The 7 Best Pinot Noir Wines From Sonoma County to Buy in 2026

Three Sticks Wines is named for Bill Price III, who is sometimes called “Billy Three Sticks” by his Hawaiian surfer friends. He founded his somewhat eponymous winery in 2002, but he also holds interests in other high-profile properties, including Kistler. Three Sticks wines are 100 percent estate-grown and produced, and in our recent tasting, the 2023 really stood out. It has aromas of cranberry, cherry, and cinnamon stick with plush tannins and flavors of pomegranate, red raspberry, and candied orange peel.

Chev is the brainchild of Michael Browne—formerly of Kosta Browne—and his wife, Sarah. Both are very hands-on, but they let winemaker Cabell Coursey work his magic to make amazing Sonoma wines. Their 2021 is made from Pinot Noir clones 23, 667, 777, 115, and 37, and was aged for 15 months in 42 percent new French oak. We first tasted this wine on release a few years ago, but found a bottle at the back of our wine racks and tasted it again last week. At just about five years old, it is drinking perfectly with the right amount of bottle age. It has enticing aromas of ripe cherry, pomegranate, and blood orange peel with velvety tannins and flavors of cranberry, black cherry, and red raspberry. It still has more time, so enjoy now through the next half-decade or so.

Friends Dan Goldfield and Steve Dutton began Dutton Goldfield in 1998 with just a handshake. Steve started working in his father’s vineyards when he was only five years old, and Dan worked as a winemaker at Robert Mondavi, La Crema, and Hartford Court. About a year ago, we heard that Dan was stepping out of active winemaking and would assume the role of Winemaker Emeritus, but we can’t imagine him not getting his hands purple for long. Their 2023 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir has lovely aromas of red plum, red raspberry, dried black tea leaves, and ripe cherry with silky soft tannins and flavors of cranberry, cherry, and brown baking spices.

Peay Vineyards is very much a family business with Nick Peay and his wife Vanessa Wong growing the grapes and making the wine while Nick’s brother Andy runs the business side. The family’s wines are grown on their 53-acre hilltop vineyard that consists of 34 acres dedicated to Pinot Noir, with the remaining acreage comprised of Chardonnay, Syrah, and a few plots of white Rhône varieties. Peay Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir is simply gorgeous. It has aromas of dried cranberry, candied orange peel, and rolled tobacco leaf. Balanced acidity in the midpalate leads you to flavors of cherry cola, pomegranate, and finely ground cinnamon. 

Donum Estate was founded by German-born winemaker Anne Moller-Racke in 2001, and in 2010, she sold the estate to Danish businessman Allan Warburg and his Chinese-born wife, Mei. Allan and Mei split their time between Beijing, Sonoma, and Hong Kong and are avid art collectors, so visitors to Donum can view over 60 large sculptures by artists including Keith Haring, Tracey Emin, Yayoi Kusama, and others displayed among the vineyards. Donum’s Home Ranch Pinot Noir has aromas of cinnamon, cedar box, bright cherry, and red raspberry. Elegant tannins and bright acidity in the mid palate guide you in for flavors of red cherry, red plum, cocoa powder, and pomegranate. 

Friends Burt Williams and Ed Selyem released their first eponymously named wine in 1984, and it became an overnight California cult classic. In 2021, the Faiveley family of Burgundy acquired a minority share, and recently, they moved forward and now own the majority. We’ve long admired the Burgundy wines made by Faiveley and now look forward to seeing their Sonoma wines continue to evolve. This Williams Selyem 2023 is an amazing example of excellent California Pinot Noir. It has aromas of cranberry, red cherry, and freshly ground white pepper with balanced acidity and silky tannins surrounding flavors of pomegranate, brown baking spices, and freshly sliced red plum. 

Buena Vista was established in 1857 and named by Hungarian-born Agoston Haraszthy, the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista.” He followed the early gold prospectors of 1849 and decided to plant vines and concentrate his skills on selling “purple gold” to the miners. He died in 1869 while swimming in a crocodile-infested river in Nicaragua. The count’s legend lives on due to the 2011 acquisition of the estate by French-born Jean Charles Boisset. This stunning 2023 Ida’s Selection is named for the count’s first daughter. It has elegant aromas of cherry, raspberry, and dried lavender with velvety tannins and bold flavors of ripe red berries, wild strawberry, and dried rose petals.