SAUVIGNON BLANC Pale yellow straw. Shows fresh notes of passion fruit and capsicum in a spicy, rich style, finishing with chalky minerality. Made with native yeasts, 30% Musque clone, partly fermented in neutral (25%) and new French (5%) oak. From a blend of Russian River and Dry Creek fruit. - International Wine Review November 2014 Light yellow. Green apple, quinine and white flowers on the fragrant nose, with a hint of beeswax adding depth. Dry and racy on entry, then deeper in the mid-palate, offering juicy pear and tangerine flavors and a touch of white pepper. Finishes nervy and long, leaving suave floral and gingery spice notes behind. This would work really well with raw oysters or clams. - Stephen Tanzer, Vinous May 2014 SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY The Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is gorgeous. Apricots, honey, mint, orange blossom and wild flowers are all laced together in the glass in a racy, perfumed Chardonnay to drink over the next handful of years. Simply put, this is a fabulous wine for the money. The was done 90% in oak and 10% in steel. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous January 2015 Brings elegant aromas and flavors of ripe pear and lemon with vanilla blossom, mineral and a spicy herb character. Well balanced with nice richness on the mouthfeel. The finish is vibrant leaving behind lemon zest and a hint of spicy notes. Overall this is a very pretty Chardonnay and a fantastic value. (Best -2017) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report July Light yellow straw. Reveals stone fruit with leesy notes. Full on the palate, it shows leesy notes and good flavor depth. Made from early harvested, ownrooted Wente clone grapes and aged in neutral oak, - International Wine Review November 2014 Light, hazy yellow. Subtly perfumed aromas of pear skin, yellow plum, honey and white flowers, with a toasty, leesy nuance coming up with aeration. Silky and seamless in texture, offering gently sweet orchard and citrus fruit flavors and a hint of tarragon. A stony quality adds cut to the finish, which clings with good fruit driven persistence. - Stephen Tanzer, Vinous May 2014 BLAKEMAN VINEYARD CHARDONNAY Medium yellow straw. A gorgeous wine with notes of fresh, yellow stone fruit, vanilla bean, and lightly toasted nuts. Big and soft on the attack, creamy mouth feel but with bright acidity, too. From a high altitude vineyard, fermented 2/3 stainless steel, 1/3 French oak. - International Wine Review November 2014 The Blakeman Vineyard Chardonnay is a pretty showing. The fruit from this vineyard benefits from a cool climate and elevated mountain side location. It s pure, with fresh aromas of meyer lemon, white florals and minerals which carry over onto the clean finish. (Best 2014-2017) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report April 2014 HEINTZ VINEYARD CHARDONNAY ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR 2014 Banshee s Chardonnay Heintz Vineyard captures the essence of this great site in its oily texture and bold flavors. Orange blossom, honey, mint and tropical-inflected notes open up effortlessly in the glass. Rich, textured and beautifully expressive, the will reward readers with a number of years of very fine drinking. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous January 2015 Light peach skin color. Fresh tangerine and peach aromas show a hint of white pepper. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering zesty citrus and pit fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Lingers with very good spicy intensity on the finish, which leaves a refreshingly bitter peach pit note behind. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous April 2015
SONOMA COUNTY PINOT NOIR Banshee s Pinot Noir (Sonoma County) is supple, racy and flat-out delicious, especially for the money. Raspberries, crushed flowers and soft spices linger on the effortless, gracious finish. Drink this soft Pinot over the next few years. This is one of the best values readers will find in Sonoma Pinot Noir. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous January 2015 The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Banshee contains fruit from declassified barrels sourced from some premier vineyards in including; Coastlands, Emmaline, Jack Hill, Rice-Spivak, Tina Marie, Hellenthal, Hurst, Bohemian and Sullivan. This brings a wonderful sense of freshness on the nose with aromas of raspberry and strawberry fruits followed by spices, cloves and wild mushrooms. It s extremely well balanced and the texture is just pure silk. This is a phenomenal showing and excellent entry to Banshee s Pinot Noir. (Best 2014-2023) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report March 2014 This is an easy drinking and highly affordable Pinot Noir. It offers fresh aromas and flavors of raspberry and pomegranate. It is full in the mouth with good intensity of flavor, excellent balance and a satisfying finish. Great value. - International Wine Review November 2014 Bright red. Aromas of black raspberry and floral pastilles, with a subtle cola nuance coming out with aeration. Displays deeper cherry and licorice qualitites on the palate, along with a touch of spicecake. Chewy tannins frame the finish, with the cola and floral notes echoing. This youthful Pinot responds very well to being open for an hour or so. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May 2014 The Pinot Noir (Sonoma County) is very pretty. Sweet, floral and lifted, the graces the palate with dark cherry and raspberry notes, along with a hint of cinnamon, new leather and wild flowers. There is nothing fancy here, just a beautifully balanced, harmonious Sonoma Coast Pinot loaded with personality. Best of all, the is a terrific value. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous February 2014 Fresh strawberries, raspberries are layered with spices and herbs layer this silky Pinot. The medium body is wrapped in beautiful soft velvety tannins ending with a delicate spice-tinged finish. This is a delicious, crowd pleasing, easy drinking Pinot with no hard edges. was the first vintage in which Banshee used declassified fruit from their own single vineyard sources at Tina Marie and Hurst Vineyards and it certainly looks to have paid off. (Best -2017) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report July Deep red. High-pitched red berry and floral aromas are accented by cinnamon and pungent herbs. Taut and linear on the palate, offering tangy red currant and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of cola. Finishes clean and brisk, with lingering spiciness and a touch of bitter herbs. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May Banshee s Pinot Noir Sonoma County offers plenty of near-term pleasure and also happens to be a great value. Dark red and black berries, wild flowers, new leather and spices jump from the glass as this juicy, forward Pinot shows off its supple personality and undeniable appeal. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous February 2014 MORDECAI PROPRIETARY RED Made since 09. Very pleasant, spicy, blackberry fruit, high acidity, clove and baking spices, fairly tannic, but a nice blend of Rhone and Bordeaux varietals. Cool climate Syrah and Cabernet based. - International Wine Review November 2014 (A blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Syrah, 12% Carignan, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Grenache, 5% Touriga Nacional, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 3% Zinfandel and 3% Barbera): Deep ruby. Expressive, spice-tinged aromas of cherry, black raspberry, violet and white pepper. Supple, spicy and pliant on the palate, showing good lift and clarity to its dark berry, spicecake and licorice flavors. Finishes with supple tannins, building spiciness and very good persistence. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May 2014
MARINE LAYER PINOT NOIR 96 POINTS For the vintage, Banshee founders Noah Dorrance, Baron Ziegler and Steve Graf brought on Sonoma Coast veteran Ross Cobb to consult on the wines; they made them at Hirsch, where Cobb now works. The wines turned out to be some of their best yet. This comes from a number of noteworthy vineyards, including Cobb s own Coastlands, as well as Rice-Spivak, Hellenthal, Emmaline and Jack Hill a sort of California premier cru blend that captures the regional character of grapes grown amid western Sonoma s towering coastal redwoods. Like some of Banshee s other new releases, it s somewhat reduced right now, though its potential is apparent in an abstract impression of structural grace and mineral tannins. Its scents are evasive, like the smell of fog in a valley of mossy conifers, a direct and transparent distillation of the Northern California coast. With two days of air it unfurls more completely, a saturated yet weightless impression of dark red fruit filling all the wine s gaps, though the overall impression remains one of stones and moss rather than berries. Discreet and cool, it needs a few more years of age to show its best. - Wine & Spirits April 2015 The Marine Layer from Banshee is a wonderfully elegant Pinot Noir, delivering aromas of raspberry and cranberry followed by spices and dried floral with hints of black tea and fresh earthy minerals. This demonstrates remarkable balance, with a gorgeous soft, silky texture that glides effortlessly across your palate. The clean, pretty finish is laced with wild berries and exotic spices. This gains complexity as it sits in the glass and I expect it to continue to do so over the next decade. The Pinot Noir for the Marine Layer was sourced from Sonoma Coast vineyards with remarkable pedigree, including Coastlands, Rice-Spivak, Hellenthal, Emmaline and Jack Hill. Banshee also involved Ross Cobb as the consultant winemaker and conducted the winemaking at Hirsch Vineyards. Only 8 barrels made of this beauty. - MD, International Wine Report March 2014 The Pinot Noir Marine Layer is a big step up in quality. Sourced from the Sonoma Coast. It displays perfumy aromas of dark red berry fruit and rose petals and is feminine and saline in character. Aged 15 months in oak, 10% new, it shows good acidity and freshness, intensity of flavor and a long lasting finish. - International Wine Review November 2014 90+ POINTS Vivid red. High-pitched red berry and floral scents are complicated by underbrush, rose oil and star anise. Juicy, penetrating and pure, with bright lift and cut to its red berry and bitter cherry flavors. Takes a slightly darker turn on the finish, which features slow-building tannins and lingering smoke and cherry pit qualities. This youthful Pinot benefits significantly from aeration. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May 2014 This too possesses a cool, pure and beautifully layered nose that blends notes of both red and blue pinot fruit that is nuanced by hints of anise and clove. There is an equally cool and restrained character to the delicious, focused and well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that exhibit a hint of youthful austerity on the reasonably well-balanced and lingering finish. Like the Jack Hill there is a trace of dryness but this may very well age out. If you re going to buy this, I would suggest allowing it at least 2 to 3 years of bottle age so as to allow the finish to better harmonize though I underscore that the wine should reward 6 to 8 of cellar time. - Allen Meadows, Burghound June 2015 Ruby-red. Heady aromas of red berry preserves, cherry skin, potpourri and cola, with a subtle vanilla note emerging with air. Silky and sweet on the palate, offering energetic raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that pick up weight and a smoky quality in the glass. Shows impressive energy on the finish, which leaves rose and raspberry notes behind. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May The Marine Layer Pinot Noir brings a more rustic character to Banshee s lineup with aromas of damp earth, fresh mushroom, licorice and roasted herbs wrapped in beautiful dark cherry and raspberry fruit. This has a wonderful roundness and a gorgeous velvet texture that caresses your palate as it finishes up soft and silky. The Banshee Marine Layer was aged for 15 months in 205 new French oak barrels and blended from four different vineyard sources. (Best -2021) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report July Beautifully resonant in the glass, the wine flows with the essence of dark red cherries, plums, smoke, licorice and tobacco. There is a gorgeous depth and persistence in the glass, along with an element of mystery that is hugely appealing. This is a terrific showing. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous February 2014
TINA MARIE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 93 POINTS This comes from a vineyard in the hills of Green Valley, all Dijon clones on Goldridge soil with an unusual amount of clay, surrounded by groves of trees. It s the most approachable of Banshee s s, the fruit cool and silky, like orange peels and rose petals dissolved in spring water. Its structure seems to mimic the gentle curves of the vineyard s fog-influenced slopes. The tannins are implicit rather than explicit, a fine and chalky platform that gives the wine s rich florality length and focus. Despite their apparent delicacy, the flavors maintain their freshness with several days of air, suggesting that the wine has some aging potential, though its come-hither deliciousness is a compelling enough reason to drink it now. - Wine & Spirits April 2015 Soft, supple and beautifully layered in the glass, the Pinot Noir Tina Marie Vineyard is another hugely appealing wine from Banshee. Sweet floral, spice and mint notes wrap a core of resonant dark red and purplish-toned fruit. There is a lot to like here. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous January 2015 The Tina Marie Vineyard Pinot Noir is a very pretty showing. It opens with aromas of bright strawberry and zesty raspberry fruit along with sweet spices and dried floral which burst from the glass. This possesses wonderful clarity and a gorgeous soft, delicate texture that will instantly win you over. It shows impeccable balance and a seamless transition from start to finish. Other wineries that source fruit from Tina Marie label their wines as Russian River Valley, however Banshee choses to label theirs as Sonoma Coast (both are allowed) because the style of this wine is more similar to that of a Coastal influenced Pinot. This is just a beautiful wine to drink now or cellar for up to a decade. 5 Barrels made. (Best 2014-2024) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report March 2014 Vivid red. A heady, exotically perfumed bouqet evokes fresh red berries, potpurri, anise and smoky minerals. On the palate, intense red currant and bitter cherry flavors flesh out and gain sweetness and spiciness with air, picking up a rose pastille flourish on the way. Finishes on a zesty mineral note, with echoing red fruit and smoke notes and excellent persistence. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May 2014 This is a delicate Pinot Noir, light in color with sweet red berry fruit aromas. It is elegant on the palate with concentrated cherry and cranberry flavors and a touch of minerals. Fermented with 5% whole clusters, it reveals a good level of natural acidity and overall freshness. Enjoyed over the next 5 to 10 years and perhaps longer. - International Wine Review November 2014 Absolute gorgeous aromas of bright cherry, raspberry, floral, licorice and spicy herbs. This seems to be the most powerful and concentrated of the s from Banshee, however it still brings as much elegance, balance and finesse as the rest. The mouthfeel is remarkable as it brings a wonderful rich silky texture and a beautiful long spicy finish. The fruit was aged 15 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Just a fantastic effort from Banshee. (Best -2023) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report July Bright ruby-red. Expressive aromas of lavender, red currant and cherry pit, with a spicy topnote. Taut and juicy on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering gently sweet red fruit flavors and a hint of orange zest. Closes smooth and long, with lingering spiciness and soft tannins. No new oak here. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May The most extroverted wine in this range, Banshee s Pinot Noir Tina Marie Vineyard is dark, fleshy and expressive to the core. Black stone fruits, cloves, menthol and cinnamon take on considerable volume in a sexy, voluptuous wine that at a minimum should drink nicely for the next few years. The juicy finish is particularly of note. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous February 2014 HURST VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 91+ POINTS Pure and focused with beautiful aromas of fresh cranberry, raspberry and dark cherry fruit mixed with dried rose petal, spices and licorice. This demonstrates incredible balance and finesse supported by gorgeous silky tannins and a soft velvety finish that lingers. This is an elegant and stylish Pinot that is down right delicious as well. Hurst vineyard Pinot is sourced from three different blocks, the 667 from the top of a north-facing block and the 777 and 115 blocks are both east facing. The wine then spent 15 months in French oak and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. (Best 2014-2023) - Joe D Angelo, International Wine Report July Vivid ruby, Energetic red berry and Asian spice aromas are complemented by deeper licorice, rose oil and black tea nuances. Offers tangy strawberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain flesh and heft with air while maintaining their vivacity. Closes spicy and long, with sneaky tannins and a sexy, clinging floral quality. - Josh Raynolds, Tanzer May
COASTLANDS VINEYARD PINOT NOIR This initially opens with a hint of reduction but with a bit of aggressive swirling it quickly dissipates to reveal cool, pure and elegant aromas of spice, red currant and raspberry that display a floral top note. There is a lovely sense of vibrancy and very solid detail to the silky and refined medium weight flavors that possess a sophisticated mouth feel before culminating in a balanced and persistent finish. This is not super complex at present but the balance is so good that this should be more than capable of delivering more depth over time. Good stuff and I very much like the delivery. - Burghound June 2015 RICE-SPIVAK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR From a site planted in 1998 in the windy hills south of Sebastopol, this is closed off and reductive until air allows an undercurrent of bright red fruit to gain in amplitude. There s a lot of oak here, lasting in a persistent espresso aroma, but the wine is savory through and through, a tight structure and leafy accents directing its tart cherry fruit in a taut, energetic line of flavor. It needs a few more years in bottle to show its best. - Wine & Spirits April 2015 A notably floral-suffused and beautifully perfumed nose offers up cool, pure and layered aromas of essence of red pinot fruit and raspberry scents. There is a fine sense of energy to the lighter weight but well-detailed flavors that possess a supple mid- palate before terminating in a dusty but not really dry finish that should also benefit from a few years of cellar time to allow the finish to better harmonize. I very much like the delivery and there is excellent complexity that should only improve with time. Worth considering if you have the patience to let this sit for a few years first. - Allen Meadows, Burghound June 2015 All the best elements of the Banshee house style come through in the Pinot Noir Rice-Spivak Vineyard, a pliant, supple wine with tons of near and medium-term appeal. Rose petal, sweet red berry and spice notes all lift from the glass as this racy, expressive Pinot shows off its hugely appealing personality. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous January 2015 JACK HILL VINEYARD PINOT NOIR SULLIVAN VINEYARD PINOT NOIR This starts out a bit lean and bony, but quickly builds into a brisk and refreshing wine with tangy light-red flavors of cranberries and raspberries a simple coastal Pinot Noir that s clean and lifted. - Wine & Spirits April 2015 Classic ruby color. An exceptionally pretty and very pinot nose is composed of discreet floral and spice hints that add breadth to the pure red raspberry and strawberry-inflected aromas. There is good vibrancy to the utterly delicious and well-detailed middle weight flavors that are lighter than those of the Coastlands yet deliver fine persistence on the lingering finish that also possesses a sophisticated and refined mouth feel. There is just a hint of backend dryness that compromises the balance ever-so-slightly but there is so much good going on that this is no more than a nit. - Allen Meadows, Burghound June 2015 The Pinot Noir Jack Hill Vineyard comes across as a bit lean and compact, with limited mid-palate depth. Crushed flowers, tobacco and savory herbs are some of the notes that add nuance. This is a very pretty Pinot with lovely energy and persistence, even if it lacks a bit of depth through the middle. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous January 2015 The Pinot Noir Sullivan Vineyard offers ripe dark red plum and rhubarb aromas and flavors. The grapes are exclusively from Dijon clone 777 and offer nicely concentrated flavors with good acidity, round tannins and freshness. Only 50 cases made. - International Wine Review November 2014 95 POINTS The Sullivan Vineyard sits on the northern slope of Sonoma Mountain at around 800 feet of elevation, the soils bearing the traces of the mountain s volcanic prehistory. At first glance, some might consider this wine a touch green. I found it bright and spritely, its barely ripe tones suggesting a meadow in flower, or a complex green tea, rather than anything vegetal. With a day of air, the wine s structure feels resolved and mineral. It s fragrant and alive, shimmering with light strawberry-red energy, like a New World analogue to Chambolle, speaking to its place: a sunny California hillside cooled by ocean breezes. Cellar a few bottles to watch them develop over the coming years. - Wine & Spirits April 2014