This is a deeply delicious, somewhat tannic, high acid, beautiful Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. We decanted for two hours. This wine has lots of time left on it. Here is what we taste: blackberry, orange peel, slate, light tobacco, and a lovely, well integrated, long finish.
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Youthful. Smells like deep, dark Pinot. Fragrant, blue fruits with orange peel. Super smooth on the palate, with lively blue, red, cherry fruits. High acid. Still thick and tart, even tannic. Hard to believe this is 9 years old. Really terrific. Keep holding; this has a lot of life.
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Wow. For a 2015 from CA, this really shows the potential of the West Sonoma Coast AVa. The nose is all blackberry, earth, vanilla and orange zest. Definitely a brooding wine and surprising big for a Pinot. Regardless, this is well balanced and Vanessa still has her Peter Michael influence here. The palate teems with acidity and more blackberry, sage, and earth. Mid + acid with mid-tannin. The finish is nice though could be a bit longer. More earth and soy notes there. With a few more years, the finish should show through better. Served with ribeye and potato pave with tarragon crème fraiche. A fantastic pairing.
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Prior note still applied. Medium ruby color. Perfumed earthy nose. Medium light red cherry, vanilla, crushed cranberry, violet. Well made. 13.2%. Consistently good across vintages
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Black raspberry, black cherry, earth, spices and a touch of vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied (13.2% ABV) with a combination of black raspberry and black cherry both upfront and through the middle. There's good fruit expression upfront and some nice nuances through the middle, but stops slightly short of the 2014 in terms of overall complexity. Good contrasting tart notes (tart black cherry and some brighter cranberry) along with balanced tannins and finishing mineral qualities. Not quite as well balanced as the 2014, but that could still improve with additional cellar time. Showing well at present and has the room to continue to evolve positively over the next 12-18 months with another year or so after that at a high level.
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cherry red to violet at the rim; sophisticated aromatics are elegant, showing elevated red fruits, sandalwood incense & allspice; suave & streamlined on the palate, the cherry profile is racy w/fine-grained mineral & a faint seaweed element. the filigreed weight & stylish finish are enchanting; likely best over the next 5 years for me.
sunny-side up farm eggs; roasted chicken hash w/rose fir fingerlings, romano beans & arugula
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The 2015s were a bit lighter but had the classic Peay elements of high minerality with forest floor character, very Burgundian at its core. The scallop shelf bottlings are my go to pairing with fish instead of a white or rose. They are light enough to not overwhelm but add a bit of body, especially if the fish has some heavy sauce or is grilled. My favorite pinot.
Solid Peay. Not a lot there to give confidence of a long aging potential but drinking well now. These Scallop Shelf bottles never fail to give that "close to the sea" harshness (and I mean that in a good way). These are not your typical overripe, rich pinot grapes that get into most California pinots. A great example that shows terroir really is a thing.
750ml; PnP; No detailed notes, but recollection of how smooth and gentle red fruitiness (cherry/raspberry) with a bit of red licorice framework. Could use just a bit more acidity to be better with food but a knockout by itself. Tannins well integrated so ready to drink now.
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1/28/2024 - VoVo Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a deeply delicious, somewhat tannic, high acid, beautiful Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. We decanted for two hours. This wine has lots of time left on it. Here is what we taste: blackberry, orange peel, slate, light tobacco, and a lovely, well integrated, long finish.
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1/12/2024 - rrschrumjr Likes this wine:
Youthful. Smells like deep, dark Pinot. Fragrant, blue fruits with orange peel. Super smooth on the palate, with lively blue, red, cherry fruits. High acid. Still thick and tart, even tannic. Hard to believe this is 9 years old. Really terrific. Keep holding; this has a lot of life.
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12/26/2023 - Jon Mills Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully balanced Pinot - fabulous!
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12/8/2023 - burgundyinabottle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wow. For a 2015 from CA, this really shows the potential of the West Sonoma Coast AVa. The nose is all blackberry, earth, vanilla and orange zest. Definitely a brooding wine and surprising big for a Pinot. Regardless, this is well balanced and Vanessa still has her Peter Michael influence here. The palate teems with acidity and more blackberry, sage, and earth. Mid + acid with mid-tannin. The finish is nice though could be a bit longer. More earth and soy notes there. With a few more years, the finish should show through better. Served with ribeye and potato pave with tarragon crème fraiche. A fantastic pairing.
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12/26/2022 - R.H. Likes this wine:
Big wine. But not out of balance and showing well. There’s good energy here and these should last
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12/1/2022 - wolfonthehill Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lighter than the pomarium but still exquisite.
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8/15/2022 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 92 Points
Prior note still applied. Medium ruby color. Perfumed earthy nose. Medium light red cherry, vanilla, crushed cranberry, violet. Well made. 13.2%. Consistently good across vintages
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4/11/2021 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Black raspberry, black cherry, earth, spices and a touch of vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied (13.2% ABV) with a combination of black raspberry and black cherry both upfront and through the middle. There's good fruit expression upfront and some nice nuances through the middle, but stops slightly short of the 2014 in terms of overall complexity. Good contrasting tart notes (tart black cherry and some brighter cranberry) along with balanced tannins and finishing mineral qualities. Not quite as well balanced as the 2014, but that could still improve with additional cellar time. Showing well at present and has the room to continue to evolve positively over the next 12-18 months with another year or so after that at a high level.
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11/26/2020 - StainedGlass wrote: 91 Points
Medium ruby color. Perfumed earthy nose. Medium light red cherry, vanilla, crushed cranberry, violet. Well made. 13.2%.
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11/15/2020 - Markjerome wrote: 91 Points
11/20
Needs more cellar time. Open end of 2021 or later
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9/22/2020 - pigdaddy wrote: 92 Points
cherry red to violet at the rim; sophisticated aromatics are elegant, showing elevated red fruits, sandalwood incense & allspice; suave & streamlined on the palate, the cherry profile is racy w/fine-grained mineral & a faint seaweed element. the filigreed weight & stylish finish are enchanting; likely best over the next 5 years for me.
sunny-side up farm eggs; roasted chicken hash w/rose fir fingerlings, romano beans & arugula
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7/28/2019 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious! Nice light fruit, smooth palate, light acidity, no aftertaste. Still has 2 more years of life, but drinking great now.
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7/27/2019 - Chris Likes this wine: 90 Points
The 2015s were a bit lighter but had the classic Peay elements of high minerality with forest floor character, very Burgundian at its core. The scallop shelf bottlings are my go to pairing with fish instead of a white or rose. They are light enough to not overwhelm but add a bit of body, especially if the fish has some heavy sauce or is grilled. My favorite pinot.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/8/2018 - Chris Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid Peay. Not a lot there to give confidence of a long aging potential but drinking well now. These Scallop Shelf bottles never fail to give that "close to the sea" harshness (and I mean that in a good way). These are not your typical overripe, rich pinot grapes that get into most California pinots. A great example that shows terroir really is a thing.
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5/8/2018 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 93 Points
very nice....a little more age.
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2/5/2018 - BornToRhone Likes this wine: 93 Points
750ml; PnP; No detailed notes, but recollection of how smooth and gentle red fruitiness (cherry/raspberry) with a bit of red licorice framework. Could use just a bit more acidity to be better with food but a knockout by itself. Tannins well integrated so ready to drink now.
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