USA Container Tasting 2026

This is the second vintage that Grenache has dominated the P&L blend. The 2022 is a blend of Grenache from Mangels Ranch in Suisun Valley, Cedar Lane in Arroyo Seco, and Waddington Ranch in Mendocino, Carignane from Lolonis, Maria Martinson, and Castañon all in Mendocino, and Syrah from Vecino in Potter Valley. There is a good amount of whole cluster and carbonic maceration through the lots keeping everything fresh and fun. As always, the blend was made immediately after harvest and the wine was aged in a combination of French oak foudres and stainless steel tanks.

Oh yum! This is such a joy to drink. A cracking drop here from the legend that is Kenny likitprakong of Hobo. He was telling us that this was his house wine. The one that he has cases of to rip the corks off when mates come round, the BBQ fires up and a long warm weekend is about a kick off and we can see why. This is hard to put down once it's in your glass.

It's all about the red fruits here with fresh picked red cherry and raspberry all vying for position at the front of the pack. Some pretty violet notes swirl around and as this opens up some savoury whole black peppercorn and foresty bits make themselves heard. Its lithe and fresh bursting onto the palate with that core of red berry fruit. Clean and pure just sizzling with energy. A joy to drink and would happily take a brief chill if you were so inclined.

Hobo Wine Camp is the brainchild of Kenny Likitprakong created in 2011 with the idea to showcase the quality and diversity of Sonoma’s wine scene. Working closely with top growers often from lesser-known vineyards he produces some of the most approachable, accessible and in terms of California, stupidly affordable wine. A self-confessed surf bum, and avid skateboarder he studied winemaking at UC Davis (mainly for the surfing) and later cut his teeth working and traveling from place to place, winery to winery throughout Sonoma and abroad –  the ‘Hobo’ moniker was born.

The 2022 is 42% Tocai Friulano from Mendocino, 18% Riesling from Arroyo Seco, 17% Verdelho from Suisun Valley, 15% Albariño from Borden Ranch, and 8% Sauvignon Blanc from Potter Valley.

What a blend. This has it all too, some pretty white florals to start that gently dissapate to reveal nashi pear, mandarin, citrus peel and some light tropical hints of guava and goosberry but ever so lightly and in perfect harmony. Mid-weight feel here with pleny of zippy freshness from the riesling but stacked with a melange of citrus and tree fruits. A little textural, a little plush and a whole lot of flavour.

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes are destemmed, crushed, and fermented in small lots in open top fermenters. Next the firm cap of skins and seeds that bubble up and form on the surface during red fermentation is gently "punched down" several times a day. Punching down is a traditional method that gives the skins as much contact with the fermenting wine as possible, allowing the color and the phenols from the skins to be transferred to the wine. After a 10-day fermentation in stainless tanks, the wine is aged with a combination of French and American oak to round out and soften the rich, black fruit flavors.

Alluring notes of honey and spiced pears mingle with ginger root. This is a wonderfully textured wine with spicy fruit and lilting aromatics; hazelnuts, ginger and pear blossom. Signs off with some pleasing quince-like phenolics on the finish making it a perfect food wine to cut through spicy dishes with attitude. GABRIELLE POY

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Before Eric Nuccio was Evesham Wood, he was Haden Fig. His journey into winemaking began in Washington D.C., where he developed a passion for Oregon Pinot Noir while working at a respected wine retailer there. After gaining experience in wine distribution and formal education in viticulture and oenology, Nuccio and his wife moved to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. There, he apprenticed under Russ Raney, the founder of Evesham Wood Winery going on to work with him each vintage while eventually starting Haden Fig in 2007.

For his pinot gris Eric aims for a classic Alsace styling. This is achieved through thought the use of barrel fermentation in older, large format French oak. Here he is not aiming to add oak flavours or aromas but seeks out the textual elements through micro-oxygenation from time in barrel and some light lees contact. This is a wonderfully textured wine with spicy fruit and lilting aromatics that packs in the flavour and drives with wonderful energy and freshness. In 2022 the grapes are sourced from the Mahonia property and the recently purchased Torres Bros Vineyard.

Sourced from Mahonia and– the recently purchased!–Torres Bros. Vineyard; it’s barrel fermented and aged in neutral French oak. It is akin to the pinot gris imported from Alsace — this is a spiced, textured, and aromatically-driven wine.

