A memorable bottle. Last of six and in great shape (there has been some bottle variation). This is one of those rare California wines that speaks with a distinct French accent, like the top wines of Tablas Creek, which also age so gracefully.
Dark translucent red without bricking. Lovely tertiary flavors and complexity, not typical of young vines. Aromas of griottes, a delicate oak frame of faint vanilla, whiffs of roses and spicy cola, very French Burgundian. The palate is complex and deliciously haunting. Great farming and winemaking.
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Has slipped past its prime window, at least this bottle. It is healthy but lacks tertiary elements of appeal. Leather, prune, cinnamon, old roses and some dried cherry, smooth tannin, but lacking in acidity and linearity, tastes decent but somewhat blowsy and hollowed out.
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This has definitely reached full maturity at 11-1/2 years. No longer the muscular wine it had once been; instead more nuanced, but still elegant. Cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and plums are now stewed, chewy, and dried; black tea has transitioned to sweet tea; charred earthiness is now more red earth and cherry cola; and the big, muscular structure is still “beefy” but far from being taunt, lean, and powerful Lots of complexity, balance, and intensity with a strong finish. I’ve enjoyed a number of the William Wesley bottlings at between 8 and 11+ years and all have been excellent. Tonight I enjoyed this with roasted chicken, but the younger vintages will stand up to grilled fish, game and meats.
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Really nice Pinot. Have never been disappointed by Emeritus. This is aging beautifully, and has not reached its peak. Initially edgy out of the bottle, after a mere 15 minutes it was a dream. Smooth, silky, tannins, with plenty of body left. Nice red berry tone with a hint of earthiness.
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Had this over three nights, really opened up day 2 & 3. Richer, full-bodied mix of red cherry fruits and meatiness, along with a cola and some spice. Tannins are subtle due to age and slightly browning in color but still a very enjoyable, elegant pinot. My thought is it has another solid year, after that hard to tell.
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Tannins are softening, color is just starting to turn but aging beautifully with complexity, gaminess, dark red juicy fruit, slight acidity and soft spice.
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Still vibrant and rich since my last bottle two plus years ago. A bigger style Pinot Noir, crimson red with translucent edges and long, slow legs in the glass. Distinct raspberry, plum, strawberry, black tea, and spicy cola flavors on both the nose and palate. Smooth, elegant, and very well balanced. Excellent with grilled, cedar plank salmon. Upper echelon CA Pinot.
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Intriguing Burgundian Pinot Noir with true Burgundian nose and, well, a delicious, brash Californian palate. Bottle bouquet is starting to peak, balancing complex, cool-climate gamey fruit, warm cherries, and roses. The mouth feel is spicy, a bit thick and brambly for PN, but in character with its Sonoma origins. The finish is energizing and cheerful but not silky smooth in the manner of NZ PN, medium plus in length. The stressed vines of William Wesley vineyard, rather young in 2007, will continue to improve with successive vintages. The 2010 is a real blockbuster.
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Very dark ruby color. Good balance and robust fruit with good acidity. What worries me is the lack of Pinot taste profile. With the color and the taste profile I suspect some petit sirah in the mix, but the credit of people involved make me think that I am wrong and the wine is simply evolving as the bottles I have tasted from another batch in the past were nowhere close to this last bottle.
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Ruby red color. Nose of cool cherry and raspberry, faint green herbs. Very nice texture punctuated by grippy ripe fruit and light tannins. Finishes medium long. Ought to hold for a few more years.
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Agree with bits/pieces of other reviews. Found it tannic and in need of a good hour to show its stuff. Bright red fruit, candy very nice after opening. Short finish. For me, paled to the WesMar Balleto consumed right before.
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Needed an hour plus to smooth out but still quite tannic. More dark fruit, some earthiness and a little funk on the nose. Kind of a broodiness about it. Wondering how it will taste tomorrow.
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Great strawberry and mixed red and black berry fruit on the nose. Subtle spice and some flowers. It's lush and pretty. On the palate, it's deep and rich. Very tasty. Has good depth and concentration of blackberry, wild berry, mineral, sage and some dusty nuances.
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Best California Pinot Noir in years. Decanted and aired and waited. At the two hour mark the wine started to bloom with red and blue fruits, dried rose petals, cranberry, mild forest floor and mushroom. Tannins are firm, not silky, no trace of strawberry or cola or tea or other typical PN descriptors. Closer to a Cote d'Or Burgundy than most new world PN. Long, lingering finish of fruit and minerality. Five bottles left, wish I had more.
