We're migrants, spending part of the year in Hawaii and part in upstate New York. When on the Islands, we enjoy drinking Pinot because it's (surprisingly) cheaper here than back East. This is not the best we've had, but very appropriate to the climate. As many have said, a "summer wine." Not a brooding Pinot, but a light, fruity glass to drink with manchego and Brie (yes, you really can find cheese on the Islands) while sitting under our hanging bromeliad gardens. It's a great wine to serve to folks who do not usually drink wine. And at $17, a good value.
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Rich, lucious, jammy with lots of depth. What we have come to expect from this vineyard and this did not disppoint. We find it one of the best valuew in Santa Maria Valley Pinot.
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Last of 22 bottles from this vintage. Still showing really well with dark fruit notes. Wish I bought another case especially since I was very disappointed in the 2012 bottling.
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Notes of cherries and strawberries with licorice. Light bodied and a good summer wine with just enough noticeable acidity and a drop of citrus-pith bitterness.
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Didn't sense much on the nose, hints of raspberry maybe. I really didn't like this wine at first, but when we began our meal it paired with our chicken dish nicely. Decent QPR I guess.
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Translucent maroon color. Sweet herbal spicy nose. Initial cherry sweet tart and then floral notes and more spice and acidity. Short finish. Nice but not great.
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Really good nose for a Pinot at this level. Mushroom, sage and cherry. Relatively dark but not opaque color. The palate is somewhat less impressive, yet is balanced and pleasant. Medium acidity, black cherry and spice, a bit mineral bite (might be what R disliked), only a little tannin. The finish is short and has a touch of heat, lacking that peacock tail character in higher quality Pinots. Oak use is balanced. Many Pinots 2-3 times the price deliver less, though this doesn't have the depth or complexity of a top notch Pinot.
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Dark ruby purple; plush nose of blueberry and obvious pinot fruit, sexy spice, some dark cherry; plush mouthfeel, soft and inviting, larger scaled, lower acid, slight heat on finish is only negative so serve a little chilled; extremely good for the $$.
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88+ pts. Nice pinot for sure. Good nose, very ripe red fruits - cherry, strawberry, pepper, a bit of jolly rancher flavor in mid palate and finish, also a touch of oak. Nothing spectacular, but a solid pinot, nice with food or just chilled and drinking on its own.
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Nice simple California Pinot. Hint of spice and oak up front and finishes with lush red fruits, but not over the top. doesn't have as much cola flavor as prior vintages, nice wine for a reasonable price.
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Popped and poured through Vinturi. Nose: amazingly floral -- roses, hyacinths, stargazer lily. Translucent red, medium body. Palate: fresh cherry, plum. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may: by the second glass the floral nose was pretty much gone. In the second glass I thought this was pleasantly more tannic than I expected, and the flavor profile was cherry, apple and strawberry. I will buy again at Costco.
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This Wine drinks like a $30 bottle of Wine. It's light and right to drink. Light berry flavors, with a hint of oak. It's worth serving at Dinner Parties, and always a crowd favorite.
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Young and really needs more time but still enjoyable. Notes of Cherry and strawberry, with ceder showing in the mid pallet. Some tartness on the finish that I suspect will go away with some age. Similar in style and flavors as the 2006 and 2007 but with less earth and leather.
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3/31/2019 - Neecies Does not like this wine:
Surprised anyone kept one of these around, and this bottle doesn't speak well for the effort. More about vegetables than fruit at this point.
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1/8/2018 - Ernie’s wines wrote: 90 Points
Not my type of Pinot . To light . Good nose . Typical floral nose . Flat finish no layers to say .
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2/7/2016 - RobertVitello wrote: 87 Points
We're migrants, spending part of the year in Hawaii and part in upstate New York. When on the Islands, we enjoy drinking Pinot because it's (surprisingly) cheaper here than back East. This is not the best we've had, but very appropriate to the climate. As many have said, a "summer wine." Not a brooding Pinot, but a light, fruity glass to drink with manchego and Brie (yes, you really can find cheese on the Islands) while sitting under our hanging bromeliad gardens. It's a great wine to serve to folks who do not usually drink wine. And at $17, a good value.
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6/20/2015 - Luvtexwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rich, lucious, jammy with lots of depth. What we have come to expect from this vineyard and this did not disppoint. We find it one of the best valuew in Santa Maria Valley Pinot.
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5/30/2015 - ewisor wrote: 87 Points
Last of 22 bottles from this vintage. Still showing really well with dark fruit notes. Wish I bought another case especially since I was very disappointed in the 2012 bottling.
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8/10/2014 - Rojo wrote: 85 Points
Notes of cherries and strawberries with licorice. Light bodied and a good summer wine with just enough noticeable acidity and a drop of citrus-pith bitterness.
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8/10/2014 - CornDoggyDogg wrote: 90 Points
Very nice summer time pinot at a nice price.
