Very good aged pinot noir thar did not show any signs of its age. Dark fruit, cherries and some cola. This is a big wine for Oregon but it was well balanced. Higher alcohol but well integrated and not hot. Long finish. A really nice bottle. Paired with South African braai pork tenderloin and roasted shallot mashed potatoes.
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Meilleur après 2-3h d'ouverture. On note beaucoup de finesse, mais aussi une belle amplitude de saveur de gâteau forêt noir avec la cerise. Sans aspérités tanique très notable, le vin a une belle profondeur. Excellent.
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Beau pinot avec une robe évoluée sur la framboise ambrée. Vin délicat sans amertume du côté vert typique de ce cépage. Aromes de fumé et fruits rouges. Bel équilibre et à boire frais. Décanté 1h30.
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Seems to be in a good place right now. Aromatics were lacking a bit. Attractive fruit profile. More oak presence than I like, but not too overt. This could probably go for a few more years for the oak to integrate more fully - I think it has enough fruit to handle it.
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WoW! Super ensoleillée, le vin demeure fin et bien digeste. La texture est relativement dense (impression de mâche un peu) mais demeure quand même très digeste. Me rappelle un peu la texture d’une guimauve mais sans le sucre. Fruits rouges très présent, un peu de cola en finale, tomate séchée. Rien n’accroche. Meilleur le lendemain. RQP ****
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Blind, was sure it was California for the elegant sweet dark fruit and tomato leaf notes. Very interesting evolution from the dark monster it was three years ago. A favorite.
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With family at the Five Fusion restaurant in Bend. Similar notes as those from last August wth even a bit more depth and elegance. An excellent pinot noir.
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Much improvement since my tasting in July 2015 tasting. Good balance of minerality, acidity, and red-berry fruit, without excess ripeness. Some sulphur on the nose even after 2 hours of decanting.
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Poured and let open for an hour. First glass was still a little funky and tight. After that, it was very nice. Darker fruit on the front with an extended finish
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This is a beautiful Oregon Pinot, and to my palate one of the best of the 2012 vintage. Deep red color, majenta to red rim, very clear, good depth of color. The nose shows deep Pinot fruit essence, layers of depth, warmth; and yet it is difficult for me to pick out secondary tastes or influences other than Pinot. For me, this nose offers a deep and concentrated essence of Pinot Noir. The palate is a bit more expressive, but the core remains - a lovely and deep expression of Pinot, in a northwest style. Notes of berry, cherry, spice, ripeness, cleansing acidity, and Pinot, Pinot, Pinot. None of the harsh notes I have experienced with many of the Oregon 2012s. One of the wines of the vintage for me.
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Pinots, Carlisles & Imports at the Lake: Good quality juice. A bit denser than your typical Oregon pinot and if I was tasting blind I would've guessed RRV (a vintage thing in Oregon?). Dark cherry and plum were primary with a spice- and cocoa-infused finish. The acidity I come to expect from Oregon pinots seemed to balance the fruit some. I guess it was my favorite in the group of pinots, but I might have liked to see more burgundian character here.
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Dinner with friends in Ashland. PnP. Lively nose, and after 5 minutes of air, this became a beautiful pinot noir. Vibrant yet balanced. Cherries, other dark fruit and some minerals lurking in the background. May even improve, but why wait?
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Surprenant. Beaucoup plus intéressant que tout ce qui se fait normalement dans le nouveau monde. Vin complexe et riche en saveurs, petits fruits confits, herbes, et beaucoup d'épices; spécifiquement le poivre. Plus concentré et moins acide qu'un pinot de la Bourgogne. Très belle surprise mais pour une question de prix, il est dur d'aller vers l'Oregon versus la Bourgogne.
4/5
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Belle découverte, dégusté à l'aveugle on retrouve des notes de fruits confits, épices, menthe et une touche vegetale qui apporte une belle fraicheur. On peut apprécié une tres belle longueur, vraiment un beau vin
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Fantastic little Pinot Noir! Great balance of fruit and minerality, with an excellent 30-second finish that makes you want to get the next bottle ready. A nice surprise among the many over-rated Pinot's at a far higher price.
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This is not a PNP. Comes out very hot on the nose and palette. Almost tasted like Zin at first, then it shut down for about an hour or so where I got very worried. Then, after letting it brood for a couple hours, it started to taste like Pinot. RRV Pinot, but Pinot nonetheless. It softens with time, but I'm not sure I'm tasting enough acid to age.
