No question about it, 2023 is a vintage for the decade. Cooler spring temperatures delayed bud break with verasion arriving as late as August in some vineyard sites. This shifted harvest later into the fall, requiring even more meticulous farming practices. While this made for a more challenging year, the prolonged growing season allowed for deep and complex flavors to develop. We can’t believe we’re saying this…2023 may best the incredible vintages of 2021 and 2022.
“The 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay comes bounding out with eager to please notes of ripe yellow apples and apricots, plus suggestions of Marcona almonds and baking bread. The medium to full-bodied palate is silky and soft-spoken with soft acidity and a savory finish.”
– 93pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
No question about it, 2023 is a vintage for the decade. Cooler spring temperatures delayed bud break with verasion arriving as late as August in some vineyard sites. This shifted harvest later into the fall, requiring even more meticulous farming practices. While this made for a more challenging year, the prolonged growing season allowed for deep and complex flavors to develop. We can’t believe we’re saying this…2023 may best the incredible vintages of 2021 and 2022.
“The 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast has pure, slowly unfolding scents of vanilla panna cotta, ripe peach and quince, allspice and flint. The medium-bodied palate offers expansive, layered flavors that segue from peach to spice. It’s energized by vibrant acidity and has a very long, shimmery finish. Drink it now or enjoy it over the next decade.”
– 93pts, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The Heintz family has owned the ranch for over 100 years. Ideal Goldridge soil, healthy, ma-ture vines, warm days balanced with cool nights and a grower who has been working the land since 1982 all contribute to Robert Parker’s assessment of the vineyard as “…one of the great grand cru Chardonnay sites in California.”
“The 2023 Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay bursts with bold notes of juicy white peaches, Bosc pears, and honeydew melon, followed by hints of ginger, marzipan, and beeswax. The medium to full-bodied palate has fantastic tension and a gorgeous silkiness to the texture framing the bright, bold orchard fruit layers, finishing with a real skip in its step.”
– 97pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
No question about it, 2023 is a vintage for the decade. Cooler spring temperatures delayed bud break with verasion arriving as late as August in some vineyard sites. This shifted harvest later into the fall, requiring even more meticulous farming practices. While this made for a more challenging year, the prolonged growing season allowed for deep and complex flavors to develop. We can’t believe we’re saying this…2023 may best the incredible vintages of 2021 and 2022.
“Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2023 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir offers up notes of raspberry leaves, cranberries, and pine resin, giving way to notes of lavender oil and spearmint. Full-bodied, the palate has a compelling suggestion of chewiness to the texture with just enough freshness to lift the red berry and savory flavors to a long finish.”
– 92pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
No question about it, 2023 is a vintage for the decade. Cooler spring temperatures delayed bud break with verasion arriving as late as August in some vineyard sites. This shifted harvest later into the fall, requiring even more meticulous farming practices. While this made for a more challenging year, the prolonged growing season allowed for deep and complex flavors to develop. We can’t believe we’re saying this…2023 may best the incredible vintages of 2021 and 2022.
“The 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast has an alluring perfume of wild raspberry, blackberry, mushroom, fallen leaves, bitters and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate pairs concentrated, spicy flavors with grainy tannins and vibrant acidity, and it has a long, earthy finish.”
– 92pts, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
No question about it, 2023 is a vintage for the decade. Cooler spring temperatures delayed bud break with verasion arriving as late as August in some vineyard sites. This shifted harvest later into the fall, requiring even more meticulous farming practices. While this made for a more challenging year, the prolonged growing season allowed for deep and complex flavors to develop. We can’t believe we’re saying this…2023 may best the incredible vintages of 2021 and 2022.
“The 2023 Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast is a new wine from Senses, and the long, cool season in 2023 resulted in an especially striking debut. It bursts from the glass with layered scents of blackberry, raspberry, potpourri, citrus peel, bitters and earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate is silky and elegant with a balance of detailed, spicy flavors and vibrant acidity, and it has a very long, layered finish.”
– 93pts, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
When it was planted in 1996, Kanzler was one of the first vineyards in the rolling hills southwest of the small picturesque town of Sebastopol in western Sonoma County. Only eight miles from the Pacific Ocean, the area was long thought to be too cool and foggy for grape growing but has consistently produced some of the best Pinot noirs.
“Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2023 Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir needs some swirling and coaxing to unlock notes of black cherries and black raspberries, giving way to nuances of violets, anise, and charcoal. The medium-bodied palate is soft-spoken and elegant with fine-grained tannins and soft acidity, finishing long and savory.”
– 95pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
The inaugural release. The Duttons are a sixth generation farming family that the Senses team is proud to have worked with since founding in 2011. The ‘Dutton Ranch’ Pinot noir represents the best barrels from the best vineyards farmed by the Duttons, primarily in the western region of Green Valley.
“Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2023 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir comes tearing out with expressive notes of pomegranate and cranberry sauce, giving way to hints of wild sage, crushed rocks, and cumin seed. The medium-bodied palate is tight-knit with wonderful tension and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and minerally.”
– 96pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
Silver Eagle is located on Stoetz Lane, just behind Charles Heintz and our estate, Hillcrest. Ulises Valdez planted the site in 2006 primarily to Pinot noir but included a small amount of Chardonnay and Syrah.
“The 2020 UV – Silver Eagle Vineyard Chardonnay sings of honey-drizzled pears, juicy peaches, and fresh musk melon with suggestions of powdered ginger, almond croissant, and lemon pastilles. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with crunchy melon and apricot flavors with loads of spicy sparks and a decadently oily texture, finishing with great length. Silver Eagle vineyard was planted in 2006 by Ulises Valdez, a highly skilled local vineyard manager who passed away a few years ago. Located in Russian River Valley, just behind Charles Heintz Ranch, the Chardonnay here is Montrachet clone.”
– 96pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
Planted in 2008 by then vineyard manager Ulises Valdez, El Diablo vineyard sits on a ridge above Eastside Road in Russian River Valley. Early in their relationship, he told the Senses team that “when you work hard, the fruit always tastes better.” That holds very true for El Diablo.
“The 2023 El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay sashays out with gregarious notes of grapefruit, fresh lemons, and orange blossoms, followed by hints of sea spray and coriander seed. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully savory with beautifully knit freshness and a satiny texture, finishing long and saline.”
– 96pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
This wine was named as an homage to the town where we the founders grew up, Occidental served as the tenth stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad out of San Francisco in the 1870s. This rail line unlocked a wealth of resources in the north bay, redwood lumber, dairy and agricultural products, that led to the development of the area. Occidental was isolated so the town built lodgings and boarding houses; many of those same buildings still sit in town today. This wine is a small way to pay tribute to the founder’s hometown.
“The 2023 Tenth Stop Chardonnay springs with vibrant scents of juicy grapefruit, fresh pears, and spiced apple slices, leading to hints of shaved ginger and marzipan. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a satiny texture with plenty of freshness to lift the generous orchard fruit flavors to a long spicy finish.”
– 96pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
Cameron and Bridgit Thieriot, Max’s parents, purchased the property in 1988. In 1989 the first part of the vineyard was planted by the late Warren Dutton of Dutton Ranch. Grapes from these blocks have been sold to Landmark, Williams Selyem, Neyers, Littorai and Rivers-Marie. Year after year this vineyard consistently produces high scoring single vineyard wines and is known to be one of the premiere vineyards in the Sonoma Coast.
“After a little swirling, notes of fresh lemons, yuzu, and lime blossoms slowly emerge from the 2023 B.A. Thieriot Vineyard Chardonnay, followed by hints of coriander seed and baking bread. The medium-bodied palate delivers elegant citrus and yeasty flavors with exhilarating tension and a silkiness to the texture, finishing long and zesty.”
– 97pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
Charles and Diana Karren are incredibly passionate about growing grapes. Known as “The Land of Promise”, Terra de Promissio has an ideal terroir for pinot noir. The soil, southwest sun exposure, hill elevation, vine density and the wind and fog of the Petaluma Gap allow the grapes to have a slow maturation & extended hang time, which allows optimum ripeness ideal conditions for the pinot noir grape. This site is shared with Williams Selyem, Kistler, Kosta Browne, Hanzell, and others.
