Been working through some orphans in my cellar. Needed a bit of Pinot to deglaze some short ribs so I grabbed this, and then we drank the rest. Did not get any smoke, which was a bit of a disappointment but still this was surprisingly good. Musty nose, soft fruit with plum and cherry notes, mellow tannins and well balanced.
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Smoke still evident, but the barn/hay/wild elements have folded into that flavor. Intriguing, but the backbone has started to break apart. Nice fruit - plum, blackberry, some cherry, but disjoint in flavor. The honeyed flavor of Hungarian oak stands out, and is incredible. Still interesting, but in a down cycle or past peak. Drinking is the best part! Cheers!
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I loved this wine. Atypical pinot, unusual nose, but if you like earthy reds, this is your wine. The nose reminded me of grass, hay, horses, something I find in european wines, not california. It was a perfect match to the cedar plank salmon I prepared. Highly recommended.
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Smoke and cherries with a good backbone of acidity. Delicious. Should age well. Sorry we only had one bottle. Went great with grilled copper river salmon.
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Very barnyardy aroma. Not much fruit. tasted better than the smell but that is not saying much. Had this at the winery in 2011--this was nothing like that tasting.
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From the "wildfire" vintage, and indeed the wine tastes smoky. Bit of a one-off for the winery, but we really liked it and appreciated the price break on part-estate, part purchased grapes. In addition to the smoky notes, cherry, raspberry and currant flavors, medium finish, a smoky nose with the same fruit.
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Strawberries and cream and smoke this time. A really great wine for the price. Can't wait to see the results from 2009. Ate with ginger-soy vinaigrette-laced chicken and it went happily along for the ride.
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smokey, bright sour cherry nose with hints of spice. The mouth was acidic and well balanced with bright fruit up front and, with air time, some richer darker fruits following. The tannins were soft and full and provided a solid structure to display this nicely balanced wine.
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For once the bottle's notes actually prove helpful: this somehow manages to be delicious while evoking nothing so much as strawberries and pickles. Medium-weight pinot, this is one of Toulouse's lowest-priced wines and yet one of my favorites. Pleased everyone at our table. (And Toulouse makes for a fantastic winery visit, incidentally, for anyone in the area).
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Decanted. Pretty nose of creamy cherry, nutmeg-spice, licorice, and a creosote/top-soil with some yeast on top... This was MacPhail's purchased fruit that Toulouse bought back. Nicely made. On the palate this is full-bodied, with strawberry rhubarb, raspberry, and spice, cherry cough syrup-but not heavy, a little brett, smokiness and oak influence on the back-end. A bit sweet, but it's acidic too. Nice fruit. A bit heady. Effected by the 2008 terroir-fire and all. Yet still, this is worth the entry price.
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7/2/2017 - summit_cellar Likes this wine:
Very smokey. Needs to breathe when opened.
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5/7/2016 - EstimatedEyes Likes this wine: 90 Points
Been working through some orphans in my cellar. Needed a bit of Pinot to deglaze some short ribs so I grabbed this, and then we drank the rest. Did not get any smoke, which was a bit of a disappointment but still this was surprisingly good. Musty nose, soft fruit with plum and cherry notes, mellow tannins and well balanced.
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5/11/2015 - beer_chris Likes this wine: 85 Points
Smoke still evident, but the barn/hay/wild elements have folded into that flavor. Intriguing, but the backbone has started to break apart. Nice fruit - plum, blackberry, some cherry, but disjoint in flavor. The honeyed flavor of Hungarian oak stands out, and is incredible. Still interesting, but in a down cycle or past peak. Drinking is the best part! Cheers!
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1/18/2015 - rajivp wrote: 90 Points
Drink soon.
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12/31/2014 - JoeSisal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking well, tannins in balance, earthy, great with pork.
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7/3/2014 - DrumSF Likes this wine: 90 Points
smoky
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4/13/2014 - JoeSisal Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice earthy body.