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Deep ruby, heavily extracted and very succulent, this wine is packed with black cherries, bramble fruits, tobacco and spice. Medium-to-full-bodied, fresh and with nicely integrated alcohol (14.2%), it is dense in the middle and has tannins that are substantial yet supple in texture. Medium in length on the finish, this is a Pinot that is delicious but unusually ripe for the appellation. It will have many fans, but for me, this is not why I buy Pinot from Oregon. Drink now-2022.
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Shared this wine with some friends with cheee and frit before dinner. It went perfectly with the quince paste. Rich, round and full bodied for a pinot noir. One of my favorites
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Perhaps a bit over-rated by WS (93 pt. review, and top 100 of 2015), this is an excellent wine with a substantial structure that need a long decant to really strut its stuff. offers a palate of blue and dried red fruits with a long finish, punctuated by its substantial tannins and acidity. Tasty and a very good value.
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A little tight and earthy upon opening, but it really showed its depth and complexity in the glass. Plum and black fruit, full bodied with both sweetness and good acid. deserving of the WS rating. One of my favorite Oregon Pinots.
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BTG at Beast in Portland OR. Beautiful Oregon pinot with nose of cherry, date and fig and ever so slight pinot stink.
Fully integrated and lovely top-to-bottom.
if a date, this was a 25 year old grad student beauty who wants to learn, learn, learn before taking you home for fireworks playtime. Delicious Oregon pinot.
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It has been a year since I drank this and a year in cellar has really improved it. Nice and full bodied, it is a delight to drink. I cannot wait until next year!
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Being "Flighty" at the Wine Bar (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red color. Followed a 2oz pour over an hour. This came in at 14.2%, and was a hot mess so to speak, disjointed and green. The kind of green I'm not sure will resolve with time. There is some nice dry earth, loam, and red fruits on the nose, but the palate is where this falls apart; heat, cranberry, currants, green, darker fruit, woody. This one you're going to have to sit on and hope if you have it.
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Vibrant and dark aromas with smooth acid integrated. While there's that tartness there, this is definitely coming across quite a bit darker than the Brooks or Eyrie that preceded it. The palate entry is soft, but very darkly fruited despite the light body present. Smooth acid. Puckering acid on the finish. Tart but darker, pretty lean though. It's well balanced, but I just don't like the dark complexion. It tastes like Syrah but has the structure of a Pinot Noir.
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4/9/2023 - ivanhodge wrote: 94 Points
Bing!
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3/28/2023 - PrinceKyrris wrote: 93 Points
Very good aged pinot noir thar did not show any signs of its age. Dark fruit, cherries and some cola. This is a big wine for Oregon but it was well balanced. Higher alcohol but well integrated and not hot. Long finish. A really nice bottle. Paired with South African braai pork tenderloin and roasted shallot mashed potatoes.
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2/23/2023 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better with time, if still big for my tastes. 14.2%
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9/7/2021 - Vince_chip Likes this wine: 94 Points
Meilleur après 2-3h d'ouverture. On note beaucoup de finesse, mais aussi une belle amplitude de saveur de gâteau forêt noir avec la cerise. Sans aspérités tanique très notable, le vin a une belle profondeur. Excellent.
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7/23/2020 - dulcamara wrote: 92 Points
Yee-Hah. Ready to go.
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7/15/2020 - swim54low Likes this wine: 93 Points
A 2012 with this much huge, bold flavor was a very nice treat!
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7/4/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
DArk fruited with black cherry and soft tannins.
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1/18/2020 - flussier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beau pinot avec une robe évoluée sur la framboise ambrée. Vin délicat sans amertume du côté vert typique de ce cépage. Aromes de fumé et fruits rouges. Bel équilibre et à boire frais. Décanté 1h30.
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1/1/2020 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
very good again. Consistent notes. Nice dark fruits on this.
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8/23/2019 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Seems to be in a good place right now. Aromatics were lacking a bit. Attractive fruit profile. More oak presence than I like, but not too overt. This could probably go for a few more years for the oak to integrate more fully - I think it has enough fruit to handle it.
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1/25/2019 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine: 91 Points
In a great spot right now. Dark and sour cherry notes, eucalyptus, and tea leaves.
