Aubin Cellars | Press & News


2012 SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2007 Verve Syrah Columbia Valley - Gold Medal You can buy this wine here.

2012 SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2010 Verve Gewurztraminer, Oregon - Silver Medal You can buy this wine here.

Prince of Pinot	2007 Verve Pinot Noir Carneros "Very complex aromatic profile featuring scents of wild berries, leather, wildflowers, herbs and even cream soda. Impressively smooth on the palate with a discreet arsenal of darker stone fruits and berries with a touch of hi-tone pomegranate. The oak is nicely integrated and the finish is well-endowed with fruit. Very good." You can buy this wine here.

Prince of Pinot	2008 Verve Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyards "Very shy nose hinting of sweet dark fruits but showing more prominent aromas of pipe smoke, old wood and herbs. The flavors trump the nose with a hearty medley of dark red Pinot fruits wrapped in firm tannins and an appealing citrus lift on the finish. I would probably wait on this one. Good."
	You can buy this wine here.
Prince of Pinot	2008 Verve Pinot Noir, Laetitia Vineyards "The fruit in this wine veers to the ripe side but is hard to resist. Moderately intense aromas of black cherries and cassis with a subtle hint of toasty oak. Discreetly concentrated array of dark red berries and cherries with a little cherry cola, mocha and sweet oak highlights. A very elegant wine with a seductive texture. Very good." You can buy this wine here.

Prince of Pinot	2008 Verve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast "Moderate color in the glass. Complex aromatic profile offering scents of strawberries, cherries, cola, spice, red plum and a hint of gun powder. Tasty core of cherry cola flavor with a light tarry, toasty, smoky note in the background. Mild dry tannins and a fruity finish. Slight smoke taint but otherwise fine. Good." You can buy this wine here.

WINE SPECTATOR	2008 Verve Pinot Noir Williamette Valley Stoller Vineyards \| 94 pts "Sleek, refined and appealing for its deft balance, playing its pure blueberry and currant fruit against hints og cream and spice. The finish sails on and on against polished tannins. Drink now through 2018. We are now sold out of this wine."

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2008 Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande - Laetitia Vineyards \| 89 pts … Verve’s [Laetitia Vineyard Pinot Noir] is a weighty, comparatively mouth-filling Pinot that leans to the riper end of the varietal spectrum. It juxtaposes plenty of dense, dark cherry fruit with touches of toast and vanilla and dusty earth spice, and (…) is a rich and confident [wine] that will pair up nicely with savory well-seasoned pork roasts. You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2008 Verve Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyards - Bronze Medal You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2008 Verve Pinot Noir Laetitia Vineyards - Gold Medal You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2008 Verve Stoller Vineyards The San Francisco Chronicle wrote an article about Oregon Pinot Noirs from the 08 vintage, and our Verve wine from the Stoller Vineyards is named as one of the best of the vintage! To read the article, click here. You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

WINE ENTHUSIAST	2006 Verve Syrah Columbia Valley \| 91 pts You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

2010 SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2008 Verve Gewurztraminer Oregon \| Double Gold Award You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

2010 SF Chronicle Wine Competition	2005 Syrah Columbia Valley \| Silver award You can buy this wine here : Aubin Cellars Eshop

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2007 Verve Pinot Noir Old Vines Monterey \| 88 pts If arguably tilting just a touch of softness, this amicable offering offers up lots of straightforward fruit with oak-sweetened black cherries its main motif. It is moderately full-bodied and just a bit fat in feel, and its bias to ripeness is confirmed by a scant note of finishing heat. Built more for the short term and less for long aging, it will drink nicely alongside the likes of flavorful braised beef dishes.

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2007 Verve Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard Williamette Valley \| 86 pts Top notes of earth and toast overlie nominal black-cherry fruit in this wine's slightly stolid aromas, and the wine veers to acidy crispness once past a bit of front-palate velvet. Vitality, rather than richness is the main message here, and a little more range and fruity stuffing are required to bring this bottling unqualified endorsement.