“The 2019 Pinot Noir Terra de Promissio comes from the Petaluma Gap region (although it’s released as a Sonoma Coast) and as with all of the Pinot Noirs, it was destemmed and brought up in French oak. Lots of smoky red and black fruits, roasted herbs, conifer forest, and exotic spice notes define the nose on this beauty, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a rich, structured mouthfeel and just beautiful overall balance. It’s certainly one of the more structured, firm wines in the lineup, but it’s loaded with potential. Give bottles 2-3 years if you can (it’s far from inaccessible today) and it’s going to evolve for over a decade.” – 95pts, Jeb Dunnuck
From the famed vineyard formerly known as Keefer Ranch, we bring you the ‘MCM88’ Pinot noir; an exuberant Russian River single vineyard Pinot noir from the block originally farmed by Kosta Browne. Our boldest Pinot noir yet comes from a very special block in a very special vineyard now known as Perry Ranch. This addition to the Senses family stands apart from its’ siblings with greater concentration and richness. We are very excited about this wine and have named it accordingly: MCM stands for Max, Christopher and Myles and doubles for the roman numerals of 1900, which when added to ‘88 marks our birth year of 1988.
“Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2023 MCM88 Pinot Noir waltzes out with a stunning perfume of roses, lavender, kirsch, and raspberry coulis, leading to hints of cardamom, cinnamon stick, and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is satiny textured with wonderful freshness supporting the bright red berry and floral layers, finishing long and whispery.”
– 97pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
Nestled among the majestic redwoods of Sonoma County, Dutton Bodega is a picturesque vineyard that embodies the spirit of California winemaking. Planted in 2018 across 18.14 acres, this certified CSWA vineyard showcases a unique blend of varietals.
The inaugural release. The Duttons are a sixth generation farming family that the Senses team is proud to have worked with since founding in 2011.
“Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2023 Dutton Bodega Vineyard Pinot Noir has a wonderfully earthy/savory notes of forest floor, garrigue, and wild mushrooms, leading to a core of cranberries and fresh raspberries, plus a waft of iris bulb. Full-bodied, the palate has an alluring graininess to the texture
with well-knit acidity and loads of savory layers on the long finish.”
– 96pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
Max and Lexi Thieriot searched all across Sonoma County for their ideal “forever property”. Fate would bring them back to west county and only minutes from where Max grew up, when this ranch came on the market. Purchasing the property in 2013, from a family who had owned it for over 100 years, they had found their perfect home. The ranch features ninety acres of rolling hills, ocean views, oaks and redwoods, and an ideal coastal vineyard site sharing a fence line with Steve Kistler’s Occidental Winery. In 2016, Max and Lexi, with winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown began planting their home ranch and the second generation of Thieriot Vineyards was officially born: Bodega Thieriot.
“A deeper red magenta hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega Thieriot Estate has a fantastic nose with layered depth and a polished feel in its notes of black cherries, black raspberries, fresh leather, violets, and dark spice. The inaugural release of this cuvée, it comes from their newest estate vineyard, planted in 2016 in partnership with Thomas Rivers Brown, located five miles from the Pacific Ocean and the coolest site they work with. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a lot of energy and power, and it’s finessed and long on the palate, with a great finish. It’s my favorite of the 2022s in the Senses lineup and has a lot of life to give over the coming 20 years. It was raised in 20-35% new French oak barrels for 10 months.”
– Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck 98pts
The Hillcrest Vineyard: where Senses started from day one. We decided that moving forward this wine deserved a special designation. After much thought (and wine) it was clear. “Day One” was the perfect fit. Hillcrest is where the three of us rolled up our sleeves, hand farmed and harvested the entire vineyard and created our very first vintage of Senses Pinot Noir.
“Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2023 Day One Pinot Noir zips out of the glass wit vivacious notes of wild strawberries and red currants, plus nuances of red roses, lavender, and wild sage. The plush, full-bodied palate delivers vibrant red berry flavors with a racy line and a long fragrant finish.”
– 95pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate
The Oakville sourced Napa Cabernet is the yin to our yang, a tribute to founder Max’s passion for Cabernet and a result of our winemaker Thomas’ midas touch. The site, in close proximity to legendary estates and locally referred to as the ‘heart and soul’ of Napa, is on the eastern side of the valley and is all hillside fruit. Thomas had special access to this location and knew it was just the right fit for Senses.
Inky purple in the glass, it opens with ripe black currant, wild blackberry, and blue fruit, laced with chocolate, spice, and notes of tobacco and cedar. Full-bodied and mouth-coating, it delivers a rich, structured palate with firm tannins, vibrant freshness, and a long, powerful finish. Bold but balanced, this is a standout wine from an exceptional year.
