In their May 2008 issue, Food & Wine has a list of what they consider the thirty best Pinots (worldwide). Tandem Winery Sangiacomo Vineyards Pinot Noir is among the top 30 Pinots in the world! Here's what they have to say:

"Winemaker Greg LaFollette is one of the industry's most sought-after consultants for Pinot Noir, having worked for top brands such as Flowers, Hartford Court and Londer. His own Tandem Winery creates this spicy, meaty bottling from a few top parcels of the sprawling Sangiacomo vineyard in Sonoma County ."

February 15, 2008 – Gregory Walter, Editor

2005 Auction Block Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast: Medium-deep ruby color; intense earthy, black cherry aromas; lean, deep, complex earthy, forest floor flavors with cherry and toasty oak notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Deep and complex, this is an earthy Pinot with a lot of interesting flavors.
Score: 93

2005 Silver Pines Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Mountain: Medium-deep ruby color; deep earthy cherry aromas; deep, angular earth and dusty cherry flavors with toasty oak notes; good structure and balance; long finish. This Pinot's all about structure and power-nice fruit balances the backbone.
Score: 93

2005 Chris Lee Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Valley: Medium-deep ruby color; complex and intense aromas of red cherry and earth; deep, intense red cherry and earthy flavors with a lot of forest floor and sweet oak notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Truly complex and interesting, this Pinot has layers and layers of flavor but you'll have to wait for it—needs time in the bottle and in the glass.
Score: 94

January 2007 – Gregory Walter, Editor

2004 Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir – Green Valley: Medium-deep ruby color; deep, dusty, earthy aromas; earthy, dusty cherry flavors, forest floor and toasty oak notes, moderate tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Big style of Pinot with moderate tannin and the structure to age a bit in the cellar.
Score: 92

2004 Hellenthal Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast: Medium ruby color; earthy, gamey, smoked meat aromas; rich, ripe black cherry, big, full, lots of earthy, gamy notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Earthy, gamey and smoked meat notes really add complexity to this Pinot.
Score: 93

2004 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast: Medium-deep ruby color; black cherry, plum aromas, some smoky notes; ripe, rich, black cherry flavors, earthy, smoky notes, sweet oak; intense on the palate; good structure and balance; long finish. Big and rich, lots of interesting flavors—a complex Pinot for hearty foods.
Score: 94

2004 Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Mountain: Medium-deep ruby color; earthy, forest floor aromas; rich black cherry flavors, lots of earthy, forest floor notes; sweet oak; good structure and balance; long finish. A rich and complex Pinot that just cries out for an earthy cassoulet.
Score: 94

August 31, 2004 – Gregory Walter, Editor

2002 Sangiacomo Vineyards Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast. Medium-deep purple ruby color; spicy with aromas of cherry and strawberry; bright, juicy fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry with spicy and toasty oak undertones; good structure and well balanced; long finish. A truly delicious, exquisitely, balanced Pinot from the coolest blocks in the Sangiacomo Vineyards on the western boarder of the Carneros. Wonderful to drink by itself!
Score: 92

2002 Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot noir – Sonoma Mountain. Medium-deep purple ruby color; spicy, earthy, meaty aromas with some stewed fruit notes; big, ripe, full and rich with stewed fruit, cinnamon, and notes of smoked meat; complex and concentrated, great structure and balance; long finish. A unique style of Pinot seems to come out of Van Der Kamp vineyard-it’s complex and well structured but it always has that slightly funky character to give it some real individuality. This is a Pinot for those who like non-mainstream wine from a vineyard definitely out of the Pinot mainstream.
Score: 93

2002 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir –Green Valley. Medium-deep purple color; spice, black cherry and toasty oak aromas; rich and lush on the palate with a huge core of bright black cherry fruit, great structure and balance, long finish. Delicious, complex and silky Pinot from a vineyard that is fast becoming a benchmark for the region.
Score: 93

2002 Halleck Vineyard Pinot Noir –Sonoma Coast.Medium-deep purple color; deep aromas of black cherry, cinnamon, and some forest floor; rich and full with lots of stewed cherry, cinnamon, and earthy notes; great structure and really balanced with a long finish. WOW! A truly great Pinot from Halleck Vineyard. This one is really tough to find-worst cast, get yourself invited over to a friend who has it and ask to pick the wine!
Score: 94

