Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. Owned by Roger Zannier. Vinified by João Cabral Nicolau de Almeida. Dark red with purplish rim. Intense nose with blackberry jam, amarena cherries and subtle oak. Powerful, but fresh , with layers of black fruit packed in a ripe tannic structure. Long spicy finish. Abv. 13,5%. — 2 years ago

Nancy Burroughs

9.0

Opened at Slim Chance Farm on Easter to go with 2nd country ham. — 5 years ago

Brian Reedy

9.2

Delicious. Classic Bob Cabral and W/S. Deep luscious fruit, bright acidity and balance. — 6 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.1

Raspberry, cherry, cola, rhubarb, orange rind, Earl Grey tea, sandalwood, baking spice. Very lifted and fresh on the palate with vivid ruby color and a graceful feminine character. Truly excellent, superbly-crafted New World Pinot Noir that is delicious, speaks of its place and will hold well in the cellar. There’s only one problem here: An utterly absurd price which I find on the verge of criminal. I have no doubt this segment of the market will bear it, but personally I refuse to let price color my perception of what is actually in the glass which in this case is a very fine Pinot Noir, not Grand Cru Vosne Romanee. For the suggested retail price of this wine I would suggest three or four different Pinot Noir (grown anywhere in the world) that could provide equal if not greater measures of happiness. — 6 years ago

Deborah M

9.5

We enjoyed this wine during our first dinner in Healdsburg last week. We were drawn to this wine when we learned that the winemaker is Bob Cabral who was once at William Selyem. He is now at Three Sticks but has the Valette wines on the side. This wine was full bodied, elegant, earthy and absolutely delicious. I was happy to learn that you can order directly from Valette wines. — 3 years ago

C. Cole

9.2

Wow! I’ve had various Three Stick varietals, but this was one of the first (full) bottle of Pinot from the Vineyard (pre-Bob Cabral). Smooth upon opening, and it became more velvety and complex with time. Give it a few more years, and it will truly dazzle! — 5 years ago

romo

9.2

Impressive dry pinot rosé. — 6 years ago

George Chen

9.0

Nice wine from chef friend :) — 4 years ago

Marc Garneau

9.0

Très bon ratio qualité-prix. Pas trop corsé, se bois bien avec touche distinctive. Souple en bouche. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is a $30 retail Chardonnay that just hit K&L this week at $14.99. To quote Ralph their Senior Buyer who buys their Bordeaux wines, “The best screaming deal in richly styled California Chardonnay I've tasted in my 40 years here. When I tasted this here at my desk with our buyer Ryan Woodhouse, I said to myself, wow this is very good, expensive Chardonnay.”

The nose shows big, round richness. Lots of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice, volcanic minerals, good presence of nice chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies.

The palate is, round, rich and phat. It’s beautiful over the palate. Loads of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit with apricots dominating, slight notes of honey, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice with some palate heat, grainy volcanic minerals, good presence of; beautiful, moist, powdery chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies. The acidity is round and voluptuous. The long, rich finish is; elegant, well balanced, hedonistic and persists minutes.

Nice to see a newer release California wine at 13.4% ABV.

Drinks nicely even beyond its full retail price!

A little background on their Winemaker, Dan Fitzgerald. Dan cut his teeth as Brack Mountain’s founding Winemaker. Prior to that, he worked with Winemaker Bob Cabral at Williams Selyem Winery in the Russian River Valley, rounding out his trifecta of Pinot noir and Chardonnay winemaking. Also, had experience at James Halliday’s Coldstream Hills Winery in Australia’s Yarra Valley and Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley.

The Sierra Mar Vineyard was planted by the Pisoni Family and sits adjacent to the famous Gary’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni. The vineyard has been in their family for three generations. “Mountain Sea” translates in Spanish to Sierra Mar. The vineyard sits just over 1000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Photos of, the barrels this vineyard is fermented, WineMaker Dan Fitzgerald and their Sierra Mar Vineyard. — 6 years ago

with James and Christina