Press Highlights

Top 100 Wineries of 2023
Our calendar year ends in the fall, when we look back at the results from hundreds of blind tastings by our panels and our critics—close to 10,000 wines—to seek out the wineries that excited us most, and excited us often. You’ll find profiles of these consistent top performers in the pages that follow.

If you find names that surprise you among our Top 100 Wineries, know that they have earned their place through remarkable performances across a range of wines. We encourage you to try them.

Minus Tide 
Minus Tide earned this award based on the performance of your wines in our tastings, consistently impressing our panels and critics with wines that delivered precise regional expressions. This year, we tasted and assessed more than 9,000 wines. Our team considered all the wines based solely on appellation, variety and vintage, and yours balanced all of those factors beautifully. We are excited to include Minus Tide among the award-winning wineries.

Top 100 Wines of the Year
Top 100 Wines—wines that captivated us, lingering in our thoughts well after the last drop had disappeared. It’s an eclectic group, filled with gems from all corners of the wine world.

Best Syrah
2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino Ridge - 95 Points
I wish there were more vineyards like Perli in Mendocino’s high ridges. The best wines from the site have dynamic intensity, like this 2019, which seems to grab you by the lapels (if you’re stodgy enough to be wearing a suit while drinking syrah). There’s tense acidity driving the wine, but it doesn’t stand in front of the scents of crushed violets and peak-season blueberries. The tannins may be a little rustic, but the wine’s energy makes them feel joyous.

Top 100 Best Buys
2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino Ridge - 95 Points

—Josh Greene and Alissa Bica, Fall 2023

Wine of the Month: A West Coast Chenin Blanc
2023 Minus Tide Sterling Ranch Chenin Blanc

Hailing from Mendocino, Minus Tide’s Sterling Ranch Chenin Blanc delivers a satisfying snap along with savory notes

This young winery in Mendocino has quickly become a favorite of mine. Nearly every of its wine I’ve sampled has been faithful to the variety—nuanced and not exaggerated, which is not always an easy thing to do when the New World meets Old World grapes.

This 100% Chenin from Minus Tide, made from old-vine grapes, offers a tinge of honey on the nose with wild and savory herbs in the undertow. On the palate, there’s present saline—a nod to the coastal location—along with a racy and fresh acidity. Muted yellow fruit, lemon curd and lemon tart all contribute to the fruit spectrum, keeping it on the tart side. Maybe a bit of quince, too. This isn’t a Loire Valley interpretation—not waxy or with a linen-like warmth—but it comes closer to a Chablis in its purity, elegance and electric snap. I enjoyed this with two completely different dishes on consecutive nights: first with a creamy rich Chicken Normandy and the second night, Mujadara with roasted sausage. That this wine was delicious with both speaks to its versatility.

Minus Tide was founded in 2017 by California natives Brad and Miriam Jonas, and Kyle Jeffrey, who met as students at California Polytechnic State University. Collectively, the two winemakers (Brad and Kyle) have worked harvests in Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and California’s major AVAs. They focus on mostly dry-farmed sustainable and organic vineyards, and use low- minimal-intervention production—and that shows in wines that reflect place more than the hand of the winemaker, though the element of craft is not lost. The winery produces Carignan Rosé, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Carignan and Syrah. The Sterling Ranch Chenin Blanc retails for around $32.

—Lana Bortolot, February 2025

20 Of The Best Cool Climate Pinot Noirs To Try Now
The best pinot noirs are the ones grown in cool climates—they tend towards elegant and refined flavor profiles with deep complexity and freshness. Here are 20 great examples of pinot to try now:
    
These are pinot noir wines that lead with depth and minerality, they generally have a savory, mouth-watering edge and are well-suited to aging—but make no mistake they are entirely enjoyable now and worth seeking out. Below are some of my best cool climate sips of 2024—great for gift giving or treating yourself.
2022 Minus Tide Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard Pinot Noir
Located in one of the Anderson Valley’s coolest sites (also known as The Deep End because of its proximity to the Pacific). The wine opens with an elegant texture and palate of fresh cut raspberry/strawberry. Notes of plum, earth and spice round out the finish. An ethereal, lovely wine.
—Katie Kelly Bell, December 2024

Mendocino: Current and Upcoming Releases

Exceptional newcomers to look for include... Minus Tide

    

Minus Tide

Sourcing mostly from Mendocino Ridge, small-production Minus Tide is owned and run by the husband and wife team of Brad and Miriam Jonas along with Kyle Jeffrey. Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah make up most of the portfolio, grown in organic and sustainable vineyards; they also make Carignan and Chenin Blanc. Brad is also the assistant winemaker at Toulouse Vineyards.

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir - 97 Points

An opening note of caramel apple invites one into the 2021 Pinot Noir Manchester Ridge Vineyard, where more pleasant surprises await, from baked strawberry and lavender to gravel, stone, and a finishing touch of white tea. Structured and savory, this is a lovely, deeply memorable, and age-worthy wine from this 2,000-feet elevation vineyard, showing all its wild forested sense of place in the glass. Enjoy now through 2036.

2022 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay - 96 Points

Svelte layers of honeycomb, gingerbread, apple, and pear mingle around a core of bright acidity in the 2022 Chardonnay Manchester Ridge Vineyard, which enjoys a candied textured palate of great complexity and structure. The grapes come from a 2,000-feet elevation site perched 3.5 miles from the ocean, a rugged and wild place that imparts subtle hints of sea spray in the elongated finish. An incredibly impressive wine that's ready to drink, it should do well over the next 10-12 years in bottle.

2022 Minus Tide Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard Pinot Noir - 95 Points

The 2022 Pinot Noir Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard has fantastic opening aromas of forest floor, black tea, and clove that lead to an elegant mid-palate of beautifully preserved acidity, mouth-quenching texture, and light grip. Refined and elegant, the grapes come from one of the cooler sites in the Anderson Valley, a two-acre vineyard planted in 1999 overlooked by redwood trees, reflecting its sense of place with ease. Enjoy now through 2032.

—Virginie Boone, February 2025

Best American Pinot Noirs

For centuries, Burgundy has been the benchmark for top Pinot Noir. And while the great vineyards of that storied region remain at or near the top of the wine-quality pyramid, the best Pinots from the United States are every bit as worthy of attention and adulation. The 45 below, all from between 2018 and 2021, represent a selection of the cream of the domestic crop. Whether from well-known and beloved appellations like Oregon’s Willamette Valley or from California stalwarts like Russian River Valley or relatively new AVAs like West Sonoma Coast, these cellar-worthy wines, up to around $175, are vinous superstars in their own right.

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir

Notably translucent and herbaceous in the best possible sense, this is a deliciously Burgundian expression of Pinot Noir, full of cranberry and red mountain-berry flavors that are flecked with fresh herbs, citrus oils, and an underpinning of forest floor that finds a beautifully calibrated counterpoint in a lingering note of rose hips. This is an absolute steal of a wine at under $50, and proves that splurges don’t have to cost a fortune.

—Brian Freedman, April 2023

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

In the northern reaches of California wine country, nestled between the coastal redwoods, and the native inland oak trees of Mendocino County, from Boonville to Navarro lies Anderson Valley, where cool climate Pinot Noir can be exceptional.

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir has California’s top winemakers and sommeliers taking notice these days.

   

A small valley with ample diversity

‘Even though the region is small, there is a lot of variety within Anderson Valley,’ says Brad Jonas, one of the winemakers at Minus Tide. ‘The number of total degree days (general heat accumulation) on the furthest northwest sites, which we call the Deep End towards the coast, is significantly less than the warmer parts of the appellation near Boonville. The fruit ripens markedly later there.’

   

‘In addition,’ Jonas continues, ‘many of the hillside vineyards have much warmer nights and typically cooler daytime temperatures. Combine that with a range of different soil types, and you get many different expressions of Pinot Noir from all over the appellation.’

   

Minus Tide’s owners Brad and Miriam Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey. Jeffrey and Brad Jonas collaborate on the winemaking.

   

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir: top 10 wines of the vintage:

2022 Minus Tide Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard Pinot Noir - 95 Points

A wine from the Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard in the Deep End of Anderson Valley is a delicious expression of cool-climate Pinot Noir. The 2022 vintage from this site beautifully captures the region's essence, offering a distinct mineral edge with a coastal vibe and a refreshing burst of mint leaves. Expect lively tartness from unripe strawberries and cranberry juice, balanced by earthy, savoury undertones and bright, crisp acidity.

—Clive Pursehouse, December 2024

     

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 95 Points

This lush wine offers aromas of concentrated raspberry, cranberry, pomegranate, florals, cedar and black tea on the nose. Flavors on the palate propel forward with Bing cherry, brandied plum, candied orange rind, dried oregano, mineral and earth, with supple tannins on the finish. Decant and enjoy with pork cutlets.

—Tonya Pitts, April 2025

     

Holiday Wines For Your VIPs

For friends who think they don’t like Chardonnay:

2022 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay

Minus Tide’s Chardonnay (Mendocino) is a very delicate and intricate expression with fresh, tart lemon layers, a touch of creaminess and an herbal lift. There’s some evident wood influence, but that’s a lovely soft note, not a defining character of the wine.

—Lana Bortolot, December 2024

    

The 16 Best Chenin Blancs for 2024

2023 Minus Tide Sterling Ranch Chenin Blanc - 92 Points

Owners Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas, and Miriam Jonas focus Minus Tide on bringing elegance and balance out of the rustic vineyard landscapes of California's Mendocino AVA. This wine is made from vines planted in 1980, and the age shows in the complex texture of this delicious wine. The nose is rich and flinty, and the palate has a nice grip with a good depth of fruit.

This single-vineyard wine comes from vines planted when “The Empire Strikes Back” came out (1980). Minus Tide’s mission is to bring elegance to the wines of the rustic coastal vineyard landscapes of Mendocino in Northern California. And wow, have they. The nose is rich and flinty and the palate has a wonderfully complex texture that lingers on the finish.

—Keith Beavers, October 2024

   

Anderson Valley's Poised Pinot Noirs

For a small vineyard region that counts just 2,500 acres of grapes, Anderson Valley punches far above its weight. Elegant, cool-climate wines are its calling cards, primarily the Burgundian varieties of pinot noir and chardonnay, with a sprinkling of Alsace-style, floral whites and plenty of sparkling wines.

Anderson Valley is a unique part of Mendocino County, California, with its 15 miles (24 kilometers) of vineyards and wineries stretching along a highway that leads directly to the cool, windswept Pacific Coast and the picturesque town of Mendocino.

