Clos Saron

Home Vineyard Pinot Noir

9.291 ratings
9.224 pro ratings
Sierra Foothills, California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Matt Perlman

Quite structured, granitic, juicy, meaty, a bit of smoke. Very, very special

Quite structured, granitic, juicy, meaty, a bit of smoke. Very, very special

Mar 31st, 2022
Ian Staub

This bottle brings me right back to the beginning where I fell in love with Gideon’s work. Highly concentrated, intense, sappy texture that sticks to your gums.
Juicy ripe black summer plum, black cherry, blood orange, fresh fennel, pomegranate, purple flowers, tomato leaf, black pepper. Extremely complex and extremely delicious.

Still a strong backbone of acid and fruit persisting through the long finish. Tannins are fully resolved. Completely clean after a couple minutes to air out the bit of Brett and VA (which I expect and embrace with these wines).

I was ready to start popping all my remaining Clos Saron bottles thinking they were starting to decline, but a bottle like this could go forever. There is definite bottle variation at play, and the off bottles can be a bit muddy and dull. But when they hit (which they usually do) there’s really nothing like it.

This bottle brings me right back to the beginning where I fell in love with Gideon’s work. Highly concentrated, intense, sappy texture that sticks to your gums.
Juicy ripe black summer plum, black cherry, blood orange, fresh fennel, pomegranate, purple flowers, tomato leaf, black pepper. Extremely complex and extremely delicious.

Still a strong backbone of acid and fruit persisting through the long finish. Tannins are fully resolved. Completely clean after a couple minutes to air out the bit of Brett and VA (which I expect and embrace with these wines).

I was ready to start popping all my remaining Clos Saron bottles thinking they were starting to decline, but a bottle like this could go forever. There is definite bottle variation at play, and the off bottles can be a bit muddy and dull. But when they hit (which they usually do) there’s really nothing like it.

May 22nd, 2020
Ian Staub

Gideon’s wines always make an impression. At this age, perhaps starting to get a bit tired. But there is still beautiful slightly stewed fruit, texture that balances acid and softened tannin structure, and a really profound and vivid expression of “forest floor”. The wine truly smells of fresh and decaying pine needles, bay laurel, mushrooms and freshly turned earth. A wonderful pairing for an earthy mushroom and asparagus risotto.

Gideon’s wines always make an impression. At this age, perhaps starting to get a bit tired. But there is still beautiful slightly stewed fruit, texture that balances acid and softened tannin structure, and a really profound and vivid expression of “forest floor”. The wine truly smells of fresh and decaying pine needles, bay laurel, mushrooms and freshly turned earth. A wonderful pairing for an earthy mushroom and asparagus risotto.

Dec 15th, 2019
Julia Burke

Folks I’m back on this thing


When “carignan?!” pops into your head during a blind tasting you should probably write down Carignan

Folks I’m back on this thing


When “carignan?!” pops into your head during a blind tasting you should probably write down Carignan

Nov 8th, 2018
Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

In a great spot, with the ability to go the distance.

In a great spot, with the ability to go the distance.

Jul 12th, 2018
Weijie Shi (Jay)

Very small production. Less than 80 cases produced. Cloudy garnet color. Very stemmy and green on the nose. Tart red cherry and dried herb. Elevated acidity. Drinking nicely.

Very small production. Less than 80 cases produced. Cloudy garnet color. Very stemmy and green on the nose. Tart red cherry and dried herb. Elevated acidity. Drinking nicely.

Dec 4th, 2017
Ian Staub

Rich and minerally red fruit mingles with an intense smoked meat aroma and some barnyard funk. This was much more "well behaved" out of the bottle compared to the acid/funk bite that occurred initially with my other CS wines thus far. This is a really interesting pinot noir that is drinking beautifully.

Rich and minerally red fruit mingles with an intense smoked meat aroma and some barnyard funk. This was much more "well behaved" out of the bottle compared to the acid/funk bite that occurred initially with my other CS wines thus far. This is a really interesting pinot noir that is drinking beautifully.

Jul 29th, 2017
Stephen Solaka

Meat, earth and berries. Built to last!

Meat, earth and berries. Built to last!

Jun 2nd, 2017
Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.3

Still tightly wound and youthful, but sooo promising. Tart red berries and sun drenched raspberries, spicy minerals and faint vegetal notes bring complexity to this understated style of wine. Structured for the long haul. 93+

Still tightly wound and youthful, but sooo promising. Tart red berries and sun drenched raspberries, spicy minerals and faint vegetal notes bring complexity to this understated style of wine. Structured for the long haul. 93+

Mar 26th, 2017
Jonas Mendoza

Pinot Noir grafted on Cabernet Sauvignon rootstock. Meaty, but very polished, with a solid core of pomegranate and black cherry fruit. Fewer than 2,000 bottles produced.

Pinot Noir grafted on Cabernet Sauvignon rootstock. Meaty, but very polished, with a solid core of pomegranate and black cherry fruit. Fewer than 2,000 bottles produced.

Oct 15th, 2015