Five For Friday: New Releases Deliver Depth, Precision and Personality Across Varietals
This week’s selections—from volcanic reds to velvety Pinot Noirs—highlight winemakers who let terroir lead and flavor shine.
50 West Vineyards Aldie Heights Cuvée 2021 ($70):
Dark and broodingly purple in the glass, with aromas of dark chocolate and dried violets on the nose. This wine delivers a rich, full mouthfeel, featuring ripe plum, melted milk chocolate and chalky tannins. Another intriguing offering from Virginia.
Blend: 47% Tannat, 44% Petit Verdot, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($35):
The feral side of Knights Valley is on display, as aromas of plum, mint and fennel rise from the glass. Firm tannins grip onto the plum, cassis and herbal notes, which glide smoothly on the finish.
Hamel “Stratum” Sonoma Valley Red Wine 2020 ($60):
Find John Hamel right at home digging into the volcanic soils of Sonoma’s Mayacamas Mountain Range. Read the back label that details the soil composition—Rhyolitic Colluvium and Fractured Basalt—and you'll discover one of the Valley’s most impressive producers of Bordeaux varietals.
That intimate soil knowledge and embrace of terroir have crafted this inky-dark wine, which features a silky smooth mouthfeel that transitions into well-structured tannins on the finish. Flavors of dark plum, black cherry, iodine, and wild game essence highlight a wine that will age beautifully but is already in an exciting phase.
Blend: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot.
Papapietro Perry Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2022 ($62):
Dark crimson to light purple in the glass, it's brimming with flavors of cherry, cherry cola and grenadine. The cola note meets a beam of acidity at midpalate, injecting a subtle jolt into the experience. The taming of Russian River Pinot here is impressive—there’s a dialed-in mixture of fruit flavors and a plush mouthfeel that just feels right.
Papapietro Perry Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022 ($62):
An absolutely charming Pinot Noir with expertly balanced flavors that linger beautifully. Subtle raspberry and herbal notes appear on the nose. The soft mouthfeel carries raspberry, cranberry and delicate herbal hints like a gently flowing creek after a spring rain. It’s a masterclass in how to craft a Pinot Noir where flavor, acidity and tannins are revealed with mindful precision. If you can’t already tell—I adored this wine.