Light ruby color with some orange around the rim. The nose was packed with red fruit, cherry and raspberry, and a touch of aged funk that blew off quickly. This was light-bodied and silky on the palate with higher acidity to provide lift. Overall, this was a lovely, aged pinot with solid fruit and zippy acidity. One of the best $25 wines out there, especially for a 10 year old pinot. Well done, Ed Kurtzman.
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Opened not decanted. Dark cherry on the nose with floral notes with a hint of oatmeal(!). Dark saturated cherry on the entry; light to medium weight in body; noticeable heat; ends with semi dry spicy cherry finish. Good.
With air more plum on the nose and the heat is receding.
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A nice pinot at the BD price. Bright fruit, smooth tannins. Earth, cherry, some tart cranberry which resolved with air. Balanced acidity. Decent length on finish. Holding strong.
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Ripe strawberry and fruit forward. If you're a strawberry lover like me then you'll enjoy this wine. It's surprisingly clear,maybe filtered? Nice garnet sparkle.
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A finely balanced Pinot with nothing out of place. No need to ponder, just drink and enjoy. The bottle was so well received at the Rosh Hashonah table, that I never got a second glass.
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Cloudy garnetish-red. Raspberry, spice and earth nose. Medium bodied, strawberries, white pepper, earthy, slightly bitter tannins, leather, good acid, and a medium to long finish. More "other stuff" than fruit, but that's its charm.
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Still tastes as fresh as when it was released. Bright, smiling fruit; medium to light texture and palate; very well balanced with acid. Not a lot of complex layers, certainly not brooding. Just a delightful, beautifully made Pinot that doesn't want you to think about it.
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Light, translucent color in the glass. The nose was bursting with inviting cranberry and raspberry. Light weight on the palate, but so much flavor. A good hint of earthy flavors to balance the fruit, and a nice acidic component. I really enjoyed this.
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Probably the best pinot Ed makes. I feel like this fruit/vineyard is his sweet spot. His other wines are somewhat flat or over the top, but I feel like he really "gets" the Keefer and gets it right. Soft, elegant...reminiscent of a burgundy, but definitely new world CA with up front fruit and fruit-driven profile. Delicious and drinking nicely right now. No need to wait and probably not a long term ager.
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No formal notes taken, but this wine was incredibly light in the glass and HUGE on the nose and palate. So, so delicious. Big, sweet red fruit (not sugar sweet, but sweet fruit). A nice little zing of acid kept it from being overly goopy. I really like this style of wine, but it's certainly a style that isn't for everyone. I would drink this all day long, though.
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Ed Kurtzman Dinner (Luciana's, Dana Point, CA): Riper of the three vintages at this point but also the youngest. Red fruit / raspberry and sandalwood. I think someone used the term "slutty fruit".
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Ed Kurtzman Comes To Dinner (2015) (Luciana's In Dana Point (South OC)): Tasted next to the 10 and 11, FWIW. This is more like the 10 to me, than the 11. Whereas the 11 is juicier, this is more fruit centric and I got what I thought was a little heat in the aromatic. From my experience, this is what you won't find on the 11 vintage, and I continue to take a minority opinion, putting the 11 vintage ahead of 12. There is good acidity in this 12, floral and like the 12, more red fruit centric. Just a bit bigger than the 11, which I found to me the winner of the flight, with this 12 coming in second.
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Medium ruby color. Big on the nose with cherry and raspberry and asian spice along with a hint of vanilla and oak. Sweet red fruit flavors on the palate mixed with some toasty oak flavors and chocolate covered cherries on the back end. Smooth but a touch big on the mouthfeel with a warm finish. This was the least food friendly of the Sandler pinots I have had which worked out in this case since I drank it after dinner. Tasty but a bit simple.
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Excellent! Aromas of red cherry, roses and strawberry. Medium bodied with excellent balance. Medium finish with ample acidity. This was very nice as a sipper and with food. A re-buy. 91+
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I liked this a lot. On the scale of California Pinot Noir, this leans toward Burgundy rather than away from it. Clearly California, but the fruit that gives it away (cherry in this case) is a reminder rather than a punch in the face. Good stuff, and a bargain at $25.
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Watermelon colored center with pale pink rim. The bright nose displays bing cherry, floral notes, and earth. On the palate, there is a freshness that offers cherry, red raspberry, and talc. Tingly acidity is a feature of this light-bodied wine. A touch of alcoholic warmth peaks through initially but dissipates with air. Long finish with red fruit and refreshing acidity. My wife wanted something light and fun but good. This certainly fit the bill.
