June 13, 2022 - Sweet earthy raspberry-raisin; soft and balanced.
October 23, 2020 - Collected 250ml sample from bottle popped by Heymamalow. About 3 hours air time already. Drank in Grassl Cru.
Appearane is clear, pale intensity, ruby coloru. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of deep red floral spice, silty earth minerality, damp pine forest floor, dark red cherries, red pomegranate. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.8%), supple medium tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of ripe dark red cherries, red berry compote, red pomegranate, smoke, light sweet spice, tangy blood orange peel, damp pine forest floor, subtle thin minerality - saline, earthen, stony? Long subliminal finish.
Very very good quality. Defining characteristics: Balanced and terroir expressive. This is what New World Pinot Noir should aspire to be.
Not a wine to pop pour and guzzle. Needs to be sat down with quietly and pondered upon intellectually. Drink now with air or hold for more development.
September 29, 2020 - Total agreement with my previous note. Only one bottle remaining from this vintage.
September 5, 2020 - The cork was perfect after a decade in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of red raspberry and pomegranate, flavors of dried fruit compote with a medium finish. More integrated and soft on day two. A Pinot Noir more balanced to the acid side from the Sonoma Coast. This age worthy wine may have more years of life left. I still have two more bottles of this vintage remaining; I may open another next month or two to verify my rating.
March 25, 2020 - Still a lovely wine 11 years later.
December 29, 2019 - Another great Peay. A bit lighter than usual but nice acidity and at 10 years old, it aged well. My older Peay SS pinots are now over ten years and I look forward to seeing how they do over the next 5-7 years.
September 15, 2019 - Dark cherry red. Clear, slight fade at rim. Poised and elegant. Right in its prime. Light, but with zingy acidity and barely lingering tannins. Prime. Sourced from the winery.
September 11, 2019 - Fine Wines SG - BYOB “Whose Wine is it anyway?” (Praelum Wine Bistro): Some red cherries and cassis, while green. Medium bodied, but pretty intense fruits and kind of spicy and fernish
August 26, 2018 - One Fun-Filled Afternoon Spent Poolside with Friends (Los Olivos, CA): At first somewhat austere and bitter, it took hours for me to perceive the quality of this wine, and when I went back to it the next day, it was even better. Beautiful, smokey red fruit, both sweet and tart, some orange peel and muted spice that rounds out the very long finish.
August 16, 2018 - beautiful. sweet cranberry. not too thick. an elegant californian. good acidity and nice finish. has aged quite well!