This wine blew everyone away and easily won WOTN. Silky mouthfeel, a harmonious palate with complex red fruit and earthy notes (raspberry, rose petal, mushroom, toasted oak) and a long finish for a fairly gentle wine. Seemed to be in a perfect drinking window.

Although W-S has a reputation as one of the more age-worthy Cali pinots, I decided to pop this one early (inspired in part by strong CT feedback). This was brimming with dark cherry fruit that evoked a juicy bite into a summertime farmstand cherry. Luscious and smooth. Also showed some elegant notes of cedar, baking spice, and glacé clementines. The clear second-place finisher at the dinner table (behind the Red Burg).

Outshined tonight by the W-S RRV which could be a surprise given that the VVV is a vineyard-designate, but the tasters opinions must prevail. The nose and flavors were a bit muted but primarily showed red cherry and forest.

Typical Saxum inky color and dense mouthfeel. Powerful. The most unctuous and concentrated wine in the lineup but somehow finesse overcame force tonight and this wasn't one of the favorites. It very plainly favored a blue fruit profile – blueberries, dark plum at the forefront (but I’m a red fruit guy …). Seemed like it had room to evolve as the flavors were perhaps a bit one-note at this stage.

The most rustic wine we drank tonight, showing elements of peppercorn, black plum, and spice. Like the Saxum - very blue fruited.
Next to the velvet pinots from France and California, this fell a bit short.

Not sure what to make of this wine since it had a distinct barnyard element that was either offputting or sophisticated. Notes of old leather, dried blood orange, meat, and blue stewed fruits. An interesting glass of wine, but I didn’t reach for a refill.

A very pleasant wine that toes the line between a classic, acidic Northern Italian wine and a sweeter Riesling – compare to a slightly underripe white peach. Golden color. The nose suggests sweetness, with elements of honey and candied peaches, but the flavor profile is a bit more bitter with stone fruits and white pepper spice. Popular at the dinner table.

I'm not great at evaluating aged spätlese due to a lack of experience, but this was very enjoyable. This was like drinking honey wine – viscous, syrupy, delicious. Notes of flowers, honeycomb, green apple, ripe apple. It picked up steam (complexity) over time.