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12/22/2018 - Vince_chip Likes this wine: 92 Points
WoW! Super ensoleillée, le vin demeure fin et bien digeste. La texture est relativement dense (impression de mâche un peu) mais demeure quand même très digeste. Me rappelle un peu la texture d’une guimauve mais sans le sucre. Fruits rouges très présent, un peu de cola en finale, tomate séchée. Rien n’accroche. Meilleur le lendemain.
RQP ****
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11/20/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Blind, was sure it was California for the elegant sweet dark fruit and tomato leaf notes. Very interesting evolution from the dark monster it was three years ago. A favorite.
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9/24/2018 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
very good. Nice dark fruits on this.
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7/4/2018 - Snag One Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful wine with a nice finish and good structure.
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3/31/2018 - mhudes Likes this wine: 93 Points
With family at the Five Fusion restaurant in Bend. Similar notes as those from last August wth even a bit more depth and elegance. An excellent pinot noir.
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2/15/2018 - WineDrink Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth and elegant.
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1/28/2018 - nmichaud1 Likes this wine:
Idem à la dernière fois, très bon pinot de l’oregon!
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1/13/2018 - Slaz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much improvement since my tasting in July 2015 tasting. Good balance of minerality, acidity, and red-berry fruit, without excess ripeness. Some sulphur on the nose even after 2 hours of decanting.
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12/25/2017 - Bmathews Likes this wine:
Poured and let open for an hour. First glass was still a little funky and tight. After that, it was very nice. Darker fruit on the front with an extended finish
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11/30/2017 - Helenachuck Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a beautiful Oregon Pinot, and to my palate one of the best of the 2012 vintage. Deep red color, majenta to red rim, very clear, good depth of color. The nose shows deep Pinot fruit essence, layers of depth, warmth; and yet it is difficult for me to pick out secondary tastes or influences other than Pinot. For me, this nose offers a deep and concentrated essence of Pinot Noir. The palate is a bit more expressive, but the core remains - a lovely and deep expression of Pinot, in a northwest style. Notes of berry, cherry, spice, ripeness, cleansing acidity, and Pinot, Pinot, Pinot. None of the harsh notes I have experienced with many of the Oregon 2012s. One of the wines of the vintage for me.
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9/6/2017 - pgb67 wrote: 92 Points
Pinots, Carlisles & Imports at the Lake: Good quality juice. A bit denser than your typical Oregon pinot and if I was tasting blind I would've guessed RRV (a vintage thing in Oregon?). Dark cherry and plum were primary with a spice- and cocoa-infused finish. The acidity I come to expect from Oregon pinots seemed to balance the fruit some. I guess it was my favorite in the group of pinots, but I might have liked to see more burgundian character here.
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8/20/2017 - jstrovel@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice pinot. A bit of heat on the finish once it got closer to room temp but overall an excellent pinot.
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8/19/2017 - mhudes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dinner with friends in Ashland. PnP. Lively nose, and after 5 minutes of air, this became a beautiful pinot noir. Vibrant yet balanced. Cherries, other dark fruit and some minerals lurking in the background. May even improve, but why wait?
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2/1/2017 - roybivens Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has improved since last tasting in Feb 2016. More attractive and approachable. Smooth mouthfeel. Well done. Score [ 50 + 5 + 13 + 17 + 8 ] = 93.
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11/9/2016 - jkwoodward wrote: 94 Points
Post-election medicine. Tons or black fruit and earth. Super nice. Well done.
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10/2/2016 - jerbearjb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful round and rich Pinot with smooth mouthfeel and some nice complexity. Finished a bit hot as the bottle aired.
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9/3/2016 - Jean-Philippe M Likes this wine:
Surprenant. Beaucoup plus intéressant que tout ce qui se fait normalement dans le nouveau monde. Vin complexe et riche en saveurs, petits fruits confits, herbes, et beaucoup d'épices; spécifiquement le poivre. Plus concentré et moins acide qu'un pinot de la Bourgogne. Très belle surprise mais pour une question de prix, il est dur d'aller vers l'Oregon versus la Bourgogne.
4/5
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9/2/2016 - nmichaud1 wrote:
Belle découverte, dégusté à l'aveugle on retrouve des notes de fruits confits, épices, menthe et une touche vegetale qui apporte une belle fraicheur. On peut apprécié une tres belle longueur, vraiment un beau vin
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8/19/2016 - LXVETTE Likes this wine: 92 Points
Outstanding
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5/19/2016 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Much better on day 2. A bigger style than I prefer, but well executed. 14.2%
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2/6/2016 - roybivens Likes this wine:
Very good — could use some more time to develop in the bottle but still very enjoyable. Spice and luscious berry. Score [ 50 + 5 + 13 + 17 + 8 ] = 93.
