95 Points, Double Gold - American Fine Wine Competition
94 Points - Winespectator
93 Points - James Suckling
92 Points - Wine Enthusiats
In the Russian River Valley, the "top shelf" usually starts at $75 and climbs quickly into the triple digits. Everything about this wine fits that "blue-chip" profile—except for today's price.
To craft this 2023, Bricoleur brought in the big guns. Bob Cabral joined the team to bring his "sixth sense" for expressive sites to this estate. The result is a wine with that iconic, fruit-forward Russian River elegance with soaring aromatics of Bing cherry, raspberry, cedar spice and beautifully integrated French oak that supports this pristine fruit. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
The Pedigree: An Elite Vineyard Neighborhood
Sourced from a premier Windsor estate that formerly supplied fruit to icons like Paul Hobbs and Merry Edwards, this Pinot sits in the literal shadows of Williams-Selyem and Kistler.
The Craft: The Master's Signature
Under the guidance of Bob Cabral and Associate Winemaker Tom Pierson, this vintage utilizes sur lie aging to prioritize a silky texture and soaring floral aromatics.
The Vibe: Sophisticated Sonoma Freshness
This is "sunlight in a glass"—trading heavy extraction for a vibrant, energetic profile of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice that feels like a high-end afternoon in the Russian River Valley.
The Final Verdict: A Rare Market Anomaly
Securing a 96-point vintage from a $65 tasting-room exclusive for just $39 is a mechanical anomaly, offering elite "blue-chip" pedigree without the triple-digit price tag.
Food Pairings
The wine's freshness and woven tannins make it incredibly versatile. Try with:
Winemaker Notes
The winemaking for this 2023 Pinot Noir represents a powerful generational bridge between Sonoma legend Bob Cabral and rising star Tom Pierson. Cabral—the visionary who achieved the first 100-point North American Pinot Noir during his 17-year tenure at Williams-Selyem—collaborated on every critical decision, from precise vineyard sourcing to the final blend.
Bricoleur Vineyard’s 2023 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was carefully handpicked, with 10% of the grapes added whole cluster and the rest destemmed into an open-top fermenting tank, then cold soaked for three days before being brought up to temperature for fermentation. Punchdowns were performed twice daily during fermentation to help with color, flavor, and gentle phenolic extraction. The wine aged sur lie for ten months.
Vintage
The 2023 growing season was a much-welcomed change of pace, as above-average winter rainfall replenished aquifers and left soil profiles fully saturated to start the growing season. A cool, slow progression into spring delayed bud break and prolonged flowering, generally slowing the start to the season and the timeline of grape development. Veraison was two to three weeks behind compared to recent vintages.
Winemakers: Bob Cabral & Tom Pierson
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Bricoleur Vineyards, Charles Heintz & Tina Marie
Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast
Harvest Date: September 20, 2023 & October 10, 2023
Bottling Date: July 29, 2024
Release Date: October 1, 2025
Aging: 10 months in French Oak (35% New, 25% Once-Used, 40% Neutral)
Cellar Potential: Peak drinking window between 2026 and 2033
Alcohol: 14.4%
Vintage Report: "Vintners who waited into late October made stunning wines... gorgeous aromas with underlying succulence." — 96 Points, Wine Spectator
Allocations of Bricoleur rarely leave the winery—especially at the best price in the country. Secure your 4-bottle stash for FREE shipping before the cellar door closes.
Download Full Technical Sheet & Cellar Notes
97 Points
Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and crushed rock, along with cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and a medley of dry herbs and spice.
A substantial mouthfeel, full-bodied structure, firm tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit. Well-balanced acidity collaborate harmoniously to accentuate the intricate flavors of berry compote, spices, and oak nuances reminiscent of mocha.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
94 Points
Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh black currants, kirsch, and mulberries... Full-bodied, the palate delivers a firm line of grainy tannins with bold freshness to frame the muscular black fruit, finishing long and cedary.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
97 Points
Black cherry, cassis, and oak envelope your senses. Showcases a luscious, ripe essence of blackberry and black cherry, artfully complemented by subtle notes of vanilla and spice on the palate. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