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Dark ruby but still transparent. Nice bouquet with aromas of cherry fruit. Full bodied and focused taste with long length. Tad low on acidity for my liking. Finish is pleasant but there is a tone of bitterness there that I cannot place it. In a ripe vintage like 2007 it cannot be the fruit. The second night, it was not there. It is well-balanced and stood to hardy food without loosing its composure! Over all, a bit under performer for the price, but still very good wine.
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Sticking with my 93 rating 2 years ago of this wine. I agree with the post that this is a muscular Pinot. Great structure. Experimented by paring this with a lobster/shrimp pasta dish with homemade lobster sauce. It complemented the food very nicely.
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This is a muscular Pinot Noir showing plenty of dark fruits. Fresh and lively, nose shows black raspberry and bing cherry with a slight touch of vanilla. Needs some time in the glass for the tannins to settle down. Tannic structure is noticeable, but given the full boded nature of the wine and the wonderful fruit, they integrate nicely. A fuller, weighter Pinot, this would go well with a variety of foods to include beef prepared in a lighter style, roasted chicken with gravy, turkey, or heavier fish such as salmon or sea trout. Enjoyed with fresh grilled salmon on June 30, 2011. Ends with a very nice long finish. A memorable Pinot Noir.
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Enjoyed immensely with a group of business colleagues at the Dallas Fish Market. Fresh, crisp but plush, rich and very deep cherry. Extremely thumbs up.
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Decanted for about 2 hours drank with steak. Very nice, smooth mid pallet a little touch of heat on the finish but over all a very pleasant cali pinot! This is pure california new world. I was hoping for some funk but nothing there. QPR at $50 I have had better for cheaper but it is a very solid wine 90+
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Drank this along side the Siduri Cargasacchi 05 and a Lynmar 04. Although this wine is young it was the star of the three. I cannot wait to see how this wine ages over the next couple of years.
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Decided to go ahead have a bottle...very nice. This wine is still young and will age nicely, but it is drinking well right now. Decanted for about an hour, nice nose with a hint of bell pepper. Nice earth notes. I will hold this for a couple of years before I drink anymore.
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7/5/2020 - wilypod Likes this wine: 93 Points
A memorable bottle. Last of six and in great shape (there has been some bottle variation). This is one of those rare California wines that speaks with a distinct French accent, like the top wines of Tablas Creek, which also age so gracefully.
Dark translucent red without bricking. Lovely tertiary flavors and complexity, not typical of young vines. Aromas of griottes, a delicate oak frame of faint vanilla, whiffs of roses and spicy cola, very French Burgundian. The palate is complex and deliciously haunting. Great farming and winemaking.
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10/15/2019 - wilypod wrote:
Has slipped past its prime window, at least this bottle. It is healthy but lacks tertiary elements of appeal. Leather, prune, cinnamon, old roses and some dried cherry, smooth tannin, but lacking in acidity and linearity, tastes decent but somewhat blowsy and hollowed out.
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5/3/2019 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
This has definitely reached full maturity at 11-1/2 years. No longer the muscular wine it had once been; instead more nuanced, but still elegant. Cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and plums are now stewed, chewy, and dried; black tea has transitioned to sweet tea; charred earthiness is now more red earth and cherry cola; and the big, muscular structure is still “beefy” but far from being taunt, lean, and powerful Lots of complexity, balance, and intensity with a strong finish. I’ve enjoyed a number of the William Wesley bottlings at between 8 and 11+ years and all have been excellent. Tonight I enjoyed this with roasted chicken, but the younger vintages will stand up to grilled fish, game and meats.
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12/25/2017 - D.Callahan wrote:
This wine was very good up through 2011 but has fallen by the wayside by now. No interest and slightly off putting.
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4/2/2017 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
This wine has really come into its own. Well balanced between fruit and structure. Thick berries and cherries give way to earth and leather.
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3/18/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Continues to be an excellent wine - aging nicely. Earthy green notes with hints of dark fruit.
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1/10/2016 - mlawren1 wrote: 90 Points
Very floral wine with soft cherries and berries. Finishes with a zing of acid.
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12/23/2015 - Winiac wrote: 89 Points
Very ripe and sweet fruit. A bit prominent oak.
