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Santa Rosa
Tasted Saturday, September 23, 2017 by csimm with 275 views

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2010 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Seemingly in a good drinking window currently, with mature earth, cedar, and dark mulch notes to complement the black cherry and black raspberry looming underneath. A touch heavy on the cedar/soil side, but not so much that it is overly distracting. Balance and acid were in perfect check. This could certainly go a few more years, but I'd worry a little about it getting a little too funky after the 3+ year mark. For now, it's a beautifully brooding example of the varietal without being too heavy or cumbersome. Still has some nice verve to carry the flavors on through the back end. Drink now and over the next few years.

    This was tasted alongside a 2014 Argot Estate Pinot and a 2012 Roadhouse Middle Reach Pinot. All were different wines. The Argot was my favorite, but this WS was very compelling given its earthy profile.

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  • 2012 Roadhouse Winery Pinot Noir Gold Label Middle Reach 86 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    From magnum. Light, bright, and kicking out some medium-to-light bing cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate flavors. Relatively thin mid-palate, with a light finish. The flavors come off pure and clean, but not overly complex. 85-86 points for me.

    This was a distant third when served alongside a 2014 Argot Estate Pinot and a 2010 WS Hirsch Pinot.

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  • 2014 Argot Pinot Noir Estate 96 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain

    Same as all of my previous notes. The sappy, deeply pitched red raspberry and spice notes really drive this wine into the next level for me.

    This was my favorite by a long shot when served alongside a 2010 Williams Selyem Hirsch Pinot and 2012 Roadhouse Middle Reach Pinot. The WS was very good for its own unique, earthy profile, but this Argot had so much energy and flavor, it was hard not to be immediately compelled by it. Drinking well on PnP.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2014 D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A very agreeable example of this varietal in the 2014 vintage. Not a ton of fireworks, but some nice black and blue core fruit to compliment the vanilla bean and subtle clove notes. Round, plush, and still holding on to some of its baby fat, this could use another couple of years to come together. Acid crept up on the back end and came off a bit imbalanced when juxtaposed with the otherwise fruity attack. 92+ points. Best after 2019+.

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  • 2014 Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Same as all of my previous notes. Served next to a 2014 D.R. Stephens Napa Cabernet. I slightly favored the Scarlett, but both came off with decent pushes of fruit (2014 vintage showing a lot of baby fat with some wines) at the forefront currently. Hold until 2018++ if I can help it. Still, drinking well with some air.

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Flight 3 (6 Notes)

  • 2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. A decent amount of cedar and thin red and black currant dominated throughout the attack. Drink now. 87-88 points.

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  • 2007 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. A decent amount of cedar and thin red and black currant dominated throughout the attack. This 2007 had a little more body to it than the 2006. Drink now. 87-88 points.

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  • 2008 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 84 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. This 2008 was fairly flat and lacked much delivery of flavor overall. Like its siblings, it threw out some cedar and thin red and black currant notes. 83-84 points.

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  • 2009 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. This 2009 held some interest, but like its siblings, it was dominated with a strong cedar element that washed over the light currant notes. Fairly thin mid-palate. Drink now. 86 points.

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  • 2010 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. This 2010 had some leather and cedar notes along with the light currant flavors. Fairly thin and linear. Drink now. 86 points.

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  • 2011 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge 83 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    From a vertical of 2006-2011 Conn Valley Eloge. The 2006 and 2007 were my favorites in the lineup. This was my least favorite. Thin, watery, and muted. Some light currant, cedar, and cranberry notes. No finish. 81-83 points. A product of the vintage I suppose (at least that's partially the responsible).

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Flight 4 (3 Notes)

  • 2011 Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon Red Winery Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    Served as a horizontal trio of 2011 Hawkes Cabernets, to include the Red Winery, Stone Vineyard, and Pyramid Vineyard. This was my favorite of the three, with a decent push of red berry fruit. Still somewhat muted and austere on the attack and thin mid-palate, but it held interest on the initial delivery of flavors. 87-88 points.

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  • 2011 Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon Stone Vineyard 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    Served as a horizontal trio of 2011 Hawkes Cabernets, to include the Red Winery, Stone Vineyard, and Pyramid Vineyard. This was in the middle for me in terms of preference. It has some decent flavors on the initial attack, but was light and thin on the back end. A little of a licorice/anise note that added interest, but faded quickly. 86-87 points.

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  • 2011 Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon Hawkes Pyramid Vineyard 82 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    Served as a horizontal trio of 2011 Hawkes Cabernets, to include the Red Winery, Stone Vineyard, and Pyramid Vineyard. This came off extremely high-toned, almost as if it was a young Pinot. Cranberry and pomegranate flavors dominated. Alcohol-laced and thin, with watery notes of cedar and currant on the back end. No finish.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

  • 2016 Pride Mountain Vineyards Viognier 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    A decent summer sipper (well, a decent Fall sipper at this point I suppose). Crisp and light, with signature yellow and white stone fruit and pumice/stone flavors on the attack. Best served at refrigerator temperature. 89-90 points. Drink now.

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