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I've yet to have a wine from Keefer Ranch that I've not enjoyed and this Sandler continues the trend. I love the delicate red berries that show from KR. Always a feminine wine from this vineyard.
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A bright, sweetish party-pinot. Good example for the style, certainly better made and a better value than most anything you would find at the supermarket, but not for me. I prefer earthier, more complex Pinot Noirs.
Ok, opened another bottle, didn't quite make it to fall like I had hoped. First night it was fine and enjoyable but not really a stand out. Second night, Wow, it was wonderful. Elegant with nice Pinot earth and that "Keefer Charm". Nice red fruits on the palate with a little minerality. This is just a baby, I have 3 more bottles and want to buy more for the long haul as this is one fine and restrained Cali Pinot that is very food friendly and will go for a long time in the cellar. Kudos Ed and the Keefer Ranch team
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It's early with this one but I think it's going to rock. This score is probably a bit conservative but I want to revisit in the fall. Lovely Keefer Ranch red fruits with plenty of lighter side of Pinot charm.
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Nice spice, cherry and ash tray on the nose. In the mouth, this is about fruit in a good way. Tangy acidity and notes of forest spice and sharp toast make this interesting and well balanced.
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Good value for $25. I drank this over 4 nights. Left the bottle on the counter with the cork. Day 1 - a clear glaze color. Tasty. When I drank this with duck, the wine became fuller. Some jam taste, but no fruit. Just the right mix. After 60 minutes this was smoothing out and opening up. A delightful wine. The last half glass was still more than drinkable on the 4th night. What's the world coming to when a $25 bottle can last several days.
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Popped and poured with penne & marinara sauce. Aroma is kind of a hybrid of red and black cherry. A slight hint of some vanilla/cola on the nose, but not much. Taste is pretty much pure cherry, with a good deal of acidity. I would think this could use a little more time to be ideal like next year. Still pretty enjoyable, but the acidity was a bit much
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Pop and pour and served with food (sausage and roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts, in case you were wondering). Color is a violet-purple. A little cloudy. Nose is spice and red fruits. There is some strawberries and wood notes. Nice flavor of crushed berries and citrus. There is good acidity in the core that gives this lift. Nicely balanced.
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Delicious, balanced and refined, classic pinot, with notes of red fruit, flowers, a little cola, menthol and forest floor. Lovely lip-smacking acids. Terrific value for $25.
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Falltacular 2014 (FMIII in the OC): Violet color. Sweet strawberry and light oak nose, very entertaining. Palate shows sandlewood and crushed red berries with a spicy backbone. Excellent balance and finish.
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12/22/2022 - Meerlust wrote: 90 Points
Light ruby color with some orange around the rim. The nose was packed with red fruit, cherry and raspberry, and a touch of aged funk that blew off quickly. This was light-bodied and silky on the palate with higher acidity to provide lift. Overall, this was a lovely, aged pinot with solid fruit and zippy acidity. One of the best $25 wines out there, especially for a 10 year old pinot. Well done, Ed Kurtzman.
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8/31/2021 - bg3034 wrote: 91 Points
PnP - still drinking fantastically.
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4/24/2021 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Dark cherry on the nose with floral notes with a hint of oatmeal(!). Dark saturated cherry on the entry; light to medium weight in body; noticeable heat; ends with semi dry spicy cherry finish. Good.
With air more plum on the nose and the heat is receding.
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9/10/2020 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice pinot at the BD price.
Bright fruit, smooth tannins.
Earth, cherry, some tart cranberry which resolved with air.
Balanced acidity. Decent length on finish. Holding strong.
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2/7/2020 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Fabulous bottle of wine. Still early in the drinking window but don’t wait too long.
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4/2/2019 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking so perfectly on a night of many American Pinot Noirs!
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4/11/2018 - TRENZ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popthecork and pour. Soft garnet red color. Medium tannin and flavors of blackberry. Flavors opened a bit more the next day.
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3/4/2018 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well right now! Beautiful Pinot!
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4/8/2017 - brigcampbell wrote:
Ripe strawberry and fruit forward. If you're a strawberry lover like me then you'll enjoy this wine. It's surprisingly clear,maybe filtered? Nice garnet sparkle.
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10/14/2016 - mdaniel wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful wine!
