Community Tasting Notes 31

• prof b wrote: 95 points

  October 22, 2021 - I acquired this 3L directly from Ryan Zepaltas nearly five years ago. It didn't fit into any of my storage options so its been kept in a closet at ambient temperature since. The corked disintegrated and I feared the worst, but my fear was unfounded. What a marvelous wine. The aromatics included strawberry and flowers. As it opened up, the wine developed a strong spice element to go along with the fruit. Great finish.

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• prof b wrote: 91 points

  May 6, 2013 - The nose gives off plenty of cooked cherries along with some dark fruits and wet earth. With time in the decanter, the cherry aroma subsides to allow the earth and some mushrooms to come forward. On the palate, I pick up the dark fruits - plums and cherries along with the earthy elements and a touch of minerality. The finish is long with plenty of acid. This is a nice wine and a steal at auction. Happy to be on Ryan's mailing list.

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• JOJ wrote: 92 points

  October 21, 2012 - Big turnaround with this wine. Liked it in '08, really disliked it in '09, and now this bottle was the best of the lot. On the nose, plums and stewed cherries, with a pleasant mushroom and wet earth note. Palate offers black cherry, plum and black tea, with a spicy cola finish. Still a touch hot on the back end, but not terribly so.
  
  As an aside, what's with all the "expert" reviews of big Cali pinots (like this one) that recommend a five year max drinking window? This wine (like many others I've had) is still picking up nuace at year 7, and it is nowhere near going downhill. I find most Cali pinot in a sweet spot between years 5 and 10 -- drink them earlier than that and you risk missing out on some spectular wine.

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• gutt22 Likes this wine:

  September 11, 2012 - 14.5% alcohol. Red cherry color. Really pretty nose of black cherry, earth, a bit of funk, and deep spice notes. A complex, intriguing nose that translates well to the palate. Smooth palate presence, with terrific fruit and very well layered with earth and spice. Smooth to the finish. Just a lovely drink now. A-

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• pgordon62 wrote: 91 points

  March 3, 2011 - A light ruby red with slight bricking. Feral red cherry and strawberry, truffle, Asian spice and winter beach. Airy on the palate but with tannin structure around the edges. A lingering, forest finish of resinous strawberry and coffee grounds. Wild and intriguing.

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2005
• Type Red
• Producer Zepaltas
• Varietal Pinot Noir
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard La Cruz Vineyard
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Sonoma County
• Appellation Sonoma Coast

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 36 (24%)
• Consumed 113 (76%)

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