A touch of alcohol on the finish (wine is showing its age) but still very tasty with our grilled Atlantic salmon and especially our fine, grilled salmon skin and grilled mushrooms. Drink now.
We had 1.5 cases and this was our last bottle. We will miss you, Alta Maria. Great QPR for $20 / bottle.
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Cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, spice, herbs. Tasty wine. Excellent with our grilled mushrooms and good with grilled salmon. Drink now into 2016+. Good qpr for $20 price
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Perfectly respectable pinot. Had following a much more expensive Sea Smoke, and it was comparable. A bit less fruit and spice on the nose, but only if you're really looking for it.
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This medium-to-deep ruby, well-priced Pinot offers nice aromas of black cherries, tree bark, clove and dried herbs. It is medium-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and medium-weight, somewhat edgy tannins. Listed as 14.3%, the wine's alcohol stays in check as long as the serving temperature remains in the 55-60°F range. The flavors are black fruit-dominated but unfortunately fade a bit on the middle palate. The wine concludes with a short-to-medium length finish. While certainly having many merits, this Pinot Noir suffers in the middle and on the back end. Drink now-2017.
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Darker ruby in the glass. There's prominent dried leaf, dried garden herb, smoke/ash, cherry rhubarb characteristics on the nose which are appealing and definitely display Santa Maria pinot typicity. Maybe a little bit of Bien Nacido in the mix..? Dark fruit on the palate with pencil lead shaving spice tones finishing firm and dry, also characteristic of it's place. Very enjoyable and much preferred over many of the larger competitors within the same price category. Wins points for personality and QPR.
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Solid Pinot. Not sure what other critics meant by a bit of earthy with the screaming ripe fruit. Tasted typical Santa Barbara Pinot, but not over the top jammy. If you lean toward the ripe style, you will like the Alta Maria.
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On pop and pour, I loved the nose which was full of cherry and exotic spice. The palate did not match up and was a little thin. With 30 minutes of air, this added body with cherry prevalent but sometimes bitter. I would give it an hour of air next time.
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This followed a traditionally styled nebbiolo, which may have been to its disservice, given my general preference, but it is what it is. Unmistakably Cali pinot before you even have a taste. Ruby color with a purplish tinge. Aromas of black cherry, plum, and violets. Pretty nose actually, if somewhat superficial. Kinda like a pretty prep school girl that has that valley/lack-of-substance vibe. Medium body & acid, and medium- finish, with plum, black cherry, oak spice, and a touch of alcohol. I'm not mad at this, and many will love it, but I'm glad I only grabbed 2. Pass for me if offered again. Great label though--love the debossing.
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This wine is a great value. An unctuously textured, velvety medium bodied wine that is just totally drinkable and delicious with notes of floral red fruit and some mild herb driven funky undertones. Definitely a new world pinot but not nearly as bombastic or sweet as many. This is a great buy and for some reason tasted to me like a lighter, less funky version of a rocks syrah from WA state. Great stuff, will buy more.
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Nice bouquet, good fruit with some acid; tasted at WL; best of 4 in tasting; at $24 not a bad deal; medium bodied; might try a bottle ; might be too fruity for drinking a bottle.
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This is a great value wine for the price. Costs $20 drinks like $40. Great nose, delicious fruit, similar tasting notes as the majority. Would/will buy again.
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P&P'd with a variety of left-overs for a late-night supper. Dark, violet color. Nose of strawberries, lavender, fresh cut grass, and some musty earth. Palate brings sour cherries, strawberry Jolly-Rancher, earthy raspberries, unspecified floral notes, garden herbs, and cinnamon and spice. The finish is balanced but short and simple. Overall, a pretty good QPR that should develop more complexity, hopefully on the tail. Drink 2015-2020.
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Aromas of rich plum, black cherries, some pepper and cranberry sauce elements. Juicy and ripe on the palate, with black cherry and tangy plum fruit. Fine tannins and crisp acid make this so pleasant to sip. Some pepper and black olive, too, and the toast is well-integrated. I was surprised to see this was a generic appellation blend, because it drinks like a fine single-vineyard Pinot. Great QPR.
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Such a solid $25 bottle of California Pinot Noir. Impeccably balanced with appealing fruit and floral aromatics and a well-matched supporting structure. Can't go wrong here. Very attractive package too.
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Nose is a wicker basket of fresh strawberries! Nice aromas of cedar, spice and strawberry/cherry. Deep ruby in color. Flavors of plum and cherry with lovely spice and herb notes. Good balance of oak and tannin and nice structure with a long finish. Evolves nicely on the palate. Tight but balanced acid.
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Alta Maria- Los Olivos tasting room visit 2/2/13: Briary brambly cherry and plum notes with spice. Rich and bright on the palate with full fruit and wild spice notes. Fine tannins and sharp acid along a medium finish.