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7/21/2014 - difran wrote: 84 Points
Earthy moss on the nose, red licorice palate, short finish light to medium bodied.
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5/2/2014 - Chelsley wrote: 87 Points
Little fruity for a Pinot. Cherry flavor. Not a lot of body. Ok for the price
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4/4/2014 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine: 86 Points
Didn't sense much on the nose, hints of raspberry maybe. I really didn't like this wine at first, but when we began our meal it paired with our chicken dish nicely. Decent QPR I guess.
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1/31/2014 - Gator96 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Mild win good flavor
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1/25/2014 - marcellevi wrote: 87 Points
Translucent maroon color. Sweet herbal spicy nose. Initial cherry sweet tart and then floral notes and more spice and acidity. Short finish. Nice but not great.
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12/7/2013 - JerryVikki wrote:
Vikki enjoyed this.
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12/4/2013 - flwinos wrote: 89 Points
Solid QPR for a pinot at $20.
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11/17/2013 - boogeyone Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fresh cherries, very pleasant, drinkable now. Worth the price but not memorable.
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9/28/2013 - Cabfrancophile wrote:
This fared well in the tasting. The nose is very typical for a coastal CA Pinot Noir and the palate is nicely weighted but not overly fruity.
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9/22/2013 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 87 Points
Really good nose for a Pinot at this level. Mushroom, sage and cherry. Relatively dark but not opaque color. The palate is somewhat less impressive, yet is balanced and pleasant. Medium acidity, black cherry and spice, a bit mineral bite (might be what R disliked), only a little tannin. The finish is short and has a touch of heat, lacking that peacock tail character in higher quality Pinots. Oak use is balanced. Many Pinots 2-3 times the price deliver less, though this doesn't have the depth or complexity of a top notch Pinot.
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9/17/2013 - ewisor wrote:
Delicious example of an entry-level Cali Pinot from the SMV. Very good QPR. Need to pick up 6-12 more.
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9/13/2013 - jrlamia wrote: 88 Points
Tart cherry flavors upon opening. Needed about an hour to soften.
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8/26/2013 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just goes from strength to strength. Loved it from first sip. Great balance and lovely black cherry fruit. Going pick up some more at $17 a pop.
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8/1/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark ruby purple; plush nose of blueberry and obvious pinot fruit, sexy spice, some dark cherry; plush mouthfeel, soft and inviting, larger scaled, lower acid, slight heat on finish is only negative so serve a little chilled; extremely good for the $$.
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8/1/2013 - drdecanto wrote: 90 Points
Lovely bottle. Current favorite for everyday consumption.
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7/24/2013 - Longpourplease wrote: 88 Points
Nice pinot for the money. Cherry and Strawberry. Didn't get the tannins that others noted. I will buy more for an everyday pinot.
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7/15/2013 - SonnyChiba wrote: 88 Points
88+ pts. Nice pinot for sure. Good nose, very ripe red fruits - cherry, strawberry, pepper, a bit of jolly rancher flavor in mid palate and finish, also a touch of oak. Nothing spectacular, but a solid pinot, nice with food or just chilled and drinking on its own.
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6/25/2013 - drdecanto wrote: 91 Points
Similar note to the last bottle.
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6/24/2013 - Vstalam wrote: 88 Points
Nice simple California Pinot. Hint of spice and oak up front and finishes with lush red fruits, but not over the top. doesn't have as much cola flavor as prior vintages, nice wine for a reasonable price.
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6/20/2013 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 91 Points
I like this way more than other tasters seem to. Lovely ripe cherry fruit. Acid in balance.
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5/24/2013 - KramerK1610 Likes this wine: 89 Points
overpriced at Bistro Alex, but enjoyed the bottle.
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4/20/2013 - MsDee Likes this wine: 89 Points
Popped and poured through Vinturi. Nose: amazingly floral -- roses, hyacinths, stargazer lily. Translucent red, medium body. Palate: fresh cherry, plum. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may: by the second glass the floral nose was pretty much gone. In the second glass I thought this was pleasantly more tannic than I expected, and the flavor profile was cherry, apple and strawberry. I will buy again at Costco.
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2/22/2013 - MProbst Likes this wine:
This Wine drinks like a $30 bottle of Wine. It's light and right to drink. Light berry flavors, with a hint of oak. It's worth serving at Dinner Parties, and always a crowd favorite.
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2/12/2013 - Bluecollar wrote: 89 Points
Young and really needs more time but still enjoyable. Notes of Cherry and strawberry, with ceder showing in the mid pallet. Some tartness on the finish that I suspect will go away with some age. Similar in style and flavors as the 2006 and 2007 but with less earth and leather.
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2/8/2013 - jasonbolton wrote:
a bit simple, with a bit tannic ending.
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1/29/2013 - Joemimi wrote:
Yum draft with Julia and pizza
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