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3/23/2014 - enophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
I loved this wine. Atypical pinot, unusual nose, but if you like earthy reds, this is your wine. The nose reminded me of grass, hay, horses, something I find in european wines, not california. It was a perfect match to the cedar plank salmon I prepared. Highly recommended.
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1/27/2014 - SWoenophile wrote: 88 Points
Hint of barbecue resulting from the 2008 fires. Nicely balanced and well integrated.
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1/11/2014 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ruby color with blueberry, cherry, smoke, and spice aromas. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with blueberry cherry, and spice flavors. Medium finish
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10/20/2013 - chozajab4 wrote: 88 Points
I really liked the smokey aspect to the pinot.
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7/19/2013 - SWoenophile wrote: 84 Points
Fires of 2008 present in the lingering, smokey finish.
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6/2/2013 - pschultz wrote: 91 Points
Smoke and cherries with a good backbone of acidity. Delicious. Should age well. Sorry we only had one bottle. Went great with grilled copper river salmon.
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5/26/2013 - Riverrat47 wrote: 90 Points
We just tasted at the winery tasting room. Enjoyed the big fruit and the smokey taste was a pleasant added complexity.
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4/28/2013 - SaxSF wrote: 87 Points
Enjoyable. Smokey, spicy, dark berry
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4/19/2013 - joet626 wrote: 85 Points
Very barnyardy aroma. Not much fruit. tasted better than the smell but that is not saying much. Had this at the winery in 2011--this was nothing like that tasting.
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3/22/2013 - Not647f wrote: 89 Points
From the "wildfire" vintage, and indeed the wine tastes smoky. Bit of a one-off for the winery, but we really liked it and appreciated the price break on part-estate, part purchased grapes. In addition to the smoky notes, cherry, raspberry and currant flavors, medium finish, a smoky nose with the same fruit.
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12/29/2012 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 87 Points
Tasting in Anderson Valley; Goldeneye, Navarro, Toulose, Phillips Hill, and Zina Hyde Cunningham (Anderson Valley, CA): Ruby color with blueberry, cherry, smoke, and spice aromas. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with blueberry cherry, and spice flavors. Medium finish
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11/22/2012 - jlehrer wrote:
Smokey! Tasty! Not quite as good as their other Pinots, but tasty.
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7/8/2012 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 89 Points
Smokey, jammy blackberries, blueberries, cedar and asian spice. B+
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12/4/2011 - wormfarmer wrote: 90 Points
Strawberries and cream and smoke this time. A really great wine for the price. Can't wait to see the results from 2009. Ate with ginger-soy vinaigrette-laced chicken and it went happily along for the ride.
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6/22/2011 - Tudz Drkl wrote: 88 Points
smokey, bright sour cherry nose with hints of spice. The mouth was acidic and well balanced with bright fruit up front and, with air time, some richer darker fruits following. The tannins were soft and full and provided a solid structure to display this nicely balanced wine.
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5/23/2011 - wormfarmer wrote: 90 Points
For once the bottle's notes actually prove helpful: this somehow manages to be delicious while evoking nothing so much as strawberries and pickles. Medium-weight pinot, this is one of Toulouse's lowest-priced wines and yet one of my favorites. Pleased everyone at our table. (And Toulouse makes for a fantastic winery visit, incidentally, for anyone in the area).
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2/26/2011 - PVTerroir wrote: 90 Points
Decanted. Pretty nose of creamy cherry, nutmeg-spice, licorice, and a creosote/top-soil with some yeast on top... This was MacPhail's purchased fruit that Toulouse bought back. Nicely made. On the palate this is full-bodied, with strawberry rhubarb, raspberry, and spice, cherry cough syrup-but not heavy, a little brett, smokiness and oak influence on the back-end. A bit sweet, but it's acidic too. Nice fruit. A bit heady. Effected by the 2008 terroir-fire and all. Yet still, this is worth the entry price.
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