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12/19/2015 - mlawren1 wrote: 91 Points
Nice berries and cherries with a smooth finish
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12/13/2015 - mlawren1 wrote: 88 Points
cherries with s bit of bitter finish.
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11/27/2015 - WinePT wrote: 90 Points
Nice nose. A smooth Pinot. Wish I would've taken notes while drinking it.
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9/21/2014 - bluedog Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice Pinot. Have never been disappointed by Emeritus. This is aging beautifully, and has not reached its peak. Initially edgy out of the bottle, after a mere 15 minutes it was a dream. Smooth, silky, tannins, with plenty of body left. Nice red berry tone with a hint of earthiness.
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5/5/2014 - TLR wrote: 92 Points
solid, smoky, with underlying red fruit, cali pinot that just is plain enjoyable. drinking great now but a good 3 years left.
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4/16/2014 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this over three nights, really opened up day 2 & 3. Richer, full-bodied mix of red cherry fruits and meatiness, along with a cola and some spice. Tannins are subtle due to age and slightly browning in color but still a very enjoyable, elegant pinot. My thought is it has another solid year, after that hard to tell.
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2/4/2014 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tannins are softening, color is just starting to turn but aging beautifully with complexity, gaminess, dark red juicy fruit, slight acidity and soft spice.
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8/24/2013 - wmccone54 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still vibrant and rich since my last bottle two plus years ago. A bigger style Pinot Noir, crimson red with translucent edges and long, slow legs in the glass. Distinct raspberry, plum, strawberry, black tea, and spicy cola flavors on both the nose and palate. Smooth, elegant, and very well balanced. Excellent with grilled, cedar plank salmon. Upper echelon CA Pinot.
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6/28/2013 - cns Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beefy California Pinot. Great fruit, balance, acidity. Definitely california style. Will work well with a muscular dish ...
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6/14/2013 - wilypod Likes this wine: 92 Points
Intriguing Burgundian Pinot Noir with true Burgundian nose and, well, a delicious, brash Californian palate. Bottle bouquet is starting to peak, balancing complex, cool-climate gamey fruit, warm cherries, and roses. The mouth feel is spicy, a bit thick and brambly for PN, but in character with its Sonoma origins. The finish is energizing and cheerful but not silky smooth in the manner of NZ PN, medium plus in length. The stressed vines of William Wesley vineyard, rather young in 2007, will continue to improve with successive vintages. The 2010 is a real blockbuster.
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5/6/2013 - Spookey wrote:
Not nearly as good as previous bottles. Hopefully its in a dumb phase.
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3/26/2013 - Winiac wrote: 88 Points
Very dark ruby color. Good balance and robust fruit with good acidity. What worries me is the lack of Pinot taste profile. With the color and the taste profile I suspect some petit sirah in the mix, but the credit of people involved make me think that I am wrong and the wine is simply evolving as the bottles I have tasted from another batch in the past were nowhere close to this last bottle.
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12/16/2012 - nectar14 wrote: 91 Points
Ruby red color. Nose of cool cherry and raspberry, faint green herbs. Very nice texture punctuated by grippy ripe fruit and light tannins. Finishes medium long. Ought to hold for a few more years.
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10/9/2012 - RossR wrote: 95 Points
Coming into its early prime! Still one of the best pinots I've had in years
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6/10/2012 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 92 Points
strawberry and several different dark fruits. Light and medium bodied. The tannis are soft and have fallen away
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3/31/2012 - dlstrauss wrote: 91 Points
Agree with bits/pieces of other reviews. Found it tannic and in need of a good hour to show its stuff. Bright red fruit, candy very nice after opening. Short finish. For me, paled to the WesMar Balleto consumed right before.
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2/17/2012 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com wrote: 90 Points
Needed an hour plus to smooth out but still quite tannic. More dark fruit, some earthiness and a little funk on the nose. Kind of a broodiness about it. Wondering how it will taste tomorrow.
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1/21/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 91 Points
Great strawberry and mixed red and black berry fruit on the nose. Subtle spice and some flowers. It's lush and pretty. On the palate, it's deep and rich. Very tasty. Has good depth and concentration of blackberry, wild berry, mineral, sage and some dusty nuances.