Other outstanding pinots tend to come from the cooler “deep end” of the valley, the lower elevations nearer the coast that lie past the tiny village of Philo as you drive west. Or from sites on Mendocino Ridge, which is a distinct AVA adjacent to Anderson Valley in the rugged, mountainous terrain on the southwest side and starting at 1,200 feet elevation.

Minus Tide... and a few others in this report use this AVA for excellent pinot noirs and chardonnays.

2022 Minus Tide Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir - 94 Points

This captures the mysterious, earthy, savory aspects of pinot from this Northern California coastal region. Aromas of mushrooms, bay leaves, redwood bark and mulled plums, with slightly smoky grilled cherries, cranberries and pomegranates on the palate. Complex in flavor and a bit nervy with acidity, it's exciting to sip. Drink now or hold.

    

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 94 Points

A brilliant, delicate and filigreed wine with beautiful red fruit and spicy, earthy accents on a medium body. So silky, spicy and polished, giving a light grip in the texture and a long, lingering finish. Subtle, elegant and enticing. Drink or hold.

   

2022 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 92 Points

A suave, layered and light-bodied wine that gets all the wonderful poached pear, almond and vanilla notes of chardonnay but with low-ish alcohol and a cool finish. Toasty, leesy character with notes of honey and graham crackers. Drink or hold.

—Jim Gordon, November 2024

California Chenin Blanc

As a group the wines are remarkably tasty. 

With plantings growing by only a few acres here or there every year, I can’t quite say in good conscience that Chenin Blanc is on anything resembling a meteoric rise, but this little star at the fringes of the California wine scene shines very brightly indeed.

2023 Minus Tide Sterling Ranch Chenin Blanc - 17.5 out of 20 Points

Scents of pear, quince paste and white flowers. Flavours of lemon and grapefruit pith mix with membrillo and fresh, crisp Asian pear. Excellent acidity makes for a crackling, crystalline mouthful with green herbs and salinity. Delicious. VGV (Very Good Value)

—Alder Yarrow, January 2025

    

The Year's 50 Best Wines Under $50, From an Expert Who Tasted 3,243

I love drinking rare, expensive wine as much as anyone, but I’m a bargain hunter at heart. I’m always on the lookout for the reds, whites, rosés and sparklers that deliver top quality at a reasonable cost. So, as I reviewed my 2023 tasting notes, I was delighted to discover this was a banner year for good values, despite inflation.

I culled my following 50 good buys from 3,243 wines from 21 countries that I sipped this year. I’ve tried to highlight what’s new, at least to me, but some are familiar labels that consistently deliver deliciousness—and they haven’t raised their prices, either. 

Rosé for All Seasons

Dry pink wines as an aperitif, party sipper or with food.

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

The mouthwatering, almost salty acidity in this Mendocino rosé makes it a super food wine. From a single vineyard of old carignan vines, it has aromas of apricots and intense concentrated flavor. 

—Elin McCoy, December 2023

    

Fab $40s

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 94 Points

One sip of this Pinot is enough to transport you to the redwood forests of Mendocino Ridge--the only non-contiguous AVA in America (only Mendocino vineyards at elevations above 1,200 feet can be included). Aromas of cedar and bay laurel. Exotic spices. Rich black cherries. All uplifted by the wine’s purity and freshness.

—Karen MacNeil, July 2024

   

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 94 Points

Co-owners and co-winemakers Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas source grapes from the Manchester Ridge Vineyard in the Mendocino Ridge AVA. Lively, with mineral-tinged red berry fruit, white pepper, and dried sage aromas. Wonderfully supple with ripe acidity framing tangy redcurrant and tart cherry fruits, turning savoury with cherry pit, flamed blood orange peel, and a beautifully floral persistence.

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 93 Points

Compelling and highly perfumed aromas of black olives, violets, liquorice, and supple blackberry fruits nuanced by charcuterie notes lead with lifted mineral overtones. Offering classic Syrah notes leading with a serious meatiness that builds in intensity, matched by sweet cassis, brandied cherries, olive tapenade, and smoky minerals. Firm, fine-grained tannins underscore a long finish of black pepper, cardamom, earth, and crushed dried violets. Co-owners and co-winemakers Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas source grapes from Valenti Vineyard, a south-facing site at elevations of 296 to 487 metres in the Mendocino Ridge AVA.

—Jonathan Cristaldi, January 2024

  

Publisher's Picks

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 95 Points

Juicy and bright, with brushy notes, notably white pepper, and oregano. Pomegranate and black cherry dig deep into an earthy layer. Acidity adds oomph, but its savory qualities are memorable. The vineyard lies at 2,000 feet in elevation and is part of the Mendocino Ridge appellation, the only non-contiguous AVA in the U.S. 

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 92 Points

Vineyard elevations reaching 1,600 provide the fruit for this powerful red. Pepper stands out alongside black plum and dried violets. A base of roasted coffee bean and charcuterie add to its French accent.

—Meridith May, January 2024

      

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 94 Points, Best Buy

Manchester Ridge is an extreme site juxtaposing altitude with proximity to the coast: 3.5 miles inland and 2,000 feet above the Pacific. Winemakers and winery partners Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas include whole clusters (40 percent) when they let this wine spontaneously ferment and, though they age it in neutral barrels, there’s a clear oak influence when the wine is first opened, with wood tannins and a piney scent. The floral notes and mushroom umami are there from the start, but give this a day to regroup with air and the wood tannins seem to have dissolved into that savory umami, and the floral length of flavor extends. A wine of delicate power, tightly wound, built for aging.

—Josh Greene, March 2024

 

American Rosés for the Fourth of July

2023 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé

A cool-climate wine made from old vines, head-trained and planted in 1908, this shows its maritime influence with hints of saline, streak of acidity and concentrated fruit flavors of strawberry and sour cherry with pops of watermelon. A nice wine for those who want something a little off the beaten path but without the funkiness of a natural wine.

—Lana Bortolot, July 2024

     

This week included a lot of excellent Pinot Noir, a bunch of them from Mendocino’s Anderson Valley.

     

Another winery I’ve watched since its very first moments is Minus Tide, a Mendocino-focused label that has quickly become a gem of a project and a great standard-bearer for Mendocino. Their newest Pinot Noir from the Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard in Anderson Valley has this arboreal quality that is really compelling.

2022 Minus Tide Hacienda Sequoia Vineyard Pinot Noir - Around 9/10 Points

Light to medium garnet in the glass with ruby highlights, this wine smells of forest floor and raspberries. In the mouth, faintly saline flavors of raspberry, dried herbs, and sour cherry have a lovely, mouthwatering acidity and faint fleecy tannic texture that coats the mouth. Delicious. 100% Pommard clone fermented with 10% whole clusters and ambient yeasts. Ages for 10 months in neutral French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

—Alder Yarrow, October 2024

     

Minus Tide Wines is a love letter to Mendocino County

Even without a tasting room, their brand regularly sells out of its wines and just launched a wine club.

   

From left: Brad Jonas, Miriam Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey, founders of Minus Tide Wines in Mendocino County.

     

Minus Tide sources 100% of its fruit from Mendocino County.

    

Minus Tide Wines evoke the feeling of the Mendocino Coast, where co-founder Brad Jonas was raised.

    

Minus Tides sources Syrah from Valenti Vineyard in Mendocino Ridge, a cool, high-elevation appellation nicknamed “Islands in the Sky.”

    

Growing up in the small, wind-swept town of Mendocino, Brad Jonas spent much of his childhood diving off the coast for abalone, a delicacy of the sea.

  

While a typical dive took him 20 feet below the surface to reach the jeweled mollusks, a minus tide — an ultralow tide caused by the moon’s gravitational pull — exposed the abalone much closer to shore.

  

“A minus tide really exposes the bounty of the sea. Sometimes you don’t even have to go into the water to find the abalone — they might be in a tide pool with mussels and sea urchin,” said Jonas. “Minus Tide felt like the perfect name for our winery. We want to expose the hidden gems of the vineyard while evoking the feeling of the Mendocino Coast.”

  

Founded in 2017, Minus Tide Wines is a partnership between Jonas, his wife, Miriam, and their friend Kyle Jeffrey, who all met as students at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

  

Brad Jonas and Jeffrey, who met during freshman orientation at Cal Poly, share winemaking duties, while Miriam Jonas, an account director at J.A.M. Public Relations, leads the PR and marketing charge.

  

At a time when the future of the wine industry remains uncertain, the owners of Minus Tide have purposely placed their eggs in multiple income baskets. Jonas is the winemaker at Toulouse Vineyards in Philo, while Jeffrey makes wine for Woods Beer & Wine Co. in San Francisco.

  

“If Minus Tide were our only source of income, I think it would be a lot more stressful and some of the joy and excitement would go away,” said Jonas. “We all have day jobs, so it takes all three of us to make it work. We’re all involved in every aspect of the business, but not in an overwhelming way. It’s just right.”

  

A love letter to Mendocino

Producing about 600-700 cases of wine per year, Minus Tide is a love letter to Mendocino County — a region Jonas believes “doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.”

  

“We made a conscious decision to make Mendocino County a key part of our identity to help build the Mendocino brand,” said Jonas. “A lot of the region’s premium fruit gets trucked down to Sonoma County. We want to keep it local and showcase all Mendocino County can do.”

  

Currently, Minus Tide sources fruit from six different vineyards, including Syrah from Perli Vineyard in Mendocino Ridge, Carignan from Hopland’s more than 100-year-old Feliz Creek Vineyard, and high-elevation Pinot Noir from Manchester Ridge.

    

Admittedly, their agreed-upon favorite is the Syrah from Valenti Vineyard ($42) in Mendocino Ridge, a cool, high-elevation appellation nicknamed “Islands in the Sky.”

  

Located six miles from the coast, the wind-whipped location is among the last to ripen in the appellation, resulting in deeply complex wines that are both alive and balanced.

  

“It’s an incredible site that produces Syrah with tons of black pepper and this meaty, spicy flavor we just love,” said Jonas. “But it also has this elegant, restrained power to it. It’s one of our favorites.”

  

Among Minus Tide’s most thought-provoking wines is its cool-climate study of Cabernet Sauvignon ($60), with fruit sourced from Vine View Ranch in the Yorkville Highlands. Resting at 1,500 feet in elevation, the site produces a remarkably bright expression of the Bordeaux varietal, which is grounded by healthy tannins and notes of plum and garrigue (dried herbs).

  

Another standout is Minus Tide’s 2023 Chenin Blanc ($32) from Sterling Ranch — a boon for dry, aromatic white wine lovers (like myself) — with loads of pear, Golden Delicious apple, bright quince and mouthwatering acidity.

  

The value of staying small

Despite the challenges affecting some areas of the wine industry, Minus Tide has found a way to thrive. Even without a tasting room, the brand regularly sells out of its wines and just launched a wine club.

