Some gamy teriyaki jerky notes over a pure core of black cherry, orange rind, sassafras, and raspberry purée. Full in the mouth without being cloying. Lovely texture and juicy acidity. Terrific wine.
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Medium-deep ruby red in color with a slight touch of clearing at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & strawberries with spice overtones of cloves & floral notes of lavender, minerals, pepper, herbs, earthy & a hint of toasty oak/vanilla. Medium bodied with a good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & raspberries with spices, herbs, minerals & a touch of vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present and may hold onto this plateau for a few more years, but I doubt any further improvement will occur.
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Balanced, with dark fruits and a nice savory back drop. Drinking very well, it wasn't heavy or cloying on the palate and paired well with a pork and prune dish (Elizabeth David, French Provincial Cooking - Classic!). Very nice. Last tasted 5 years ago, much improved and worth the wait.
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ruby red, in color. dark cherry, raspberry, earth, on the nose. cherry, raspberry, cedar, clove, spice, on the palate. medium plus acid, medium tannins, on the finish.
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We had an off bottle of the '05 Finn a couple of months ago, so I was somewhat concerned that this might be over the hill. I needn't have worried. Decanted for an hour before service. Clear orangish-red in the glass, and earthy forest floor on the nose, this was all about silky texture and a balanced mix of fruit, spice, and minerality on the palate, and kept getting better with every glass. Still some unresolved structure on the finish, which makes me think that there might be still be a bit of upside over the next two years for properly stored bottles. Unfortunately, this was our last bottle...
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Very nice maturing but not fully mature (a few years away) Cali pinot. Dark cherry and red fruit. No cola or pinot funk. Smooth with excellent balance.
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Bought direct from the winery when first offered. Popped and poured. Cork was extremely dry and broke in half because the bottom was very tight to the glass. Finally extracted it carefully. The wine had barely penetrated the bottom of the cork. The wine was outstanding, one of my best DuMol pinots ever. color was light and maybe just a tiny bit of brick color, but hard to tell in a restaurant with dark lighting. This wine was very smooth with no rough edges. The predominant flavor was dark cherry but not sweet. There was a bit of Cali Pinot funk/cola flavor, but it was very very light. There was also an unspecified herbal component to the wines that gave it additional depth. Not a rough and tumble Cali Pinot. I think some of the In Pursuit of Balance and Burg heads would like this.
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Opened this 2005 on recommendation of a CT reviewer that the 7-year age on this Pinot Noir made it ready to drink. I decanted about 15 minutes before we tasted it. Massive cherry fruit right up front, it's got a bit of an "alcohol" nose and finish. After about 30 minutes, the cherry fruit has softened quite a bit, and the wine is tasting more like a French Burgundy, very earthy. The tannins have softened quite nicely, but the wine lacks the depth/complexity of a village Burgundy, or a finer California Pinot Noir.
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Bought direct when first offered, this wine has matured very nicely. Popped, decanted and poured. There was sediment in the bottom. The cola Pinot funk is gone. The cherry fruit has sweetened. There is spice and the roughness of its youth has smoothed out. This went down easily and disappeared fast with seared duck breasts.
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This wine is in a good place right now. I always thought the 2005 vintage, with it's higher tannins, just needed more time to mesh, and I think I might be right. This bottle has both fruit and this fabulous weight. At seven years, the wine tastes 'full' somehow, thicker and substantial. All the components-fruit, tannins, acidity-have all come together impressively. The fruit is bright berries, that's the best I can describe. If you have any of these left, try one now because it won't disappoint. If this is how Dumol pinots age, then I'm in for a treat when some of my single vineyard bottles age. Recommended. Feels like it can go a little while longer, say 3 years?
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Opened inadvertantly, thinking it was the 05 RRV Syrah. This needed to be opened, and remaining bottles in the community should be consumed. After 2 hours this added a little weight but as with the bottle opened in April, there was little depth or structure and the wine had a very brief finish.
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Really like these DuMOL pinots with some age. Still has vibrant red frt- cherries and plum with earthy complexity on the back end. Nice structure and well-integrated oak.
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At opening this had a traditional but strong pinot funk. While the funk muted over 2.5 hours, it remained as a presence but in an unobtrusive manner. Red cherry, strawberry and faint black cherry aromas and flavors, but not much in the way of tannin or strong structure. No cola, a plus for me. Very brief finish. As others note, this is a nice wine, but it's clearly at/past its peak and not one of dumol's finer offerings, though I really did enjoy it upon release. Drink up.
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Cherry and cola without any depth of fruit makes this a relatively simple wine, at least at present. Well made but not inspirational. I have had much better from this winery.
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An outstanding Pinot! Delicious on the nose and delivering the promise on the palate. Not contrived or heavy, yet not and overly "dirty" and earthy style. Plenty of fruit and wonderful evenness. Enjoy this beauty on its own or with your favorite dish.
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My first taste of DuMOL, this wine didn't disappoint. A well made wine, with a lush full mouthfeel. Nicely balanced - not too sweet, with dark cherries in abundance, some cola and a touch of spice.
