Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Deep Ruby with complex aromas of black and blue fruits, blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged for 20 months on French oak (60% new). On the palate flavors of currants, black cherry and blackberry with spice, and a touch of oak. Balanced acidity supported the fine dusty tannins. Oak, cacao, and leather were noted on the long finish. Although this wine needs some bottle age, it’s somewhat approachable now. — 10 days ago

Alan Cooke

9.1

Awesome Pic at Central Market Dallas! — 4 months ago

Alan Hyde

9.0

Nicely balanced oak — 6 months ago

Tetsu Nakazawa

8.9

E' buono, ma troppo dolce anche secondo mia moglie. A I miei amici piece bere con ghiaccio. L'ho trovato a Costco. — a year ago

Joe Gillies

9.4

Celebrating 15 year anniversary! Drinking beautifully after a 30 min decant. Brickish coloring. Very traditional tasting notes...subdued red fruits with tobacco and earthy notes. Tannins have mellowed but are still present. Have several more so I'll be updating this annually now! Drank at Amici byob in Cherry Hill, NJ (excellent food and service!). — 25 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Olema Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Pinot Noir sourced across premier Sonoma sub-appellations. Olema is part of Amici Cellars, known for delivering high quality at everyday approachable price points. Sonoma Pinot Noir often leans toward lush fruit with a soft structure compared to the more restrained Burgundian style.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits dominate—ripe cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate—layered with subtle spice, clove, and a touch of cola. There’s a delicate hint of rose petals and forest floor rounding out the aromatic profile.

Mouthfeel
Silky and medium-bodied with fine tannins, bright acidity, and a smooth, fruit-forward finish. Very approachable and polished, made to be enjoyed young.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak (a small percentage new) to preserve freshness while adding just a hint of structure and spice.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, seared salmon, or even charcuterie. Its freshness makes it versatile with both lighter and savory dishes.

Verdict
A crowd-pleasing Sonoma Pinot Noir—ripe, polished, and balanced. It offers exceptional value for its region, delivering elegance and approachability in one glass. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Crafted from premier vineyard sites in Russian River Valley, this 100% Pinot Noir captures the hallmark vibrancy of the region. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak, the wine is beautifully balanced, offering layers of blackberry, raspberry, and subtle toasty oak.

Medium-plus in body with moderate tannins, the mouthfeel is smooth, polished, and appetizing from start to finish. It’s drinking beautifully now, but has the structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–7 years. A confident, fruit-forward Pinot with elegance and aging potential. Cheers! — 7 months ago

Nishith Jobanputra

9.0

Textbook Napa cab. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Amici Cellars – El Diablo Vineyard Chard - 2020. Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
From the esteemed El Diablo Vineyard perched along the eastern ridges of the Russian River Valley AVA, this 2020 Chardonnay is a beautiful testament to both site and vintage. Using small-berried Wente clone fruit, this single-vineyard bottling delivers a compelling balance of freshness, richness, and regional finesse. 

Aromas & Flavors
The nose unfolds with savory brioche and pineapple juice aromas, leading into a palate that echoes with piña colada and banana cream pie, all carrying through to a lingering finish.

Mouthfeel
Texturally rich yet dynamic, this wine showcases a mouthwatering interplay of freshness and acidity, its savory core holding structure while allowing the orchard and tropical fruit elements to bloom.   

Verdict
This 2020 Amici El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay delivers single-vineyard character with finesse, layered, textural, and elegantly savory. The balance of piña colada richness and citrus freshness speaks to both the vintage’s warmth and the vineyard’s refined site expression. A showcase Chardonnay that exemplifies the Sonoma Russian River Valley’s renowned versatility and depth. Cheers! 🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Loved the finish as it was elegant and persistent, echoing tropical sweetness and pastry-driven flavors against a backdrop of subtle savory depth. Additionally, the lingering citrus and stone fruit lift, is very inviting while it's minerality with some nutty undertones lend a compelling complexity. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Amici Cellars – Flora Marie Vineyard – Chard – 2018
Russian River Valley – Sonoma County – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A benchmark New World Chardonnay and a true winemaker’s vintage. The 2018 growing season in Russian River Valley was cool and even, with no major heat spikes, allowing fruit from Flora Marie Vineyard to be harvested at ideal ripeness. This wine is all about patience, balance, and restraint, a Chardonnay that prioritizes purity and structure over excess, and one that quietly rivals top white Burgundies in poise and longevity.

Aromas & Flavors
Mineral-driven and refined on the nose, with delicate white florals and a subtle saline edge. The palate unfolds in layers: baked pineapple, citrus zest, yellow pear, and gentle stone fruit, all woven together with remarkable precision. The fruit is expressive yet never loud, framed by a quiet, savory mineral backbone.

Mouthfeel
Silky and composed, medium-to-full-bodied without weightiness. The texture glides across the palate with effortless balance, supported by fresh acidity and an underlying sense of tension. The finish is long, clean, and quietly complex, lingering without overreaching.

Food Pairings
Roasted chicken with herbs, seared scallops, halibut, lobster with olive oil or beurre blanc, mushroom risotto, or simply on its own as a contemplative glass. Equally at home at the table or in the cellar.

Verdict
A masterclass in restraint and purity. This is Chardonnay for those who value nuance, structure, and site expression over overt oak or power. Rare, hard to find, and deeply rewarding, one of the most compelling New World Chardonnays I’ve tasted.

Did You Know?
Flora Marie Vineyard is planted with Montrachet-derived clones from the Côte de Beaune, bringing Burgundian heritage into the cool-climate ridgelines of Russian River Valley, one reason this wine delivers such seamless balance between Old World elegance and New World clarity.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is my favorite New World Chardonnay. Period. Elegant, layered, and quietly profound. If you ever come across a bottle, especially this 2018, don’t hesitate. It speaks far beyond what words can capture. — 7 months ago