OFF THE VINE	2006 Verve Pinot Noir - Dundee Hills, Oregon \| 89+ pts Sourced from the sustainably farmed Stoller vineyard located in the Dundee Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley, it is made in a fruit forward style with a wonderful silky mouth feel. Aged in 40% new French Oak, it is well priced. Sweet red fruits abound along with some complexity in its earthiness and dried cranberry notes. Only 5 barrels produced. Drink: 2009 through 2012 Price: $35.00

OFF THE VINE	2005 Verve Russian River Pinot Noir - Sonoma, CA \| 89+ pts This was my pick of the Verve Pinots. Shows some nice complexity; possibly due to its diverse clonal selections and oak aging. Lovely cherry cola flavors layered with dark berries and 5 spice blend. This one is quite deep and structured with a moderate to long finish. Very nice effort! Drink: 2009 through 2011 Price: $34.00

OFF THE VINE	2005 Verve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Sonoma, CA \| 88 pts Sourced from a mix of several clones, including 777, Pommard, 115 and Beringer, the wine was aged in 30% new French Oak for 17 months. Good fruit with cherry, currents and plum. Some notes of spice and bitter orange. Very round and balanced overall. Quite juicy and enjoyable to the last drop. Drink: 2009 to 2010 Price: $24.00

OFF THE VINE	2005 Verve Columbia Valley Syrah - Washington State \| 88 pts I also loved this Syrah. Made in a sort of Rhone style it is sumptuous and rich on the palate. Dark pure fruit, plum and currents. Notes of dried herbs and smoked bacon, along with a touch of chocolate through a soft and smooth finish. Drink: 2009 through 2010 Price: $22.00

OFF THE VINE	2005 Verve Sonoma Mountain Syrah - Sonoma, CA \| 88 pts Aged in an average of 17 months in French Oak barrels, 10% new oak from Tonnellerie Saint-Martin. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it is deeply fruited and quite tasty. Flavors include plums, blackberries and an intriguing smoky meatiness. It is firm upon opening and should be decanted for at least an hour to allow the fruit to come forward. Should improve with a year or two in the cellar. Drink: 2009 through 2012 Price: $27.00

OFF THE VINE	2006 Verve Sauvignon Blanc - Villa San Juliette - Paso Robles, CA \| 86 pts An interesting Sauvignon Blanc from Villa San Juliette Vineyard, located on the northeast side of the Paso Robles appellation. Nicely textured fruit with floral notes of peach and other stone fruit. A vegetative quality, somewhat typical for this varietal through the finish. Drink: now Price: $14.00

CONTRA COSTA TIMES	As for the Oregon Pinot Noir, Mann calls it "the ultimate dinner wine". "It has the perfect balance of earth and fruit," he says, adding that the Aubin is dynamite with mushroom-based stufiings. Those eating crab for Thanksgiving can find a match with Aubin Cellars "Verve" Stoller vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir: Willamette Valley at its finest. A complex yet pretty wine with pomegranate and cherry flavors and earthiness both in the nose and glass.

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2005 Verve Syrah Sonoma Mountain \| 89 pts Intriguingly complex aromas of ripe blackberries seasoned by a mix of black pepper, sweet earth and caramel-like richness give this wine a fine start, and the balanced, well-polished mouthfeel and flavors that follow complete the picture. Integrated tannins help firm the wine up and give it the structure to serve alongside spit-roasted butterflied legs of lamb.

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2005 Verve Syrah Columbia valley \| 90 pts Quite keenly focused on blackberry fruit from the very first, this attractive wine brings along notes of toasted bread, caramel and quiet suggestions of roasted meats in its aromas, and it stays the course with its supple palatal impressions and varietally correct flavors. Integral tannins and youthful acidity promise to keep it alive for years to come.

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2006 Verve Syrah Sonoma Mountain \| 89 pts A very nicely made wine with lots of pure blackberry fruit layered atop a streak of creamy oak with quiet wisps of bacon and a bit of spice in its aromas, it has a polished, almost rich quality on the palate and tilts just a touch towards the sophistication of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Still, it is all Syrah in flavor despite its bias to suppleness in palatefeel, and it comes very close to joining the uppermost ranks in these pages.

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	Overview of our participation to one of the most important Pinot Noir american tasting event: THE PINOT DAYS. Please follow the link below: http://www.princeofpinot.com/article/181

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	Pinot Noir lover? Just have a sip of our amazing Verve Pinot Noir by fllowing the link below: http://www.princeofpinot.com/article/528

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	Do you know our Verve Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast? If not, please follow the link below to learn more about this exceptional wine... http://www.princeofpinot.com/article/566

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	2006 Verve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - October 1rst, 2008 “Clones 115, 777, Pommard and Beringer. Vines average 12 years of age. Harvest Brix 26 average. 100% de-stemmed, fermented in open-top fermenters, manual punch down of cap, 3 days cold soak and 21 days total cuvaison average. Aged an average of 17 months in 30% new French oak and bottled aged 4 months. • Charming aromas and flavors of red current, cherry, cola and root beer. Caressing in the mouth, fine tannins, appealing lightness and very easy to drink. “

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	2006 Verve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - November 17th, 2008 “Alluring scent of ripe cherry and raspberry compote and cola. Refined tannins surround the juicy cherry core. Hints of root beer and cream soda add interest. Nicely restrained and well-crafted. “

OAKLAND TRIBUNE	2005 Verve, Sonoma Coast Jerome Aubin's open, easy-to-taste Pinot Noir is a wine of undisguised richness. It is full in body and nicely balanced by the firming acidity that is typical of wines from the cooler parts of Sonoma County.