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Perhaps another example of high expectations leading to a letdown. This bottle was nowhere near as good as the Finn earlier in the week. Solid premium CA PN with color spice & weight true to class; but somehow failed to excite. Thus came across as rather ordinary.
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While I liked this wine, I thought it lacked distinction and was a bit hot for my tastes. Not syrah-like, just heavy duty. There was nice fruit and some oak but it felt heavy handed and somewhat manipulated.
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- Aromas of mushroom and walnut. It's balanced and has flavours of rose, mushroom and walnut with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish.
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The 2009 Terasses was better this night. color was light ruby and semi translucent. Light mauve stain on the cork. Felt like it was shut down and holding back somehow. Didn't feel faded, just not there. But I could sense a restraint in the wine that might cut loose in a few more years, (I hope.) Was nice but lacking. Provisional 90 points and hoping just in a dumb phase. I have about a glass left and I'm going to try again tomorrow. 9/5/11-Extra time helped greatly. Fruit is now more prominent but also there is alcohol in the bouquet. But not harsh. Legs run fairly fast also. Smooth wine and acidity now showing up to accompany fruit. Bright flavors perhaps of cherry. Not tannic but well evolved on third day. some funk in smell. Tonight is 92.
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Popped and poured with grilled fillet and chicken at Ninos. At peak now, imo. Fresh red cherry, plum and pomegranate with long earthy finish- mushrooms and forest floor. Medium bodied but enough structure for steak.
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Bright red fruit with great concentration. Classic Burgundy characteristics. Forest floor and mushroom on the long finish. A youthful wine that is drinking very well.
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Needed a lot of air to open - better on day two. Raspberry cola, sarsaparilla, alcohol and cinnamon aromas. Dark fruit, spice and earth flavors with a med-full body and well integrated, long finish. A little too much heat for me.
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Popped and poured 30 min later. Served in Riedel Vinum Burgundy stems. @ 65 F . Medium intensity garnet color pronounced nose and palate of raspberry, black cherry, cola, sarsaparilla, cinnamon. Medium body... Palate was dry with medium plus acidity and low to medium tannins, with a pronounced intensity of fruit, spice and oak.. nice finish. I would say this wine is currently in a prime drinking widow. Much more refined and elegant than when I tasted in 2009.
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Intense Pinot, one of the better ones I've tasted to date. Complex. Strawberry, cherries with some spices in the long finish. A little more heat than I like for Pinot, could prob breath a little more.
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Needs time; closed and austere at first. after a couple hours, it opened up and the flavors started coming together. Much much better the next day. Decant well or wait at least another year.
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Consistent with the vintage, less fruit forward and more austere than the typical RRV bottling from DuMOL. Still very nice with tart red cherry and secondary complexity- earth, herds and spice. Good structure and weill go for years.
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I'm in the minority on this one. Perhaps it's over the hill, or just so ripe that VA has taken over. I'm not calling it flawed, but it's close. Though the bottle has been properly stored since purchase from the winery, the nose smells EXACTLY like those brandied cherries you get in a jar from Italy. I like those, but not in my wine. That's the whole nose. The mouth is a little more intriguing as it brings back some black cherry, stewed rhubarb and cola that keeps repeating into the finish. Nice smooth tannins and decent opulence, but the sweetness is cloying from overripe fruit. I'm a big fan of fruity CA Pinots, but this one is like a circus clown.
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Popped and poured. This is a nice example of a well-made balanced Calkifornia piniot that is not over the top, will not stand up to fir grilled steak, but represents a reasonable balanced presentation of California RRV terroir with pinot cola funk, tart cherries and some minerality. Color is translucent, not particularly dark. palate is smooth with the up front funk integrating into the rest of the flavor profile. There is delicacy and elegance in this wine and I woudl say it creates a middle ground for pinot between Burgundy and, let's say, Aubert.
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Dark in color. Great nose. Rich and full on the palate with some heat on the finish. Roasted cherries and a bunch of oak. Tastes nothing like a pinot to me.
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Not as good as the first -- popped and poured -- proves this wine still needs time and will last much longer -- this willbe outstanding if it is aged more or you give 1-2 hours in decanter first.
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Decanted two hours, enjoyed over two. Smoke, root beer on the nose. Red fruits on the palate, cherries, raspberries, a hint of sage and savory. Very smooth mouthfeel. Good long finish, punctuated by a shot of bracing acidity midway down the throat. Very enjoyable bottle of wine, paired wonderfully with seafood risotto.
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Decanted for about 3 hours. Medium garnet color, really typical RRV nose with a tiny bit of earth. The palate was really pleasing if not a bit unremarkable. Still very primary with decenty acidity, lenghty finish and moderate tannins. Would love to see how this evolves, but this was my only bottle.
