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 Vintage2012 Label 1 of 215 
TypeRed
ProducerFlowers (web)
VarietyPinot Noir
Designationn/a
Vineyardn/a
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
SubRegionSonoma County
AppellationSonoma Coast
OptionsShow variety and appellation
UPC Code(s)000000176460, 000004004189, 055946737503, 3082415738621, 3554770035207, 722358010509, 859369001636, 859369001674, 918820487430

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2014 and 2017 (based on 33 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 90.8 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 134 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by norsktorsk on 9/21/2021 & rated 89 points: this is an off bottle. unctuous like a s Rhone wine. (1183 views)
 Tasted by Doblk on 5/15/2021 & rated 91 points: Still some cherry fruit, developing smoke and char. Very even presentation. (1259 views)
 Tasted by konadog on 11/28/2019 & rated 91 points: Very delicate, rose petals, light cranberries. Likely in the downside of the bell curve but paired nicely with bird and didn’t overpower sides (1667 views)
 Tasted by bklynwine on 10/3/2019: Relatively generic Cal pinot nose of dark red cherry; palate lacks the delineation and cut of the best NoCal pinots that combine the fruit and the woods; too much ripe cherry fruit, not sweet per se, but clunky (1732 views)
 Tasted by norsktorsk on 9/9/2018 & rated 90 points: relatively not interesting (2255 views)
 Tasted by kkseattle on 7/28/2018 & rated 90 points: light but had some fruit (1947 views)
 Tasted by Don Grant on 8/13/2017: It was very good. (3198 views)
 Tasted by BigBoy_Sonoma on 2/28/2017 & rated 88 points: Bottle opened 2 days....and corked this note is from 2nd day. Definitely needs time to breath or decanting.

Strawberries, raspberries, vanilla, spice and tea notes. A- (3494 views)
 Tasted by RGCM Gananda on 1/16/2017 & rated 91 points: Prior bottle was almost exactly six months ago and this wine continues to improve nicely. Medium bodied with cherry, floral and vanilla notes on the nose. Red cherry upfront, with just hints now of raspberry behind providing depth. Very round but bright upfront with more tart red berry notes coming in towards the back. Structure seems mostly acidity based at this point with the tannins fully integrated and while still providing a backbone, they aren't overt. Nice depth on the back side as the element comes together with pleasant harmony and then sweep into the vanilla, mineral and cream accented finish. This wine may improve just a touch more, but I'd drink them within the next two years to get the most out of it as once it falls out of balance, it could fade quickly. (3485 views)
 Tasted by Bwalter17 on 12/3/2016 & rated 90 points: Medium color. Subdued nose. Light classic Pinot. Nicely balanced. Easy to drink. Not gong to age long. (3282 views)
 Tasted by Viking 61 on 11/5/2016 & rated 92 points: Striking smokey satin light scarlet hue that gives notice of the wonderful raspberry and red cherry bouquet that's mirrored on the journey across the palate with a lovely cherry hill elevation midway. Interesting and evoking wine that paired well with the Son's of Norway Thanksgiving meal (We meet first Friday of the month.) that was thankfully sprinkled more with the savory rather than sweet sides. Hours later darker ripe plums emerged to dance with the cherries. Nice finish with a litle heat so keep it cool. (3275 views)
 Tasted by FoxStreet55356 on 10/31/2016: - Crimsom color. (2294 views)
 Tasted by Brian Love on 9/27/2016: Thought was a nice evolution of flowers - nicely balanced and not over-oaked or extracted like some previous vintages. (1807 views)
 Tasted by RGCM Gananda on 7/14/2016 & rated 91 points: Raspberry and floral notes on the nose. Quite similar to my prior bottle (July 2015), but perhaps a bit more integrated. Still shows an enjoyable mix of red cherry and raspberry through the middle. The acidity is still there in the background, especially when first opened, but the tart notes were much softer with this bottle. Finishes smoothly with a nice blend of vanilla, cream and earthy notes. While I don't expect additional complexity, this wine should integrate a bit more given more cellar time, but is certainly showing quite well now. (2038 views)
 Tasted by MLR on 5/5/2016 & rated 90 points: Classic Pinot noir, bright fruit, smooth in the mouth. (2276 views)
 Tasted by FGS on 4/9/2016 & rated 91 points: Nice nose w/ hints of lavender. Bright cherry notes. Good acidity and balance. Beautiful finish. (2189 views)
 Tasted by Fur in the glass on 1/15/2016: Pretty translucent red
Berries and earth on the nose
Seemed restrained on the palate at the start
Creamy and smooth
Mocha on the finish
Showed some evolution by the time we stopped at mid-bottle with some deeper of the same above (2997 views)
 Tasted by Snag One on 11/27/2015 & rated 92 points: We opened this bottle on Thanksgiving. It was the perfect wine to pair with our turkey and other food. Very nice notes of strawberry, red figs, red licorice, plums and mint. We loved this wine. (3104 views)
 Tasted by Snag One on 11/1/2015 & rated 91 points: The nose consisted of strawberries, figs, raspberries and cherries. Nice layers of light red fruit. (3317 views)
 Tasted by Pvinbrock on 10/12/2015 & rated 92 points: Always solid and consistently great. (2677 views)
 Tasted by KristianT on 10/2/2015 & rated 88 points: Dark colour , notes of mocha and black cherry. A little sweet. Well made and very drinkable but not overwhelming. (3333 views)
 Tasted by Rich S on 9/20/2015 & rated 89 points: Popped and poured. Red cherry and raspberry notes on the nose along with some warm baking spices and toasted oak. Some slightly jammy red fruit on the palate along with caramel and toffee. Medium acidity. The oak treatment seemed a bit much for this wine compared to my previous experience. A tasty, enjoyable pinot but poor QPR. (3030 views)
 Tasted by richardkim on 8/24/2015 & rated 90 points: Spicy red fruits, cola on the lithe palate. Lively and light on its feet, and with plenty of minerality on the long finish. (2803 views)
 Tasted by Mech-E on 7/25/2015 & rated 92 points: Consumed at the Ocean House in Dennis Port, MA.