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My second bottle of this and for some reason, the 2nd just didn't come across as the first did. Decanted for a few hours and felt it still needed more time for the fruit to shine. Tannins are present, but not overpowering. Slightly bitter/tart taste. Dark fuited, plum-like in taste with some spice there. A good wine, but nothing I'd back the truck up for here.
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The Red Whale California Pinot Tasting (The Jackson Arms): Quite powerful. Sweet strawberry and plum paired, tobacco. A bit goopy and brooding, reminding me of a 2007 CdR, but one feels that it just requires time. Tannins are a bit bitter--almost licorice-like. I liked this, but it's not overly pleasant. At $23, this is a lot of wine.
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Cinnamon spice on the nose with crushed strawberry and raspberry. Also, dark cherry and pomegranate and even purple fruit and basil. On the palate, spice framed red and black bramble berry fruit. Some tartness and heat on the finish, but will integrate in time as these always do. Purple plum skin on the finish.
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No tasting notes. Drank this wine over 3 days last week, very nice on days 2 & 3. Very earthy/leather/black cherry fruit on the nose and palate. I have limited experience with pinot, but this is not what I would call "typical" CA pinot. Tried this wine for the first time last year and loved it, this year is not quite as good as I remember the 2009 showing, but still enjoyed it. Will buy more.
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9/27/2016 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
A touch of alcohol on the finish (wine is showing its age) but still very tasty with our grilled Atlantic salmon and especially our fine, grilled salmon skin and grilled mushrooms. Drink now.
We had 1.5 cases and this was our last bottle. We will miss you, Alta Maria. Great QPR for $20 / bottle.
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4/29/2016 - jeffjohnsonjj@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
My last bottle and I will miss it. Solid QPR, a bit of a Pinot Syrah but I like it for that.
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9/29/2015 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Very similar to October 2014. Tart cranberry dominates. I think this will drink fine past the end of the drinking range (2015).
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5/31/2015 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Delicious wine with grilled salmon and mushrooms (From memory)
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5/31/2015 - TashNYC wrote:
cellar clean-up
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5/31/2015 - TashNYC wrote:
Cellar clean-up.
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5/28/2015 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, spice, herbs. Tasty wine. Excellent with our grilled mushrooms and good with grilled salmon. Drink now into 2016+. Good qpr for $20 price
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12/25/2014 - jsherdc wrote: 88 Points
Nice refreshing acidity but not enough fruit.
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10/10/2014 - Dr. Galazkiewicz wrote:
Perfectly respectable pinot. Had following a much more expensive Sea Smoke, and it was comparable. A bit less fruit and spice on the nose, but only if you're really looking for it.
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10/4/2014 - PSUSteve wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. The palate was full of cranberry with good acidity and some spice, cherry and a little black fruit.
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9/1/2014 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 86 Points
This medium-to-deep ruby, well-priced Pinot offers nice aromas of black cherries, tree bark, clove and dried herbs. It is medium-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and medium-weight, somewhat edgy tannins. Listed as 14.3%, the wine's alcohol stays in check as long as the serving temperature remains in the 55-60°F range. The flavors are black fruit-dominated but unfortunately fade a bit on the middle palate. The wine concludes with a short-to-medium length finish. While certainly having many merits, this Pinot Noir suffers in the middle and on the back end. Drink now-2017.
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8/9/2014 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Absolutely terrific. One of the most reliably authentic California Pinot Noirs you can find in the $20 neighborhood.
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7/29/2014 - flyinburrito wrote:
Darker ruby in the glass. There's prominent dried leaf, dried garden herb, smoke/ash, cherry rhubarb characteristics on the nose which are appealing and definitely display Santa Maria pinot typicity. Maybe a little bit of Bien Nacido in the mix..? Dark fruit on the palate with pencil lead shaving spice tones finishing firm and dry, also characteristic of it's place. Very enjoyable and much preferred over many of the larger competitors within the same price category. Wins points for personality and QPR.
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7/16/2014 - topher2411 wrote: 89 Points
Quite nice. Fruity and relatively simple, but shows pleasant Santa Maria character.
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6/13/2014 - Mjurgaitis wrote: 88 Points
Drinkable, but certainly nothing special. Wouldn't purchase again.
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5/30/2014 - Lipin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Pinot. Not sure what other critics meant by a bit of earthy with the screaming ripe fruit. Tasted typical Santa Barbara Pinot, but not over the top jammy. If you lean toward the ripe style, you will like the Alta Maria.
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5/2/2014 - pinotron wrote: 87 Points
P&P 86; 87 after 1 hr decant. Somewhat disappointed after Wine Library hype
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5/1/2014 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Good with a little air but might need some time to settle down and open (or maybe this bottle had bottle shock!)
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5/1/2014 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
On pop and pour, I loved the nose which was full of cherry and exotic spice. The palate did not match up and was a little thin. With 30 minutes of air, this added body with cherry prevalent but sometimes bitter. I would give it an hour of air next time.
