Banknote Counterfeit Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with a counterfeiter's sense of humor.
The story behind Banknote Counterfeit
Banknote Wine Company is winemaker Pete Kane's Napa-based label, and the Counterfeit name is a wink at the currency designers and wine forgers who made fakes worth collecting. The fruit itself is honest: Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast, a fog-cooled appellation where the grape holds its acidity instead of cooking into jam. Kane has released Counterfeit vintages through the 2010s, small-production and mostly sold through boutique retail and direct to consumer.
We have poured and sold this wine across the counter for years. It drinks savory and classic, pomegranate and cherry up front, plum underneath, bright acid, tannins already smoothed in. No gold medals to brag about, no critic trophies tracked. Just a California Pinot that behaves like it costs more than it does.
Explore the Banknote Counterfeit range
Three Counterfeit bottlings reach us from the same Napa label. The Pinot Noir is the savory one, and the Cabernet carries the weight.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counterfeit Pinot Noir | Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir | 14 to 14.5% ABV | Pomegranate, cherry, plum, bright acid, smooth tannins |
| Counterfeit Cabernet Sauvignon | California Cabernet Sauvignon | Not published | Darker fruit, structure, the label's heavier pour |
| Counterfeit Sauvignon Blanc | California Sauvignon Blanc | Not published | Crisp white, citrus driven, chilled aperitif |
| Counterfeit Zinfandel | California Zinfandel | Not published | Ripe bramble fruit, grilled and smoked meats |
| Counterfeit Red Blend | California Red Blend | Not published | Everyday red, soft tannin, weeknight table wine |
Which Banknote Counterfeit is right for you?
The Counterfeit Pinot Noir sits at $19.99 for a 750mL bottle, which is quiet money for Sonoma Coast fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon runs $24.99 and the Sauvignon Blanc $15.99. Nothing here asks you to finance a cellar. Buy the Pinot by the bottle for a duck dinner, or take a mixed case and let the Cabernet handle the steak. Call us at (631) 343-7200 before you drive over, since stock on the Pinot moves and we would rather tell you the truth than have you arrive to an empty shelf.
Bright acid cuts roast duck and mushroom risotto without overwhelming either.
Twenty five dollars for a structured California red that handles burgers and braises.
Crisp, citrus driven, and priced to keep a cold bottle on hand.