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2005 Verve Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast "Moderately deep in defined ripe-cherry fruit and very much on point with respect to rounded Pinot Noir texture, this open and easy-to-taste effort is not a wine of subtlety and grace as much as it is one of undisguised richness. It is fleshy and full-bodied with nicely fit acids firming things up at the end, and it is wholly enjoyable now even if likely to broaden a bit with another year or two in the bottle."

CONNOISS- EURS' GUIDE	2004 Verve Syrah Columbia Valley "One of the real virtues of Syrah is that it can make rich and very flavorful wine even when not stridently varietal. Such is the case with this rich, ripe and well-fruited wine, and, if it is sparing in spice, it tastes of sweet berries and plenty of rich oak. It is just a touch soft in balance and its modest tannins will not interfere with early drinking."

SF CHRONICLE	2004 Verve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir "From Aubin Cellars, the best current-release Pinot Noir from the East Bay wineries delivers plenty of bright cranberry and raspberry fruit, yet it has an elegant mouthfeel and a light-medium body. There's a hint of soy sauce on the medium-long finish."

WINE EXCHANGE Orange, CA	Aubin Cellars Verve 2005 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley "Jerome Aubin has been one of the more intereting sources for Pinot Noir we have run across in recent years from our perspective. This barrel importer-turned-wine producer has been at it since 2001 and his stuff has been both honest to the terroir and fairly priced. There are plenty of new faces on the Pinot scene making blustery styles that are charging big prices and getting away with it as long as they are getting appropriate attention. It’s a good business model until your $70 Pinot falls below the appropriate score level. Here we have classic Russian River clove notes with driving cherry fruit nicely laced with spicy oak (the man knows barrels), plenty of forward richness, and hints of toast, earth, and blood orange. It can run in a much more expensive crowd."

WINE EXCHANGE Orange, CA	Aubin Cellars Verve 2004 Syrah Columbia Valley "Barrel broker/winemaker Jerome Aubin not only has a good feel for Pinot Noir, he has a good eye for Syrah as well. We’ll prep that a little by saying that, to us, there is way too much domestic Syrah on the market right now and most of it is mediocre and expensive. Given our frame of mind, the fact that we enthusiastically endorse this one speaks to the quality and value. Unfined and unfiltered, this smoky Northern Rhone style Syrah from the Columbia Valley sees 40% new oak and shows surprising presence, polish and nuance. Black fruits with streaks of bacon, olive, and leather, there’s a lot to like here and, given what other ‘boutique’ producers in Washington are charging these days, it’s an outright bargain. Only 100 cases made."

WINE SPECTATOR	2004 Aubin Cellars, "Verve", Sonoma Coast "Openly fruity, with enticing floral, berry and cherry aromas.Turn firmer on the palate, yet maintains the same flavor profile; keeps the focus on the ripe, vibrant fruit, but also shows a nice backbone of tannins and acidity. Drinks now through 2010."

DU VIN FINE VINES Alameda, CA	2004 Aubin Cellars, "Verve", Russian River Valley "This wine comes from one of the premium vineyards in the Russian River Valley located between Sebastapol and Forestville on gently sloping hills. Jérôme comments: "The wine displays its typical Russian River attributes such as cola, rhubarb, macerated cherries and oriental spices while its fine grain tannins and structure reveal an aging potential for the next 4 to 6 years." Again, highly recommended, you will very likely be back for more after your first bottle. Only 180 cases produced!"

WINE EXCHANGE Orange, CA	New Faces: Aubin Cellars " Jérôme Aubin started his own tiny winemaking gig in 2001, inspired by all the great wines he had tasted during his day job as an importer of French barrels. Out of over 400+ wineries at this year's Family Winemakers tasting in NoCal, Jerome's wines stood out for their purity, intensity and reasonable prices based on what's in the bottle. Two Sonoma-based Pinots and a terrific Washington Syrah, all under the "Verve" label, are on tap here, all produced in quantities south of 200 cases each. Better hurry...this guys gonna' be a star!"

JV WINE Napa, CA	Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2004 by Aubin Wine Cellars " Bright fruit- focused, has been crafted with passion and Verve. Cool, blue notes of plum and boysenberry, with forest floor aromatics and a touch of vanilla oak (Aubin first made a name for himself importing French barrels), make this a cinch with wood-planked salmon cooked outdoors."