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Medium intensity purple color with garnet edge, pronunced nose and palate of raspberry, black cherry, cinnamon, white pepper, cedar, and mild cheese. Medium body... Palate was dry with medium to high acidity and low to medium tannins, with a pronounced intensity of fruit, spice and oak.. Medium finish. I would rate this wine excellent and would say currently in an immature stage.. Will be better in 3-5 years
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Dark Cherry red in color with Cherries on the nose and ultimately a burst of nice Cherry flavor on the palate as well. Complex with integrated acidity make this an especially good wine. A very good example of California Pinot in a very good vintage.
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Decanted two hours. Gorgeous bright red fruit and classic Burgundian earth on the nose. Loamy strawberries, spicy raspberries, mushrooms, earth floor and beautiful Asian white pepper spice aromas are extremely enticing. Palate shows lots of fleshy red fruit. Beautiful spice on the back end with awesome acidity on the finish with a hint of creamyness as well. Be sure to let this one decant for at least an hour or two before drinking.
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The more the better. More time. More air. More wine. Please. Took some time to come around but when it does, yeah baby, welcome to the RRV. Nose involves, then engrosses into delicious classic appellation profile right there with the best of them. So no hurry to open another but what great peek - not peak. Thinking Fall is the next.
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Rich dark color and mouthfeel, with rich, cherry, berry, cola, and earth notes on the palate.. a ripe, but balanced style that is silky smooth and very well balanced... bravo! Drink now.
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A bit funky and backwards out of the bottle, dominated by strawberry, raspberry and green stems. This prompted a decant of an hour, which led to the disappearance of green and softening of the red fruits into a nice balance, rating a 92. However this sweet-spot was very short lived, and 2.5 hours after decanting the wine was flabby, with a faint nose and little backbone, giving way to the lower score.
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Opened but not decanted. About an hour after opening: on the nose: dried spices with a touch of toffee, iodine and the smell of tide pools at low tide (salt and decay) My wife says, "this doesn't smell like wine" and I agree. On the palate: raspberry and citrus with secondary dark tastes of plum and some faint musty notes. Also a touch of caramel chocolate on the not too dry finish. There is a little bit of heat but it is barely noticeable. Lots of things going on here. A terrific wine. Very Good to Excellent.
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Decanted 1 hour, drank over the next 3. Nice deep color, uniform to the rim. Earthy, woodsy, smoky sassafras nose. Palate dominated by black cherry and sweet spices. Finish smoothed out and lengthened over time. Drinking well now with the decant (and a longer decant is probably warranted), but will improve with more bottle time.
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Tobacco, earth, dark cherry and menthol on a very robust nose. Dry plums, a little root beer and an intensely long and rich palate leading into a long finish for a RRV Pinot. Too early - a few more years in the bottle will do it good.
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Very dark red, with black cherry, sassafrass, cola, and even cocoa notes; somewhat disjointed, but it resolved itself with air time; will let these rest before opening again
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Opened not decanted. A little clarity at the edge with dark red and purple coloring. On the nose: sweet plum notes with a touch of dried tobacco. On the palate: starts out with high acid and dark cherries; morphs towards bright citrus and ends with a sweet, dry, strawberry finish. There is noticable alcohol that slightly burns my tongue. For that reason, I knocked it down a notch. But still, Good to Very Good.
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In the glass, moderately dark red fading to pink at the rim. On the nose, pinot spice with a touch of plum. On the palate, slightly tart cherries, raspberries, and nutmeg, with a moderately long finish that I suspect will improve with more time in the bottle. This is nice now, but it's still young.
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Good color. Not overly dark. Hints of pine and spice. Nice flavors of raspberries and blackberries. Gentle, mouth coating wine Nicely balanced. Long finish with some notes of plum and black licorice.
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Impressive, great nose, solid cherry cola and spice nicely wound up in a powerful aroma that hits you instantly. Well balanced with complexity that makes you truly bummed to finish the last glass. Glad I have more of this one.
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Fruity, raspberries and not overly complex and a little one dimensional to be an interesting wine. The wine is well made however and drinks very well, but could use another year or so in bottle
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Hotel Restaurant purchase, opened but not decanted for 75 minutes prior to sitting down. Based on the wine's placement on the list, I thought I was purchasing the DuMol Syrah when I asked to have this opened; I was disappointed at first to find this was the pinot as I knew my wife was craving beef, but we stuck with the wine and found it sufficiently hearty to stand up to filet and sweet potatoes, as well as being an excellent accompanyment to mahi and even the chocolate mousse dessert. Dark coloring, heavy in weight and mouthfeel for a pinot, flowers and oak on the nose with hints of cardomom, other spices and oak along with red fruit (raspberry) among the finish. Equally enjoyable finishing the last of the bottle the following morning (isn't vacation wonderful, and it IS early afternoon if I were at home, not on lanai!)
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Not quite as overtly fruity as the DuMOL RRV Pinots from the past several years, but it's still pretty packed compared to most other producers' generic bottlings. The nose shows a range of alluring sandalwood, spice, and raspberry, followed by a palate of cherry, herbs, and oak. The spicy, herbal finish is nigh eternal, which is one of the main reasons why I've rated this so highly. All told, it's a well-executed wine: it's ripe but not hot, and concentrated but not in your face. I wish I had more of these for the long haul. (Tasted twice, on 7/14/07 and 10/6/07, with consistent notes.)