August 2003 – Gregory Walter, Editor

2001 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir – Green Valley: “Make Room In The Cellar” selection: Incredible depth and complexity. Deep ruby purple color; rich aromas of black cherry, cola and plum with spicy oak on nose; big, full and rich with a wonderful velvety texture, black cherry, plum, with just the right amount of sweet oak; beautiful structure and balance with a very long finish. WOW! This kind of depth and complexity is what drew me to love Pinot years ago. Winemaker Greg La Follette deserves a gold star for this wine!
Score: 95

2001 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast: Deep ruby purple color; intense berry and earthy aromas on the nose; lean, elegant on palate with lots of berry fruit, great structure and acidity, well balanced with a lingering finish. Tandem has hit on a terrific elegant style with great structure
Score: 92

2001 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir – Santa Lucia Highlands: Deep ruby purple color; lots of spicy, earthy, pine needle aromas with some black cherry and plum notes on the nose; big and powerful on the palate with lots of black cherry and plum flavors along with some earthy, pine tones; great structure and a finish that goes on forever. The Pisoni Vineyard is almost a legend in recent Pinot history with the long list of great wines that have been produced by many wineries. Tandem’s is near the top of that list.
Score: 94

2001 Van der Kamp Pinot noir – Sonoma Mountain: Deep ruby purple color; wonderful aromas of black cherry, earth, cedar and toasty oak on nose; big and full in the mouth with plum, black cherry and spicy oak flavors, moderate tannin, great structure and balance with a long finish. Big style, good balance – a lot to like in this Pinot from one of the most interesting and underappreciated Pinot vineyards in Northern Cal.
Score: 92

Note: Pinot Report is the only publication dedicated exclusively to Pinot noir; edited by Greg Walter, who was also editor of Wine Country Living.

2004 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, Green Valley ($42) - Medium ruby color; attractive, forward, intense, spicy, cedary, toasty, ripe black cherry fruit aroma with hints of sandalwood and cola; full body; forward, rich, plush, concentrated, spicy, black cherry fruit flavors with notes of smoked bacon and charred oak; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Shows some elegance and very appealing to drink now as it continued to develop with airing in the glass, though also deserving of a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.
October – November 2006 Issue Score: 90 points

2004 Auction Block Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($54) Medium ruby with purplish tinges; attractive, forward, intense, toasty, stemmy, very spicy, black cherry fruit aroma with good depth and overtones of charred oak and a touch of sassafras; full body; plush, rich, textured, cedary, concentrated, sweet raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors with good depth and intensity; well balanced and structured; medium-full to full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended. October – November 2006 Issue Score: 90 points

2003 Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast This elegant and beautifully structured wine needs air to bring out all its showy complexity. The dry, leesy flavors fan out into scents of apple blossom & fresh heirloom apples, the texture complex from a wild yeast ferment. It finishes firm, balancing oak & apple flavors that last.

Feb 2006 issue – Score: 93
Winter 2006 issue “100 Best Wines of the Year”

2006 Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
Offers a complex mix of ripe pear, citrus, fruit blossom and minerally notes delivered in an elegant, delicate style. Smooth textured, with a long finish. Drink now through 2010.
May 7, 2008 issue
Score: 90

2006 Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay – Sonoma Coast
Intense and richly flavored, with tiers of honey, fig, melon and citrusy flavors that turn elegant and spicy, gaining complexity on the finish, where the flavors fold together nicely. Drink now through 2010.
May 7, 2008 issue
Score: 90

2006 Manchester Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay – Mendocino Ridge
Rich and complex, with an exotic mix of tropical fruit, pineapple, melon and honeysuckle fruit that's pure and focused, ending with a long fruity aftertaste. Drink now through 2011.
May 7, 2008 issue
Score: 91

2004 Sangiacomo Vineyards Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast
Ripe and rich, with vivid, high-toned, zesty wild berry and blackberry fruit that turns smooth and creamy, gaining dept and complexity on the long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2011.
Sept 30, 2007 issue
Score: 91 points

2004 Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Mountain
Dusty, juicy berry, dark chocolate, herb and sage notes form a complex flavor profile. Intense, balanced and long on the finish, ending with an elegant aftertaste. Drink now through 2011.
Sept 30, 2007 issue
Score: 90 points

