California Pinots to Beat Blockbusters: John Mariani

I’m often on the edge of despairing over California’s pinot noir producers’ refusal to back down on making massive blockbuster wines with none of finesse they always promise on their labels and websites.

Then I come across California pinots that raise my hopes that there are good producers who have succeeded in making wines of refinement and complexity, without the high alcohol levels that mar so many of their competitors’ in Napa and Sonoma.