  

“We’re small enough and nimble enough to easily pivot if an area of the market isn’t working,” said Jonas. “We feel really comfortable at this size, so for now, we’re not planning on getting enormous anytime soon.”

—Sarah Doyle, June 2024

    

What You Need to Know: California Syrah

California Syrah is delicious, made in a wide array of styles from rich and powerful to spicy and lean, goes well with food, and grows well in lots of places.

 

Beyond its many other virtues, Syrah offers variety. Syrahs from Napa Valley and Paso Robles are often ripe, rich, and velvety in texture, with flavors that tend more to meat than lavender. Syrahs from the Sonoma Coast, Santa Maria, or the upper reaches of Mendocino Ridge generally exude more of the rotundone compound that gives the grape its peppery spice and earthy undertones.

  

But really: why not try them all?

  

Mendocino County

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah
Valenti is dry farmed and quintessentially cool climate, and this 50 percent whole-cluster Syrah captures everything you want in such a wine—it’s aromatic, spicy, fresh, and structured, melds together flavors of cassis, herbes de Provence, and black olive with ease, and is remarkably delicious.

—Virginie Boone, April 2024

     

Gavin Schmidt, chef-partner at The Morris in San Francisco:

‘Some of our favourite pairings at The Morris for the duck are Northern Rhône Syrah or Loire Cab Franc. The Aurélien Chatagnier “Zélée” Saint Joseph is a great one, but also never a bad excuse to crack that bottle of Thierry Allemand Reynard Cornas,’ says Schmidt. ‘If you want a domestic option, the great folks at Minus Tide make a magical Syrah.’

     

Seven wines for local Bay Area cuisine

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Syrah - 93 Points

Compelling and highly perfumed aromas of black olives, violets, liquorice, and supple blackberry fruits nuanced by charcuterie notes lead with lifted mineral overtones. Offering classic Syrah notes leading with a serious meatiness that builds in intensity, matched by sweet cassis, brandied cherries, olive tapenade, and smoky minerals. Firm, fine-grained tannins underscore a long finish of black pepper, cardamom, earth, and crushed dried violets. Co-owners and co-winemakers Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas source grapes from Valenti Vineyard, a south-facing site at elevations of 296 to 487 metres in the Mendocino Ridge AVA.

—Ana Carolina Quintela, November 2024

California's Wildest Appellation

Bears...and endless switchbacks won’t stop producers from making amazing wines on the Mendocino Ridge

Brad Jonas, Miriam Jonas, and Kyle Jeffrey

      

The nation’s only non-contiguous appellation is wild, remote, and difficult to farm. Estates are so alpine and isolated that producers call them “islands in the sky”—a nickname actually trademarked by one Mendocino Ridge producer, Mariah Vineyards. The AVA covers a quarter-million acres, but less than 100 are planted. 

By definition, Mendocino Ridge grapes grow above 1,200 feet within 10 miles of the ocean in this eponymous northern California county. Located above the line of fog that has given the better-known Anderson Valley to the east its famed diurnal swing, Mendocino Ridge is all about its coastal influence—so much so that growers have petitioned the TTB to rename the appellation Mendocino Coast Ridge. Says Minus Tide Wines' Brad Jonas, “The ocean moderates temperatures. It’s a long, even, cool growing season. There’s a lot of sunlight and not a lot of heat. We’re picking Chardonnay and Pinot sometimes into October.”

   

Jonas sources those varieties from Manchester Ridge Vineyard, 2,000 feet up and 3.5 miles from the Pacific, where it’s usually 20 degrees cooler than in the Valley. These conditions help bring elegance, though patient winemaking also contributes. Minus Tide’s 2021 Manchester Ridge Chardonnay is lemon-lime lean but with a custardy mouthfeel. “A marker of Mendocino Ridge fruit is high malic acid,” Jonas explains. “It looks like it won’t make drinkable still wine, but after 13 or 14 months in neutral oak, where the malic acid converts slowly to lactic acid, you’re looking at super acidic, mineral Chardonnay that also has richness and texture.” 

Fermented naturally with 40 percent whole clusters, then aged in neutral oak, his [2021 Manchester Ridge Vineyard] Pinot Noir offers cherry and earth, citrus pith, and an intriguing hint of prosciutto, meaty and briny. “I always get salinity from this vineyard. That’s proximity to the ocean,” he says. Most exciting is his Syrah, especially after aging. Made with at least half whole clusters from the 1,800-foot apex of organic Valenti Vineyard, Minus Tide’s 2019 Syrah is filled with smoky spice but with a floral aroma and lithe, bright fruit. The grapes struggle to ripen; sometimes he harvests at Halloween. But that gives the phenolics time to develop. “If you like that peppery character, Valenti has it in spades,” says Jonas. It’s a wine that feels like it will age forever.  

Acid and tannins, the structural elements that come from this terroir, give the wines staying power, particularly in the Ridge’s northernmost vineyards. 

—Betsy Andrews, May 2024 

        

I’m happy to recommend to you the latest Syrah release from the tiny boutique producer Minus Tide, who has managed to get ahold of fruit from one of the best Syrah vineyards in California. The Valenti Vineyard is high on Greenwood Ridge, roughly 6 miles from the Pacific at the western edge of Anderson Valley in Mendocino. Planted in 1998 it has made some of my favorite California Syrahs for many years. This one, made by Brad Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey, has a feral intensity that will appeal to anyone who is looking for more than just polished fruit in their glass.

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - Around 9 Points

Very dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of wet earth, black cherry, and a hint of horse sweat. In the mouth, wonderfully bright, citrus oil and black cherry fruit are mouthwatering with a saline acidity that is quite disarming. Powdery tannins coat the mouth and then stiffen with time leaving a stony character in the mouth, as salty black cherry and leather flavors linger through the finish. Unusual and slightly feral (in a very good way). 50% whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts, then aged for 11 months in neutral oak.

—Alder Yarrow, January 2024

    

What You Need to Know About California White Wines

In the right hands, California Chardonnay is one of the great wines of the world.

California Chardonnay Vineyards to Know

Don’t miss Manchester Ridge, an extreme site right on the rugged Mendocino coast that absorbs the full force of the Pacific Ocean and produces beautiful wines.

Also worth your time:

Minus Tide

—Virginie Boone, March 2024

 

Moonlighting millennials craft a pitch-perfect Pinot from Mendocino

Brad Jonas, his wife Miriam, and their friend Kyle Jeffrey, who juggle boutique winemaking with their day jobs, get high marks in multitasking.

     

Brad Jonas, Miriam Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey, founders of Minus Tide Wines in Mendocino County.

       

Minus Tide sources 100% of its fruit from Mendocino County.

      

Brad and Miriam Jonas, and their friend Kyle Jeffrey, get high marks in multitasking. The three co-vintners of Minus Tide Wines in Mendocino County juggle boutique winemaking with demanding day jobs.

    

These moonlighting millennials are behind our Wine of the Week winner — the 2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge.

    

It is a Pinot with pitch-perfect balance. Buoyed by bright acidity, it has tangy fruit of black cherry, pomegranate and cranberry, with dried herbs and mushrooms in the mix. Finishing crisp, this complex Pinot is striking.

     

“We try to embrace the site and let the fruit speak for itself,” Jeffrey explained. “Manchester Ridge is such a special vineyard to begin with, and we are really just trying to get out of the way and utilize the natural acidity and amazing flavors that it gives.”

     

The high-elevation vineyard is situated on the Mendocino Coast, due west of Anderson Valley. At 2,000 feet elevation and 3.5 miles from the ocean, the organically farmed vineyard sits above the fog line and enjoys abundant sunshine and cool daytime temperatures.

    

“Its location contributes to a long growing season and a unique expression of Pinot Noir,” Brad Jonas said. “It has high natural acidity and a delicious savory profile to the fruit. The vineyard’s low yields, combined with it being dry farmed, also result in very concentrated flavors in the wine.”

     

The Minus Tide team strives for perfection when producing Pinot Noir, a finicky varietal to work with.

     

“Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape, and has a very delicate flavor profile,” Brad Jonas explained. “In many ways, it’s prized for its elegance. The challenge with Pinot Noir is that it shows all of its qualities — good or bad — which means the wine has to be flawless to really be an exceptional wine.”

    

The trio founded Minus Tide in 2017. They recently launched a wine club and host a series of winemaker dinners, partnering with local chefs.

    

The winery produces about 600 cases annually in Anderson Valley. It currently makes Carignan Rosé, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

    

The boutique label sources exclusively from vineyards within Mendocino County to highlight the region. The brand’s name is a nod to the very low tides that expose the hidden gems of the sea, like abalone, and to evoke the feeling of the Mendocino Coast.

    

What people tend to find most surprising about the Minus Tide team is how many responsibilities the three 35-year-old co-vintners have.

    

Brad Jonas is in charge of the day-to-day winemaking at Toulouse Vineyards in Philo; Kyle Jeffrey is the winemaker for Woods Beer and Wine Co. in San Francisco; and Miriam Jonas is the longtime account director at J.A.M. Public Relations.

    

On top of that, they also deal with the caprices of the weather. Managing the effects of climate change has become the new normal, Brad Jonas said.

    

“When you are in agriculture, you have to learn to roll with the punches of things beyond your control,” he said. “We’re lucky to work with very knowledgeable and experienced growers who can help mitigate what Mother Nature throws at us … We do the best we can with the hand we’re dealt.”

    

Wine of the Week

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge – 4.5 Stars

This Pinot has pitch perfect balance. Buoyed by bright acidity, it has tangy fruit of black cherry, pomegranate and cranberry, with dried herbs and mushrooms in the mix. Finishing crisp, this complex Pinot is striking.

—Peg Melnik, July 2024

     

Wine of the Week

Our Wine of the Week, 2021 Minus Tide Mendocino Ridge Manchester Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, is a sassy beauty, with dazzling acidity and remarkably fresh flavors suggestive of Bing cherries, red currants, pomegranates, and cranberries.

    

There is no suggestion of sweetness in this delightfully rich and savory wine and you’ll notice little bursts of dried herbs — especially oregano — white pepper, forest mushrooms, dried raspberry leaf and Red Delicious apple skins. There are hints of pine, cedar, and rosemary, and the finish is long and crisp, with an engaging acidity beckoning you to take another sip.

    

For today’s dish, I am inspired by the wine’s bright freshness, a purity that encourages the varietal’s unique and delicate nuances to emerge. The mozzarella mirrors the freshness, the sopressata engages deeper flavors and blueberries dance with the wine’s beautiful acidity, turning your mouth into a miniature ballroom.

—Michele Anna Jordan, July 2024

    

Year's Best US Rhône Varieties

2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 95 Points, Best Buy: Exciting, Distinctive; A wine that transcends simple typicity to its region or variety—a vivid, singular expression of place.