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10/3/2016 - Diane (LI) wrote:
A finely balanced Pinot with nothing out of place. No need to ponder, just drink and enjoy. The bottle was so well received at the Rosh Hashonah table, that I never got a second glass.
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7/5/2016 - merryberry Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cloudy garnetish-red. Raspberry, spice and earth nose. Medium bodied, strawberries, white pepper, earthy, slightly bitter tannins, leather, good acid, and a medium to long finish. More "other stuff" than fruit, but that's its charm.
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6/7/2016 - LesPaul Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still tastes as fresh as when it was released. Bright, smiling fruit; medium to light texture and palate; very well balanced with acid. Not a lot of complex layers, certainly not brooding. Just a delightful, beautifully made Pinot that doesn't want you to think about it.
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4/20/2016 - Quarked wrote: 92 Points
TD1836 below basically wrote my tasting note. I hate pre-plagiarism.
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10/2/2015 - td1836 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light, translucent color in the glass. The nose was bursting with inviting cranberry and raspberry. Light weight on the palate, but so much flavor. A good hint of earthy flavors to balance the fruit, and a nice acidic component. I really enjoyed this.
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10/2/2015 - wiscgrad wrote: flawed
Bummer. Very funky nose and no fruit in the palate.
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7/24/2015 - sellerscellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Probably the best pinot Ed makes. I feel like this fruit/vineyard is his sweet spot. His other wines are somewhat flat or over the top, but I feel like he really "gets" the Keefer and gets it right. Soft, elegant...reminiscent of a burgundy, but definitely new world CA with up front fruit and fruit-driven profile. Delicious and drinking nicely right now. No need to wait and probably not a long term ager.
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6/10/2015 - KyleMittskus wrote: 92 Points
No formal notes taken, but this wine was incredibly light in the glass and HUGE on the nose and palate. So, so delicious. Big, sweet red fruit (not sugar sweet, but sweet fruit). A nice little zing of acid kept it from being overly goopy. I really like this style of wine, but it's certainly a style that isn't for everyone. I would drink this all day long, though.
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5/3/2015 - brigcampbell wrote:
Ed Kurtzman Dinner (Luciana's, Dana Point, CA): Riper of the three vintages at this point but also the youngest. Red fruit / raspberry and sandalwood. I think someone used the term "slutty fruit".
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5/2/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Ed Kurtzman Comes To Dinner (2015) (Luciana's In Dana Point (South OC)): Tasted next to the 10 and 11, FWIW. This is more like the 10 to me, than the 11. Whereas the 11 is juicier, this is more fruit centric and I got what I thought was a little heat in the aromatic. From my experience, this is what you won't find on the 11 vintage, and I continue to take a minority opinion, putting the 11 vintage ahead of 12. There is good acidity in this 12, floral and like the 12, more red fruit centric. Just a bit bigger than the 11, which I found to me the winner of the flight, with this 12 coming in second.
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4/19/2015 - Rich S wrote: 89 Points
Medium ruby color. Big on the nose with cherry and raspberry and asian spice along with a hint of vanilla and oak. Sweet red fruit flavors on the palate mixed with some toasty oak flavors and chocolate covered cherries on the back end. Smooth but a touch big on the mouthfeel with a warm finish. This was the least food friendly of the Sandler pinots I have had which worked out in this case since I drank it after dinner. Tasty but a bit simple.
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3/5/2015 - Acohen Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice cherry with tartness on the midpalate that took a little time to settle in but had slight spice and cinnamon
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2/8/2015 - RDHudak wrote: 91 Points
Excellent! Aromas of red cherry, roses and strawberry. Medium bodied with excellent balance. Medium finish with ample acidity. This was very nice as a sipper and with food. A re-buy. 91+
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2/7/2015 - grayfont Likes this wine: 90 Points
I liked this a lot. On the scale of California Pinot Noir, this leans toward Burgundy rather than away from it. Clearly California, but the fruit that gives it away (cherry in this case) is a reminder rather than a punch in the face. Good stuff, and a bargain at $25.
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1/30/2015 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 89 Points
Very light color. Very drinkable with or without food.
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1/10/2015 - Meerlust wrote: 91 Points
Watermelon colored center with pale pink rim. The bright nose displays bing cherry, floral notes, and earth. On the palate, there is a freshness that offers cherry, red raspberry, and talc. Tingly acidity is a feature of this light-bodied wine. A touch of alcoholic warmth peaks through initially but dissipates with air. Long finish with red fruit and refreshing acidity. My wife wanted something light and fun but good. This certainly fit the bill.
