The Ultimate Guide To The Best Sonoma County Wines

The 2018 Syrah is another absolutely exquisite wine from the west slope of the estate. It is deep and potent to the core. The vintage captures a striking mix of lush fruit as a result of perfect weather throughout the growing season. All the elements simply fell into place giving us magical Syrah that will thrill Sonoma and Cote Rotie lovers alike. The wine is lovely and approachable in its youth but will age well in the cellar.

This wine is deep garnet in color and has brilliant clarity. The fruit’s aromas are distinct of violets along with some blackberry, allspice and vanilla notes. On the palate, the same dark fruits mingle with flavors of pomegranate and mocha. Soft acidity allows the fruit characters to shine through, while the soft tannins linger on the palate. Versatality with food is a hallmark of all of our wines. Enjoy the 2020 Estate Pinot Noir with a variety of poultry, beef, pork and game, as well as vegetables, cheeses, olives, and savory dishes.

The 2019 vintage broke with the past as we pursued an intense, vine by vine farming protocol with a hope of increased vine health and a resulting wine with vitality and focus. The final blend was assembled from four different lots; however, the core of the wine is built around a small subsection of our older vines that find footing in gravel soils—a unique soil for the area. There, the vine roots reach nearly 4 feet down, the clusters are miniature, and the resulting wines are without question, the most concentrated. Fermented completely natively, the nose is driven by açai berry, cocoa, and blood orange. On the palate, the naturally higher-acid fruit drives the wine, while the weight and concentration are felt on the mid-palate accelerating nicely into a long, satisfying finish. This wine embraces the vintage perfectly and we are incredibly proud of the final product.

The Carneros Pinot Noir is Donum’s flagship wine made every vintage since inception in 2001. Blended from vineyard blocks spanning the Estate, the blend is carefully assembled using only barrels that meet their rigorous quality standards. The grapes are organically grown, and fermentation uses yeast native to the Estate. Each block is harvested and fermented separately and then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels. In the last month, winemakers select the barrels that best represent the terroir of the Estate and the Carneros region in the final blend.

This elegant medium-bodied Cabernet Franc is perfectly balanced from nose to finish with swirls of mixed berries and earthly components. Aromas of muddled black cherries, sage and lavender ignite your senses on the nose mirroring a sophisticated tincture, which are then embraced by hints of crushed gravel and sweet tobacco leaves. On the palate, notes of cranberry juice are compacted by waves of various perzines ranging from cracked black pepper to spiced chilis, which linger on a smooth and dry finish. 

Rich, savory, smooth. Age-worthy. Our Estate Red is the culmination of decades of site-specific research with the goal of creating a single red wine that evokes the unique character of the estate. The palate is dense and rich with layers of black fruits, dark chocolate and vanilla, framed by supple tannins. This wine will age beautifully over the next 15 years.

The 2018 Tug O’ War Zinfandel is deep garnet in color. Pure, lush fruit aromas of blackberry and raspberry reflect a classic Russian River profile with the added complexity of floral and candied orange notes. Dark and brooding in nature, the polished, tannic structure is filled out with plush fruit and balanced with vibrant acidity that leads to a finessed, spicy finish.

It’s all about the grapes. The fruit is a compilation of grapes from Dry Creek Valley making this wine very unique. Starting with Zinfandel grapes from one of the highest elevations above the west side of the appellation, the wine is married with valley Petite Sirah and some fruit from F. Teldeschi vines. 2019 award winner ‘Best in Dry Creek Valley”. The result is a delightful union that starts out racy and lean but ends with a flourish of jammy fruit. Please note the briar, berry and solid, yet smooth, tannins giving proof of the grapes’ Dry Creek heritage. The long finish is wonderful now but should mellow even more as time passes. Enjoy this classic Zinfandel with Italian fare and your own personal barbecue creation. 14.2% Alcohol.

Our 2018 Fort-Ross Seaview Pinot Noir has bright aromas of wild strawberry, fresh herbs and red plum. The vibrant palate has a refined mouthfeel with flavors of rhubarb and raspberry. The balance in acidity and structure, along with notes of baking spice, linger in the long finish.

A certain wild character is immediately evident on the nose of this Precious Mountain Pinot Noir which perfectly embodies the uniqueness of this site. Dark berry aromas, pomegranate, and dried herb notes combine in a very complex and layered nose. Hints of soy are juxtaposed with very light and airy tones of cedar and citrus. Cloaked in the wonderful extract are robust mountaintop tannins that drive to an elegant finish of citrus and minerals. As usual, this wine will benefit from a little age, if you can keep your hands off it.

Very complexly layered spice and black fruits, lively! Dark chocolate, Creamy oak, a bit of vanilla cola, brown spices-nutmeg/cinnamon. Rich in mouth, has good structure for aging, a bit chewy in its youth.