I wish there were more vineyards like Perli in Mendocino's high ridges. The best wines from the site have dynamic intensity, like this 2019, which seems to grab you by the lapels (if you're stodgy enough to be wearing a suit while drinking syrah). Tense acidity drives the wine, but it doesn't stand in front of the scents of crushed violets and peak-season blueberries. The tannins may be a little rustic, but the wine's energy makes them feel joyous.

2019 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 92 Points: Delicious, Compelling; A compelling wine of its region; a delicious, finessed expression of a place.

Open and airy, this wine is lightened by the feel of the coastal winds, while deepened by a drape of velvet-black tannins. The black-pepper spice scent draws you in, but you'll have to wait a few years for the wine to emerge from its tannins and deliver on that promise.

—Josh Greene, April 2023

 

These wines have refreshing sensibilities (juicy, mouth-watering, mineral) but are also complex enough to please even the fussiest wine connoisseur.

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

Crafted from 100% old vine carignan cultivated in the cooler climate of Mendocino. Mouthwatering notes of watermelon, white peach and citrus zest keep this one juicy and crisp in the glass.

—Katie Kelly Bell, August 2023

Disco Ranch in Anderson Valley: It’s one of California’s best wine shops

Paisley-clad Disco Ranch owner Wendy Lamer engages with customers at her beloved Boonville wine shop, which some people travel hours to visit. Disco Ranch celebrates small, local producers, most of which don’t have a tasting room. Lamer isn’t shy about her favorites, which include... Mendocino’s Minus Tide.

—Jess Lander, April 2023

 

While we’re on the subject of Pinot Noir, Minus Tide sent along their latest vintage of their Manchester Ridge bottling, which offered a really lovely combination of savory and fruit character, with the energy of the cooler reaches of Mendocino County.

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - Around 9 Points

Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of raspberry and raspberry leaf. In the mouth, bright raspberry and green herb flavors mix with a hint of road dust and a touch of red apple skin. Bright and juicy with a lovely faint tannic grip and lovely savory notes lingering in the finish. Excellent acidity. 

—Alder Yarrow, December 2023

Whether produced as a varietally labeled wine or as part of a blend, Syrah is capable of greatness.

Syrah offers profoundly delicious wine-drinking experiences across the entire stylistic spectrum: Whether you prefer more fruit-forward and generous red wines or savory, spicy, and meaty ones – or both! – Syrah (or Shiraz) will satisfy.

Five Great Syrah Wines

These producers, listed alphabetically, are a perfect way to start exploring all that Syrah has to offer.

Minus Tide

From their base in Philo, California, Minus Tide has been gaining real traction over the past few years. No wonder: Their wines, which range from Carignan rosé to Chardonnay and beyond, are thoughtful and detailed. Two current-release single-vineyard Syrahs, both from Mendocino Ridge, embody this. The 2019 Valenti Vineyard bottling is pure peppercorn on the nose which precedes a bright, energetic palate of red fruit and more peppercorns, with lingering notes reminiscent of blood oranges and iron through the balanced, mouthwatering finish. The 2019 Perli Vineyard is more perfumed, with flowers and crushed blueberries on the nose setting the stage for flavors of cherries, huckleberries, and a grace note of jasmine that finds excellent tension alongside hints of dry-aged beef.

—Brian Freedman, September 2022 

Blushing Beauties
These days, American winemakers are using all sorts of grapes to produce rosés, which take their light color from the juice being briefly left on the skins following the crush. Here are six single-varietal pink wines from across the country to enjoy this summer.

2021 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

Mendocino’s Minus Tide Wines works with environmentally friendly vineyards to produce minimum-intervention bottlings, such as this 2021 carignan, which features old-vine, dry-farmed grapes pressed whole-cluster and fermented with native yeast. Pacific Ocean salinity and white peach notes are among the appealing characteristics of this crisp yet juicy wine.

—Justin Goldman, July 2022

Anderson Valley Dispatch

California's Anderson Valley is one of the world's top regions—and its future will only get brighter.

   

Minus Tide makes wine from a broader swath of Mendocino, most notably Mendocino Ridge, but the team of Kyle Jeffrey and Brad and Miriam Jonas live in, and make their wines in, Anderson Valley.

—Virginie Boone, March 2024

 

Mendocino Ridge: Regional Profile and the Wines to Buy

Zinfandel defined Mendocino Ridge for a century. But today Burgundian varieties thrive in this uniquely non-contiguous Californian AVA, formed of 24 peaks reaching up to 800m altitude. Jonathan Cristaldi takes a trip and picks out 19 top wines to try.

 

Originally part of the North Coast and Mendocino County AVAs, it is the harbinger of a small, but growing faction of grape growers who see its rugged, unruly and treacherous terrain as the frontier of a special coastal terroir capable of producing an eminently graceful and ageworthy style of northern California wine – for both whites and reds.

 

Compared to other high-elevation AVAs like Fort Ross-Seaview, West Sonoma Coast or the Santa Cruz Mountains, oceanic influence on the Mendocino Ridge AVA is distinct.

Noteworthy Vineyards

Manchester Ridge, Perli, Valenti

Notable Producers

Minus Tide

Mendocino Ridge: 19 wines to try from this unique AVA

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 94 Points

From a 609m ridgetop vineyard perched 5.6km from the Pacific Ocean. Winemakers Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas employ native yeast fermentation and whole-cluster pressing to their Wente Clone Chardonnay. A mere 56 cases produced. Lovely aromas of lemon curd, caramelised apples, pear, salted lemon peel and apricot jam. Has great mineral tension with tangy, bright acidity. Finishes long with honeycomb and honeysuckle notes.

2019 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 93 Points

Co-owned by Brad and Miriam Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey. Restrained yet complex aromas of bramble, raspberry, pepper, rose, cedar and cured meat. The mineral palate is layered with blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate, with zesty blood orange acidity and a long finish. 50% whole clusters used, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

—Jonathan Cristaldi, May 2022

Delicious Diversity: Tasting the Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wines

Put on by Wine & Spirits Magazine, the tasting is a showcase of (most, but not all) the wineries that have made the magazine’s annual list of Top 100 Wineries around the world. ...it’s certainly hard to deny the quality of the wines on offer at this particular tasting, which inevitably, is one of the best public wine tastings held all year in San Francisco.

Red Wines With a Score Around 9:

2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah

2018 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah

2018 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir

—Alder Yarrow, October 2023

 

2020 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 92 Points, Editors' Choice

Delicate on the nose, this crisp Chardonnay truly comes alive on the palate with vivacity. A wonderfully smooth texture on the palate is pierced by a zing of acidity and closes with just a subtle touch of phenolic grip. Enjoy notes of lemon, lime, green apple, apple blossom, wet stone, cut grass and Marcona almond—all lingering during the lengthy finish.

—Stacy Briscoe, October 2023

  

2020 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 91 Points

Sweet, sour and bold, this chardonnay is bursting at the seams, like a pineapple grenade. Somehow it holds in all that exuberance, in a way that Tastings Editor Corey Warren found "stylized and confident."

—Josh Greene, October 2023

  

Disco Ranch is Nor-Cal's One-Stop-Shop for Affordable Local Wine Gems

Wendy Lamer is the most unpretentious wine genius you’ll ever meet. Don’t let her casual nature fool you: She knows all the stories about each wine on her shelves — what soil it grew in, who made it, and what you should cook to eat with it.

In addition to a curated selection of European wines, Lamer has a whole section in her small shop devoted to local wines, and I recently asked her to list her top 10 wineries from the Anderson Valley (and Mendocino County’s other nearby AVAs) that are so small they don’t have tasting rooms. These are the hardworking artisans of wine whose bottles you won’t see on restaurant menus or city shelves. They’re all as minimal-intervention as possible, from full-on biodynamic to made with native yeasts. Collectively, they have the character of terroir-driven wines that speak of this peaceful place.

Minus Tide

“The wonderful threesome that met in college went on to see their dream realized, which inspired me to do the same. It was my business model to focus on small wineries that did not have a tasting room. The quality and price point were exactly what I was looking for. I am now on their third vintage of Pinot Noir, and it’s still my top seller. Look for Minus Tide’s Carignan rosé from Feliz Creek Vineyard’s 114-year-old vines.”

—Kim Westerman, February 2022 

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 92 Points, Hidden Gem

This bottling is bright with ripe red and black fruit, jellied cranberry, black cherry, citrus rind, blood orange and talcum. It has a long finish. The Pinot Noir you didn’t know you needed.

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 90 Points

This wine offers deeply concentrated blackberry and blue fruits, along with lots of texture from earth, clay and mineral. There is so much going on and everything is still developing. Drink or hold until 2030.

—Tonya Pitts, April 2024

17 Off-the-Beaten-Path California Reds

California offers so much more than its most familiar grape varieties and blends: The elegant spiciness of a well-made Cabernet Franc; the finesse-driven, red-toned vibrato of a juicy Mourvèdre; lively examples of Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache. All of these and more offer a spate of off-the-beaten-path reds worth seeking out. 

The list of 17 wines below showcases the abundance of unique reds that California is capable of producing, along with a few under-the-radar classics, too. 

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan

Get ready for a trip to the south of France, told through the eyes of Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas, and Miriam Jonas, co-owners of the uber-small production Minus Tide wines, including this Carignan. Jeffrey says that Carignan is one of the heritage varieties of Mendocino County, and their grape source at Feliz Creek Vineyard is among the oldest, with vines dating back to 1908. Florals such as rose petals and violets join thinly sliced saucisson sec, black olives, and white pepper. Soft, silken dark fruit rides along a salty finish. Pair this with cured meats and a hearty cassoulet.  

—Jonathan Cristaldi, March 2022 

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 93 Points: Excellent; highly recommended

A relatively light color leads to haunting earth, toast and oak-spice aromas in this rather lean and nicely complex wine from a hilltop vineyard. Mint and basil add to black cherry and black tea on a tangy, appropriately tannic texture. Fermentation included 50% whole clusters and native yeast.

—Jim Gordon, October 2022

2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 93 Points: Excellent; highly recommended

This sleek, almost spare wine, has an edgy expression from nervy acidity and a rather light body that accompanies violets, sour cherries and black pepper flavors that are fascinating to savor. An earthy, tobacco-like nuance develops on the palate and lingers on the finish.

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - 91 Points: Excellent; highly recommended

One of the heritage varieties in California, this robust Carignan stands out for its potent, focused black fruits, hints of wood smoke, tobacco and leather, all wrapped in moderate tannins for a structure that should help it age. Best through 2028.