Fresh lemons, sliced apples and warm herbs on the nose follow through to a medium body with crisp acidity. Fresh and lively with a straightforward character and a fruity finish. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

The 2022 Pinot Noir is composed of fruit from all six of Elk Cove's estate vineyards and was matured in 15% new oak. It's bursting with cranberry sauce, blackberry preserves, cinnamon, underbrush and bitters on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is just as generous, offering concentrated layers of spicy fruit. It has a silky frame, fireworks of acidity and a long, spicy finish. ERIN BROOKES, The Wine Advocate

The 2022 vintage was a classic in Oregon, though bookended by some bizarre weather. Elk Cove has estate vineyards in both the Chehalem Mountain and Yamhill-Carlton AVAs. This Pinot Noir is comprised of wines from six different sites. Brilliant red fruit aromatics, with sweet candied raspberries coming to the fore, buoyed by notes of fresh mint. The palate is fleshy and offers plenty of tannin and structure, fresh red and black bramble fruits interplaying with savoury herbal notes, and finishes with a gravelly mineral tone. DECANTER

A gorgeously bright and savoury Pinot Noir from this 24-ha parcel in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA is done at 50% whole cluster. It's got pretty aromatics of savoury dried herbs, fresh mint, evergreen tips and early-season strawberries. The palate flashes a real depth of fruit with rich brambleberries, brightened by pine sap, smoked sea salt and sumac notes. A delicious coming together of the wine's rich fruit and mineral complexity. CLIVE PURSEHOUSE, Decanter

The 2022 Pinot Noir Goodrich comes from marine sedimentary soils and was crafted with around 40% whole clusters. It has powerful, broody scents of red and black cherries, iron, mushroom powder and violet. The medium-bodied palate has a finely chalky texture and explosive, juicy fruit that lures you in for another taste. It becomes more complex and detailed as it opens in the glass ERIN BROOKES, Wine advocate

Richly complex, this is not a simple sipping Pinot Gris. The aromatics are floral and fruit-centred,
with plenty of jasmine, ripe pear and toasted almond. The palate is surprisingly rich and complex, with lanolin, beeswax and sweet stone fruit flavours. Textured and rich with candied ginger, honeyed pear and apricot to finish. This is a lot of vinous complexity. CLIVE PURSHORSE, Decanter Magazine

The 2022 Pinot Gris is scented of poached pears, almonds, meringue and bread dough. The palate is broad and creamy with generous, ripe, spicy fruit tempered by bright acidity and a long, flavorful finish. ERIN BROOKS, The Wine Advocate

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a polished, silky offering. The 2021 is sleek and well-balanced, but despite its bright future, is also very young and in need of time. Building with time in the glass, this is classy, deep and exceptionally well-tuned. ANTONIO GALLONI

Exciting, bold and lively with a smooth texture already and certainly not aggressively youthful, although it will doubtless develop further. Much fresher than some California Pinot Noirs. JANCIS ROBINSON

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Pike Road Pinot Noir is a beautifully pitched Willamette Valley expression that is bright, lifted and immediately engaging. Red cherry, raspberry and cranberry, layered with gentle spice, florals and a touch of savoury earth. The palate is supple and medium-bodied, with fresh acidity and fine, easy tannins giving it a smooth, drink-now feel, while still carrying enough detail to reflect its cool-climate origins. It’s Pinot with clarity and charm. It's generous without ever feeling heavy.

The project sits within the extended family of Elk Cove Vineyards, one of Oregon’s benchmark producers. Pike Road was established by the Campbell family as a sister label, drawing on over four decades of farming and winemaking experience in the Willamette Valley. Adam Campbell oversees the wines, working closely with a network of long-term grower partners—many of whom the family has collaborated with for generations.

Fruit is sourced from a broad spread of sites across the northern Willamette Valley, including both estate vineyards and carefully selected grower parcels spanning multiple sub-AVAs. This multi-site approach allows Pike Road to capture a complete picture of the region, while keeping the focus firmly on value delivering authentic, cool-climate Pinot Noir with the pedigree of Elk Cove, but in a more accessible, everyday style.

The 2023 Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast has alluring aromas of cranberry, rooibos tea, mossy bark, mushrooms and bitters. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, crunchy fruit and well-integrated new oak spice. It’s structured by grainy tannins and juicy acidity and has a long, flavorful finish. 1,700 cases were made. (92) ERIN BROOKS, The Wine Advocate

The 2023 Pinot Noir (West Sonoma Coast) is brilliant. Bold, racy and punchy, with terrific energy, the 2023 is a delight. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and orange peel are all front and center. Clean mineral notes frame the long, nuanced finish. Most of this fruit is from the Peay estate. This mid-weight Pinot has a lot to offer. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

The 2023 Chardonnay West Sonoma Coast has inviting scents of yellow apple, meringue, toast and crème brûlée. The medium-bodied palate features expressive, spicy apple fruit and saline tones. It’s structured by bright acidity and has a long, energetic finish. 435 cases were made. (92) ERIN BROOKS, The Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chardonnay (West Sonoma Coast) is a classy, elegant wine. Pear, white flowers, white pepper, marzipan and a kiss of new oak all meld together effortlessly. Creamy and understated, with terrific balance, the 2023 has a lot to offer. (92) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

The 2023 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard is a gracious, elegant wine. Crushed flowers and bright, red-toned fruit grace this exquisite, perfumed Anderson Valley Pinot. The 34% whole clusters are very nicely integrated. Soft contours add to an impression of poise. The 2023 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. It's a fine introduction to the vintage, and a quintessential Littorai wine. (95) ANTONIO GALLONI