Pasadena, CA
Tasted Tuesday, March 18, 2008 by Paul Lin with 1,669 views
Generally speaking, I feel that the 2006 vintage is a significant step down from the glorious 2005. While some of the wines did show well, many -- especially those from Sonoma County -- tended to display some underdeveloped flavors. From a collector's prospective, I will be making more of an effort to taste as many 2006 Pinots as I can in advance of buying them. Or better yet, I might just wait for the 2007s to come out, which should be a fantastic vintage. My favorite 2005 Pinot at the tasting: the 2005 Clos Pepe Estate. My favorite 2006? The 2006 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Hillside Estate.
The Rhone verietals showed very well at this tasting. I loved the 2003 Rocca Family Syrah, but the winner for me was the 2006 Thompkin Cellars Grenache -- an incredible wine!
My general impression is that 2004 is a stronger vintage than 2005 for Cabernet. But that evaluation depends largely upon what one is looking for in a wine. The 2004s tended to show more power and density of fruit, while the 2005s were more elegant. Both were very good across the board; however, it just seems to me that the balanced 2005s will come to maturity a bit sooner than the concentrated 2004s. My favorite Cab of the tasting was the 2004 Rocca Family Cabernet.
2006 Anglim Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Pommard clone and Dijon clones 115 and 113. Concentrated notes of dark cherry, black raspberry, and earth. A meaty wine.
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2006 Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Dijon clone 115. A harmonious integration of strawberries, earth, crushed minerals, and spice. Elegant and well-made.
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2006 Ancien Pinot Noir Toyon Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Swan clone and Dijon clone 115. Tighter than the RRV Pinot. Muted notes of Bing cherries, earth, and leather. And elegant wine with very good acidity.
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2005 Cima Collina Pinot Noir Tondré Grapefield 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Pommard clone and Dijon clones 115 and 667. Rustic notes of wild strawberries, rhubarb, and cloves. Nice acidity. 90-91 points.
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2005 Cima Collina Pinot Noir Chula Viña 86 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
Muted aromas and little disjointed on the palate. Notes of strawberries, pomegranate, and raw beef.
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2005 Cima Collina Pinot Noir Hilltop Ranch 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey
Incredibly dense and concentrated. Syrah-like in appearance. Chewy notes of plums, blackberries, dark chocolate, and wet soil. Not for the traditionalist or the timid.
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2005 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir 92 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
A very pretty Pinot. Delicate notes strawberries, raspberries, rose petals, red clay, and crushed minerals. Good acidity. Not as flashy as the 2006, but I actually preferred this one by a decent margin. 91-92
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2006 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
A lot of stuff going on in this young wine. Opulent notes of black raspberries, dark cherries, wet soil, and smoke. Needs time. 89-90 points.
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2006 Calera Pinot Noir Mount Harlan Cuvée 83 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan
It's a shame to drink this style of wine at such an early stage. Muted aromas with lots of green floral notes. Thin and watery.
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2005 Calera Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard 85 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan
100% stem inclusion and it's obvious. Stemmy and tannic with notes of rose water, black tea, white rocks, and ocean spray. Right now: 85-86 points.
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2005 Calera Pinot Noir 30th Anniversary Mills Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan
100% stem inclusion and it's obvious. Stemmy and tannic, with notes of raspberries, rose water, and crushed minerals. Right now: 86-87 points.
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2004 Derbès Les Pinots 83 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
50% Pinot Noir and 50% Pinot Meunier. Rustic notes cooked cherries, strawberry jam, and wet soil. Tasted like it might have been heat damaged, but the person pouring it said it was fine.
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2005 Dierberg Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Pungent notes black cherry, blackberries, hard spices, a little bit of shoe polish. Kind of a brooding Pinot.
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2006 Dovetail Vineyards Pinot Noir 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Complex and funky. Notes of strawberries, rhubarb, caramel, and cocoa powder. 86-87 points.
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2006 Dovetail Vineyards Pinot Noir Indindoli Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Dijon Clones 667 and 115. Notes of strawberry jam, cola, and toffee. A little soft in the finish and could use a touch more acidity. A showy wine nonetheless. 87-88 points.
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2006 Dovetail Vineyards Pinot Noir Windsor Oaks Vineyard 84 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Dijon clone 115. The bricking coloring belies its youth. Simple notes of wild strawberries, raspberries, and forest floor. Seemed a little oxidated to me.
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2005 DuNah Pinot Noir DuNah Vineyard 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Kind of one-dimensional, but inoffensive and easy to drink nonetheless. Candied notes of strawberries and red licorice.
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2006 Dutton-Goldfield Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
A really nice surprise. Hedonistic notes of sweet black cherry, black raspberry, and mocha-laced oak. Long finish with a touch of citrus. 89-90 points.
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2006 Elke Pinot Noir Mary Elke 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Simple, but easy to like. Notes of sour cherries, earth, and mineral. The finish is rather short.
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2005 Elke Pinot Noir Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Like the 2005, but with more acidity and more textural elegance -- a function of both the vintage and bottle age perhaps. Notes of sour cherries, red clay, and wet soil.
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2006 Elke Pinot Noir Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Notes of sour cherries, red clay, and wet soil. Similar to the appellation blend, but with a denser mouthfeel.
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2004 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Reserve Fort Ross Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
A rich mouthful of dark cherries, currants, earth and vanilla. Creamy texture, but the finish is little astringent. 88-89 points.
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2005 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Not showing as well as expected. Notes of strawberries and rose petals. Rather thin on the palate with an astringent finish.
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2006 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Symposium Fort Ross Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
An interesting Pinot. Notes of Bing cherries, grapefruit, and orange rind.
