Considerably better than the prior bottles to the extent that I may even buy more. Raspberry, vanilla and cherry on the nose. Medium bodied and both smoother and more integrated than I remembered. Still mostly black cherry upfront, but now mixes in a good amount of brighter red cherry. Raspberry backed with wildberry as it enters the finish. Good blend of spices, vanilla (oak) and mineral notes on the finish. What has changed about this wine is with the improved balance and integration it has recaptured the elegance that I have always enjoyed with Black Kite pinots. These changed have allowed the inherent fruit complexities to shine through. When I opened this bottle, I expected to enjoy my final bottle, but didn't expect any surprises. What I got was a wine that had improved noticeably and has such future promise, I've very glad I have a line on where to get more.
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Raspberry, wildberry and earth on the nose. Medium bodied and quite smooth and integrated. All cool blackfruit, showing black cherry and wildberry upfront, backed with a bit of black raspberry. Excellent mineral and earth notes on the finish along with good structure. This wine is at or near peak and while it should last at this level, I don't see tremendous future evolution. Strengths of this wine are its cool, blackfruit based fruit, excellent balance and tannin based (rather than acidity based) structure.
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Pw/2 hour decant and 1 hr in glass. Mostly clear, med/deep purple/red. Wine drank a bit tight until well into the evening then opening with bigger nose and taste. Darker fruits and ripe but not over extracted. On the front end of the drinking window but seemed just a bit flat. Nothing off technically, $60.
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PnP. Clear, deep purple/ruby color. Nice big Pinot nose. Drank typical of producer and north coast. Med body, flavor intensity. Long finish, fairly crisp, not over extracted. Nice effort, nothing off. $61
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Popped & poured. Dark cherry fruit on the nose with a touch of sweet caramel. Intense dark cherry fruit on the palate with nice acidity. This is a big Pinot which is definitely Cali stylistically. Will be interesting to see how this develops.
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Purple-tinged dark red in color. A great nose that is very complex- black fruit, cedar and other savory notes. Palate offers red cherry, red and black berries and nice focused approach. Moderate tannins, delightful mouth feel and it lasts an impressive amount of time at the back end.
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Tasted at the 2013 New York Wine Experience Medium deep/intense color, no more purple at the edge. Fresh Pinot fruit on the nose. relatively sweet. On palate quite round. Not bad at this stage if its life.
Falltacular 2013 (FMIII in the OC): Don't add anymore oak to the program in future vintages. This is right on the boarder, they all are, where there's some coffee and vanilla elements on the nose and finish combined with cherry and strawberry flavors yet its not syrupy or over concentrated. Excellent wine.
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dark cherry nose and palate. nice mouthfeel with a hefty level on tannins. I feel it needs more time in the bottle. I'm sticking with my 08 and 09 vintages for now and will try again in a year or so.
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Tasted at the Balck Kite fall release event. Fantastic nose of chocolate and cherry. Wonderful complexity, with solid tannins and structure. Based on the other vintages offered at the tasting, this will drink wonderfully for at least the next seven years.
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4/2/2017 - lzelman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Drinking very well now
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2/12/2017 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle. Plum perfect.
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10/10/2016 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 92 Points
Still going strong. Drink up.
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11/14/2015 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Considerably better than the prior bottles to the extent that I may even buy more. Raspberry, vanilla and cherry on the nose. Medium bodied and both smoother and more integrated than I remembered. Still mostly black cherry upfront, but now mixes in a good amount of brighter red cherry. Raspberry backed with wildberry as it enters the finish. Good blend of spices, vanilla (oak) and mineral notes on the finish. What has changed about this wine is with the improved balance and integration it has recaptured the elegance that I have always enjoyed with Black Kite pinots. These changed have allowed the inherent fruit complexities to shine through. When I opened this bottle, I expected to enjoy my final bottle, but didn't expect any surprises. What I got was a wine that had improved noticeably and has such future promise, I've very glad I have a line on where to get more.
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4/19/2015 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Much better second time around. Strawberry and plum fruit. Nice spicy cinnamon notes with long finish.
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1/9/2015 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Raspberry, wildberry and earth on the nose. Medium bodied and quite smooth and integrated. All cool blackfruit, showing black cherry and wildberry upfront, backed with a bit of black raspberry. Excellent mineral and earth notes on the finish along with good structure. This wine is at or near peak and while it should last at this level, I don't see tremendous future evolution. Strengths of this wine are its cool, blackfruit based fruit, excellent balance and tannin based (rather than acidity based) structure.
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12/8/2014 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pw/2 hour decant and 1 hr in glass. Mostly clear, med/deep purple/red. Wine drank a bit tight until well into the evening then opening with bigger nose and taste. Darker fruits and ripe but not over extracted. On the front end of the drinking window but seemed just a bit flat. Nothing off technically, $60.
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10/6/2014 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Clear, deep purple/ruby color. Nice big Pinot nose. Drank typical of producer and north coast. Med body, flavor intensity. Long finish, fairly crisp, not over extracted. Nice effort, nothing off. $61
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8/29/2014 - Yamadori Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped & poured. Dark cherry fruit on the nose with a touch of sweet caramel. Intense dark cherry fruit on the palate with nice acidity. This is a big Pinot which is definitely Cali stylistically. Will be interesting to see how this develops.
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8/3/2014 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 90 Points
Balanced pinot with plenty of depth. Drinking well now.
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2/6/2014 - brianofthevine wrote: 88 Points
Red cherry and raspberry. Very short finish, not much on the back end. Hmmm.
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2/1/2014 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purple-tinged dark red in color. A great nose that is very complex- black fruit, cedar and other savory notes. Palate offers red cherry, red and black berries and nice focused approach. Moderate tannins, delightful mouth feel and it lasts an impressive amount of time at the back end.
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11/2/2013 - Bandreas wrote: 84 Points
Tasted at the 2013 New York Wine Experience
Medium deep/intense color, no more purple at the edge.
Fresh Pinot fruit on the nose. relatively sweet.
On palate quite round. Not bad at this stage if its life.
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10/24/2013 - lolo66 wrote: 89 Points
NY Wine Experience (Marriot Marquis): on the riper side of American pinot. strawberries, blackberries, balanced. okay acidity.
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6/7/2013 - jhieb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine. This seemed lighter than I remembered, but, still a great wine with a lot of interesting and delicate characteristics.
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2/17/2013 - brigcampbell wrote:
Falltacular 2013 (FMIII in the OC): Don't add anymore oak to the program in future vintages. This is right on the boarder, they all are, where there's some coffee and vanilla elements on the nose and finish combined with cherry and strawberry flavors yet its not syrupy or over concentrated. Excellent wine.
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11/24/2012 - rjrausch Likes this wine: 91 Points
dark cherry nose and palate. nice mouthfeel with a hefty level on tannins. I feel it needs more time in the bottle. I'm sticking with my 08 and 09 vintages for now and will try again in a year or so.
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11/3/2012 - jhieb wrote: 94 Points
Tasted at the Balck Kite fall release event. Fantastic nose of chocolate and cherry. Wonderful complexity, with solid tannins and structure. Based on the other vintages offered at the tasting, this will drink wonderfully for at least the next seven years.
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