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Deep, transparent purple to the rim. Cola, pinot spice, dark and red fruits, beginning of pinot funk. Cola, mocha, dark fruits, coffee, long finish. Very nice young Cali Pinot.
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Decanted 1.5 hr’s. Polished nose of dark cherry and raspberry along with light sage and underbrush. Rich and deep flavors of dried cranberries, cherries and light orange peel in a racy package of very fine tannins with some acidity and a light strawberry texture. Picks up some cinnamon spice on the nice, long finish. Currently, this needs a good 2 hr decant time to fully express itself.
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Dark ruby/purple color. The nose of this wine showed a ton of dark cherries, and some earthiness. Huge raspberry and cherry flavors are the most predominant, but there was some nice minerality and a little meatiness here as well. Nice, almost chewy mouthfeel and a long finish. This was my first tasting of a Russian River Valley Pinot, and I was told that this wine exhibited classic RRV characteristics. Count me as an instant fan. Tasted next to a 2005 ROAR Rosella's Pinot, and the DuMOL was a little less complex, but had much more intense fruit flavors. Great stuff.
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Just off the truck from the winery. Opened the bottle and let it sit for about an hour. Nose was full of the characteristic earthy mineral notes. The wine really comes to life on the palette. Dried cherry, lavender and a touch of spicy oak. Everything is in place and works well together.
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10/27/2020 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Some gamy teriyaki jerky notes over a pure core of black cherry, orange rind, sassafras, and raspberry purée. Full in the mouth without being cloying. Lovely texture and juicy acidity. Terrific wine.
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6/28/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 92 Points
From a magnum. Excellent. Big, complex, deep, balanced, smooth. What a pleasant mouthful. Dark plum, spice, earth, acids, oak.
Last tasted almost 3 years ago to the day, this wine has only continued to improve! Well done Andy.
Nicer than the 06 Paul Hobbs and 06 Williams Selyem tasted a few days back.
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6/4/2017 - Don Grant Likes this wine:
The wine was very good.
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9/5/2016 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium-deep ruby red in color with a slight touch of clearing at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & strawberries with spice overtones of cloves & floral notes of lavender, minerals, pepper, herbs, earthy & a hint of toasty oak/vanilla. Medium bodied with a good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & raspberries with spices, herbs, minerals & a touch of vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present and may hold onto this plateau for a few more years, but I doubt any further improvement will occur.
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6/25/2016 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
Balanced, with dark fruits and a nice savory back drop. Drinking very well, it wasn't heavy or cloying on the palate and paired well with a pork and prune dish (Elizabeth David, French Provincial Cooking - Classic!). Very nice. Last tasted 5 years ago, much improved and worth the wait.
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11/28/2015 - jrf wrote: 94 Points
Really fine bottle that got better as the evening went. 1/2 hour decant.
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11/24/2015 - affordableCollector wrote: 89 Points
ruby red, in color. dark cherry, raspberry, earth, on the nose. cherry, raspberry, cedar, clove, spice, on the palate. medium plus acid, medium tannins, on the finish.
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1/3/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
We had an off bottle of the '05 Finn a couple of months ago, so I was somewhat concerned that this might be over the hill. I needn't have worried. Decanted for an hour before service. Clear orangish-red in the glass, and earthy forest floor on the nose, this was all about silky texture and a balanced mix of fruit, spice, and minerality on the palate, and kept getting better with every glass. Still some unresolved structure on the finish, which makes me think that there might be still be a bit of upside over the next two years for properly stored bottles. Unfortunately, this was our last bottle...
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8/28/2014 - Hbgsurgeon wrote: 93 Points
Keeps getting better. Great wine. Too bad that was my last bottle.
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6/28/2014 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 90 Points
Very nice maturing but not fully mature (a few years away) Cali pinot. Dark cherry and red fruit. No cola or pinot funk. Smooth with excellent balance.
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12/11/2013 - Mscruggs wrote:
A fabulous dumol pinot with probably another 2 to 3 years in my opinion. Beautiful red fruit with a long finish.
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8/28/2013 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 92 Points
Bought direct from the winery when first offered. Popped and poured. Cork was extremely dry and broke in half because the bottom was very tight to the glass. Finally extracted it carefully. The wine had barely penetrated the bottom of the cork. The wine was outstanding, one of my best DuMol pinots ever. color was light and maybe just a tiny bit of brick color, but hard to tell in a restaurant with dark lighting. This wine was very smooth with no rough edges. The predominant flavor was dark cherry but not sweet. There was a bit of Cali Pinot funk/cola flavor, but it was very very light. There was also an unspecified herbal component to the wines that gave it additional depth. Not a rough and tumble Cali Pinot. I think some of the In Pursuit of Balance and Burg heads would like this.
