Top Sonoma red wines for the cellar
See new tasting notes and ratings on a selection of great red wines from Sonoma County, tasted by Master Sommelier Ronan Sayburn.
Ronan Sayburn MS has selected some of the best red Sonoma wine for your cellar, from Alexander Valley Cabernet to coastal Pinot Noir and Rhône-style Syrah.
Scroll down for Sayburn’s top Sonoma reds
Sayburn’s top-scoring Sonoma wine was Kutch’s McDougall Ranch Pinot Noir 2015, rated 96/100 points, made by ex-NASDAQ trader Jamie Kutch. ‘Without doubt a winemaker to watch’, according to Sayburn.
In second place was Radio-Coteau’s Harrison Grade Syrah 2013, scored 95/100. This Syrah may come from the Sonoma Coast appellation but it’s got Rhône written all over it, the clue is in the name — ‘Radio-Coteau is derived from Rhône slang implying ‘messages from the hillsides’, said Sayburn.
Other highlights include two 94-point Cabernet Sauvignons from the Silver Oak and Peter Michael estates, grown in Alexander Valley and Knights Valley AVAs respectively.
Sayburn praised the fine complexity of Peter Michael’s flagship Les Pavots 2011 — a wine that is certain to reward cellaring.
He also points to the sustainable vine-growing practices of Silver Oak, founded in 1972 and currently running on over 1,400 solar panels.
Many of the top Sonoma winemakers prize a sustainable approach, the region’s winegrowers’ association once boasted it would be the nation’s first ‘100% sustainable wine region by 2019′, and all the wines below are certified organic.
Sayburn’s selection includes relatively new releases, mostly from the 2015 and 2016 vintages. Despite their youth, most of these wines have entered their drinking window as of 2018, although they will continue to evolve the next few decades.
Introduction copy by Laura Seal.
Top Sonoma red wines for the cellar:
Ronan Sayburn is a Master Sommelier and head of wine at 67 Pall Mall in London, he is also COO for the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe.
You might also like:
Top Napa Cabernet wines for the cellar
Top California Cabernet 2015 wines: Full vintage report
Jane Anson: Why it’s an exciting time for Sonoma Cabernet
Premium California wines to buy in 2018
Kutch, McDougall Ranch Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2015
A beautiful and elegant Pinot Noir nose of red cherries, raspberry, kirsch liqueur and ripe rhubarb, giving an overall exotic and herbal complexity. Whole bunch...
2015
KutchSonoma County
Radio-Coteau, Harrison Grade Syrah, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2013
A great nose, reminiscent of the northern Rhône, showing deep black berry fruit with violet, crushed black pepper and black olive tapenade, commingling with a...
2013
Radio-CoteauSonoma County
Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley, California, USA, 2013
The 2013 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet is a super expressive and beautifully structured knockout. It leads with alluring aromas of bay laurel, tobacco, and...
2013
Silver OakSonoma County
Peter Michael, Les Pavots, Sonoma County, Knights Valley, California, USA, 2011
Sir Peter Michael’s flagship wine ‘les pavots’, or 'the poppies’, delivers a fine and complex full-bodied wine that will reward cellaring. It has a ripe,...
2011
Peter MichaelSonoma County
Hirsch, West Ridge Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2015
Pale in colour but it holds to the rim, with a delicate nose of cherry, strawberry, blood orange, plum and slight menthol herbal notes. This...
2015
HirschSonoma County
Arnot-Roberts, Que Syrah, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2015
Deep purple coloured with fresh and bright nose of lean blackberry, taut currant, black pepper and purple violet notes. Lean and defined palate with grippy...
2015
Arnot-RobertsSonoma County
Occidental, Freestone Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2016
Made with 100% destemmed grapes, this Pinot Noir is pale coloured with aromas of raspberry, cherry and cranberry with a slight herbal hint of dried...
2016
OccidentalSonoma County
Louis M Martini, Gnarly Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, California, USA, 2016
This is full-bodied and concentrated with a very ripe nose of baked cherries, raspberries and blueberries, as well as jammy blackberry. Followed by Christmas cake...
2016
Louis M MartiniSonoma County
