Chardonnay:
Ritchie
Porter-Bass
Barbed Oak
Sonoma County
Pinot noir:
Hellenthal
van der Kamp
Sonoma County Rosé
2009 Pinot noir Rosé
The wine is a beautiful salmon color and from the glass, comes notes of baked
strawberry/rhubarb pie, freshly sliced strawberries and bright, pure red fruits. These aromas
carry through into flavors on the palate bringing with them vanilla and spice. The entry is
bright and crisp, filling the palate with a delicate balance of textures and then stretches out
into a very long finish.
Production: 90 cases Released: 5/1/2010 Price: $15
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
2008 Sonoma County Pinot noir
Rich, dark fruit aromas explode from the glass, mingling with sweet spices and
hints of creamy, toasted oak. On the palate, the fruit flavors are big, rich and dark. The
texture of the wine is round and rich yet structured with with fine tannins and balanced acidity,
that evolves into a long and expansive finish.
Production: 40 cases Released: 5/15/2010 Price: $25
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
2008 Sonoma County Chardonnay
Aromas of creamy vanilla, spice and roasty, toasty creme brulee’ interweave
with the fruit qualities of citrus, grilled pineapple and other tropical fruits and finally, a mineral
aspect of crushed stone. The texture of the wine is bold upon entry with flavors of lemon
custard and vanilla being counter balanced by focussed acidity and a solid structure. The
wine is refreshing and light on the palate and gives way to a long and persistent finish.
Production: 221 cases Released: 5/15/2010 Price: $25
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
PinotFile - May 24, 2010
Appealing aromas of cooked pear, brown butter, caramel and oak fading some in the glass replaced by
green apple notes. Tasty citrus and pear flavors with a hint of honey. Not as rich or striking as the
vineyard-designated Chardonnays, but a solid wine with a slightly creamy mouth feel and a bright,
clingy finish. A go-to wine for everyday enjoyment. Good.
2007 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay
The Ritchie Vineyard consistently produces distinctive Chardonnays, known
for their richness and tropical fruit flavors. The glass is filled with roasty, toasty notes of
creme brulee‘ and spices. Rich fruit aromas follow from ripe nectarine and tropical fruits
along with wet stones, suggesting minerality. They entry is bold, crisp and bright. The
layered textures spread across the palate with its mouth filling (mouth watering) palate
weight. The wine is rich and viscous and balanced with an elegant acidity. The oak signature
is present at such a level to support the complex of aroma and flavors components. The fruit,
rich cream and mineral flavors follow onto the palate beautifully, providing even greater depth
to the aromas.
Production: 200 cases Released: 5/1/2010 Price: $40
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
PinotFile - May 24, 2010
Slight haze in the glass (unfiltered). Shy but pleasing aromas of lemon zest, toffee, vanilla and
crushed rock, with a whiff of alcohol peaking out. Rich and full-bodied flavors of golden apple and pears with a
bright accent of minerality. There is deft use of oak and a striking creaminess to the texture. The biggest
Chardonnay in the lineup and the most Caliesque. This wine will find many hedonistic-seeking fans.
Very good.
2007 Hellenthal Pinot noir
This wine shows classic acid and tannin structure typical of Pinot noir hailing
from the extreme Sonoma Coast. From the first pour, the glass is filled with aromas of
cherries, sandalwood and spice. East Indian spices are hallmarks of these coastal Pinot noir
and they further lift and add dimension to the complexity of the wine. The fruit and spice
flavors follow the aromas onto the palate with layers of licorice and bright fruit, culminating in
a long, pure finish. This Pinot noir will stand up to the most robust food and wine pairing and
continue to evolve and improve with aging.
Production: 152 cases Released: 3/1/2010 Price: $40
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
96 POINTS, The Wine Enthusiast, March 2010
"There’s a wildland, coastal mountain taste to this wine, which brims with bone-dry,
exotic, woodsy tastes of wild forest cherries, fennel, balsam, cola, volcanic minerals,
raw beef and Asian spices, not to mention the sweet veneer of sandalwood. It’s utterly
distinct from other Pinots in its almost feral complexity, a wine that changes with every
sniff and sip. Should develop through 2014. This is a great price for a Pinot Noir of this
integrity and interest. Only 152 cases were produced, but it’s worth the search."