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6/2/2013 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
Layers of rich ripe dark cherry with complex earthy notes that linger to a wonderful finish. Drinking better than the bottle I had last year.
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3/27/2013 - dst Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is in it's perfect place. Enough aging to make it come together, still with nice fruit and well balanced. Typical RRV with red fruits.
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2/13/2013 - davidspieker Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark cherry, cola, and cinnamon aromas. Consistent flavors with spice and earth. Med-full body with nice mouth-feel and well integrated, long finish.
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1/6/2013 - Texas Batard Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened this 2005 on recommendation of a CT reviewer that the 7-year age on this Pinot Noir made it ready to drink. I decanted about 15 minutes before we tasted it. Massive cherry fruit right up front, it's got a bit of an "alcohol" nose and finish. After about 30 minutes, the cherry fruit has softened quite a bit, and the wine is tasting more like a French Burgundy, very earthy. The tannins have softened quite nicely, but the wine lacks the depth/complexity of a village Burgundy, or a finer California Pinot Noir.
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12/15/2012 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
Elegant nose but a little muted. Deft entry of red cherry and plums, with hints of mushroom and earth. Holding up, but not improving so I'd drink now.
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11/10/2012 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 92 Points
Bought direct when first offered, this wine has matured very nicely. Popped, decanted and poured. There was sediment in the bottom. The cola Pinot funk is gone. The cherry fruit has sweetened. There is spice and the roughness of its youth has smoothed out. This went down easily and disappeared fast with seared duck breasts.
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11/5/2012 - pmarlo wrote: 94 Points
This wine is in a good place right now. I always thought the 2005 vintage, with it's higher tannins, just needed more time to mesh, and I think I might be right. This bottle has both fruit and this fabulous weight. At seven years, the wine tastes 'full' somehow, thicker and substantial. All the components-fruit, tannins, acidity-have all come together impressively. The fruit is bright berries, that's the best I can describe. If you have any of these left, try one now because it won't disappoint. If this is how Dumol pinots age, then I'm in for a treat when some of my single vineyard bottles age. Recommended. Feels like it can go a little while longer, say 3 years?
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10/27/2012 - davidandrose wrote: 88 Points
Opened inadvertantly, thinking it was the 05 RRV Syrah. This needed to be opened, and remaining bottles in the community should be consumed. After 2 hours this added a little weight but as with the bottle opened in April, there was little depth or structure and the wine had a very brief finish.
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6/8/2012 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
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5/14/2012 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Really like these DuMOL pinots with some age. Still has vibrant red frt- cherries and plum with earthy complexity on the back end. Nice structure and well-integrated oak.
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4/20/2012 - davidandrose wrote: 88 Points
At opening this had a traditional but strong pinot funk. While the funk muted over 2.5 hours, it remained as a presence but in an unobtrusive manner. Red cherry, strawberry and faint black cherry aromas and flavors, but not much in the way of tannin or strong structure. No cola, a plus for me. Very brief finish. As others note, this is a nice wine, but it's clearly at/past its peak and not one of dumol's finer offerings, though I really did enjoy it upon release. Drink up.
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1/16/2012 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Continues to drink well, but starting to some age. Will drink my last bottle soon.
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12/12/2011 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
Cherry and cola without any depth of fruit makes this a relatively simple wine, at least at present. Well made but not inspirational. I have had much better from this winery.
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12/8/2011 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Very good. It's a bit more rich than Dehlinger or W-S. bright fruit with lots of depth. A hint of baking spices but no cola.
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9/26/2011 - t4drman Likes this wine: 90 Points
An outstanding Pinot! Delicious on the nose and delivering the promise on the palate. Not contrived or heavy, yet not and overly "dirty" and earthy style. Plenty of fruit and wonderful evenness. Enjoy this beauty on its own or with your favorite dish.
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9/24/2011 - aroby wrote: 92 Points
My first taste of DuMOL, this wine didn't disappoint. A well made wine, with a lush full mouthfeel. Nicely balanced - not too sweet, with dark cherries in abundance, some cola and a touch of spice.
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9/17/2011 - NotNYC wrote: 89 Points
Perhaps another example of high expectations leading to a letdown. This bottle was nowhere near as good as the Finn earlier in the week.
Solid premium CA PN with color spice & weight true to class; but somehow failed to excite. Thus came across as rather ordinary.
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9/16/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 87 Points
While I liked this wine, I thought it lacked distinction and was a bit hot for my tastes. Not syrah-like, just heavy duty. There was nice fruit and some oak but it felt heavy handed and somewhat manipulated.
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9/14/2011 - interlachen wrote:
- Aromas of mushroom and walnut. It's balanced and has flavours of rose, mushroom and walnut with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish.
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9/4/2011 - pmarlo wrote: 92 Points
The 2009 Terasses was better this night. color was light ruby and semi translucent. Light mauve stain on the cork. Felt like it was shut down and holding back somehow. Didn't feel faded, just not there. But I could sense a restraint in the wine that might cut loose in a few more years, (I hope.) Was nice but lacking. Provisional 90 points and hoping just in a dumb phase. I have about a glass left and I'm going to try again tomorrow.