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1/13/2012 - wilypod Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best California Pinot Noir in years. Decanted and aired and waited. At the two hour mark the wine started to bloom with red and blue fruits, dried rose petals, cranberry, mild forest floor and mushroom. Tannins are firm, not silky, no trace of strawberry or cola or tea or other typical PN descriptors. Closer to a Cote d'Or Burgundy than most new world PN. Long, lingering finish of fruit and minerality. Five bottles left, wish I had more.
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12/29/2011 - Winiac wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby but still transparent. Nice bouquet with aromas of cherry fruit. Full bodied and focused taste with long length. Tad low on acidity for my liking. Finish is pleasant but there is a tone of bitterness there that I cannot place it. In a ripe vintage like 2007 it cannot be the fruit. The second night, it was not there. It is well-balanced and stood to hardy food without loosing its composure! Over all, a bit under performer for the price, but still very good wine.
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11/30/2011 - jcasey555 wrote: 88 Points
- Ruby color with medium forming legs and aromas of dusty. It's lacking fruit with a light/medium body. Round texture with a short finish.
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11/9/2011 - bluedog wrote: 93 Points
Very nice. Yumm.
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10/21/2011 - TwistedArmadillo wrote: 93 Points
Sticking with my 93 rating 2 years ago of this wine. I agree with the post that this is a muscular Pinot. Great structure. Experimented by paring this with a lobster/shrimp pasta dish with homemade lobster sauce. It complemented the food very nicely.
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10/8/2011 - johndefi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really nice fruit. Not over the top. Velvety. Long finish. Wish I had more.
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7/12/2011 - jljones wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Really solid, great balance. Wish I had more.
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6/30/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 95 Points
This is a muscular Pinot Noir showing plenty of dark fruits. Fresh and lively, nose shows black raspberry and bing cherry with a slight touch of vanilla. Needs some time in the glass for the tannins to settle down. Tannic structure is noticeable, but given the full boded nature of the wine and the wonderful fruit, they integrate nicely. A fuller, weighter Pinot, this would go well with a variety of foods to include beef prepared in a lighter style, roasted chicken with gravy, turkey, or heavier fish such as salmon or sea trout. Enjoyed with fresh grilled salmon on June 30, 2011. Ends with a very nice long finish. A memorable Pinot Noir.
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4/23/2011 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured to discover an outstanding example of Sonoma Pinot. Lush, medium body, bright red fruit. Easy drinking, never boring.
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3/9/2011 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed immensely with a group of business colleagues at the Dallas Fish Market. Fresh, crisp but plush, rich and very deep cherry. Extremely thumbs up.
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1/19/2011 - jcasey555 wrote: 92 Points
Best bottle so far. Age is helping.
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1/7/2011 - Cschriver wrote: 90 Points
Very nice with steak and a rich buerre Blanc sauce. Strong cherry/blackberry flavors. Young, a little harsh even with Vinturi.
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10/10/2010 - TLR wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours drank with steak. Very nice, smooth mid pallet a little touch of heat on the finish but over all a very pleasant cali pinot! This is pure california new world. I was hoping for some funk but nothing there. QPR at $50 I have had better for cheaper but it is a very solid wine 90+
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10/9/2010 - WinePT wrote: 90 Points
The last glass was the best. Smooth texture. Cherry, licorice, blackberry.
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10/7/2010 - jcasey555 wrote: 92 Points
Very nice cherry.
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1/15/2010 - jcasey555 wrote: 90 Points
very smooth on pallette. went well with pork dish, dried cranberry topping, finish somewhat limited. Much better than first bottle, time is helping
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11/27/2009 - TwistedArmadillo wrote: 93 Points
Drank this along side the Siduri Cargasacchi 05 and a Lynmar 04. Although this wine is young it was the star of the three. I cannot wait to see how this wine ages over the next couple of years.
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11/24/2009 - Bradkap wrote:
What a finish
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11/1/2009 - TwistedArmadillo wrote: 90 Points
Decided to go ahead have a bottle...very nice. This wine is still young and will age nicely, but it is drinking well right now. Decanted for about an hour, nice nose with a hint of bell pepper. Nice earth notes. I will hold this for a couple of years before I drink anymore.
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10/8/2009 - jcasey555 wrote: 90 Points
Tasted one bottle of two cases I bought. After considerable time and Vinturi it was good but will wait a year before trying another.
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9/13/2009 - RossR wrote: 95 Points
Delicious... but WAY too young. WAIT!
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