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1/9/2015 - wirelesswine wrote: 89 Points
Not my favorite style, but can't deny the delicious factor here, it's a crowd pleasing style and well made.
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12/26/2014 - mdaniel wrote: 90 Points
I've yet to have a wine from Keefer Ranch that I've not enjoyed and this Sandler continues the trend. I love the delicate red berries that show from KR. Always a feminine wine from this vineyard.
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11/20/2014 - Biskuit wrote: 90 Points
Benefits from air.
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10/25/2014 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Delicious ripe red cherry and spice aromas and flavors with silly texture and smooth finish. Young but approachable!
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10/7/2014 - Ron Felthoven Likes this wine:
Fruit forward and very juicy. We really enjoyed this for the style, which is not typically in our wheelhouse
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9/24/2014 - Itriolo wrote:
A bright, sweetish party-pinot. Good example for the style, certainly better made and a better value than most anything you would find at the supermarket, but not for me. I prefer earthier, more complex Pinot Noirs.
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9/12/2014 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ok, opened another bottle, didn't quite make it to fall like I had hoped. First night it was fine and enjoyable but not really a stand out. Second night, Wow, it was wonderful. Elegant with nice Pinot earth and that "Keefer Charm". Nice red fruits on the palate with a little minerality. This is just a baby, I have 3 more bottles and want to buy more for the long haul as this is one fine and restrained Cali Pinot that is very food friendly and will go for a long time in the cellar. Kudos Ed and the Keefer Ranch team
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8/28/2014 - Biskuit Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite nice - improved night 2 - smoothed out the bit-too-tart cherry. I do think another year or two will help on this one.
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8/11/2014 - shaferguy91 wrote: 89 Points
No decant.
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8/1/2014 - arthrovine wrote:
underwhelming, likely due to baby fat. Disjointed flavors. Shallow mouth feel.
Based upon the reaction of others, I'm hiding my last bottle for years
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7/12/2014 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 91 Points
It's early with this one but I think it's going to rock. This score is probably a bit conservative but I want to revisit in the fall. Lovely Keefer Ranch red fruits with plenty of lighter side of Pinot charm.
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7/7/2014 - scott w Likes this wine:
baby fat...stay away for a few years...nice parts tho
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6/7/2014 - Tudz Drkl wrote: 89 Points
Nice spice, cherry and ash tray on the nose. In the mouth, this is about fruit in a good way. Tangy acidity and notes of forest spice and sharp toast make this interesting and well balanced.
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5/16/2014 - Grape_ape wrote:
good, but still a bit too primary for my tastes, should have waited a few years to shed some baby fat.
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5/1/2014 - dhammer53 wrote: 89 Points
Good value for $25. I drank this over 4 nights. Left the bottle on the counter with the cork. Day 1 - a clear glaze color. Tasty. When I drank this with duck, the wine became fuller. Some jam taste, but no fruit. Just the right mix. After 60 minutes this was smoothing out and opening up. A delightful wine. The last half glass was still more than drinkable on the 4th night. What's the world coming to when a $25 bottle can last several days.
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4/30/2014 - Wine Sparty wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured with penne & marinara sauce. Aroma is kind of a hybrid of red and black cherry. A slight hint of some vanilla/cola on the nose, but not much. Taste is pretty much pure cherry, with a good deal of acidity. I would think this could use a little more time to be ideal like next year. Still pretty enjoyable, but the acidity was a bit much
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4/28/2014 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour and served with food (sausage and roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts, in case you were wondering).
Color is a violet-purple. A little cloudy.
Nose is spice and red fruits. There is some strawberries and wood notes. Nice flavor of crushed berries and citrus. There is good acidity in the core that gives this lift. Nicely balanced.
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4/27/2014 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium bodied, good balance, red fruit, silky texture, a bit of earth and spice. A great value for the price.
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4/13/2014 - blakel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious, balanced and refined, classic pinot, with notes of red fruit, flowers, a little cola, menthol and forest floor. Lovely lip-smacking acids. Terrific value for $25.
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2/23/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Falltacular 2014 (FMIII in the OC): Violet color. Sweet strawberry and light oak nose, very entertaining. Palate shows sandlewood and crushed red berries with a spicy backbone. Excellent balance and finish.
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2/15/2014 - wineguy58 wrote: 90 Points
Hints of Strawberries. Paired well with food. Still young but good. 90+
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