9/5/11-Extra time helped greatly. Fruit is now more prominent but also there is alcohol in the bouquet. But not harsh. Legs run fairly fast also. Smooth wine and acidity now showing up to accompany fruit. Bright flavors perhaps of cherry. Not tannic but well evolved on third day. some funk in smell. Tonight is 92.
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8/30/2011 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured with grilled fillet and chicken at Ninos. At peak now, imo. Fresh red cherry, plum and pomegranate with long earthy finish- mushrooms and forest floor. Medium bodied but enough structure for steak.
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8/5/2011 - drbdorfman wrote: 95 Points
Coffee and cocoa. Still has plenty of time left. Only have one left unfortunately
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5/20/2011 - nfafoglia wrote: 92 Points
Bright red fruit with great concentration. Classic Burgundy characteristics. Forest floor and mushroom on the long finish. A youthful wine that is drinking very well.
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5/19/2011 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
Needed a lot of air to open - better on day two. Raspberry cola, sarsaparilla, alcohol and cinnamon aromas. Dark fruit, spice and earth flavors with a med-full body and well integrated, long finish. A little too much heat for me.
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5/15/2011 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 92 Points
What a great Pinot -- classic RRV.
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4/5/2011 - profiler54 wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured 30 min later. Served in Riedel Vinum Burgundy stems. @ 65 F . Medium intensity garnet color pronounced nose and palate of raspberry, black cherry, cola, sarsaparilla, cinnamon. Medium body... Palate was dry with medium plus acidity and low to medium tannins, with a pronounced intensity of fruit, spice and oak.. nice finish. I would say this wine is currently in a prime drinking widow. Much more refined and elegant than when I tasted in 2009.
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3/26/2011 - km5 wrote: 92 Points
Intense Pinot, one of the better ones I've tasted to date. Complex. Strawberry, cherries with some spices in the long finish. A little more heat than I like for Pinot, could prob breath a little more.
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11/6/2010 - cabber wrote: 92 Points
Needs time; closed and austere at first. after a couple hours, it opened up and the flavors started coming together. Much much better the next day. Decant well or wait at least another year.
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11/3/2010 - MJTed wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with the vintage, less fruit forward and more austere than the typical RRV bottling from DuMOL. Still very nice with tart red cherry and secondary complexity- earth, herds and spice. Good structure and weill go for years.
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10/15/2010 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Largely consistent with previous tasting note; a bit more evolved and less tart, but at the same time, perhaps a bit more muted on the nose.
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8/17/2010 - Schiffy wrote: 94 Points
Beautifully balanced Pinot Noir. Terrific fruit (dark cherry-like) with just the right spicey finish. Not an inexpensive Pinot, but well worth it.
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8/14/2010 - spts1000 wrote: 93 Points
Great Pinot. This could compare with most domestic pinots. It is fruit forward but does it well.
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8/6/2010 - tp096255 wrote: 82 Points
I'm in the minority on this one. Perhaps it's over the hill, or just so ripe that VA has taken over. I'm not calling it flawed, but it's close. Though the bottle has been properly stored since purchase from the winery, the nose smells EXACTLY like those brandied cherries you get in a jar from Italy. I like those, but not in my wine. That's the whole nose. The mouth is a little more intriguing as it brings back some black cherry, stewed rhubarb and cola that keeps repeating into the finish. Nice smooth tannins and decent opulence, but the sweetness is cloying from overripe fruit. I'm a big fan of fruity CA Pinots, but this one is like a circus clown.
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7/3/2010 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. This is a nice example of a well-made balanced Calkifornia piniot that is not over the top, will not stand up to fir grilled steak, but represents a reasonable balanced presentation of California RRV terroir with pinot cola funk, tart cherries and some minerality. Color is translucent, not particularly dark. palate is smooth with the up front funk integrating into the rest of the flavor profile. There is delicacy and elegance in this wine and I woudl say it creates a middle ground for pinot between Burgundy and, let's say, Aubert.
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6/21/2010 - mwgrivas1@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Longest day of the year celebration and what a payoff with this beauty.
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4/17/2010 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Sweet blackberry with earth but a bit of heat.
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4/9/2010 - JOsgood wrote:
Dark in color. Great nose. Rich and full on the palate with some heat on the finish. Roasted cherries and a bunch of oak. Tastes nothing like a pinot to me.
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2/7/2010 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 91 Points
Not as good as the first -- popped and poured -- proves this wine still needs time and will last much longer -- this willbe outstanding if it is aged more or you give 1-2 hours in decanter first.
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2/4/2010 - Deb293 wrote: flawed
FLAWED
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1/8/2010 - jrskelley wrote: 93 Points
Wow, Light and clean but very consistent. Still one of the best from Sonoma. Try the Finn if you can get your hands on it.