—Jim Gordon, December 2022

          

2020 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay - 93 Points

Aromatics of lemon verbena, oyster shell and Cara Cara orange pith mark this Chardonnay from Manchester Ridge Vineyard in the Mendocino Ridge at 620m. The dry-farmed vines and ample elevation produce wines of concentration and lift. The close proximity to the Pacific marks the palate with a seafoam salinity followed on by lemon curd, a savoury sweet grass note and tons of saline minerality to finish.

—Clive Pursehouse, July 2023

  

Once I think I have experienced all the beauty that a tiny producer like Minus Tide Wines can express with precious multi-generational vineyards in Mendocino, California, I get sent new wines that just blow me away with how they can express the multilayered nuances of these unique plots of land.

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir

100% Pinot Noir from the Manchester Ridge Vineyard that is located at a 2,000 ft. elevation just 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean; dry farmed so produces small clusters with concentrated flavor and high acidity. A wildness to this wine that I love with aromas of forest floor, morels and wildflowers that dance in one's head with unbridled passion that is just mouthwateringly delicious with a stunning purity of red cherry flavor. Only 193 cases were made.

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah

100% Syrah from Valenti Vineyard which is located between 1,300 to 1,600 ft., six miles from the Pacific Ocean. Cooling coastal influences allow the grapes to slowly ripen, bringing more complexity, elegance and retaining bright acidity. The fantastic mingling of red strawberries with a touch of black pepper and just a hint of basil on the nose lets one know that they are about to taste a very special wine that becomes extremely delectable with a mid-palate plushiness with cassis and black raspberry liqueur flavors that are lifted by elegantly sculpted tannins and invigorated by marked acidity. Only 87 cases were made.

—Cathrine Todd (of Forbes), January 2024

            

Year's Best US Syrah & Rhône Varieties

2018 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 93 Points, Best Buy: Exciting; Distinctive; A wine that transcends simple typicality to its region or variety —a vivid, singular expression of place.

Brad Jonas, a coastal Mendocino native, is the assistant winemaker at Toulouse Vineyards in Anderson Valley. His wife and partner, Miriam Pitt, handles wine accounts at J.A.M. PR. And Kyle Jeffrey, their partner in Minus Tide, is winemaker at Woods Beer and Wine in San Francisco. The three met at Cal Poly, began making wine together in 2015 and launched Minus Tide in 2017. Jeffrey and Jonas make this syrah from Valenti, a vineyard planted in 2001 on the uplift of an ancient seabed six miles from the contemporary Pacific. They ferment the fruit spontaneously, with a lot of the clusters intact (75 percent), then age it in neutral French oak, presenting a bright and lively syrah. It starts with a faithful reproduction of the coastal stink of that marginal site before that reduction blows off and the scent turns toward fresh thyme, orange blossoms and forest mushrooms. The savory fruit hints at Kalamata olives underscored by smoky mineral tannins. Delicious if you decant it now, this will benefit from a year or two of rest in your cellar.  

—Josh Greene, February 2021

 

Jancis Robinson on California’s New-wave Wines
Forget the expensive Napa Cabernets and the mass-market brands, there are gems in the middle price bracket
…But, in fact, California’s vitality and excitement lie neither at the top nor the bottom of the price scale, but in the lower middle where there is a much, much wider range of grape varieties, styles and appellations than there were 10 years ago.
 
They are typically produced by young, dynamic, innovative and independent winemakers. And that, I hope, is where California’s wine future lies.
Recommended new-wave California wines
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay 
2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan 
—Jancis Robinson, June 2020

The Flight of Spring: Rosés & Whites

A crop of crisp and delicious wines debuts

Rosé loves grilled and smoky flavors, and can be a refreshing antidote to fatty foods — precisely why it harmonizes so well with all kinds of charcuterie, and by extension pepperoni pizza. It’s beautiful with seafood, and can often absorb some heat; I enjoyed Minus Tide’s rosé of Carignan with a spicy cioppino I made last weekend.

Here are some rosés that have been keeping me going over the last couple weeks.

What I’m drinking

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

From 112-year-old Carignan vines, this lean, acid-driven rosé tastes like a just-ripe peach, with lots of red berry notes, and smells like lavender and wet stones. It achieves lots of flavor in a very delicate frame.

—Esther Mobley, May 2020

The 50 Best Wines Under $50

Picking my annual 50 under $50 list was extremely difficult this year. There are more delicious value wines than ever from around the globe. And I should know: I sampled a couple thousand of them in 2020.

Rosé for All Seasons

Full-flavored dry pink wines for savoring alone or with food

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

Three 28-year-olds founded this winery in Mendocino in 2017, and their wines are delicious, especially this dry, salty rosé made from 112-year-old carignan vines. 

—Elin McCoy, December 2020

          

20 US rosés to beat the heat

Pink wines have never been cooler

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé – 92 Points

A fuller-bodied rosé that balances a ripeness with fresh minerality and sweet fruit. This rosé is showy and perhaps fancies itself a Bandol. From vines planted in 1908, this pink shows aromas of watermelon jolly rancher, sweet cherry blossom florals and a note of sea breeze. The palate is complex and leans towards the opulent for a rosé. Bold flavours of sweet cherry cut watermelon and strawberry cream.

—Clive Pursehouse, August 2023

        

33 Rosés to Drink All Summer Long

I tasted more than 120 rosés in researching this piece, and was struck not just by the diversity of styles and flavor profiles, but also by the exceptional quality to be found at every price imaginable… and from all over the world, from France, Italy, and New Zealand to California, Oregon, Texas, and beyond.

I’ve included bottles here that are wildly popular and priced to be enjoyed any day of the week, as well as rosés that rise to Grand Cru Burgundy levels of price and collectibility. There is a rosé out there for everyone. Which is a beautiful thing, because these days, all of us could use a glassful of the kind of unselfconscious joy that great rosé so reliably provides.

Here are 33 of my favorites.

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

Fantastic acidity and concentration: The mid-palate bursts with bright, wild red berry fruit and a suggestion of flowers, but it’s the finish that remains in the memory most powerfully, with pink peppercorns, jasmine, and orange oils. Keep an eye on this producer: You’ll be hearing more about their wines in the future.

—Brian Freedman, May 2020

   

15 California wines that are worthy of your tax refund

When properly vetted, even budget wines can taste like nectar of the Gods.

Tax splurge-worthy wines: 5 wines $60 and under

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 4 Stars

An earthy pinot with notes of black cherry, mushroom and savory herbs. Well crafted.

—Peg Melnik, April 2024

  

Start a Wine Collection with These Amazing and Affordable Wines

You don’t need a wine cellar and a collecting habit to drink well—the wine world is a grand and fabulous place abundant with delicious deals. Wines that taste world-class, are suited to aging and in some cases boast a noble pedigree are within reach; one just needs to ask the right questions. I look to sommeliers and smaller owner-operated wine retailers for their intel on wines that are overlooked or have great fruit but are not the showy first label bottlings—and I always ask about what they have stashed at home. You’ll love these suggestions below as much for their taste as for their price. Below are my top eight so far this year.
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir 
A lovely, elegant pinot noir grown in Mendocino—a less showy wine region with loads of potential. Suffused with notes of sour cherry, spice and earth this wine showcases the magic that can be achieved from cool climate viticulture. It’s the passion project of Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas, and Miriam Pitt,—whose shared goal is to “make wines we love to drink and that pair well with food, so they tend to be high in acid and low in alcohol.” They work exclusively with sustainable and organic vineyards, most of which are also dry farmed. You’ll get world-class purity of expression and the vibrancy of a cool climate wine for $42...deal.
—Katie Kelly Bell, September 2020

 

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé - 91 Points: Delicious, Compelling; A compelling wine of its region; a delicious, finessed expression of a place.

Wendy Fetzer organically farms these bush vines in Hopland, then Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas direct-press the fruit and let it ferment spontaneously in stainless steel tanks. The wine is mineral-forward, with a soft touch of salinity before pale-red cherry flavors come up from underneath and last. Tastings Editor Corey Warren, who covered a lot of rosé for this issue, liked how vinous this one tastes: “It feels like wine, and it feels like carignane.”

—Josh Greene, June 2023

  

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé 

Lots of southern French rosés are made from Carignan, and this one from Mendocino, California, is terrific. Light, zesty, and super refreshing, it’s spicy, minerally, peppery and full of wild cherry notes.

—Karen MacNeil, July 2023

 

  

  

New-wave California
...Obviously I did not have time or energy to taste all 500 wines so had to choose producers who seemed to me to represent the most exciting new wave of California, together with a few old friends who have been producing lighter, fresher wine for ages.
Minus Tide
This relatively new enterprise – first official vintage 2017 – was started up by Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas and Miriam Pitt, who met at Cal Poly. Kyle and Brad were studying winemaking in 2010. They specialise in wines grown in Brad's native Mendocino, including the oft-overlooked Mendocino Ridge close to the ocean. The name is inspired by the super-low tide that Brad would encounter that is particularly good for harvesting seafood. All three have separate day jobs in wine. Kyle works at a natural winery and brewery on Treasure Island. Brad makes wine for Toulouse winery in Philo, Anderson Valley, where they make their wine. And Miriam does PR for wineries on the west coast including Spottswoode. They don’t own any vines but all grapes are Mendocino… all but the Syrah is dry farmed. All native yeast and French oak. Total annual production is only about 600 cases but I was impressed by the quality.
2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - 17: Superior
100% Carignan. The red expression of their delicious rosé. In 2017 they did 100% carbonic maceration with the aim of making a light, juicy red, but 40% carbonic maceration in this 2018. Pressed pretty early, to avoid too much tannin. This smells a bit more recognisable as Carignan. Quite a bit of freshness and a fruity core. Not mean but with marked acidity. Silky texture. Quite obviously natural but not excessively so. Well done. A very good Carignan. Quite good length. Drink 2019 – 2022
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 17: Superior
100% Chardonnay. Vineyard is nine miles from the coast at 2,600 ft. The second-highest vineyard in the county. Mendocino Ridge is an AVA for the land above 1,200 ft, so-called ‘islands in the sky’ because the land is above the fog line. The vineyard belongs to Dan Dooling, who planted Pinot as long ago as 1979. It was almost all Zinfandel before. Chardonnay went in in the mid 1980s. Fermented and aged in neutral French oak puncheons. A little lees stirring in the first two months. Mendocino Ridge fruit can be very high in malic acid so they didn’t want to overdo it. Acids at picking are far higher than textbook would allow (picked at pH 3.1). Picked mid September during a heatwave. Spontaneous malo finished during the 2018 harvest! So total SO2 is about 40 ppm – none before bottling. Slightly cloudy – unfiltered. Quite rich and savoury but not sweet. Good tension. Very neat. More body than many Sonoma Coast Chardonnays. Drink 2019 – 2024
2018 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 16.5++ : Distinguished
100% Chardonnay. This vineyard is 3.5 miles from the coast and you can see and hear Manchester below. Fermented in neutral puncheons. 11% new oak – a half-barrel. Picked 24 September. Deep greenish gold. Spicy notes. But actually the green-fruit flavours and acidity are more marked than in the 2017 Mariah Vineyard. Partly because of the vintage presumably. Drink 2021 – 2025
2018 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 16.5: Distinguished
100% Syrah. First vintage. One of the coolest Syrah vineyards, planted in 1998 six miles from the coast at 1,300–1,600 ft. A vineyard that can ripen at 19 to 20 Brix. Picked 30 October! Very cool site. Just 2 acres of Syrah in a Pinot and Chardonnay vineyard. 75% whole bunch. Aged in neutral French oak. Smells of ripe Syrah. A little bit of rotundone but smooth and juicy. Lots of sweet fruit. Finishes dry. Not too austere. Drink 2020 – 2024
2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé - 16.5: Distinguished, VGV: Very Good Value
100% Carignan. Second vintage from 112-year-old, dry-farmed, head-trained, 7-ft tall vines in a cooler part of Hopland on an old riverbed. They pick the fruit a second time for the red. Minerality from the soil, they hope. Root systems presumably enormous. Surrounded by more fashionable varieties. Carignan grape price has almost doubled in five years. Very pale salmon colour. The grapes sat in the press for about an hour. Very pretty and with a nice balance of acid and fruit and a good dry finish. Pretty and perfumed. I don’t think I could tell this was a Carignan, if tasted blind. Drink 2019 – 2021
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 16: Distinguished
100% Pinot Noir. From Dan Dooling. 35% whole bunch, neutral barrels. Hand punchdowns in small bins. 17 days on skins. Picked the same day as the Chardonnay in mid September. 10 months’ ageing. Probably grafted-over old vines. From a hot year. 116 °F at the winery. Very fruity nose. Winemaker Brad Jonas says Mendocino Ridge Pinot is more savoury than, for instance, Anderson Valley, though to me this wine is predominantly fruity. Very clean and direct. Good fruity core. Probably not for very long ageing. Drink 2019 – 2022
—Jancis Robinson, June 2020