2004 Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
Shows intensity without weight, with ripe, vibrant peach, nectarine and apricot flavors that are generous and lithe. Balanced and focus, this moves seamlessly between rich fruit flavors, floral and mineral accents and a creamy texture. Drink now through 2010.
May 14, 2007 issue
Score: 93 points

2004 Auction Block Pinot Noir, Sonoma County Delivers a tight beam of earth, mineral and sage-laced raspberry fruit that’s complex, vivid and complete, ending with firm tannins and a burst of fruit. Drink now through 2010.
Wine Spectator Insider
Oct 18, 2006 issue
Score: 90 points

2004 Silver Pines Pinot Noir, Sonoma Mountain Very ripe and mouthcoating, almost syrupy in its density and texture. Loaded with rich, opulent wild berry, blackberry and plum flavors that gush across the palate, finishing with a long, sustained, fruity finish. Drink now through 2009.
Wine Spectator Insider
October 4, 2006
Score: 92

2004 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, Green Valley Openly fruity, with generous plum, wild berry, strawberry jam and blackberry fruit that gushes, turning plush and supple yet never losing its vibrant fruit vitality. Drink now through 2009.
Wine Spectator Insider
October 4, 2006
Score: 90

2002 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast. Tremendous. Rich, complex and concentrated, with layers of smoky fig, apricot, citrus and honeysuckle and pretty toasty vanilla and creamy oak flavors that are well-integrated into the core of fruit. The finish picks up an exotic roasted marshmallow note. Drink through 2007.
Wine Spectator Weekly-Internet Only
August 26, 2004
Score: 93

2001 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay A rich, concentrated style, with complex pear, citrus, hazelnut and cedary oak flavors that grow expansive on the finish, tapping subtle flavor nuances of fruit and oak that add dept and dimension. Las Vegas Issue - April 30, 2004
Score: 91

2001 Peloton Complex and concentrated, with a seamless core of creamy raspberry and black cherry fruit, highlighted by hints of nutmeg and mineral and a touch of mocha. A fascinating wine that shows a deft hand at blending, Pinot noir, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Syrah and Chardonnay.
Las Vegas Issue
April 30, 2004
Score: 91

2001 Keefer Pinot noir A classy wine, vibrant and concentrated, with a firm, juicy band of tutti-frutti, black cherry, vanilla and raspberry flavors that are tightly focused, with firm acidity and well proportioned tannins. Las Vegas Issue - April 30, 2004
Score: 91

2003 Tandem Keefer Ranch (Green Valley, CA; $38) A charmer with a long finish. Smoke, vanilla, and cloves add layers of interest to big berry flavors. Try it with herb-roasted fish.
Oct 2005 issue - Best Pinot Noirs

2002 Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast). $38. If long on both ripeness and very rich oak, this full-bodied wine has all the fruity dept it will need to insure success. Its plentiful sweet-apple themes are laced with vanilla, lees, toast and butter, and it shoes especially fine focus for a wine of its considerable size. It will shine over the next several years with richer salmon or lobster recipes.
May 2005 issue
Score: Two Stars (91-94 points) a highly distinctive wine likely to be memorable.

2003 Keefer Pinot Noir – ( Green Valley, Sonoma, North Coast)

I loved the 2003 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch, which offers distinctive allspice, earthy, forest floor notes as well as hints of cinnamon, red current, and cherry. This spice-driven, soft, savory, medium-bodied Pinot is ideal for drinking over the next 2-3 years.
Dec 2005 issue
Score: 90

2003 Sangiacomo Vineyards Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast). $45. Reminiscent of a premier cru Pommard with its notes of apple skins, pomegranate, herbs, earth, and pepper, this big, dense, muscular Pinot possesses loads of spice as well as an attractive sweetness and tactile impression. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.
2/28/05
Score: 90

2006 Manchester Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay – Mendocino Ridge
A very fine Chardonnay notable for its concentration, power and elegance. Framed in well oaked flavors of smoky vanilla and honey, the underlying fruit is very ripe in peaches, pears and figs, balanced with racy acidity. Delicious now, and should hold for five years or so.
May 2008 issue
Score: 94

2006 Silver Pines Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Mountain
This Sonoma Mountain appellation is becoming increasingly important for Pinot Noir, thanks to bottlings like this. The wine is amazingly powerful in black cherry, raspberry, rosehip tea, licorice, cola and vanilla oak flavors. Yet crisp acidity and silky smooth tannins make it balanced and elegant. Defines a certain California, drink-me-now-style.
May 2008 issue
Score: 93

