Brought to a friends. PnP served with ahi on the grill. Oh my what a pretty wine. Floral, red roses, raspberry, bing cherry, strong crushed rock core, sneaky tannins were soft and velvety. Umm, where can we get more? This was special.
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Prior bottle was 10 months ago and this wine has improved in that time, exactly along the lines I'd hoped. Mixture of black and red cherry on the nose along with some brighter red berries and earth notes. Medium bodied with rounded black cherry and slightly tart red berries upfront. Mid-body shows more density and more expression than my prior bottle. Black and red cherries are the dominant notes through the middle with some red raspberry and red berry highlights. Acidity and tart red cherry on the back and then mineral and earth notes through the finish. The fruit notes are showing much improved definition over my prior bottle and the balance between fruit and structure has improved as well. Especially after a couple of hours open, this wine is drinking very well at present. Should be able to hold this level and perhaps continue to improve over the next 12-18 months and should drink at a high level over the next 4+ years.
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Served after a Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast and the contrast was striking. Yes there were some red berries up front but this was much more reserved and less lush. Red cherry leaning to raspberry up front with a mineral core and earthy finish. Can easily go another 5 years.
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All redfruits on the nose, especially red berries and red cherries, along with some light vanilla notes. Medium bodied (13% ABV) and at first, tighter, a touch lighter and more acidity dominated than I expected. Began to open up with time and after about four hours and warming from cellar temperature, finally started to come together. Pretty red berries and red cherry upfront, gains a bit of mid-body depth as well as some balance and roundness while showing just a touch of red raspberry. Lightly tart red cherry on the backside along with minerals, acidity and structural tannins. Given how elegant this wine typically is, it felt like it was still on the young side. I suspect the balance will continue to improve and I'll try my next bottle in early Q2 2021.
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Opened this by accident-- thought I'd pulled the estate chardonnay to pair with our salmon burgers. No matter. This was really delicious -- Peay wines keep getting better and better. This has depth with elegance, a lightness on its feet that invites another sip while the flavors are rich and concentrated. I'm not going to use that overworked word that begins with a "B" but I really should. Really great stuff and so worth the tariff.
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No one would mistake this for Burgundy, but if tasted blind I would have guessed Oregon. If pressed further, I probably would have blurted out Cristom, one of the four ladies. This wine may have changed my opinion of California Pinot. Beautiful Pinot Noir nose leads to a wonderful fruit filled palate. Good acidity. Oak a little dominant, but I expect that will integrate with a little bottle age.
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Peay is one of my favorite producers. This bottle fits the winemaker’s profile of offering a nice balanced Sonoma Pinot Noir, with mild to moderate tannins and sweet but restrained red cherry and raspberry fruits. I like the dried spice notes. Youthful and elegant, I think it will benefit from additional cellar time.
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Wanted to try this again after reading the Vinous 95 rating and the 5/5 bottle (will not repeat anything from then) because I thought it might show something missing from the 1st bottle. This is a balanced, racy, European styled wine that will keep well. However, it lacks the richness of premier cru burgundies from the 2005 vintage or even from 2001 or 2000. My experience is wines that lack palate richness in the middle never develop the complexity and intensity of flavor over time. This wine has a good nose, reasonable finish although without distinct flavor elements. Frankly, vis a vis burgundy I don't know what commune I could place it, would be a lesser but quick to note that I've drunk many young more interesting premier cru Rullys. It is not closed and I'm writing this note based on the second ½ of the bottle, first half last night. I'm not as enamored with this as the 2014 but that wine has some holes (report later). I may drink these up young without the capacity to cellar wines that may not prove highly interesting in older age. Please take my assessment with a grain of salt ... I won't be buying these in the future, can't afford the temp controlled space.
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Peay Release Party 2017 (Peay Vineyards, Sonoma): Cooler climate - higher elevation than the Savoy. Sweet, floral nose. More white cherry and peach than black cherry. High acid, and fully medium satiny tannins. Very nice.
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Purchased a week ago in town, 1st taste impression to be supplemented on 5/7.
Very aromatic with spicy red fruit nose, light-medium color (garnet) and medium body. Spicy, acid driven entry and following impressions on palate. Average to average plus finish with indistinguishable flavor elements. Tannin in the background. I don't like this better than the 2014 (didn't write a note). Need to sample in 2 days. Pluses: good value for the money - high quality, potentially strong ager in a transitional European style. Since I drank my 1st Pomarium, courtesy of a friend some 8 years ago, this vineyard has matured and Vanessa Wong has crafted a wine of finesse and charm. No rating for now (own 4 2014 and 5 2015 after drinking each).
5/7 300 ml saved portion living 2 days with minimal air. Sampled small amount from original bottle yesterday - fresher, fuller. After 2 days conclusion is this wine will age well. Color saturation deepened, acidity subdued (as expected), tannin never much in evidence. Aromatics were still present, less so. Compared to yesterday the wine lost richness. Conclusion: If interest in near term - 2-3 years - drinking, buy the 2014. If interested in longer term, this is worth keeping. It isn't clear it will gain in the bottle, maybe so. I like it, hesitate to rate it, saw the 2014 as a 92-93 (partly because of spicy acidity without accompanying complexity). In my view this vineyard is coming into its own. Whether the 2015 is its debut is up to the collector. I'm keeping my 5 bottles, will buy some 2014 for near term.
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5/28/2023 - Cltjkirk wrote: 91 Points
Excellent and complex. Almost Burgundy like. Cherry with funk.
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11/30/2022 - wolfonthehill Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spectacular. Aging beautifully in wine fridge. Has 3+ years left without risk of fading.
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10/4/2021 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Brought to a friends. PnP served with ahi on the grill. Oh my what a pretty wine. Floral, red roses, raspberry, bing cherry, strong crushed rock core, sneaky tannins were soft and velvety. Umm, where can we get more? This was special.