93 POINTS - The Pinot Report, April 2010
"Medium ruby color; deep, rich cherry aromas with spice and forest floor notes; ripe, rich, deep cherry flavors with complex earthy, forest floor notes; nice oak; good structure and balance; long finish. Complex, interesting flavors; nice Pinot for an earthy mushroom dish. Needs air and some time in the bottle."
2007 Barbed Oak Vineyard Chardonnay
Aromas of crème brûlée and roasted almonds are interwoven with citrus peel and ripe melon. The structure and extract of the wine spreads across the palate, coating it with rich textures of fine tannin and balanced acidity. Flavors resonate back and forth between Meyer lemon, crisp pear and apple, sweet melon and toasted almonds. The powerful texture extends the long and lingering finish with the creamy richness of crèmebrûlée and lemon custard.
Production: 1392 bottles Released: 1/15/2010 Price: $30
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
Connoisseur's Guide - 92 POINTS, Two Puffs
"Winemaker Greg Bjornstad earned a tip of the CGCW cap for the stunning Pfendler Chardonnay in our recent November issue, and he now does the same with several top-notch offerings under his own label. This rich, but uncommonly refined, working is a textbook example of Greg’s careful winemaking style, and, while a well-extracted wine, it is always light on its feet and firmed by a long line of crisping acidity. Like its mates, it is built for comfortable keeping but will drink famously with milder seafoods straight away."
90 POINTS, The Wine Enthusiast, February 2010
"Lots of oaky richness in this dry, crisp Chardonnay. It has high acidity and a dusty minerality, but also a thick coat of sweet, butterscotchy oak and powerful flavors of lemons, limes, pineapples and exotic tropical fruits. Drink over the next four years."
GOLD MEDAL - 2010 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
PinotFile - May 24,2010
This vineyard was planted to
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 2005 on well-drained Spreckles Series soils. The
Bennett Valley AVA is a very cool region due to the onshore winds of the Pacific
Ocean which enter through the Petaluma Gap. This is a very charming wine with
an alluring perfume of nectarine, banana and butter evolving in the glass to
aromas of lemon and brown spice. Delicious on the palate with discreetly rich
flavors of buttered toast, malted milk, roasted nuts, lemon, and poached white
peaches that persist on the endless lemony finish. Harmonious in every way
with the signature Bjornstad creaminess on display. Very good.
2007 Porter Bass Chardonnay
Pretty, light oat color and slightly opaque showing its unfiltered nature. At first the nose is delicate with hints of citrus flowers then gives way to aromas of creamy lemon curd. Flavors evolve on the palate from citrusy Meyer lemon and mineral qualities through toasty, creamy vanillas and floral and smoky notes. The texture is lean and steely from front to back with a long, lingering finish.
Production: 760 bottles Released: 10/1/2009 Price: $40
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
93 POINTS, The Wine Enthusiast, February 2010
"Chardonnay doesn't get much richer or riper thank this. Explodes with grilled pineapple, lemondrop, smoky meringue, buttered toast and cinnamon spice flavors, brightened and boosted by crisp, citrusy cool-climate acidity. Racy and clean and complex, it should develop bottle nuance over the next four years."
91 POINTS, eRobertParker.com
"The 2007 Chardonnay Porter-Bass Vineyard exhibits lots of nectarine, lychee nut, crushed rock, honeysuckle, and white peach aromas and flavors as well assteely acidity, an attractive minerality, outstanding purity, and a medium to fullbodied style. This impressive effort rivals the estate’s Ritchie Vineyard cuvee. Itshould drink well for 3-4 years.
This small winery in Sebastopol releases under 150 cases of each of these cuvees except for the Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard, which has a production of slightly over 200 cases. Prices are very fair, and as the locals know, Greg Bjornstad is a well-known consultant who has worked with a lot of top wineries in the area. All of these complex offerings merit considerable consumer interest." - Robert Parker, Jr.