2005 Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Mountain
The vineyard, in the little-known appellation of Sonoma Mountain, is source to many wineries, and quality has varied. In Tandem's hands it has produced a magnificent wine, rich dry and balanced. Pale in color, with crisp acidity and smoothly tannic structure, it shown opulent flavors of cherries, persimmons, cola and sweet, smoky oak, with earthy, mushroomy complexities. Brilliant now, and should develop for several years.
May 2008 issue
Score: 93

2006 Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
Shows the typicity of the vineyard, an angular minerally wine with crisp acids and concentrated flavor. The tastes of white peaches, pineapples and tangerines are edged with zesty spices. Finishes with vanilla-honey coating of toasty oak.
May 2008 issue
Score: 92

2005 Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay – Sonoma Coast
The grapes from this vineyard in the Petaluma Gap typically get very ripe, while maintaining the acidity needed for balance, Tandem's '05 richly elegant and riper than in the past, with opulent flavors of nectarines, candied peaches and pears, marzipan, honeysuckle, butterscotch and cinnamon. Should stay at its peak for several years.
May 2008 issue
Score: 92

2006 Auction Block Pinot Noir – Sonoma County
Give this dramatic young Pinot time to grow. It's super-young in jammy cherry, raspberry, licorice, cold and smoky new oak flavors, and while the tannic-acid structure is first-rate, it's a little too unresolved for full enjoyment. Needs at least through the end of 2008 to come together. But should be magnificent and capable of several years in the cellar.
April 2008 Issue
Score: 93

2005 Auction Block Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast
This is a best-barrels blend whose partial proceeds go charity. The '05 is a blend of Silver Pines, Van der Kamp, Chris Lee and others, and it's gorgeous. Rewards for its high acid, silky feel, so light and airy, and for the intensity of cola, cherry, pomegranate, smoky vanilla cream and Asian spice flavors that last on the finish. Should pick up additional nuance for the next four years.
August 2007 issue
Editors' Choice Score: 95

2005 Silver Pines Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Mountain
Stunning. Combines the fleshy opulence of a sweet youthful Pinot with the balanced tightness and acidity of a young, cellar-worthy one. No small feat! From cool vintage in a cool appellation that's increasingly known for Pinot Noir, the wine is pale in color and delicate in the mouth, yet powerful in cherry-cola and spice intensity. Gorgeous now, and should improve for six years before slowly bowing out.
August 2007 issue
Editors' Choice Score: 94

2004 Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay – Sonoma Coast
Showing the depth and nuance that mark the great Chardonnay, this benefited from its chilly location in the Petaluma Gap in this hot vintage. The coolness allowed the grapes to achieve maximally ripe tropical fruit, nectarine and peach flavors, while preserving vital acidity. Extra dry and elegant, it's a Chard that can take up to six years of cellaring with-out missing a beat.
August 2007 issue
Editors' Choice Score: 93

2005 Kent Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
I love this for its absolute dryness and crispness and minerally depth. There's something coldly metallic in the taste and mouthfeel, and to the extent there's fruit, it's of grapefruits and lime zest, with a flowery exoticness. Sur lies aging and toasty new oak have added richness and layers of subtle nuance. Strikes you for the sheer excellence of its balance. Enjoy now – 2010.
August 2007 issue
Editors' Choice Score: 93

2005 Chris Lee Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Valley
Lovely, delicately silky, light-bodied and elegant, with charm and finesse. Some may find it lean in fruit, which emphasizes the acidity, but it's a connoisseur's Pinot Noir that gets better as it breathes. You have to understand complexity and subtlety in this variety to appreciate this bone-dry, cherry skin-tart wine. Best now through 2010.
August 2007 issue
Score: 92

2004 Porter-Bass Vineyard Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
The grapes got real ripe, to judge by the bright burst of yellow apricots and exotic passion-fruits. At the same time, acidity is crisp and citrusy, and there's a pleasant yeasty character, like Champagne, or a nice fino Sherry. The wine finishes totally dry, leaving a palate impression of great elegance. Drink now through 2010.
August 2007 issue
Score: 90

