Still tasting great!! I agree with my tasting notes of the last year and a halfo, could be at peak. The cork was perfect after over a decade in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Dark ruby color with minor oxidation, clarity was medium. Aromas of pomegranate, cranberry, fresh fig, and black tea; flavors of black cherry, red fruit compote, rhubarb, glycerin, and forest floor with a medium to long finish. Popped and poured, this wine did benefit from additional air since the acids had been tamed and the flavors more integrated on day two. This age worthy wine has more years of life left, not fading yet. A very balanced flavorful Pinot Noir from Elsbree Vineyard in east Windsor of the Russian River Valley AVA. A great fruit source and a good winemaking effort from Ben Papapietro. My last bottle of this vintage remaining.
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Wow, even better than I remember !! This wine is really tasting great right now !! I agree with my tasting note of the nine months ago, could be at peak. The cork was perfect after over a decade in the bottle. I consumed this delicious Pinot Noir over two days. Dark ruby color with little to no oxidation, clarity was medium. Aromas of pomegranate, cranberry, fresh fig, and black tea; flavors of black cherry, red fruit compote, rhubarb, glycerin, and forest floor with a medium to long finish. Popped and poured, this wine did benefit from additional air since the acids had been tamed and the flavors more integrated on day two. This age worthy wine has more years of life left, not fading yet. A very balanced flavorful Pinot Noir from Elsbree Vineyard in east Windsor of the Russian River Valley AVA. A great fruit source and a good winemaking effort from Ben Papapietro. I still have a bottle of this vintage remaining; I may open it soon to verify my rating.
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Tasting really good right now !! A perfect cork after a decade in the bottle. Consumed over two days. This balanced wine showed more fresh fruit on the first day and on day it had softened with increased depth and integrated complexity. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of pomegranate and cranberry. Flavors of black cherry, raspberry, and black tea with a hint of forest floor. This Pinot Noir has a medium finish. A balanced and flavorful Pinot Noir from Elsbree Vineyard in the Russian River Valley appellation. This age worthy wine may have more life remaining. Great fruit selection and a great winemaking effort by Ben Papapietro.
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This has smoothed out. Subtle red raspberry fruit and cherry cola. Acidity is there but overall this lacks the verve that I was looking for. Good drinker.
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Cherry & raspberry fruit, with some cola. Ruby/garnet in color, not particularly rich in mouth feel. Didn't get much oak or acidity, but there was enough to have good structure in the finish. Pretty good with smoked chicken.
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Light purple in color. Nose of spice and cherry with some pine as well. Mouthfeel is light bodied with a moderate finish. Didn't get much complexity and while a nice wine not one that draws me back for more and more.
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Dry & astringent. I enjoyed this less than some of their other wines from the same day but still wonderful. Needs aging and though I am not a novice drinker, I had a hard time guessing what this will age into.
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Needs a little time to open up. Dark but transparent red in color. Fresh black raspberry notes with spice box intertwined. A long finish with herb garden and pine forest notes providing a very memorable and distinctive experience.
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Popped and let breathe in the glass for about 30 minutes. Probably needed a little more time than that to open up and show a little more fruit. No details as it was consumed last night among other bottles.
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Deep garnet with enticing aromas of black cherry and mushroom, which carry to the palate in layers of flavor, nuances of with wild cherry, forest floor, cardamon and exotic spices, with just a touch of cola . Long finish and a memorable pairing with a rich grilled rack of lamb. Great complexity and balance. Note to ckeilah's prior comment: your bottle must have been corked, unfortunately. Recommend picking up another.
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4/1/2022 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still tasting great!! I agree with my tasting notes of the last year and a halfo, could be at peak. The cork was perfect after over a decade in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Dark ruby color with minor oxidation, clarity was medium. Aromas of pomegranate, cranberry, fresh fig, and black tea; flavors of black cherry, red fruit compote, rhubarb, glycerin, and forest floor with a medium to long finish. Popped and poured, this wine did benefit from additional air since the acids had been tamed and the flavors more integrated on day two. This age worthy wine has more years of life left, not fading yet. A very balanced flavorful Pinot Noir from Elsbree Vineyard in east Windsor of the Russian River Valley AVA. A great fruit source and a good winemaking effort from Ben Papapietro. My last bottle of this vintage remaining.
