Rather deeper and richer than many West Coast pinots, almost cab-like (not really, but depth of fruit and faint leather comparatively); strong dark-fruit flavors and lingering nose. Less cherry than peers I have had. Powerful, probably has life left but drinking superbly now. May be more dominating than you are used to, though I am inexperienced wrt higher-end pinot noirs.
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Awesome info on the label. Topography: coastal terrace three miles from Pacific. Climate: maritime, region 1 (coolest growing region < 2500 degree days). Viñard philosophy: sustainable viticulture. Growing season: March to October. Soil: rocky clay loams derived from volcanic and ocean floor parent material. Trellising: vertical shoot positioning. Elevation: 255 to 720 feet above sea level. Clones: Dijon, Pommard, Wadensville, The Martini, and Mt. Eden. Oak: 100% French 225 l barrels, 30% new, 70% neutral. Barrel aging: 11 mo.
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my second unimpressive bottle, a year after the first.
thought i'd re-try to see if i had a bad bottle or my palate was having a bad day but no such luck.
big ripe red fruit on opening. rich black cherry, pomegranate, and cola, but after an hour all the positive fruit aromas faded. what was left was black tea, bitter spice, and boring oak. the Abv. also reared its ugly head with some aggressive heat.
perhaps my store got a bad case, but i will not be returning to this PN with so much competition at the ~$20 price point.
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One sip of this and I'm thinking that I need to go back to the beautiful Laetitia winery to get more of this Pinot. Medium bodied with cherry, earth, cola, and smoke flavors. I'm happy to report that this probably has 0% Syrah.
Nose of lavender. Fresh cherry and strawberry. Sandalwood spice, with garrigue and sweet amaretto finish. Not quite dry enough. However, I dont think you can find cali pinot noir this good at this price. Points for QPR.
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Light ruby in color with aromas of cherry, tobacco, vanilla and cinnamon. Palate - dry, light to medium body, medium acidity with flavors of cherry, sweet cranberry, chocolate and leather. Short finish. Pleasant Pinot that we paired with a baked chicken and rice dish.
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what do you want for a $10 pinot? Not bad, but not for drinking on it's own. Upon opening nose is vegetal, but after an hour opens up. Retains something of a metallic characteristic on the front palate which was a little weird. Okay fruit, nothing special. Would make a fine 3rd bottle of the evening.
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Brilliant translucent ruby red. Medium bodied. Nose of sweet cherries and an appealing hint of dusty briar patch. Satisfying plush fruit flavors on the palate with a round disposition and silky tannic structure. Totally legit California Pinot Noir. Very very good.
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Nice typicity, offers some real PN experience for a low tag. On the ripe-ish side with some plum, ripe strawberry, black pepper, though ultimately cool and fresh in personality. They've done a nice job, here.
not ready. alot of promise but a little under ripe and hot. i paid $20. i think it will develop in to something totally worth that price point but in my case it wasn't there yet. good structure with typical red fruit upfront with a little minerality. more savory earthy midpalate, but this finishes too tart and spicy. Later Reviewers please let me know how it develops
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Medium red and very aromatic, all pinot not much oak. In the mouth the body and flavor are in balance and not over extracted, lovely. This is a classic pinot, well balanced, bright flavors, not overdone and a real value.
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Strawberries, cherries, and a splash of cranberry with nuances of baking spice on the nose. Very light, cranberries and spice with clove, good acid. Cola with hints of cherry and vanilla on the finish. Nice nose, ok palate, good finish.
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Big fan of the 2011 so this was a must buy to see if this vintage was inline. Excellent wine and probably the best sub $20 Pinot I've tasted. Great complexity and balance with a palate of strawberry and rhubarb. Medium finish. This will be the house Pinot and you can purchase it from Ralph's grocery store, surprise.
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Strangely thin. Mouthfeel is pleasantly velvety, but acid is low and there's a slathering of sweet oak overpowering what subtle cherry/raspberry/red peppercorn flavors are present. It feels light and smoothed out to the point of nonexistence. It did perk up a bit paired with spicy food, which brought out a more toasty, peppery character.
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6/24/2016 - davidrmoran Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rather deeper and richer than many West Coast pinots, almost cab-like (not really, but depth of fruit and faint leather comparatively); strong dark-fruit flavors and lingering nose. Less cherry than peers I have had. Powerful, probably has life left but drinking superbly now. May be more dominating than you are used to, though I am inexperienced wrt higher-end pinot noirs.
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6/15/2016 - Ombibulous wrote:
Awesome info on the label. Topography: coastal terrace three miles from Pacific. Climate: maritime, region 1 (coolest growing region < 2500 degree days). Viñard philosophy: sustainable viticulture. Growing season: March to October. Soil: rocky clay loams derived from volcanic and ocean floor parent material. Trellising: vertical shoot positioning. Elevation: 255 to 720 feet above sea level. Clones: Dijon, Pommard, Wadensville, The Martini, and Mt. Eden. Oak: 100% French 225 l barrels, 30% new, 70% neutral. Barrel aging: 11 mo.
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10/6/2015 - wdlohr wrote: 89 Points
This is a very nice wine for the price and features dried cherries, flush ripe aromas and dried bacon and cola flavors.
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8/14/2015 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Pinot from Santa Maria. Very approachable right out of the bottle. Would buy again.