Lovely balance and nicely fruit forward with very bright cherry notes. Consumed over 2 hours with 30 minutes of slow-ox. Would consider this if found in a store. (2788 views)
 Tasted by RGCM Gananda on 7/22/2015 & rated 91 points: Considerably improved from the prior bottle (Dec 2014). Much smoother, rounder, better integrated and more balanced. I had forgotten that Flowers pinots need a bit of age and shouldn't be drunk young; even the basic bottling. Nice nose of light raspberry and floral notes. Much smoother and balanced through the middle with an interesting mixture of red cherry and red raspberry flavors. Retains a good amount of tartness throughout, but it's blending into the body and fruit of the wine nicely. Good structure and length on the finish. This wine is till on the upswing and I expect further integration and balancing over the next six months. (2551 views)
 Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine...

Professional 'Channels'
By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/9/2015)
(Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Red) Subscribe to see review text.
By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Sonoma and Beyond: New Releases (Feb 2014)
(Flowers Winery Pinot Noir (sonoma Coast) Sonoma Coast) Subscribe to see review text.
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and Vinous. (manage subscription channels)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Flowers

Producer website

As nursery owners in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Walt and Joan Flowers had long dreamed of combining their love of wine with their passion for agriculture. They knew they wanted to produce their favorite varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; what they didn’t know was that their path would eventually lead them across country to Northern California’s rugged Sonoma Coast. After responding to a small classified ad in a national wine publication, that’s exactly where they landed.

In 1989, after many information-gathering trips to Napa and Sonoma, Walt and Joan purchased 321 acres, including a ridge top, high above the Pacific Ocean on the northern Sonoma Coast. With the same determination they drew on to build their successful nursery business; the Flowers proceeded with the dream of producing their favorite cool-climate varietals in a place they believed uniquely suited to growing them.

Today, Flowers Winery produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from its two estate properties, Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard and Sea View Ridge Vineyard, as well as select vineyards in the coolest regions of the Sonoma Coast AVA, which are farmed to Flowers’ specifications by their own crews. In addition to direct consumer sales, the wines are sold to fine restaurants and retailers in the US and overseas.

Pinot Noir

Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.


Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.

Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.

The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.

Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.

With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.

Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

California

2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson

Sonoma County

Mendocino County

Sonoma Coast

* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wikipedia)
* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wine Institue)

 
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