Year after year, the center blocks of Hallberg Ranch yield some of our most dramatic expressions of Pinot Noir, and the 2018 vintage is no exception. Displaying a glorious coastal rusticity the nose offers a medley of woodsy tones, with layers of truffles, forest floor and cool, morning moss mingling with dark berry aromas and notes of sassafras, soy and maple. On the palate, the tannins are pleasantly chewy, adding depth and stately structure to the black and purple fruit flavors, with hints of anise, pecan, pine needles and earthy mushroom lingering on the multifaceted finish.

The energetic lemon oil of the nose is accented by tropical notes of guava, kumquat and young pineapple. A whiff of jasmine and an underlay of chestnut perform a floral/savory dance, with crushed oyster shells adding a note of mineral salinity. As you dive in for the first sip, the lemon and tangerine spreads out in a creamy but gossamer light caress, providing an enthralling textural element to the wine that’s usually reserved for reds.

The 2017 Haggerty Cabernet Sauvignon exemplifies the indelible character of the “See” Clone—pure cassis, Damson plum, and crystalized violet. As this classic Cabernet takes on French oak during aging, we see emerging notes of blonde Virgina tobacco, vanilla bean, Gianduja chcolate and Indonesian coffee. Imminently drinkable and intense from the outset, this will cellar well for 20 years or more.

The fruit for this wine is harvested by hand from the Ehret Family’s estate Bavarian Lion Vineyards located in Knights Valley. The Knights Valley AVA is protected from the marine influence of the Pacific Ocean, making it the warmest AVA in Sonoma County. The vineyards on the estate range from 400-800 feet in elevation and are located just north of Calistoga and east of Alexander Valley, on the foothills of Mount St. Helena. The unique topography and soil content make this a most desirable area to grow Bordeaux and Northern Rhône grapes. The soil consists of well drained, very gravelly and sandy loams formed from mixed sedimentary and basic rock.

This Moon Mountain District Syrah from our Mountain Terraces Vineyard is a special jewel full of unparalleled balance. Deep purple in color with vibrant aromas of blackberry boysenberry. Ripe blueberry, plum and cranberry with a hint of carmel glide over the palate framed by velvety tannins coming together in a complex finish that lingers long after the last sip.

This elegant Merlot greets the nose with rich aromas of ripe cherry and violets, followed by a lush mouth feel with layers of blackberry, currant, and a touch of chocolate. These flavors combine with soft and supple tannins to create a long, silky smooth finish.

2019 Pinot Noir – Burnside Road $55.00 1 ADD TO CART 93 Points – James Suckling This expressive wine begins with dark and savory and evolves through earth and spice to end on a delicate floral note. It requires time to savor and truly appreciate what it’s offering. It’s the kind of Pinot we love to make (and drink!). The silky texture is offset with a bright, juicy vein of acidity that runs straight through the wine and compliments the tannins on the finish. The wine has an awesome persistence in both flavors and tactile presence as it lingers and pushes for the next sip. As with prior vintages, the Burnside Pinot makes a statement about spicy and earth-driven Pinot where fruit states a back seat and the vineyard site shines through.

This powerful Cabernet Sauvignon from the hillsides of Alexander Valley has aromas of lush, red plum and dark berries that dominate the glass, while hints of cassis and milk chocolate play in the background. The dried fig and chewy tannins give this wine a strong backbone, while the 24 months of barrel aging have softened this bold wine just enough to enjoy now with a cheese and charcuterie board, filet mignon with grilled vegetables or a dark chocolate mousse. Drink over the next 5 to 7 years.

The 2019 Robert’s road Chardonnay is full of stone fruit character. Ripe peaches and nectarines lead the way into baking spice, creamy mouthfeel, and bright freshness.

The 2019 El Coro Pinot Noir shows an array of bright hibiscus, vanilla, damp earth, and dark cherry aromas. In the mouth, layers of classic flavors like black cherry, forest floor, and pomegranate encounter exhibits of red plum and cassis. The fine tannins are rounded out with a hint of cedar and cinnamon in the finish. There is a juxtaposition of intensity and delicacy with this wine.

A classic blend of three different varieties that highlight the diversity of Pine Mountain vineyard sites. Lively fruit flavors of red and dark cherries, blueberries, and blackberries fill the palate. Well integrated oak offers a long finish of peppery spice and solid tannins.

The robust, dark fruit of this Cabernet Sauvignon awakens with notes of poached plum, cinnamon bark, and mission fig. A stout yet velvety texture greats the palate as luxuriant notes of raspberry cordial, ripe black cherry, and tobacco accentuate the middle. The delicate yet savory tannins settle softly on an elegantly refined finish. Beautiful color, well-defined aromatics, and outstanding flavor are all evident in this year’s vintage.

Beautifully expressive, this wine features notes of fig, black raspberry and warm vanilla on the nose. The wine is richly textured and supple on the palate with juicy red fruit, tangy minerality, and a long vibrant finish.