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1/16/2021 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Prior bottle was 10 months ago and this wine has improved in that time, exactly along the lines I'd hoped. Mixture of black and red cherry on the nose along with some brighter red berries and earth notes. Medium bodied with rounded black cherry and slightly tart red berries upfront. Mid-body shows more density and more expression than my prior bottle. Black and red cherries are the dominant notes through the middle with some red raspberry and red berry highlights. Acidity and tart red cherry on the back and then mineral and earth notes through the finish. The fruit notes are showing much improved definition over my prior bottle and the balance between fruit and structure has improved as well. Especially after a couple of hours open, this wine is drinking very well at present. Should be able to hold this level and perhaps continue to improve over the next 12-18 months and should drink at a high level over the next 4+ years.
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4/17/2020 - Bellissimo wrote:
Served after a Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast and the contrast was striking. Yes there were some red berries up front but this was much more reserved and less lush. Red cherry leaning to raspberry up front with a mineral core and earthy finish. Can easily go another 5 years.
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3/7/2020 - RGCM Gananda wrote: 91 Points
All redfruits on the nose, especially red berries and red cherries, along with some light vanilla notes. Medium bodied (13% ABV) and at first, tighter, a touch lighter and more acidity dominated than I expected. Began to open up with time and after about four hours and warming from cellar temperature, finally started to come together. Pretty red berries and red cherry upfront, gains a bit of mid-body depth as well as some balance and roundness while showing just a touch of red raspberry. Lightly tart red cherry on the backside along with minerals, acidity and structural tannins. Given how elegant this wine typically is, it felt like it was still on the young side. I suspect the balance will continue to improve and I'll try my next bottle in early Q2 2021.
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2/4/2019 - wolfonthehill Likes this wine: 94 Points
Muted when first opened - every 15 minutes brought depth and character. On the big side - and just outstanding.
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11/4/2018 - theronware wrote: 93 Points
Opened this by accident-- thought I'd pulled the estate chardonnay to pair with our salmon burgers. No matter. This was really delicious -- Peay wines keep getting better and better. This has depth with elegance, a lightness on its feet that invites another sip while the flavors are rich and concentrated. I'm not going to use that overworked word that begins with a "B" but I really should. Really great stuff and so worth the tariff.
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4/21/2018 - melzar wrote: 93 Points
No one would mistake this for Burgundy, but if tasted blind I would have guessed Oregon. If pressed further, I probably would have blurted out Cristom, one of the four ladies. This wine may have changed my opinion of California Pinot. Beautiful Pinot Noir nose leads to a wonderful fruit filled palate. Good acidity. Oak a little dominant, but I expect that will integrate with a little bottle age.
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10/16/2017 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
Peay is one of my favorite producers. This bottle fits the winemaker’s profile of offering a nice balanced Sonoma Pinot Noir, with mild to moderate tannins and sweet but restrained red cherry and raspberry fruits. I like the dried spice notes. Youthful and elegant, I think it will benefit from additional cellar time.
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9/4/2017 - Chris@77 wrote: 90 Points
Wanted to try this again after reading the Vinous 95 rating and the 5/5 bottle (will not repeat anything from then) because I thought it might show something missing from the 1st bottle. This is a balanced, racy, European styled wine that will keep well. However, it lacks the richness of premier cru burgundies from the 2005 vintage or even from 2001 or 2000. My experience is wines that lack palate richness in the middle never develop the complexity and intensity of flavor over time. This wine has a good nose, reasonable finish although without distinct flavor elements. Frankly, vis a vis burgundy I don't know what commune I could place it, would be a lesser but quick to note that I've drunk many young more interesting premier cru Rullys. It is not closed and I'm writing this note based on the second ½ of the bottle, first half last night. I'm not as enamored with this as the 2014 but that wine has some holes (report later). I may drink these up young without the capacity to cellar wines that may not prove highly interesting in older age. Please take my assessment with a grain of salt ... I won't be buying these in the future, can't afford the temp controlled space.
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5/6/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 89 Points
Peay Release Party 2017 (Peay Vineyards, Sonoma): Cooler climate - higher elevation than the Savoy.
Sweet, floral nose.
More white cherry and peach than black cherry. High acid, and fully medium satiny tannins. Very nice.
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5/5/2017 - Chris@77 Likes this wine:
Purchased a week ago in town, 1st taste impression to be supplemented on 5/7.
Very aromatic with spicy red fruit nose, light-medium color (garnet) and medium body. Spicy, acid driven entry and following impressions on palate. Average to average plus finish with indistinguishable flavor elements. Tannin in the background. I don't like this better than the 2014 (didn't write a note). Need to sample in 2 days. Pluses: good value for the money - high quality, potentially strong ager in a transitional European style. Since I drank my 1st Pomarium, courtesy of a friend some 8 years ago, this vineyard has matured and Vanessa Wong has crafted a wine of finesse and charm. No rating for now (own 4 2014 and 5 2015 after drinking each).
5/7 300 ml saved portion living 2 days with minimal air. Sampled small amount from original bottle yesterday - fresher, fuller. After 2 days conclusion is this wine will age well. Color saturation deepened, acidity subdued (as expected), tannin never much in evidence. Aromatics were still present, less so. Compared to yesterday the wine lost richness. Conclusion: If interest in near term - 2-3 years - drinking, buy the 2014. If interested in longer term, this is worth keeping. It isn't clear it will gain in the bottle, maybe so. I like it, hesitate to rate it, saw the 2014 as a 92-93 (partly because of spicy acidity without accompanying complexity). In my view this vineyard is coming into its own. Whether the 2015 is its debut is up to the collector. I'm keeping my 5 bottles, will buy some 2014 for near term.
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