Breezy nose of watermelon and unripe strawberries. The strawberry intensifies on the palate and picks up some citrus rind on the finish. Simple and light and would serve very nicely as a picnic wine. Not a serious rosé, but then again, who wants their rosé serious? Not me. I like mine carefree and insouciant. 87-88 points.
A very well made pinot and kind of pushing the limit of how aged I like my CA pinots to be, especially those from Carneros. Slightly sherried nose combined with mature aromas of wild berries and damp autumn leaves. Crisp palate with the flavor of freeze-dried berries. 86-87 points.
This was an interesting wine to taste but not to drink. In spite of the ironic novelty of this wine, I found it rather incoherent and lifeless as a pinot; it should have been euthanized years ago. Aromas of charred cabbages and beef broth give way to a very off-putting flavor of cabbage stew and beef jerky on the palate (and I like beef jerky!). Acid and wood closes off the experiment. Undrinkable, to me at least.
This was an interesting wine that kept improving in the glass. I suspect that it could have benefited from a more healthy decant. The nose was initially quite tight and dense, with aromas of cracked peppercorn, clove, and tree bark. With time the nose softens up a bit to reveal some wild berries, and the palate offers nice layers of fresh raspberry and cherry fruit. Certainly a wine to keep one's eye on. 89-90 points.
This was kind of a mysterious wine to me in that I knew there was more to it than was presented to me. Interesting nose of dark fruit, Asian spices, and what I like to call "antique shoppe." Dense flavors of dark then sour cherries that really didn't seem to go anywhere. It was just kind of there, and then it was gone. Where did it go? I don't know. That's part of a mystery for me. 87-88 points.
On its own, I might have liked this one quite a bit more. However, given the company of wine I was in, I'll just say that it was very good. Not excellent, just very good. Of course, I may be splitting hairs here, but isn't that what wine geeks do? Very good aromas of cherry cider and spice introduce very good sour cherry and plum fruit flavors, some earthiness, and a very good acidic spine.
A really lovely wine and tied for my #2 WOTN. Rich dark cherry and black raspberry fruit flood the nose and palate in a way that both deep and broad. Wet earth and sweet vanillin tannins round out the flavors in this opulent wine, which in spite of its flashiness, seems also to keep very good posture. Reminds me of Catherine Zeta-Jones -- both sexy and classy at the same time. 93-94 points.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
As with many of the wines I tasted tonight, I might have liked this one more had I tried it on its own. Although I am a huge fan of Pisoni fruit, which I think produces some of the best CA pinot I have ever had, for me at least, the jury is still out on how Joe Davis works this fruit. Instead of the dark fruits that I typically find (and love!) in wines from this vineyard, here I get more red fruits, in particular red cherries, along with some new leather and pine. The acidity in this wine is very bright, and I love how it paired with my duck, but one wonders whether the fruit will be able to stand up to the tart acidity as it ages. Nonetheless, a first class effort. 90-91 points.
I consider this wine a guilty pleasure because although I found it a bit on the sweet side, which tells me that I need to hold on to my other bottles a bit longer, I completely reveled in it. Aromas of cinnamon stick and black cherry compote greet the nose and tell me this is going to fun to drink. Ripe strawberries, blueberries, and cherry burst onto the youthful glycerinous palate, coupled with a touch of vanilla, to provide a vibrant and playful experience. A bit more acidity would have been nice to provide discipline and structure, but what can I say, I loved it.
Can we say Cinnamon Toast Crunch? This is what greets my senses when I bring the glass to my nose. While the previous wine (2004 Vision SC) was youthful and playful, this one is downright mischievous. Dark rich cherry, blueberry, and black raspberry on the palate, along with some baking spices, to create a nice interplay of sweetness and spice. With one sip, the former seems to dominate; with another, the latter. I never really know what I am going to get with this wine. The one constant, however, is the heat, which bothered me. So while I really enjoyed the game of tag on the tasebuds, ultimately, the heat started to wear me down.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
The last time I had this, I loved it. This is now my second taste of this wine and I still love it. It edges out Marcassin and August West as my WOTN. I don't know, but there is just something about Siduri and Pisoni that, for me at least, just screams Grand Cru. Great nose of black raspberry jam, dark cherry, and a hint of black tea and cola. A velvety palate complements the nose, and the very good acidity lends nice structure to put this wine into perfect balance. Opulent and elegant at the same time.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
I found this wine slightly schizophrenic. Nose of wet earth, autumn leaves, and mushrooms. The palate, however, is a totally different story. It's sweet, and very fruit forward, with layers of blackberries, cherry jam, and cocoa. As Aiden mentioned, taken separately, I like those characteristics. But together, they are like the odd couple.
This wine was almost over the top for me, with its rich black raspberry, ripe cherry, plum, and mocha latte notes, but it somehow managed to stay pretty well in balance. Ultimately, I liked it very much. Glycerinous, almost creamy, mouthfeel. Needs time to let the fruit mellow out a bit.
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
This wine was a real treat and tied for my #2 WOTN. Just a wonderful, hedonistic, medley of fresh raspberries purée, strawberry jam, vanilla, and spice. Juicy acidity keeps you coming back for more. This wine reminds me a young Julia Roberts wearing her red evening gown in Pretty Women -- absolutely gorgeous! 93-94 points.
Kind of a let down after the August West. Even though it is a 2005, it came across as a bit more mature for me. Some cherry cider and rhubarb notes as well as citrus peel on the finish.
2006 Kutch Pinot Noir Rosé 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Breezy nose of watermelon and unripe strawberries. The strawberry intensifies on the palate and picks up some citrus rind on the finish. Simple and light and would serve very nicely as a picnic wine. Not a serious rosé, but then again, who wants their rosé serious? Not me. I like mine carefree and insouciant. 87-88 points.
