It is a bit over the hill when I think back five or so years, but I’m pleased at how well this wine has held up.I was keeping a vertical together for some silly reason, nostalgia I guess, a big fan since the early years. It is somewhat astringent at the finish but not the entire evening, it went through periods of old dark Burgundian fruit copy cat, also times showing a bit of youthful fruit. Very little bricking, color is shockingly ruby and clear. Duck is the only way to go with this stuff...
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Consumed at the Palm Steak House in NYC. The bottle was filtered and decanted yielding a deep ruby liquor with intensely rich aromas of jammy blue fruits. An explosive and deep palate with a long finish made this a memorable bottle. Waiting to drink the second bottle was a worthwhile investment in time.
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This has still got legs, but don't leave em too much longer. We let it breathe for 45 minutes as it showed mild astringency, initially.
Visually, the wine is showing signs of "bricking" in the glass. On the nose, tobacco and a touch of cedar wood. Blackberries and cherries are still evident. On the palette, the tannins are still in the foreground, but are well integrated. Excellent texture and mouthfeel with exotic spices, but not as plush as we have come to expect from Heirloom. Nearly 14 years on, I am impressed that this has held up so well. Drink these bad-boys up before you lose em!
:0)
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Sort of a pinot for zin lovers. Big red & black fruit, aggressive tannin for a pinot, and a peppery sensation Fine for what it is but not very pinot like in my estimation Served with a pork rib cap dressed with truffle salt, bok choy, and Marcella Hazan's truffled pasta recipe.
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Filtered and decanted removing some dusting of sediment and yielding a ruby red liquor with odors of ripe red fruit and slight whiff of plumminess which blew off during the 1 hour wait before drinking. While we finished a 2001 Cristom Chardonnay it breathed and opened. The first sips had a mildlly funky and disturbing overtone of vegetation. After about 5 minutes in the glass, however, all of this blew off and revealed a rich, fruit bomb with strong black cherry and ripe strawbery flavors and a very lenghty finish with virtually no tannic bitterness. An excellent bottle, sadly, my last.
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1 hour decant or 2 hours open in bottle = GC, and yes by GC I mean Gevrey-Chambertin! Minerals, truffly earth, with power and elegance. The red cherry and strawberry fruit with the aforementioned flavors and aromas are all the supporting cast of a wondefully complex and lively marture California Pinot. Cheers to the Etude folks, formerly Soter as this was one of his last wines! Many California Pinot wish they could have this elegance, complexity and savoir-faire at this age!
What a way to have the last bottle!
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still early. tannins are not fully resolved. Much smoother the next day, but still needs time. Big sweet fruits, but a little cloying. if it all comes togethr, will be gorgeous
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Very nice CA pinot. Terrific nose of strawberries and spice with a velvety mouthfeel...not in that BIG CA style that can over-power food, this definitely complimented the meal. The finish cut a little short...perhaps it needed a little more time in the bottle to come together.
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Tasting at Etude (Carneros CA): Tasted at winery. Black cherry and blackberry aromas with nice floral touch. Big fruit shows good balance and grace, well supported by acidity and minerality. Long finish brings out some spice.
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2/28/2021 - Yak too Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still an enjoyable bottle with a grilled belly salmon over greens, however we did let this go a bit to long.
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1/10/2021 - Yak too Likes this wine:
It is a bit over the hill when I think back five or so years, but I’m pleased at how well this wine has held up.I was keeping a vertical together for some silly reason, nostalgia I guess, a big fan since the early years. It is somewhat astringent at the finish but not the entire evening, it went through periods of old dark Burgundian fruit copy cat, also times showing a bit of youthful fruit. Very little bricking, color is shockingly ruby and clear. Duck is the only way to go with this stuff...
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1/6/2018 - arp46 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consumed at the Palm Steak House in NYC. The bottle was filtered and decanted yielding a deep ruby liquor with intensely rich aromas of jammy blue fruits. An explosive and deep palate with a long finish made this a memorable bottle. Waiting to drink the second bottle was a worthwhile investment in time.
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12/7/2014 - TheDarkPrince Likes this wine: 91 Points
This has still got legs, but don't leave em too much longer. We let it breathe for 45 minutes as it showed mild astringency, initially.
Visually, the wine is showing signs of "bricking" in the glass. On the nose, tobacco and a touch of cedar wood. Blackberries and cherries are still evident. On the palette, the tannins are still in the foreground, but are well integrated. Excellent texture and mouthfeel with exotic spices, but not as plush as we have come to expect from Heirloom. Nearly 14 years on, I am impressed that this has held up so well. Drink these bad-boys up before you lose em!
:0)
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11/1/2012 - NNV Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Too old...
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7/29/2011 - cafecarlo wrote:
- Medium forming legs.
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4/3/2011 - suttonri wrote:
Sort of a pinot for zin lovers. Big red & black fruit, aggressive tannin for a pinot, and a peppery sensation Fine for what it is but not very pinot like in my estimation Served with a pork rib cap dressed with truffle salt, bok choy, and Marcella Hazan's truffled pasta recipe.
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2/11/2011 - Xian24 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Filtered and decanted. After letting sit for a while. very nice
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1/1/2011 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, RASPBERRIES, AND LICORICE IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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9/10/2010 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, RASPBERRIES AND LICORICE IN THE NOSE. CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES IN THE FLAVOR AND A MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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1/5/2010 - arp46 wrote: 92 Points
Filtered and decanted removing some dusting of sediment and yielding a ruby red liquor with odors of ripe red fruit and slight whiff of plumminess which blew off during the 1 hour wait before drinking. While we finished a 2001 Cristom Chardonnay it breathed and opened. The first sips had a mildlly funky and disturbing overtone of vegetation. After about 5 minutes in the glass, however, all of this blew off and revealed a rich, fruit bomb with strong black cherry and ripe strawbery flavors and a very lenghty finish with virtually no tannic bitterness. An excellent bottle, sadly, my last.
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12/25/2009 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
This one is easy:
1 hour decant or 2 hours open in bottle = GC, and yes by GC I mean Gevrey-Chambertin! Minerals, truffly earth, with power and elegance. The red cherry and strawberry fruit with the aforementioned flavors and aromas are all the supporting cast of a wondefully complex and lively marture California Pinot. Cheers to the Etude folks, formerly Soter as this was one of his last wines! Many California Pinot wish they could have this elegance, complexity and savoir-faire at this age!
What a way to have the last bottle!
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11/26/2009 - ricknat1 wrote: flawed
flawed, oxidized
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9/7/2008 - ricknat1 wrote: 88 Points
still early. tannins are not fully resolved. Much smoother the next day, but still needs time. Big sweet fruits, but a little cloying. if it all comes togethr, will be gorgeous
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5/1/2006 - jheathw wrote: 92 Points
Very nice CA pinot. Terrific nose of strawberries and spice with a velvety mouthfeel...not in that BIG CA style that can over-power food, this definitely complimented the meal. The finish cut a little short...perhaps it needed a little more time in the bottle to come together.
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9/4/2004 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Tasting at Etude (Carneros CA): Tasted at winery. Black cherry and blackberry aromas with nice floral touch. Big fruit shows good balance and grace, well supported by acidity and minerality. Long finish brings out some spice.
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