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4/29/2014 - studleytrey wrote: 87 Points
This followed a traditionally styled nebbiolo, which may have been to its disservice, given my general preference, but it is what it is. Unmistakably Cali pinot before you even have a taste. Ruby color with a purplish tinge. Aromas of black cherry, plum, and violets. Pretty nose actually, if somewhat superficial. Kinda like a pretty prep school girl that has that valley/lack-of-substance vibe. Medium body & acid, and medium- finish, with plum, black cherry, oak spice, and a touch of alcohol. I'm not mad at this, and many will love it, but I'm glad I only grabbed 2. Pass for me if offered again. Great label though--love the debossing.
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4/28/2014 - junglejuice wrote: 91 Points
This wine is a great value. An unctuously textured, velvety medium bodied wine that is just totally drinkable and delicious with notes of floral red fruit and some mild herb driven funky undertones. Definitely a new world pinot but not nearly as bombastic or sweet as many. This is a great buy and for some reason tasted to me like a lighter, less funky version of a rocks syrah from WA state. Great stuff, will buy more.
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4/5/2014 - mwneil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice bouquet, good fruit with some acid; tasted at WL; best of 4 in tasting; at $24 not a bad deal; medium bodied; might try a bottle ; might be too fruity for drinking a bottle.
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3/14/2014 - Kdog wrote: 91 Points
This is a great value wine for the price. Costs $20 drinks like $40. Great nose, delicious fruit, similar tasting notes as the majority. Would/will buy again.
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1/22/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 89 Points
P&P'd with a variety of left-overs for a late-night supper. Dark, violet color. Nose of strawberries, lavender, fresh cut grass, and some musty earth. Palate brings sour cherries, strawberry Jolly-Rancher, earthy raspberries, unspecified floral notes, garden herbs, and cinnamon and spice. The finish is balanced but short and simple. Overall, a pretty good QPR that should develop more complexity, hopefully on the tail. Drink 2015-2020.
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10/31/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of rich plum, black cherries, some pepper and cranberry sauce elements. Juicy and ripe on the palate, with black cherry and tangy plum fruit. Fine tannins and crisp acid make this so pleasant to sip. Some pepper and black olive, too, and the toast is well-integrated. I was surprised to see this was a generic appellation blend, because it drinks like a fine single-vineyard Pinot. Great QPR.
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7/23/2013 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Such a solid $25 bottle of California Pinot Noir. Impeccably balanced with appealing fruit and floral aromatics and a well-matched supporting structure. Can't go wrong here. Very attractive package too.
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7/5/2013 - milliskins Likes this wine: 91 Points
No tasting notes, but quite a nice pinot noir that we enjoyed very much
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4/20/2013 - vegasoenophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose is a wicker basket of fresh strawberries! Nice aromas of cedar, spice and strawberry/cherry. Deep ruby in color. Flavors of plum and cherry with lovely spice and herb notes. Good balance of oak and tannin and nice structure with a long finish. Evolves nicely on the palate. Tight but balanced acid.
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4/18/2013 - yofog wrote: 86 Points
Nice enough, but a little clunky and a little too modern and hot.
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2/8/2013 - MattMauldin wrote: 89 Points
Alta Maria- Los Olivos tasting room visit 2/2/13: Briary brambly cherry and plum notes with spice. Rich and bright on the palate with full fruit and wild spice notes. Fine tannins and sharp acid along a medium finish.
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2/3/2013 - storysworld Likes this wine: 89 Points
My second bottle of this and for some reason, the 2nd just didn't come across as the first did. Decanted for a few hours and felt it still needed more time for the fruit to shine. Tannins are present, but not overpowering. Slightly bitter/tart taste. Dark fuited, plum-like in taste with some spice there. A good wine, but nothing I'd back the truck up for here.
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1/17/2013 - Bradford wrote: 88 Points
The Red Whale California Pinot Tasting (The Jackson Arms): Quite powerful. Sweet strawberry and plum paired, tobacco. A bit goopy and brooding, reminding me of a 2007 CdR, but one feels that it just requires time. Tannins are a bit bitter--almost licorice-like. I liked this, but it's not overly pleasant. At $23, this is a lot of wine.
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9/2/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 89 Points
Cinnamon spice on the nose with crushed strawberry and raspberry. Also, dark cherry and pomegranate and even purple fruit and basil. On the palate, spice framed red and black bramble berry fruit. Some tartness and heat on the finish, but will integrate in time as these always do. Purple plum skin on the finish.
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6/22/2012 - Srsnyder wrote:
No tasting notes. Drank this wine over 3 days last week, very nice on days 2 & 3. Very earthy/leather/black cherry fruit on the nose and palate. I have limited experience with pinot, but this is not what I would call "typical" CA pinot. Tried this wine for the first time last year and loved it, this year is not quite as good as I remember the 2009 showing, but still enjoyed it. Will buy more.
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