2003 Van der Kamp Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain $48. This is a very soft, sensuous Pinot, low in tannins, with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. The flavors are rich and exuberant in smoky red cherries, raspberries and cola. The softness suggests against extended cellaring, but why wouldn’t you want this silky, complex wine now?
November 2005 issue
Score: 91

2002 Porter Bass Vineyards Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $48. Shows great mastery in seamlessly yoking the intensely ripe fruit to vibrant acids, oaky glaze and creamy texture. It’s important to keep in mind how tangy and tart this wine is. If you’re looking for flavor descriptors, try quince just short of perfectly ripe, with that bite of acid. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
12/31/04
Score: 92

2002 Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast); $38. Quite distinctive and complex for the intense minerality and herbal, cured-tobacco overtones to the underlying citrus, peach fruit and oak flavors. There’s something steely and metallic about the structure that really gets the taste buds going.
12/31/04
Score: 90

2002 Halleck Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast); What a beauty, complex as heck. Starts off with meaty, beefy aromas floating above red cherries, vanilla, cocoa and smoke, and turns intensely rich and delicate in the mouth, offering waves of tart cherry, sweet rhubarb, rose hip tea and spice flavors. So silky & light, yet unstintingly focused. A real accomplishment. S.H.
11/1/04 Score: 93

2002 Sangiacomo Vineyards Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast); $38. Translucent in color, this beautiful wine captures the essence of North Coast, cool-climate Pinot in the exciting line it straddles between cheerfully ripe cherry fruit and a more somber undertow of rhubarb and cherry tomato. Delicately structured, dry, silky in texture and with cool spine of acidity, this beautiful wine is a star of the vintage.
S.H. 11/1/04
Score: 92

Holiday Issue 2003 – Anthony Dias Blue

2001 Pisoni Pinot Noir “ A brilliant team effort: from the two Gregs (Bjornstad and La Follette, formerly of Flowers); exquisite Pinot sourced from one of Monterrey’s best vineyards."
One of the 99 “Best Wines of the Year.”

December 2003 – Robert Parker
These are all attractive as well as realistically priced offerings.

The sexy 2001 Keefer Pinot noir boasts a complex bouquet of incense, cinnamon, cherry cough syrup, and earth. Medium-bodied, with excellent ripeness, a good texture, and an elegant, layered finish, it should be consumed over the next 2-3 years.
Score: 90

Dried Provencal herb aromas [particularly lavender] jump from the glass of the dark ruby-colored 2001 Sangiacomo Pinot noir. Herbaceous, medium-bodied, and spicy, it is an attractive Pinot to drink over the next 3-5 years.
Score: 87

Another outstanding effort is the seductive 2001 Pisoni Pinot noir. It offers gorgeous blackberry and cherry fruit along with a hint of white flowers, plenty of stuffing, medium to full body, fine underlying acidity, and tremendous ripeness, purity, and overall classicism. This superstar vineyard consistently produces high quality Pinot Noir fruit. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.
Score: 90

Readers looking for a more earthy, herbaceous, autumnal style should check out the 2001 Vander Kamp Pinot noir. A high altitude, mountain Pinot, its distinctive earthiness, hints of fresh mushrooms along with sassafras and root vegetables will not be appreciated by everyone. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.
Score: 88

TANDEM has also produced two fine Chardonnays.

The 2001 Ritchie Chardonnay reveals abundant smoky oak, but once past the wood component, there is plenty of ripe buttery fruit along with hints of marmalade and lemon zest presented in its medium-bodied, stylish personality.
Score: 87

More tropical fruit, honeysuckle, and glycerin make an appearance in the 2001 Sangiacomo Chardonnay. Like its sibling, this medium-bodied offering should be consumed over the next 1-2 years.
Score: 88

2001 Porter Bass Zinfandel . A sumptuously delicious, complex, deep ruby/purple-colored Zinfandel, this 2001 boasts outstanding ripeness as well as a fragrant, in-your-face style, and medium to full-bodied, luscious flavors that tail off slightly in the finish. Drink this seductive offering over the next 2-3 years.
Score: 89

The Pinot Noir Shootout

Judge’s Choice - Dec 16, 2003

2001 Halleck Vineyard Pinot Noir – Sonoma Coast: Himalayan blackberry and enticing raspberry aromas and flavors tucked into plenty of oak with fruit to carry over into a finish that deepens and grows. Cleansing and tangy acidity add structure and balance to the already long finish.
Score 93.2 and first place out of over 300 Pinots