K&L WINE MERCHANTS S.Francisco, CA	2004 Aubin Cellars "Verve" Russian River Pinot Noir " Winemaker Fred Scherrer handcrafted this tiny production Pinot Noir, which is rich, lush and loaded with spicy red and black fruits. It shows a dark side with black cherry flavors, damp earth, truffles and minerality combined with tobacco and Asian spices.The finish is long and the wine is full but balanced. Very tasty!."

SOLANO CELLARS Berkeley, CA	2004 Verve Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA " Jérôme Aubin makes the most popular Pinot Noir that we sell at Solano Cellars, known simply, as Verve. The problem is that we only get 15 cases of the 110 cases that he makes of it. We could sell it all. It is here early this year, and the wine is awesome as usual. Jérôme's full time gig is a barrel supplier to small batch Pinot Noir producers. It connected him with Fred Scherrer who supplies him with a few stellar rows of Pinot Noir from a sloped vineyard near Forestville. This foggy, wooded area with sandy Gold Ridge soils is the proverbial sweet spot for Pinot Noir. The 2004 Verve is plush, layered with bing cherries, woodsy spices, and sexy vanilla whiffs. Hold until Thanksgiving, then decant for the dart meat."

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	2002 Aubin Cellars Verve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $30, November, 2004 "This is a complex Russian River Valley Pinot Noir with both cooked Bing cherries and spices among the aromas. The mouthfeel is round and satisfying and plenty of sweet fruit is evident. A final impression of freshness peeks out but does not persist. A pretty good Dehlinger knockoff worth seeking out. Visit aubincellars.com or phone 510-339-0170. Available from retailers, K & L Wines (San Francisco) and Solano Cellars (Berkeley).."

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	New Pinot Noir Producers Worth Tracking, October 23rd, 2006 " The past few years have seen an explosion of boutique Pinot Noir producers in California and Oregon. Many of thesewines are only available by mailing list. The following list is by no means comprehensive, but features some of the most promising winery in California: Aubin Cellars, Domaine Alfred, Hirsch Estate, Kosta Browne, Lost Canyon, Radio-Coteau Wine Cellars, Sea Smoke, Tandem..."

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	2004 Verve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 14.5% alc., 160 cases, $30, October 23rd, 2006 "I love the aromatics which feature bright red cherries, Xmas spices. With air time, the wine improves noticeably, the texture becoming smooth and the cherry cola fruits explode on the palate. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, this Pinot finishes with lively acidity that is searching for some good food."

PRINCE OF PINOT Sebastopol, CA	2004 Verve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 14.5% alc., 150 cases, $24, October 23rd, 2006 " 80% Sonoma Coast fruit from a vineyard close to the Pacific Ocean and 20% Carneros Swan clone fruit. This is an amazingly pure wine of great vim and vigor. The nose is perfumed beautifully with cranberry, cherry, spice and vanilla oak notes. There are more flavors here than Baskin Robbins: plump crushed cherries, herb tea, mocha, and a little earthiness. My notes say excellent (which is underlined) and that pretty much sums it up. A complete wine and the best California Pinot Noir I have tasted this year for around $20. Jackson would be proud. Pledge allegiance." "Aubin Cellars, 6050 Colton Blvd, Oakland, CA 94611. The phone is 866-353-7398. The wine may be purchased through the website at www.aubincellars.com. Retail distribution is primarily in Northern California. There is a mailing list signup on the website."

AFFAIR OF THE WINE	Affairs of the Wine: Pinot Noir Shootout, December, 2003 "An incredible lineup of 217 top quality Pinot Noirs were critically reviewed at 2003 Shootout which took place on December 16, 2003, at the MacMurry Ranch in the Russian River Balley of Sonoma County. A diverse panel of 16 wine professionals participated in assessing wines submitted from growing regions the world over. Aubin Cellars 2001 Verve Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ranked 5th overall, and 1st in the Russian River Appellation. Aubin Cellars 2001 Verve Pinot Noir, $30.00 - 120 cases produced. Hyper-extracted cherry aromas and flavors dominate this venture into Pinot-land. Richness and structure develop well into the cola and plum core as the flavors open up in a big way on the balanced palate."

WINE SPECTATOR	Pinot Noir Russian Valley Verve 2003, September 6th, 2006 "Pleasantly earthy, with hints of herb, dried cherry and dried currant flavors that veer to dryness on the finish, ending with an earthy aftertaste. Drink now. 125 cases made."

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.