 

Some fun bottles I’ve enjoyed over the past month or so.

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir

—Jess Lander (of the San Francisco Chronicle), December 2023

   

2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah - 4 Stars

A zesty syrah with notes of blackberry and cassis, with an undercurrent of spice.

—Peg Melnik, November 2023

From the redwood forests of beautiful Anderson Valley to the sun-splashed hills of Paso Robles, in California’s North Coast and Central Coast AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), the excitement around this harvest season is palpable. While wineries and wine drinkers alike still have to wait a few years to learn how this 2023 vintage turns out, it’s already a certainty that fall is a fantastic time for a visit to the vines. In addition to excellent wineries, a spectrum of notable new hotels, destination-worthy restaurants and unique events beckon in Mendocino County...

Bay Area wine travelers are often so focused on the tasting rooms of Sonoma and Napa counties that they often don’t venture farther north to the next county. But that appears to be changing, with Mendocino wineries increasingly getting much-deserved attention. 

Mendocino County

While you’re in Boonville, visit the cheerful Disco Ranch wine bar and store to learn about some of the eminent Mendocino County wineries without a tasting room, like Minus Tide and..."

—Trevor Felch, October 2023

Minus Tide
Minus Tide is a new winery founded by Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas and his wife Miriam Pitt. Jeffrey and Jonas met at Cal Poly and serve today as co-winemakers. The current focus is on Mendocino wines and its cool climate characteristics.
2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé
Light orange/blush; aromas of fresh orange and red currant. Medium-bodied, this is tasty with a pleasant freshness and good acidity. The finish is off-dry, with just a hint of sweetness. Drink over the next 12-18 months. Very Good
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir 
Deep young garnet; aromas of bing and black cherry, marjoram and orange peel. Medium-full with very good concentration, this is spicy Pinot Noir with notes of cinnamon and baking spice, along with very good varietal ripeness, good acidity and medium-weight tannins. Enjoy now with roast pork or lighter game birds; peak drinking in 5-7 years. Excellent
—Tom Hyland, June 2020

26 Stellar Rosés to Welcome the Warmer Months
Today, dry rosé is an all-gender, warm-weather favorite the world over. 

One after another in our tasting proved beautifully balanced between ripe fruit and lively acidity, managing that delicate dance with grace and elegance.

We’ve concentrated on West Coast bottles here... any one of these beauties will make you forget continental dreams with the first sip.
2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé
Another of California’s rare Carignan rosés, this Minus Tide comes from one of Mendocino’s ancient (100+-year-old), head-pruned vineyards. Alive and brimming with character, the pale wine opens with perfumed and spicy potpourri aromas, followed by a bushel of red fruit—cherry and raspberry—layered with peach and almond melba notes.
—Sara Schneider, May 2020

Rosés Over Which to Rhapsodize
Here are some of our current favorites:
2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé
Named after the very low tides that expose hidden gems of the sea, Minus Tide was founded by a trio of 2007 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo grads who focus on elegant, balanced wines that showcase the distinct, coastal, and rustic vineyards of Mendocino, California. This mineral-driven, dry Rosé, made from old-vine Carignan fruit, features a delicious, mouthwatering acidity and ocean-breeze salinity, making it a natural pairing to shellfish and other seafoods. The founders, who firmly believe that Rosé is meant for year-round enjoyment, also love it with pizza, barbecue, and even Thanksgiving dinner.
—Fran Endicott Miller, June 2023 

Wine of the Week
The 2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé, Mendocino County comes from 115-year-old vines.

A historic vineyard dating back to 1908 is what makes our wine of the week a standout.

The Minus Tide, 2022 Carignan Rosé hails from the Feliz Creek Vineyard, which is not irrigated. That means the 115-year-old vines are forced to reach deep into the soil for water, according to Brad Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey, co-owners and co-winemakers of the brand.

“This results in a rosé with intense concentration, excellent minerality, physiological ripeness at lower sugar levels and a hint of salinity that we love,” Jonas said.

With notes of watermelon and honeydew, the $27 rosé finishes crisp, with a hint of strawberry. It’s impressive from start to finish.

The carignan varietal originated in France’s Rhone Valley, but it’s also considered a heritage grape of Mendocino County, Jeffrey said.

“Carignan holds onto its acidity and when it has the flavor ripeness we want, the acid is usually perfect,” he said. “What we didn’t know when we started working with Feliz Creek is how consistently the vineyard would deliver such delicious results.”

Of course, timing is pivotal, Jonas said.

“There are three things that are critical to making a great rosé: achieving ripeness of flavor, ideal acidity and extracting just the right amount of color while pressing the grapes,” Jonas said. “All those require precise timing and harvesting the fruit when all these variables are aligned. This can come down to a 24-hour window and can be quite challenging.”

Founded in 2017, Minus Tide only crafts wines from grapes grown in Mendocino County. It produces about 700 cases a year. In addition to carignan rosé, the lineup includes chardonnay, pinot noir, carignan and cool-climate syrah.

The brand’s name evokes the feeling of the Mendocino Coast and refers to the very low tides that expose hidden gems of the sea, like abalone.

For Jonas and Jeffrey — both 34 — the Minus Tide label is a side project. Jeffrey’s day job is winemaker at Woods Beer and Wine Co. in San Francisco. Jonas’ day job is assistant winemaker at Toulouse Vineyards in Philo.

The two met in college, at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and in 2010 made their first wine — a Paso Robles syrah — as a home winemaking project.

When developing Minus Tide, Jonas and Jeffrey were both keen on making a dry rosé.

“Kyle and I have been making rosé since the very beginning of our winemaking careers, so we know what a difference it makes to pick the fruit specifically for rosé,” Jonas said.

“We always strive to make a delicious, food-friendly, dry rosé with high natural acidity,” Jeffrey added. “It’s our go-to wine in the summer, and thanks to its complexity, we enjoy drinking it all year-round.”

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé, Mendocino County - 4.5 stars
—Peg Melnik, June 2023

Minus Tide rosé a match for seafood, bahn mi and much more 

 

Our wine of the week, 2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé, Mendocino County ($27), is a delicate beauty, as refreshing as river rocks splashed with cool water. This wet-stone quality suggests watermelon rind right before it merges into red fruit. As you bring a glass to your mouth, there’s a sense of being near the sea, with a briny breeze enveloping you in a halo of mist. These beautiful mineral notes are interspersed with flavors of white peach, green honeydew melon and watermelon.

  

It is delightful and delightfully drinkable. Even the wine’s label, with its abalone shell on a wooden plank, is engaging.

At the table, there are many potential matches, especially as summer unfolds. Watermelon salads, grilled peaches with burrata, shrimp tostadas with radish vinaigrette and a classic shrimp Louis coax even more beautiful notes from the wine than you might detect on first sip. Salmon with just a spritz of lemon is a fabulous match, as is Dungeness crab when it’s in season.

—Michele Anna Jordan, June 2023

10 best Mendocino County rosés to sip this summer
We tasted 30 Mendocino County rosés and selected the most delicious wines for any occasion.
For fans of organic (and French) everything
2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé
A project of Miriam Jonas (J.A.M. PR) and winemakers Brad Jonas (Toulouse Vineyards) and Kyle Jeffrey (Woods Beer & Wine Co.), Minus Tide produces lower alcohol wines from organic, family-owned, dry-farmed vineyards. This salmon -colored rosé was produced from 115-year-old carignan vines in Hopland. The wine’s lovely watermelon notes and mouthwatering acid transported us to the south of France, where we imagined sipping delicate rosés all day at cafes along the French Riviera.

—Sarah Stierch, July 2023

  

 The twinkle lights are lit…time for holiday wine. These here from @minustidewines would be a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table. Minus Tide was founded by a trio of 2011 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo grads-Brad and Miriam Jonas, and Kyle Jeffrey. Their balanced wines showcase the coastal and rustic vineyards of Mendocino. Each of the trio has a day job, so this winery is their passion project. Long work days, evenings and weekends are made worth it by the joy their wines bring to family, friends, and collectors. 

2021 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir

2021 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah

—Fran Endicott Miller, November 2023

  

There’s another rosé in the lineup this week I can recommend, from the small producer Minus Tide Wines. It’s a rosé of Carignan from Mendocino County, and just what you might want on a hot day.

2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé - Between 8.5 and 9 Points

Light baby pink in the glass, this wine smells of cherries and candied plums. In the mouth, silky flavors of cherry and plum mix with citrus peel and a touch of white flowers. Very good acidity. Crisp and clean.