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1/7/2010 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
Layers of rich ripe dark cherry with complex earthy notes that linger to a wonderful finish. Impeccable balance, should continue to age well.
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11/28/2009 - blondon wrote:
Decanted two hours, enjoyed over two. Smoke, root beer on the nose. Red fruits on the palate, cherries, raspberries, a hint of sage and savory. Very smooth mouthfeel. Good long finish, punctuated by a shot of bracing acidity midway down the throat. Very enjoyable bottle of wine, paired wonderfully with seafood risotto.
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9/23/2009 - ebrown35 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for about 3 hours. Medium garnet color, really typical RRV nose with a tiny bit of earth. The palate was really pleasing if not a bit unremarkable. Still very primary with decenty acidity, lenghty finish and moderate tannins. Would love to see how this evolves, but this was my only bottle.
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9/8/2009 - profiler54 wrote: 93 Points
Medium intensity purple color with garnet edge, pronunced nose and palate of raspberry, black cherry, cinnamon, white pepper, cedar, and mild cheese. Medium body... Palate was dry with medium to high acidity and low to medium tannins, with a pronounced intensity of fruit, spice and oak.. Medium finish. I would rate this wine excellent and would say currently in an immature stage.. Will be better in 3-5 years
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8/28/2009 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Still young, but with layers of rich ripe dark cherry with complex earthy notes that linger to a wonderful finish.
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8/20/2009 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 95 Points
Great cal pinot -- if not the best produced in my opinion -- loved it -- read u but will age well
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7/10/2009 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Deft and balanced with secondary notes melding nicely with blue fruit and plum. Toast, and herbs on the finish with firm grip.
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6/24/2009 - markcvino wrote: 95 Points
Dark Cherry red in color with Cherries on the nose and ultimately a burst of nice Cherry flavor on the palate as well.
Complex with integrated acidity make this an especially good wine. A very good example of California Pinot in a very good vintage.
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6/20/2009 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
Red Carpet: Fresh berry, gum, youthful, plummy, good bal, low complexity.
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5/31/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted two hours. Gorgeous bright red fruit and classic Burgundian earth on the nose.
Loamy strawberries, spicy raspberries, mushrooms, earth floor and beautiful Asian white pepper spice aromas are extremely enticing.
Palate shows lots of fleshy red fruit. Beautiful spice on the back end with awesome acidity on the finish with a hint of creamyness as well.
Be sure to let this one decant for at least an hour or two before drinking.
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3/22/2009 - NotNYC wrote: 91 Points
The more the better. More time. More air. More wine. Please. Took some time to come around but when it does, yeah baby, welcome to the RRV. Nose involves, then engrosses into delicious classic appellation profile right there with the best of them. So no hurry to open another but what great peek - not peak. Thinking Fall is the next.
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1/18/2009 - jjmurray23 wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied. Strawberry, cherry fruit up front. Good balance of acidity.
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1/9/2009 - sdatl wrote: 91 Points
Rich dark color and mouthfeel, with rich, cherry, berry, cola, and earth notes on the palate.. a ripe, but balanced style that is silky smooth and very well balanced... bravo! Drink now.
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1/1/2009 - davidandrose wrote: 89 Points
A bit funky and backwards out of the bottle, dominated by strawberry, raspberry and green stems. This prompted a decant of an hour, which led to the disappearance of green and softening of the red fruits into a nice balance, rating a 92. However this sweet-spot was very short lived, and 2.5 hours after decanting the wine was flabby, with a faint nose and little backbone, giving way to the lower score.
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10/1/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened but not decanted. About an hour after opening: on the nose: dried spices with a touch of toffee, iodine and the smell of tide pools at low tide (salt and decay) My wife says, "this doesn't smell like wine" and I agree. On the palate: raspberry and citrus with secondary dark tastes of plum and some faint musty notes. Also a touch of caramel chocolate on the not too dry finish. There is a little bit of heat but it is barely noticeable. Lots of things going on here. A terrific wine. Very Good to Excellent.
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9/26/2008 - blondon wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour, drank over the next 3. Nice deep color, uniform to the rim. Earthy, woodsy, smoky sassafras nose. Palate dominated by black cherry and sweet spices. Finish smoothed out and lengthened over time. Drinking well now with the decant (and a longer decant is probably warranted), but will improve with more bottle time.
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8/3/2008 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
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7/3/2008 - jreis wrote:
Tobacco, earth, dark cherry and menthol on a very robust nose. Dry plums, a little root beer and an intensely long and rich palate leading into a long finish for a RRV Pinot. Too early - a few more years in the bottle will do it good.
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6/8/2008 - sdatl wrote: 90 Points
Very dark red, with black cherry, sassafrass, cola, and even cocoa notes; somewhat disjointed, but it resolved itself with air time; will let these rest before opening again
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5/2/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 88 Points
Tasted in a group setting. A very nice, fruity pinot - raspberry and cherry. Good acidity as well. Balanced.
