 2018 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard is another richer, sexy wine. Black raspberries, sappy flowers, forest floor, and earth all flow to a medium to full-bodied effort that has subtle oak, no hard edges, and plenty of length. I’d give bottles a year or two, and it should evolve nicely.

A pinot with plenty of dried-strawberry and cherry aromas with some dried vanilla and orange peel. It’s medium-to full-bodied with plenty of ripe fruit and intensity. Firm tannins. Vanilla undertones at the end. Give it a year or two to come together. Try in 2023.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard is soft, fruity and translucent. Sweet red cherry, mint, cedar and sweet floral notes all come together in this super-expressive Pinot Noir. The 2018 is elegant and refined, but also very much on the ethereal side. The 10% whole clusters are not especially evident; the 35-40% new oak is well-integrated.

This is a complex and enticing pinot with strawberry, meat, foie-gras and leather undertones on the nose. Full body, round and silky tannins and a pretty finish. A decadent and pretty young wine. Drink or hold. Limited production.

This is a complex and enticing pinot with strawberry, meat, foie-gras and leather undertones on the nose. Full body, round and silky tannins and a pretty finish. A decadent and pretty young wine. Drink or hold. Limited production.

Aged in 35% new French oak for 13 months, the 2016 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard is medium to deep ruby-purple colored and gives up opulent notes of cinnamon stick, cloves, oolong tea and Sichuan pepper over a core of kirsch, black raspberries and black cherry tart. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with firm, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and mineral tinged.

Wild strawberries, forest floor, raspberries, and some minerality all emerge from the 2021 Pinot Noir Lytton Annapolis Vineyard, a gorgeous effort that’s from a site in the West Sonoma Coast AVA and saw a splash of stems in the ferment. Medium to full-bodied, remarkably pure, and flawlessly balanced, with fine tannins, this smoking good Pinot Noir might be the finest I’ve tasted from this estate. If you see a bottle, grab it. It should have at least 7-8 years of prime drinking, and I suspect even more.

Deep ruby-purple in color, the 2021 Lytton Annapolis Pinot Noir features compelling scents of pomegranate, redcurrant jelly, and fresh blackberries with hints of garrigue, crushed stones, and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is so bright and energetic, with a racy backbone and fine-grained tannins, finishing very long and energetic.

Lots of blackberries and dark fruits. Some graphite and violets. India ink. Full to medium body with compacted and very fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Polished and really pure. Power with finesse. Great finish. Drink or hold.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Lytton Annapolis Vineyard is another fine, highly promising wine from Amici. Generous red/purplish fruit, rose petal, spice and mint are all beautifully layered. Deep and expressive, with striking inner perfume, the 2021 is shaping up to be a gem

Very salty on the nose with seaweed and dark fruit. Medium-bodied with lots of sea salt to the dark fruit with grilled seaweed. Spicy. Firm tannins. Fantastic and unique. You can taste the sea since it’s a coastal vineyard. 120 cases made