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1993 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Carneros 86 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
A very well made pinot and kind of pushing the limit of how aged I like my CA pinots to be, especially those from Carneros. Slightly sherried nose combined with mature aromas of wild berries and damp autumn leaves. Crisp palate with the flavor of freeze-dried berries. 86-87 points.
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1980 Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir 65 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
This was an interesting wine to taste but not to drink. In spite of the ironic novelty of this wine, I found it rather incoherent and lifeless as a pinot; it should have been euthanized years ago. Aromas of charred cabbages and beef broth give way to a very off-putting flavor of cabbage stew and beef jerky on the palate (and I like beef jerky!). Acid and wood closes off the experiment. Undrinkable, to me at least.
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2004 Auteur Pinot Noir Hyland Vineyard 89 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville
This was an interesting wine that kept improving in the glass. I suspect that it could have benefited from a more healthy decant. The nose was initially quite tight and dense, with aromas of cracked peppercorn, clove, and tree bark. With time the nose softens up a bit to reveal some wild berries, and the palate offers nice layers of fresh raspberry and cherry fruit. Certainly a wine to keep one's eye on. 89-90 points.
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2002 Soter Pinot Noir Beacon Hill 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton
This was kind of a mysterious wine to me in that I knew there was more to it than was presented to me. Interesting nose of dark fruit, Asian spices, and what I like to call "antique shoppe." Dense flavors of dark then sour cherries that really didn't seem to go anywhere. It was just kind of there, and then it was gone. Where did it go? I don't know. That's part of a mystery for me. 87-88 points.
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2002 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard 88 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
On its own, I might have liked this one quite a bit more. However, given the company of wine I was in, I'll just say that it was very good. Not excellent, just very good. Of course, I may be splitting hairs here, but isn't that what wine geeks do? Very good aromas of cherry cider and spice introduce very good sour cherry and plum fruit flavors, some earthiness, and a very good acidic spine.
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2002 Marcassin Pinot Noir Blue-Slide Ridge Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
A really lovely wine and tied for my #2 WOTN. Rich dark cherry and black raspberry fruit flood the nose and palate in a way that both deep and broad. Wet earth and sweet vanillin tannins round out the flavors in this opulent wine, which in spite of its flashiness, seems also to keep very good posture. Reminds me of Catherine Zeta-Jones -- both sexy and classy at the same time. 93-94 points.
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2000 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
As with many of the wines I tasted tonight, I might have liked this one more had I tried it on its own. Although I am a huge fan of Pisoni fruit, which I think produces some of the best CA pinot I have ever had, for me at least, the jury is still out on how Joe Davis works this fruit. Instead of the dark fruits that I typically find (and love!) in wines from this vineyard, here I get more red fruits, in particular red cherries, along with some new leather and pine. The acidity in this wine is very bright, and I love how it paired with my duck, but one wonders whether the fruit will be able to stand up to the tart acidity as it ages. Nonetheless, a first class effort. 90-91 points.
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2004 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma County 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
I consider this wine a guilty pleasure because although I found it a bit on the sweet side, which tells me that I need to hold on to my other bottles a bit longer, I completely reveled in it. Aromas of cinnamon stick and black cherry compote greet the nose and tell me this is going to fun to drink. Ripe strawberries, blueberries, and cherry burst onto the youthful glycerinous palate, coupled with a touch of vanilla, to provide a vibrant and playful experience. A bit more acidity would have been nice to provide discipline and structure, but what can I say, I loved it.
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2003 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Can we say Cinnamon Toast Crunch? This is what greets my senses when I bring the glass to my nose. While the previous wine (2004 Vision SC) was youthful and playful, this one is downright mischievous. Dark rich cherry, blueberry, and black raspberry on the palate, along with some baking spices, to create a nice interplay of sweetness and spice. With one sip, the former seems to dominate; with another, the latter. I never really know what I am going to get with this wine. The one constant, however, is the heat, which bothered me. So while I really enjoyed the game of tag on the tasebuds, ultimately, the heat started to wear me down.
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1999 Siduri Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard 95 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
The last time I had this, I loved it. This is now my second taste of this wine and I still love it. It edges out Marcassin and August West as my WOTN. I don't know, but there is just something about Siduri and Pisoni that, for me at least, just screams Grand Cru. Great nose of black raspberry jam, dark cherry, and a hint of black tea and cola. A velvety palate complements the nose, and the very good acidity lends nice structure to put this wine into perfect balance. Opulent and elegant at the same time.
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2004 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clark & Telephone Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
I found this wine slightly schizophrenic. Nose of wet earth, autumn leaves, and mushrooms. The palate, however, is a totally different story. It's sweet, and very fruit forward, with layers of blackberries, cherry jam, and cocoa. As Aiden mentioned, taken separately, I like those characteristics. But together, they are like the odd couple.
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2004 Chamisal Vineyards Pinot Noir Califa 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
This wine was almost over the top for me, with its rich black raspberry, ripe cherry, plum, and mocha latte notes, but it somehow managed to stay pretty well in balance. Ultimately, I liked it very much. Glycerinous, almost creamy, mouthfeel. Needs time to let the fruit mellow out a bit.
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2005 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
This wine was a real treat and tied for my #2 WOTN. Just a wonderful, hedonistic, medley of fresh raspberries purée, strawberry jam, vanilla, and spice. Juicy acidity keeps you coming back for more. This wine reminds me a young Julia Roberts wearing her red evening gown in Pretty Women -- absolutely gorgeous! 93-94 points.
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2005 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Kind of a let down after the August West. Even though it is a 2005, it came across as a bit more mature for me. Some cherry cider and rhubarb notes as well as citrus peel on the finish.
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