Pair this wine with rich meats such as Lamb sugo, pasta Amatriciana, or an herb-crusted pork loin. For a little fun, throw a tangy Irish cheddar on your burger or cheese board.

This Single Vineyard expression of 2019 Pinot Noir displays a deep burgundy color while offering aromas of fresh truffle and strawberry. The well balanced palate contains a nuanced ripe, muddled black cherry with light dried tobacco, transitioning to a smooth black currant, cocoa finish.

Organically farmed and using only rainwater for irrigation, the vineyard consistently offers exceptional fruit quality with extremely low yields from our heritage 1900 planting site. The vineyard is cultivated without the use of herbicides or pesticides; a stewardship that has continued over the duration of its life. The epic 2020 MCM Gamba Estate Old Vine Zinfandel is a brilliant garnet color. The nose offers an array of stone fruits, cedar, and savory fall spices. Medium to full-bodied, the MCM is classic Gamba on the palate. Showing a solid structure and refined texture, the 2020 MCM offers dark berries, a touch of nectarine, Washington cherry compote, and tangy rhubarb, accented with delicious cocoa and brown spices, with just a subtle hint of oak. The wine is satisfying, layered, and enjoyably buoyant, showcasing a proportionate balance of mouth-watering acidity. This is a serious and thought-provoking wine from beginning to end. A great wine to enjoy now, or will reward the patient oenophile in the cellar with 5-10 years of additional aging.

Through intensively farming each vineyard site, our intent is to maximize the character and individuality of place. We do so utilize the most progressive viticultural techniques. Harvested at night, the fruit was rigorously hand sorted prior to destemming and then berry selected before open top fermentation. This blend is a collection of heirloom clones of Pinot Noir like Calera, Swan, Pommard, Mt. Eden, and Chalone as well as newer French selections like Dijon 777 & 943.

One of our most substantial, complex wines among our mix of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, this wine is a rare beauty. Raw honey and crème de cassis hit the senses, quickly leading to licorice, black cherries, sweet tobacco leaf, blue herbs, cream soda, cardamom and coconut. On the palate this wine is massive and full-bodied with blueberry compote, candied raspberries, plum concentrate, bittersweet cocoa and crushed espresso bean, with mouthwatering acidity and a perpetual finish. Delicious!

Fragrant notes of black cherry and mulling spice give way to rich juicy flavors of boysenberry a hint of espresso, and a savory richness on the palate. The dark fruit elements are enhanced by sophisticated nuances from the time spent aging in barrel. Vineyard Notes Koos Family Vineyard was planted in June of 2000 on two acres of sandy loam soil in the Sonoma Coast appellation. 

2018 had a cool Spring and mild summer which resulted in slow ripening until a heat spike around Labor Day accelerated ripening. Immediately after, the weather returned to mild temperatures again, allowing the grapevines to recover. Individual blocks at Jack London vineyard were picked at the peak of ripeness between September 25th and October 2nd. After an average of 16 days of fermentation on the skins, the lots were then individually pressed off and settled before being transferred into barrels for 30 months of aging.

The 2013 Vintage was the best since 2007. We said that about the 2012 vintage but after experiencing 2013, it proved to be even better than the stellar 2012 vintage. What does “better” mean? Many tasters would say they are stronger but that is too simplistic. The 2013 red wines have more structure and more depth. They engage longer, the taste lingers longer on your palate. It is currently my favorite Zinfandel and anyone that works at Deerfield will tell you that Zinfandel is my favorite wine. – Robert

Elegant and inviting, the 2017 Cinq Cépages opens with beautiful aromas of fresh raspberry, red and black currant, sweet floral fruit, and notes of lavender. The lush mouthfeel is filled with supple fruit, warm milk chocolate, toasted chestnut and fall spice flavors. The vintage of Cinq Cépages showcases incredibly refined and smooth tannins which leave a silky finish. The wine is rewarding now and ready for enjoyment but will also evolve over time with proper cellaring. Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot

An estate blend, sourced from twelve acres of our Ambassador’s 1953, de Brye and Sessions vineyard blocks, all on rocky clay-loam soils, with an average vine age of nearly 30 years.

Yu-ki Estate Pinot Noir always has a dark ruby color, due to the high skin to juice ratio in the tiny Pinot Noir grapes that grow in this coastal site. The 2019 Yu-ki has aromas of brambly wild huckleberries, wet earth, forest floor, molasses, and chanterelle mushrooms. The palate is a seamless blend of perfectly ripe fruit flavors, moderate tannins, and refreshing acidity. Each year that the Yu-ki vineyard matures, the flavors get more complex, and the palate gets more structured. As with all great vineyards, the longevity of the wines increases as the vines get older. Enjoy the 2019 Yu-ki from 2022 through 2032.