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7/24/2015 - Merky_Waters wrote: 86 Points
my second unimpressive bottle, a year after the first.
thought i'd re-try to see if i had a bad bottle or my palate was having a bad day but no such luck.
big ripe red fruit on opening. rich black cherry, pomegranate, and cola, but after an hour all the positive fruit aromas faded. what was left was black tea, bitter spice, and boring oak. the Abv. also reared its ugly head with some aggressive heat.
perhaps my store got a bad case, but i will not be returning to this PN with so much competition at the ~$20 price point.
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7/23/2015 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 91 Points
Strawberries and other red fruit on the nose and palate. Medium bodied (about right for a Pinot).
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6/26/2015 - JuliannaD Likes this wine: 89 Points
One sip of this and I'm thinking that I need to go back to the beautiful Laetitia winery to get more of this Pinot. Medium bodied with cherry, earth, cola, and smoke flavors. I'm happy to report that this probably has 0% Syrah.
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6/26/2015 - MacManifest Likes this wine: 89 Points
A great Pinot. Good for drinking. Just a nice causal wine. Not A wine but a great B+. Drink and enjoy.
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5/30/2015 - kylerogers wrote: 90 Points
Nose: deep smokey black cherries, cola, with a light earthy/vegetal character that's in the range I find appealing, sassafras (according to Chrissi)
Palate: Cherry cola, root, leather.
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5/19/2015 - pupaes Likes this wine: 90 Points
air at least 2 hrs. cherry, spice, medium finish. lots of good values in cali pinot noir. one to buy again.
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4/19/2015 - edog77 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of lavender. Fresh cherry and strawberry. Sandalwood spice, with garrigue and sweet amaretto finish. Not quite dry enough. However, I dont think you can find cali pinot noir this good at this price. Points for QPR.
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3/5/2015 - Double D wrote: 90 Points
Nice pinot for dinner time, nice fruit and balance with medium body, both red and black fruits seem present....nice QPR
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2/17/2015 - khau0511 wrote: 95 Points
Relish as always.
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2/8/2015 - penn wrote:
Diver scallops over pea puree, pork belly over cinammon flavored blook orange
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2/6/2015 - Woodbridge Brad wrote: 87 Points
Still a solid lighter Pinot Noir that is affordable. Hits all the bases better than wines twice to three times as much as much.
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1/4/2015 - TWDummy Likes this wine: 88 Points
Light ruby in color with aromas of cherry, tobacco, vanilla and cinnamon.
Palate - dry, light to medium body, medium acidity with flavors of cherry, sweet cranberry, chocolate and leather. Short finish. Pleasant Pinot that we paired with a baked chicken and rice dish.
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12/25/2014 - CAP wrote: 86 Points
what do you want for a $10 pinot? Not bad, but not for drinking on it's own. Upon opening nose is vegetal, but after an hour opens up. Retains something of a metallic characteristic on the front palate which was a little weird. Okay fruit, nothing special. Would make a fine 3rd bottle of the evening.
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12/7/2014 - ddahl wrote: 84 Points
Needs more time. Solid flavor and fruit.
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11/2/2014 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Brilliant translucent ruby red. Medium bodied. Nose of sweet cherries and an appealing hint of dusty briar patch. Satisfying plush fruit flavors on the palate with a round disposition and silky tannic structure. Totally legit California Pinot Noir. Very very good.
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9/14/2014 - yofog wrote:
Nice typicity, offers some real PN experience for a low tag. On the ripe-ish side with some plum, ripe strawberry, black pepper, though ultimately cool and fresh in personality. They've done a nice job, here.
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7/7/2014 - Captschmitty wrote: 88 Points
Okay
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7/5/2014 - Merky_Waters wrote:
not ready. alot of promise but a little under ripe and hot. i paid $20. i think it will develop in to something totally worth that price point but in my case it wasn't there yet. good structure with typical red fruit upfront with a little minerality. more savory earthy midpalate, but this finishes too tart and spicy.
Later Reviewers please let me know how it develops
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6/21/2014 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium red and very aromatic, all pinot not much oak. In the mouth the body and flavor are in balance and not over extracted, lovely. This is a classic pinot, well balanced, bright flavors, not overdone and a real value.
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4/13/2014 - majjaz wrote: 78 Points
Light nose, some petrol. Medium finish with some bitter notes. Not as much fruit as I usually like in a Pinot.
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4/12/2014 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 85 Points
Strawberries, cherries, and a splash of cranberry with nuances of baking spice on the nose. Very light, cranberries and spice with clove, good acid. Cola with hints of cherry and vanilla on the finish. Nice nose, ok palate, good finish.
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3/24/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Big fan of the 2011 so this was a must buy to see if this vintage was inline. Excellent wine and probably the best sub $20 Pinot I've tasted. Great complexity and balance with a palate of strawberry and rhubarb. Medium finish. This will be the house Pinot and you can purchase it from Ralph's grocery store, surprise.
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2/28/2014 - professordoktor Does not like this wine:
Strangely thin. Mouthfeel is pleasantly velvety, but acid is low and there's a slathering of sweet oak overpowering what subtle cherry/raspberry/red peppercorn flavors are present. It feels light and smoothed out to the point of nonexistence. It did perk up a bit paired with spicy food, which brought out a more toasty, peppery character.
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8/19/2013 - kevjenw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good. Typical Pinot cherry fruit (though lite) mixed with black pepper spice and med-high acid. Buy again: Yes
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