—Alder Yarrow, August 2023

    

2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - 92 Points: Excellent; highly recommended
Vivid black cherry and sour cherry flavors power this well-balanced, lightly tannic wine, giving it a sense of precision and purity, with little noticeable oak influence to get in the way. 
2019 Minus Tide Buddha's Dharma Vineyard Mendocino Chenin Blanc - 90 Points: Excellent; highly recommended
This technically light-bodied wine is creamy in texture, hefty in mouthfeel and yet nicely balanced by some tangy lemon and crisp apple flavors to complement its butter and vanilla notes.
—Jim Gordon, November 2021

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 4 stars
Tangy red fruit meets bright acid. Nice length. Pretty.
—Peg Melnik, February 2023
2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 4 stars
A well-crafted chardonnay with aromas and flavors of melon, pear, apple and mineral. Nice balance and a lingering finish.
—Peg Melnik, October 2022

2019 Minus Tide Buddha's Dharma Vineyard Mendocino Chenin Blanc - 93 Points
This white is sourced from an organic and dry-farmed 76-year-old vineyard owned by the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a Buddhist monastery. With its sense of sunshine and authenticity, it brings to mind a Buddhist quote: "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." It possesses a flinty nature; racy acidity; and notes of fresh linen and white flower petals that are delicately lined with peach and pine nut.

2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - 91 Points
The use of 40% carbonic maceration offers a high-toned appeal to this juicy, bright red. Carignan is known as one of the heritage varieties of Mendocino County, and this dry-farmed, head-trained organic vineyard was planted in 1908. Aromas of red flowers, milk chocolate, and Rooibos tea are cheerful. On the palate, white pepper sparks tart cherry and blueberries. Tongue coating herbs and red licorice come to light mid-way with a parade of beets, basil and mountain brush following.

 
2021 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino County Carignan Rosé - 4 stars
A striking rosé with layered notes of watermelon, pomegranate and white peach. Great minerality. Refreshingly dry and light on its feet.
2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino County Carignan - 4 stars
Ripe black raspberry jam meets great minerality with this carignan. Notes of sage and pepper in the mix. Supple tannins. Well-crafted.
High-end Pinot Noir
2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - 4 stars
A supple pinot with savory notes coupled with tangy fruit. It has aromas and flavors of cranberry, plum and dried herbs. Buoyed by crisp acidity, it has great balance and finishes with a kiss of pomegranate.
—Peg Melnik, July/August 2022

Wine of the Week
2020 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 91 Points: Delicious, compelling; a compelling wine of its region; a delicious, finessed expression of a place.

This far-coast chardonnay grows 2,000 feet above, and three and a half miles inland from, the Pacific. It ferments without added yeasts and ages in mostly neutral oak (10 percent new) allowing the rich fruit depths to come through in tangerine, orange and chamomile notes. The balance of sweet fruit and savory lees will take on crab cakes or other rich shellfish dishes. 

—Josh Greene, October 2021

 

Loved that I discovered this relatively new wine producer Minus Tide Wines (launched in 2017) that is located in Mendocino County, northern California, that was started by a husband and wife team and their best friend. This passionate trio balance their day jobs while also making their Minus Tide wines that honor some of the great vineyards in Mendocino such as the Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé and Carignan Red that comes from dry-farmed, head-trained vines that are over 100 years old - planted in 1908!

 

Also, the Manchester Ridge Vineyard for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is located at 2,000 feet elevation and only 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean and the two cool-climate Syrah wines from the Valenti Vineyard and Perli Vineyard expressing different qualities and displays the diversity of sense of place in the Mendocino Ridge AVA, the only non-contiguous AVA in the US.

2021 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino County Carignan Rosé

Strawberry aromas with a touch of rose oil with bright acidity, crunchy cranberries and a saline mineral finish.

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay

Orange blossoms and wet stones on the nose with lemon curd on the palate with a nimble, fresh quality and mineral-driven finish.

2019 Minus Tide Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir

Pretty, lifted nose with lilacs, red cherries and fresh tarragon that has a body that gently dances across the palate with lots of bright red fruits.

2019 Minus Tide Valenti Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah

Black pepper and tapenade aromas that give this wine energy from the first whiff with a plush mid-palate with a good amount of structure to give it lift and elegance.

2019 Minus Tide Perli Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Syrah

Black currants, desert scrubs and hints of bacon bits on the nose with silky tannins and juicy, flavorful fruit along the sustained finish.

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino County Carignan

Plum cobbler and baking spices with savory herbs on the nose with dried flowers and that same saline minerality, that the Feliz Creek Vineyard is known for, on the long finish.

—Cathrine Todd (of Forbes), May 2022

It’s so exciting to discover new producers making serious, kindly priced wines anywhere, but especially in California where they have been relatively rare.

Funnily enough I have recently come across two – with spookily similar names. How weird is that? One is Minus Tide, producers of a series of exciting Mendocino wines grown close to the Pacific coast and named after a particularly low tide there that is great for gathering seafood, I’m told. I’ll be writing about these wines and the trio behind it in a big survey of new-wave California wines I’m planning.
—Jancis Robinson, May 2020

The warm and inviting wine bar is alive at Habibi, a Russian Hill pop-up
The three owners and sole employees are Essam Kardosh, Andrew Nelson and Bahman Safari, longtime friends who had been talking for over a year about opening something together. They envisioned a storefront in North Beach, something modeled on “the wine bars of Spain and the Parisian nouveau bistros,” says Kardosh — a hybrid bar-retail model with casual service and cozy environs.

“I’ve stepped away from the zealoted, zero-zero natural wine conversation,” says Kardosh, who oversaw a radically natural wine list when he was the general manager of Del Popolo. “Ultimately, for us it comes down to farming and what kind of energy the people are trying to put into the bottle.”

That might include, as it did for me on a recent evening, a bottle of the peppery, animalistic Minus Tide Syrah from the Valenti Vineyard in Mendocino Ridge.
—Esther Mobley, October 2020

Minus Tide is a relatively new wine brand started by three friends focused on wines made on the chilly coast of Mendocino, and they sent along a couple of their newest wines, both of which are admirable. Their Chenin Blanc is snappy and light on its feet, while their Carignan is positively mouthwatering.
2019 Minus Tide Buddha's Dharma Vineyard Mendocino Chenin Blanc - Around 9 Points
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemons and poached pear with a hint of white flowers. In the mouth, wonderfully bright lemon and pear flavors have a hint of grapefruit as fantastic acidity keeps the mouth watering. Nice and zesty, with hints of citrus peel in the finish. 
2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - Around 9 Points
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine smells of blackberry, black cherry, and cola. In the mouth, boysenberry and cola flavors have a wonderfully bright sour cherry juiciness that makes the mouth water (think Purple SweetTart) thanks to fantastic acidity. Delicious, with faint tannins that ghost around the edges of the palate. 

—Alder Yarrow, June 2021

2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - 4 Stars
A well-suited carignan to couple with a puck of beef. It’s juicy, with crisp acidity and high-toned red fruit. It has a supple texture and a lingering finish. Just lovely.
—Peg Melnik, June 2021

One Bottle
2019 Minus Tide Buddha's Dharma Vineyard Mendocino Chenin Blanc
Before chardonnay's buttery surge to become California's favorite white grape, it had a close peer in popularity and production: chenin blanc. The latter is challenging to find in the state these days, so it's delightful to see that one of the most impressive bottles of Golden State chenin blanc is from a newcomer producer and a 76-year-old vineyard near Ukiah that is owned by the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas monastery.

Minus Tide cofounders Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas and Miriam Jonas met at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In 2017, they officially started their winery as an ode to the quiet, diverse wine-growing terrain of Mendocino County. Minus Tide's 2019 Chenin Blanc starts with ripe melon and honeycrisp apple notes on the nose before flavors of winter citrus and wet slate arrive gracefully in the body. The smooth, crips wine ends with a hint of toast and grapefruit, making it a natural pairing for brunch or a wonderful partner for caviar and oysters in the evening. minustidewines.com
—Trevor Felch, February 2022

There are many thrilling wine regions I have had the pleasure of visiting around the world but surprisingly one of the most memorable was right here in my American backyard: Mendocino, California. I remember going there to visit a producer on a rainy, cool day with the fog rolling into the vineyards that were surrounded by old redwood trees. It seemed like a mystical place that had a multitude of passionate producers making small batch wines from a varying range of grape varieties. There was something so magical about Mendocino and so when I had a chance to try these @minustidewines wines from three co-owners, two who are married, who met at California Polytechnic and were able to realize their dream by working with small, family-owned, sustainable farmed vineyards - almost all organic and dry farmed - to make wines that showcased the magic of Mendocino I jumped at the chance.
Minus Tide uses native yeasts, mostly neutral oak with a love for acidity and modest alcohol levels in their wines.
2019 Minus Tide Buddha's Dharma Vineyard Mendocino Chenin Blanc
100% from the 76 year old Chenin Blanc vines in the Buddha's Dharma Vineyard. Tasting this wine reminded me of the rain dance we did to celebrate the much needed rain on that day I visited Mendocino vineyards. Lanolin, quince paste, lemon blossoms and wet stones danced in my head with a saline minerality and mouth-watering green apples on the palate with a bright, elegant finish.

2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan
100% head-trained, dry farmed Carignan that was planted in 1908 in Feliz Creek Vineyard. Jumps out of the glass with multifaceted fruit that is richly wild with black raspberry and red currants dominating the palate with layers of broken-earth and lilacs along the well-integrated round tannins.
—Cathrine Todd (of Forbes), June 2021

Wine of the Week
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir

You may not know it but before Pasadena was known for orange groves, there were acres of vines and a handful of wineries in the region. This Minus Tide (so named since low tides “expose the hidden gems of the sea”) Pinot Noir hits subtle notes – darker, richer red and black fruits like red raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, rhubarb, light cranberry and an earthy kind of quality. It also has an acidity that cries out for food. Rather using commercial yeast, Minus Tide uses native yeast for fermentation, that which occurs naturally in the vineyard.

The wine was then aged in used oak barrels for a mere 14 months, so you don’t get a heavy oak influence, drowning out the lovely fruit. For the wine geeks out there, they used clone 115. For the rest of us, it’s simply a fantastic addition to the wine scene and showcases the typical flavors you often see in Mendocino Pinot Noir.

