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West Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Price key:  $=less than $20  $$= $20-40   $$$=$40-60  $$$$=above $60

Quality key:  * = decent wine   ** = very good wine   *** = superb wine   **** = elite

Siduri Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley '13 *** $$

(Silky, full of flavor, rich and deep, lots of personality)

Siduri  Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands '13  *** $$

(Lush, soft, solid pinot noir with great complexity)

Siduri Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley '14 **1/2  $$

(A touch leaner, more delicate, lovely nose, fine grained flavors)

Wild Ridge Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast '12  **1/2 $$$

(Very forward red fruit flavors, with biscuity yeast, good structure)

Champ de Reves Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley '12  *** $$

(Tons of flavor and complexity, silky texture, touches of oak)

Carneros Hills Winery "Chardenet", DurrellVyd. '12 **1/2 $$$

(The epitome of California chardonnay, serve with lobster) 

Many of these fine wines can be purchased at Reds Wine and Spirits.    

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.
As General Partner of Clipper City Brewing Company, L.P., Hugh J. Sisson is among Baltimore's premier authorities on craft brewing and a former manager of the state's first pub brewery, Sissons, located in Federal Hill. A fifth generation Baltimorean, Hugh has been involved in all aspects of craft brewing.