PinotFile - May 24, 2010
This vineyard dates to 1980 and is farmed organically and biodynamically. Clones are Rued
(a Musque selection) and Wente. Soils are gravelly clay loam, a fractured shale that commonly underlies the
Goldridge Series. Bjornstad has worked with this vineyard since 1997. Nuanced aromatic profile of lemon
meringue, rock quarry, chalk dust, grass and a hint of oak. Very smooth and creamy in the mouth with flavors
of green apple, pastry cream, citrus and a striking minerality. Discreet richness, facile tannins and a tangy
finish. The most Chablis-like Chardonnay in the lineup. Very good.
2007 van der Kamp Pinot Noir
Pretty, brilliant garnet color and aromas of dark ripe cherries and berries fill the glass along with smoky, toasty layers of spices, black tea, sandalwood and cedar. On the palate, the entry is round and rich and the fruit flavors flirt back and forth between red pie cherries and black raspberries alongside earthy qualities and forest duff. The texture builds from the beginning to a round, mouth coating middle with a long persistent finish. Over time, the flavors continue to evolve on the palate with black licorice and savory, spiced meats.
Production: 1534 bottles Released: 10/1/2009 Price: $40
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
96 POINTS, The Wine Enthusiast, March 2010
"It’s hard to consistently get scores this high year after year, but Greg Bjornstad does,
because he understands Pinot Noir. Specifically, he knows how to combine power,
which is easy, with finesse, which isn’t. This 2007, from an esteemed vineyard, is
spectacular in wild forest cherry, cola, licorice, pine cone, anise, exotic spice and
sandalwood flavors, even as it’s perfectly balanced with crisp acidity, fine tannins and
just-right oak. Lovely and complex. Now–2014."
93 POINTS - The Pinot Report, April 2010
"Medium ruby color; bit closed, some cherry and game notes; ripe, rich, red cherry flavors with complex earthy, game notes; some sweet oak; good structure and balance; long finish. Earthy, complex Pinot with a lot to offer grilled chicken or pork. Has a characteristic gamey note of the Van der Kamp vineyard."
90 POINTS - eRobertParker.com
"Displaying a similar medium ruby hue, the 2007 Pinot Noir van der Kamp
Vineyard exhibits complex notes of cloves, allspice, cherries, plums, and forest
floor, and less herbaceousness than its sibling. Enjoy this elegant, medium
weight Pinot over the next 3-4 years." - Robert Parker, Jr.
PinotFile - May 24, 2010
Pinot Noir from this
mature vineyard always possesses distinctive and interesting nuances.
The aromas are more savory than fruity and feature wild berries, smoky
oak and a hint of barnyard. On the palate, darker fruits are underlain with an
appealing earthiness and meatiness. The tannins are reigned in and there is a
good nip of acidity on the bright finish. My notes say, “Love the texture!” The
wine picks up interest and intensity as it opens in the glass over time. Still
drank beautifully the next day from an opened and re-corked bottle. You need some of this.
2007 Sonoma County Chardonnay
Aromas of creamy vanilla, spice and roasted, toasted bread come from the glass. The subtle tropical fruit aromas present themselves as white peach, Asian pear and melon flavors on the palate. The wine is loaded with flavor and round, creamy, toasty richness! A solid backbone provides this blend with a firm, broad structure and bright acidity that lingers long and complex on the finish.
Production: 1,572 bottles Released: 3/1/2009 Price: $25
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
2008 Pinot noir Rosé
What a fun wine! From the first glimpse in the glass, the wine is attractive with a delicate, salmon color. The aroma coming from the glass is of freshly sliced strawberries that develop into strawberry rhubarb crisp. These aromas carry through into flavors on the palate bringing with them creamy vanilla and spice. There is a lovely balance between crisp acidity, sweet fruit and round richness. The flavors continue to evolve and become rich like guava and hints of smoke begin to appear as the finish lingers on.
Production: 660 bottles Released: 5/20/2009 Price: $18
PURCHASE NOW ABOUT THE VINEYARD