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2/6/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic little Pinot Noir! Great balance of fruit and minerality, with an excellent 30-second finish that makes you want to get the next bottle ready. A nice surprise among the many over-rated Pinot's at a far higher price.
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2/1/2016 - Duderino Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the best Pinots I have had in a year.
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12/18/2015 - H2OMansLibrary Likes this wine: 87 Points
This is not a PNP. Comes out very hot on the nose and palette. Almost tasted like Zin at first, then it shut down for about an hour or so where I got very worried. Then, after letting it brood for a couple hours, it started to taste like Pinot. RRV Pinot, but Pinot nonetheless. It softens with time, but I'm not sure I'm tasting enough acid to age.
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12/7/2015 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby, heavily extracted and very succulent, this wine is packed with black cherries, bramble fruits, tobacco and spice. Medium-to-full-bodied, fresh and with nicely integrated alcohol (14.2%), it is dense in the middle and has tannins that are substantial yet supple in texture. Medium in length on the finish, this is a Pinot that is delicious but unusually ripe for the appellation. It will have many fans, but for me, this is not why I buy Pinot from Oregon. Drink now-2022.
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12/4/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Shared this wine with some friends with cheee and frit before dinner. It went perfectly with the quince paste. Rich, round and full bodied for a pinot noir. One of my favorites
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12/2/2015 - ewsds wrote: 91 Points
Perhaps a bit over-rated by WS (93 pt. review, and top 100 of 2015), this is an excellent wine with a substantial structure that need a long decant to really strut its stuff. offers a palate of blue and dried red fruits with a long finish, punctuated by its substantial tannins and acidity. Tasty and a very good value.
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11/27/2015 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super, with good acidity, amazing nose
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11/24/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
A little tight and earthy upon opening, but it really showed its depth and complexity in the glass. Plum and black fruit, full bodied with both sweetness and good acid. deserving of the WS rating. One of my favorite Oregon Pinots.
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11/18/2015 - Hrhdzivi wrote:
We let it breath for 5 hours, and it stomped the 8 other higher priced Oregon Pinots in a blind tasting.
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11/14/2015 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 91 Points
BTG at Beast in Portland OR. Beautiful Oregon pinot with nose of cherry, date and fig and ever so slight pinot stink.
Fully integrated and lovely top-to-bottom.
if a date, this was a 25 year old grad student beauty who wants to learn, learn, learn before taking you home for fireworks playtime.
Delicious Oregon pinot.
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10/6/2015 - LXVETTE wrote: 93 Points
Crisp cherry & strawberry, clean finish, excellent
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9/21/2015 - Neecies Likes this wine: 88 Points
Big and tannic. A bottle opened Friday and finished Sunday showed very little evolution. Will be great in a few years but it's rough-going now.
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7/16/2015 - Slaz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not a PNP at this age. Evolved considerably over night. Became significantly more interesting and complex after 1.5-2 hours. Good value for the price.
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5/17/2015 - wicho Likes this wine: 89 Points
It has been a year since I drank this and a year in cellar has really improved it. Nice and full bodied, it is a delight to drink. I cannot wait until next year!
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4/10/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 87 Points
Being "Flighty" at the Wine Bar (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red color. Followed a 2oz pour over an hour. This came in at 14.2%, and was a hot mess so to speak, disjointed and green. The kind of green I'm not sure will resolve with time. There is some nice dry earth, loam, and red fruits on the nose, but the palate is where this falls apart; heat, cranberry, currants, green, darker fruit, woody. This one you're going to have to sit on and hope if you have it.
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3/28/2015 - Russ P Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow, really developing excellent PN character. Evolved over the evening and very good next day.
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11/6/2014 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 85 Points
Vibrant and dark aromas with smooth acid integrated. While there's that tartness there, this is definitely coming across quite a bit darker than the Brooks or Eyrie that preceded it. The palate entry is soft, but very darkly fruited despite the light body present. Smooth acid. Puckering acid on the finish. Tart but darker, pretty lean though. It's well balanced, but I just don't like the dark complexion. It tastes like Syrah but has the structure of a Pinot Noir.
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8/19/2014 - ebohling Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still young. Bright, cherry-cola flavor...a bit hot still.
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