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2005 Inman Family Pinot Noir OGV Estate 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Very restrained, almost to the point of being ethereal. Faint notes of raspberries, mineral, and a touch of stem. Sadly, this is a wine that would easily get lost in a crowd.
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2005 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Q Block 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
More elegant than the 2006 Bien Nacido Hillside. Notes of raspberries, strawberries, and hard spices. Well balanced and lovely to taste.
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2005 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Block 3 Solomon Hills Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Notes of Bing cherries, pomegranates, and crushed minerals. Nice on the palate, but the finish is attenuated.
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2006 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Hillside Estate 92 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Unmistakably Californian, but delicious nonetheless. Hedonistic notes of chocolate covered strawberries, black raspberries, and vanillin oak. Rich, creamy texture. Long dark chocolate infused finish.
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2005 L'Angevin Pinot Noir 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Complex and refined with notes of strawberries, raspberries, red clay, earth, and minerals. A potentially outstanding wine that was unfortunately marred by a hot finish.
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2006 L'Angevin Pinot Noir Sonoma Stage Vineyard 82 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Not exactly sure what was going on with this wine or why it was even being poured, because it was simple, primary, and disjointed. I got some sour cherry fruit out of it, but this wine was all over the place. Bottle shock perhaps?
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2006 Landmark Pinot Noir Grand Detour 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Notes of strawberries, red clay, and earth. Very bitter on the finish. 85-86 points.
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2005 Londer Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
50% Swan clone, 50% Dijon clones 115 and 777. This is a really lovely wine, even better than when I tasted it at Pinot Days. Notes of dark cherries over strawberries and crushed minerals. Velvety texture. Very impressive.
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2006 Londer Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Nose a little muted, but on the palate a soft texture accompanying nice raspberry and strawberry fruit. 88-89 points.
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2006 Alfaro Family Pinot Noir 'A' Estate 90 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Perhaps the most open of the Alfaro line-up. Notes of dark cherries and chocolate-covered raspberries. Very good structure and acidity for an entry level wine.
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2006 Martin Alfaro Pinot Noir Schultze Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
An interesting pinot. Exotic notes of cured meats and Asian spices wrapped around a dense core of strawberry puree.
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2006 Martin Alfaro Pinot Noir Deer Park Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Comprised of Mount Eden clone and Dijon clones 667 and 777. Fairly classic notes of strawberries and earth. Well made.
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2006 Martin Alfaro Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Perhaps my least favorite Alfaro pinot. Came across a little like a cherry Pop-Tart.
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2006 Alfaro Family Pinot Noir 91 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
A very big pinot. Notes of rubber (but in a good way), dark cherries, sassafras, and hard spices. Dense in mouth and possesses a long finish.
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2006 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
One of the more successful 2006s from RRV, in spite of the fact that it was just bottled when tasted. Notes of strawberries, bing cherries and wet soil. Balanced and delicious.
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2006 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I was told this wine was just bottled, so it may be suffering from a bit of shock. Notes of strawberries, black cherries, apple skins, and pastry dough. Finishes a little angular, but overall quite balanced.
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2003 Michaud Pinot Noir 74 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone
When I tasted this, I asked the winemaker if this was maderized. He said it was fine. It was NOT fine!
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2004 Michaud Pinot Noir 80 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone
This wine was either overextracted and overoaked, or just plain cooked. Either way, it was not very good.
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2005 Miller Wine Works Pinot Noir Kendric Vineyard 83 Points
USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Marin County
When asked which clones went into the wine, the person pouring (winemaker?) said, "All of them." Rubbery, manipulated flavors with a strong finish of cardamom and other hard spices.
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2006 Roessler Pinot Noir La Brisa 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
On the simple side, but still pretty good. Notes of dark cherries and cola.
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2006 Roessler Pinot Noir Griffin's Lair 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Opens with a little bit of a funk, but then evolves and exhibits nice notes of sour cherries, dark cherries, and apple skin. The fruit seems a little underdeveloped here.
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2006 Roessler Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Notes of apple skin, earth, and crushed minerals. Searing acidity. Very underdeveloped fruit here.
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2006 Roessler Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 84 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
My least favorite of the line-up. Notes of dark cherries and apple skin, with an Alka-Seltzer-like finish.
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2005 Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards Pinot Noir Tina Marie Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
This wine differed considerably from the 2006 RRV, but I liked it just the same. Juicy notes of strawberries, raspberries, red clay, and leather. Great texture in this elegant wine.
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2006 Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
I was rather impressed with this producer. Juicy notes of raspberries, bing cherries, cola, and crushed minerals. Mouth-watering and delicious!
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2006 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Notes of dark cherries, toffee, and caramel. Nice fruit concentration and texture. A little soft on the finish, however. 87-88 points.
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2006 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I'm not really a huge fan of this vineyard, as I find it a bit too sauvage, but I did enjoy this wine. Comprised of Dijon clones 115 and 777. Notes of strawberry puree, wet earth, apple skin, and vanillin oak. Nice acidity and finish. 89-90 points.
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2005 Vergari Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Admittedly, this is not my favorite vineyard. Rustic notes of animal and earth wrapped a core of red fruits.
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2005 Vergari Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
An elegant wine with notes of apple skin and earthy red fruits. Odd Alka-Seltzer-like finish.
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2006 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma County 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Notes of sour cherries, earth, and crushed minerals. Very nice on the attack, but finishes rather short.
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2006 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
I loved the textural plushness of this wine. Hedonistic yet restrained, with notes of sweet cherries, black raspberries, cocoa powder, and citrus. 90-91 points.
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