But how about food? According to co-owner Miriam Pitt, she suggests mushroom risotto, roast duck breast with fig reduction sauce, or grilled salmon with teriyaki glaze. “Pinot Noir and salmon is a classic pairing for good reason,” she tells PasadenaNow. “The juiciness, lively acidity, and savory fruit elements of the wine are a great match for the umami flavors of the fish.” And with the duck and the risotto, both are complemented by the “earthy flavors of the Pinot Noir.” Minus Tide is on the plus side.
—Michael Cervin, September 2020

This week included a couple of pretty rosés from Oregon and California. The second, from relative newcomer Minus Tide Wines in Mendocino, is a really lovely rendition of Carignan in pink form that is just mouthwatering and just what you want to be drinking on a warm afternoon.

Minus Tide also offered a Pinot this week from Mendocino Ridge, overlooking the Pacific Ocean... it did some some very nice qualities, chief among which was a nice forest-floor quality.
2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé - Around 9 Points
A pale salmon pink in the glass, this wine smells of citrus peel and watermelon rind. In the mouth, watermelon rind, green strawberries, and citrus peel have a zippy, bouncy brightness thanks to fantastic acidity. Lean, bright, with a pink SweetTart finish that is mouthwatering.
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir - Between 8.5 and 9 Points
Light to medium ruby in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of green willow bark, forest floor, and raspberries. In the mouth, notes of red apple skin, raspberry, and dried cherry have a very nice brightness to them thanks to excellent acidity. The wine has a feeling of having been well oxygenated, which makes it taste more evolved than I would expect at this young age, but all the flavors are good.
—Alder Yarrow May 2020

2019 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé - 92 Points
Vintage number two for this great Rosé - one you won't want to delay in ordering. Intentional Rosé from start to finish, it's an elegant expression of what's usually thought of as a rustic variety. Crisp nectarine, subtle strawberry and soft citrus ride a stony mineral core through a long finish where the red fruit gets a little push. A favorite new producer! 
—Rich Cook, June 2020

California Wines Export 2020
Jancis Robinson, MW, with wine writer and educator, Elaine Chukan Brown, discuss their insights into the role and potential of California wine globally. Jancis recommends Minus Tide!
—Jancis Robinson, February 2020
View Clip

—Meridith May, August 2019
  

2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 91 Points: Excellent; highly recommended
Ripe fruit aromas and enticing pastry-shop accents bring a lot of enjoyment to this medium-bodied, fresh and minimally oaky wine. Crisp apple and poached pear mingle with vanilla, nutmeg and ginger on the palate while crisp natural acidity keeps it in balance.
—Jim Gordon, December 2019

Kelly Clarkson and cheese expert Liz Thorpe featured the 2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay on The Kelly Clarkson Show!

"This is a good wine!"

—Kelly Clarkson, October 2019
View Clip

The Anderson Valley Winter White Wine Festival full of delights
Here are the producers that made the biggest impressions over the weekend, all for different reasons.
Minus Tide
This young brand is a partnership between three, 30-something wine industry pros who met at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and still have their day jobs, but it’s obvious their line-up of uber-coastal Mendocino County wines are getting a lot of attention from their peers. They don’t have a tasting room, but after sampling a bit at the Grand Tasting, I was able to do a deep dive into their lineup on Sunday at Disco Ranch, a great little wine shop and market in Boonville, along with their friendly husky named Joe. Outside of the standard Mendocino Pinot Noir and Chardonnay they also make a Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Carignan, and Syrah. All of the wines were elegant and balanced with a focus on high acidity and lower alcohol.

As a bonus, their most expensive bottle is $42. The Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé, produced from head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted back in 1908, was my first official Rosé purchase of 2020 and I picked up a bottle of the Valenti Vineyard Syrah too. I’ve been on a cool-climate Syrah kick lately and this particular vineyard site sits just six miles from the coast.
—Jess Lander, March 2020

Mendocino Ridge is known as “Islands in the Sky” because it applies exclusively to land above 1,200ft — hills that are generally above the fog line but fully exposed to marine onslaughts. At 2,600ft, the Mariah Vineyard is the second highest in Mendocino County, yet it’s a stone’s throw from the ocean. 

A newish part-time operation Minus Tide has made some particularly promising wines from this and other Mendocino Ridge vineyards. 
—Jancis Robinson, March 2020

About 260 wine industry members gathered Tuesday in Napa for “Export 2020: California Wine Global Export Conference,” a program to spur California wine exports.

Among the speakers Tuesday was British wine critic and educator Jancis Robinson, a columnist for the Financial Times. She spoke to wine writer and educator Elaine Chukan Brown, a contributor to Robinson’s wine blog, jancisrobinson.com.

Among the current favorite affordable American wines, Robinson mentioned Steve Matthiasson’s Tendu, which will appeal to younger consumers, Minus Tide and Calder Wine Co.
—Kerana Todorov, February 2020

A few prime California picks from the very many at @pswinefest to keep your eyes peeled for 🍷👀🌴 @minustidewines’ carbonic Carignan #MARwines
—Marissa Ross, December 2018

2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 94 Points
One of the reasons that you’ve taken this moment to visit us here at Wine Review Online is no doubt to find something new -- it’s certainly one of the things that binds us together as wine lovers.

That said, it’s my pleasure to highly recommend a first release wine from Minus Tide, a brand-new player in California’s Mendocino County. This 2017 Chardonnay, sourced from the Mendocino Ridge AVA’s Mariah Vineyard ($36), has been beautifully realized by three friends that met at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (one of California’s “other” wine schools) who are handling nearly every aspect of the winery, from winemaking to sales to label artwork, and they are off to the races with this gorgeously place-specific white wine. 

A little background on sourcing: Mendocino Ridge is the rare AVA that is based on an elevation cut line, sitting above 1200 feet, and it’s the only non-contiguous AVA in the country to date. Picture mountaintop vineyards dotting your view -- basking in the sun above the fog that swaddles the landscape resting below 1200 feet -- and you’ll get a sense of what the AVA is…unique to say the least. 

Now, look up to picture Dan Dooling’s Mariah Vineyard at 2600 feet -- more than double the AVA’s cut line elevation -- with a view of the Pacific, and you’ll get a fuller picture of how this wine comes together.

And come together it does, with elegant aromatics include pear, peach, apple, stony minerality and a dash of ocean spray. These all translate in linear fashion on the palate, with a solid core of acidity driving the wine’s intensity and integration of flavors through a long finish. Neutral oak adds a lovely textural component without interfering with the tension and purity of the fruit mix. I could drink this all day long and never tire of it, and I’m excited to taste the rest of the lineup from this venture. Look for more reviews soon. 

I love discovering something new in wine -- it’s like looking down and spotting a shell or a stone that you’ve never seen before while strolling the beach during a minus tide….
—Rich Cook, August 2019

This week also saw the appearance of a bunch of wines from a brand new producer named Minus Tide. Started by three friends -- Kyle Jeffrey, Brad Jonas, and Miriam Pitt -- this is a small estate-less winery making cool climate wines in small quantities. Miriam Pitt works in the wine PR business, and is responsible for sending me a bunch of the wines that you see reviewed here on Vinography, so it was quite charming to get some wines that she had a hand in making. They're all tasty. I particularly like the Carignan in both its rosé form and its full red incarnation (which benefits from some air before drinking).
2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé - Around 9 Points
A pale coppery salmon color in the glass, this wine smells of strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth, beautifully silky flavors of green strawberry, raspberry and watermelon have a citrusy acidity that makes the mouth water. Fantastic and bright, and utterly delicious with hints of watermelon rind lingering in the finish along with a faint sweetness. Happiness Creek, indeed.
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - Between 8.5 and 9 Points
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of freshly cut apples and white flowers. In the mouth, flavors of lemon curd, Fuji apples and white flowers have a brisk brightness to them thanks to very good acidity. Crisp and fruity, with a hint of butterscotch emerging on the finish.
2017 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - Between 8.5 and 9 Points
Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of distinctly sweet boysenberry fruit. In the mouth, intense boysenberry flavors have a faint tannic texture to them and a nice acidity that keeps the mouth watering as the lush fruit flavors move across the palate. Juicy and fruity, but perhaps lacking some complexity. This is fairly well made up for with charm, however.
2015 Minus Tide Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino Malbec - Between 8.5 and 9 Points
Very dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherry and cola. In the mouth, rich, ripe black cherry fruit is intense, with juicy acidity that makes for a mouthwatering package. Hints of espresso back up the black cherry and blueberry fruit. 
—Alder Yarrow, July 2019

The 13 Best Rosés to Sip This Summer

2017 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan - 93 Points
Heads up Ms. Butler and Ms. Shelton – there’s a worthy new player in the Carignan arena, and with a unique angle to boot. Winemakers Brad Jonas and Kyle Jeffrey bring us a Beaujolais styled expression of fruit from Wendy Fetzer’s dry farmed head trained vines in Hopland that were originally planted in 1908. Carbonic maceration on native yeast and ten months in neutral oak results in a dry, bright wine that sings with ripe strawberry, cherry, bay leaf, pepper and gentle oak spice, finishing tart and fresh. There’s real versatility in the variety, and this is a welcome take.
—Rich Cook, November 2019 

Minus Tide
Longtime senior account executive at J.A.M. PR, Miriam Pitt, released her debut Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 2019 from the 2017 vintages. She co-founded the winery with her fiance, Brad Jonas (assistant winemaker at Toulouse Vineyards) and their best friend, Kyle Jeffrey (winemaker at Campovida in Hopland). The winery's focus is on cool-climate wines from small, family-owned and sustainably farmed vineyards in Mendocino County. Many of the vineyards are dry farmed and organic.
2017 Minus Tide Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Chardonnay - 93 Points: Outstanding
Whole cluster pressed. Native yeast barrel fermentation in neutral French oak puncheons for 13 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Alluring scent of apple pastry, lemon butter, pineapple and flint. Bright and lively in the mouth, blessed with sound acidity and showing no distracting oak overlay. Flavors of lemon-lime, green apple, pear, a hint of pineapple and a saline note are immensely satisfying. The finish is clean and refreshing. The winemakers have done a commendable job of balancing acidic verve with enough fruit richness.
—Rusty Gaffney, June 2019

2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé
This gorgeous, tension-filled wine proves that a cold night is a perfect night for a great bottle of rosé: The @minustidewines Carignan Rosé 2018 bursts from the glass with wild strawberries, field flowers, sun-warmed hay, oyster shells, orange blossom, and honeysuckle, ending on an almost salty finish that made it absolutely sing alongside homemade tacos, cumin-scented beans, and enough guacamole to drown in, happily.
—Brian Freedman (of Forbes and Food & Wine), January 2020

2018 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Mendocino Carignan Rosé - 92 Points
New player Minus Tide is off to a great start -- this second introduction features ripe white peach aromas offset by light floral notes. The palate is steely dry, with touches of sea spray and herbs dancing with citrus, tart peach and strawberry around a pole of stony minerality. Light and refreshing, yet with some depth and character. Salute!
—Rich Cook, August 2019