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6/18/2021 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow, even better than I remember !! This wine is really tasting great right now !! I agree with my tasting note of the nine months ago, could be at peak. The cork was perfect after over a decade in the bottle. I consumed this delicious Pinot Noir over two days. Dark ruby color with little to no oxidation, clarity was medium. Aromas of pomegranate, cranberry, fresh fig, and black tea; flavors of black cherry, red fruit compote, rhubarb, glycerin, and forest floor with a medium to long finish. Popped and poured, this wine did benefit from additional air since the acids had been tamed and the flavors more integrated on day two. This age worthy wine has more years of life left, not fading yet. A very balanced flavorful Pinot Noir from Elsbree Vineyard in east Windsor of the Russian River Valley AVA. A great fruit source and a good winemaking effort from Ben Papapietro. I still have a bottle of this vintage remaining; I may open it soon to verify my rating.
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9/25/2020 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasting really good right now !! A perfect cork after a decade in the bottle. Consumed over two days. This balanced wine showed more fresh fruit on the first day and on day it had softened with increased depth and integrated complexity. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of pomegranate and cranberry. Flavors of black cherry, raspberry, and black tea with a hint of forest floor. This Pinot Noir has a medium finish. A balanced and flavorful Pinot Noir from Elsbree Vineyard in the Russian River Valley appellation. This age worthy wine may have more life remaining. Great fruit selection and a great winemaking effort by Ben Papapietro.
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4/16/2016 - jrobs7777 wrote:
This has smoothed out. Subtle red raspberry fruit and cherry cola. Acidity is there but overall this lacks the verve that I was looking for. Good drinker.
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8/17/2015 - underwds wrote: 90 Points
Cherry & raspberry fruit, with some cola. Ruby/garnet in color, not particularly rich in mouth feel. Didn't get much oak or acidity, but there was enough to have good structure in the finish. Pretty good with smoked chicken.
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2/20/2015 - VAD wrote: 89 Points
This wine was just ok for me. Light fruit and not a long finish. Seems to come up short for me.
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10/5/2013 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light and aperitif-like. Cherry and cola notes. very nice.
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5/26/2013 - Jbird73 wrote: 88 Points
Light purple in color. Nose of spice and cherry with some pine as well. Mouthfeel is light bodied with a moderate finish. Didn't get much complexity and while a nice wine not one that draws me back for more and more.
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2/20/2013 - gnr wrote: 90 Points
Very good but still needs to age. These wines are tremendous at 4+years.
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1/7/2013 - hellowine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dry & astringent. I enjoyed this less than some of their other wines from the same day but still wonderful. Needs aging and though I am not a novice drinker, I had a hard time guessing what this will age into.
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11/13/2012 - snaff wrote: 92 Points
Needs a little time to open up. Dark but transparent red in color. Fresh black raspberry notes with spice box intertwined. A long finish with herb garden and pine forest notes providing a very memorable and distinctive experience.
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11/4/2012 - flwinos Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and let breathe in the glass for about 30 minutes. Probably needed a little more time than that to open up and show a little more fruit. No details as it was consumed last night among other bottles.
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4/9/2012 - Snoman wrote: 91 Points
Deep garnet with enticing aromas of black cherry and mushroom, which carry to the palate in layers of flavor, nuances of with wild cherry, forest floor, cardamon and exotic spices, with just a touch of cola . Long finish and a memorable pairing with a rich grilled rack of lamb. Great complexity and balance. Note to ckeilah's prior comment: your bottle must have been corked, unfortunately. Recommend picking up another.
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1/15/2012 - ckeilah wrote: 81 Points
Decent, but not much to it. Cooked? Slightly corked? :-(
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