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4/24/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. A little clarity at the edge with dark red and purple coloring. On the nose: sweet plum notes with a touch of dried tobacco. On the palate: starts out with high acid and dark cherries; morphs towards bright citrus and ends with a sweet, dry, strawberry finish. There is noticable alcohol that slightly burns my tongue. For that reason, I knocked it down a notch. But still, Good to Very Good.
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3/28/2008 - NotNYC wrote: 91 Points
Gorgeous earthy unctuous.
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3/15/2008 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
In the glass, moderately dark red fading to pink at the rim. On the nose, pinot spice with a touch of plum. On the palate, slightly tart cherries, raspberries, and nutmeg, with a moderately long finish that I suspect will improve with more time in the bottle. This is nice now, but it's still young.
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2/14/2008 - t_moderne wrote: 91 Points
Good color. Not overly dark. Hints of pine and spice. Nice flavors of raspberries and blackberries. Gentle, mouth coating wine Nicely balanced. Long finish with some notes of plum and black licorice.
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12/28/2007 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Cherry, strawberry, and spicy cinnamon. Good acidity, long finish.
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12/24/2007 - oski wrote: 94 Points
Impressive, great nose, solid cherry cola and spice nicely wound up in a powerful aroma that hits you instantly. Well balanced with complexity that makes you truly bummed to finish the last glass. Glad I have more of this one.
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12/21/2007 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
Complex nose and palate of dried, slightly tart fruit. Great structure. Overall impression is that this will improve with time like most DuMOLs.
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12/17/2007 - Bunski wrote: 90 Points
Fruity, raspberries and not overly complex and a little one dimensional to be an interesting wine. The wine is well made however and drinks very well, but could use another year or so in bottle
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11/25/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
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9/27/2007 - davidandrose wrote: 94 Points
Hotel Restaurant purchase, opened but not decanted for 75 minutes prior to sitting down. Based on the wine's placement on the list, I thought I was purchasing the DuMol Syrah when I asked to have this opened; I was disappointed at first to find this was the pinot as I knew my wife was craving beef, but we stuck with the wine and found it sufficiently hearty to stand up to filet and sweet potatoes, as well as being an excellent accompanyment to mahi and even the chocolate mousse dessert. Dark coloring, heavy in weight and mouthfeel for a pinot, flowers and oak on the nose with hints of cardomom, other spices and oak along with red fruit (raspberry) among the finish. Equally enjoyable finishing the last of the bottle the following morning (isn't vacation wonderful, and it IS early afternoon if I were at home, not on lanai!)
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8/5/2007 - whynblog wrote: 94 Points
Consistent notes from previous bottle.
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7/15/2007 - sdatl wrote: 94 Points
Very rich, with chocolate, spice, and dark cherry flavors. Wonderful.
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7/14/2007 - Stephan O wrote: 94 Points
Not quite as overtly fruity as the DuMOL RRV Pinots from the past several years, but it's still pretty packed compared to most other producers' generic bottlings. The nose shows a range of alluring sandalwood, spice, and raspberry, followed by a palate of cherry, herbs, and oak. The spicy, herbal finish is nigh eternal, which is one of the main reasons why I've rated this so highly. All told, it's a well-executed wine: it's ripe but not hot, and concentrated but not in your face. I wish I had more of these for the long haul. (Tasted twice, on 7/14/07 and 10/6/07, with consistent notes.)
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7/7/2007 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
BIG UPRFONT FRUIT, CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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7/3/2007 - Hugop wrote: 90 Points
Very good for a Pinot but does not hold a candle to the '03 which was a symphony in a bottle.
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7/3/2007 - Greg Pierce wrote:
Deep, transparent purple to the rim. Cola, pinot spice, dark and red fruits, beginning of pinot funk. Cola, mocha, dark fruits, coffee, long finish. Very nice young Cali Pinot.
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6/2/2007 - GreenDrazi wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1.5 hr’s. Polished nose of dark cherry and raspberry along with light sage and underbrush. Rich and deep flavors of dried cranberries, cherries and light orange peel in a racy package of very fine tannins with some acidity and a light strawberry texture. Picks up some cinnamon spice on the nice, long finish. Currently, this needs a good 2 hr decant time to fully express itself.
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5/4/2007 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby/purple color. The nose of this wine showed a ton of dark cherries, and some earthiness. Huge raspberry and cherry flavors are the most predominant, but there was some nice minerality and a little meatiness here as well. Nice, almost chewy mouthfeel and a long finish. This was my first tasting of a Russian River Valley Pinot, and I was told that this wine exhibited classic RRV characteristics. Count me as an instant fan. Tasted next to a 2005 ROAR Rosella's Pinot, and the DuMOL was a little less complex, but had much more intense fruit flavors. Great stuff.
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5/2/2007 - whynblog wrote: 94 Points
Just off the truck from the winery. Opened the bottle and let it sit for about an hour. Nose was full of the characteristic earthy mineral notes. The wine really comes to life on the palette. Dried cherry, lavender and a touch of spicy oak. Everything is in place and works well together.
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