Very deep ruby, almost purple at its core. Only vaguely Pinot Noir like on the nose, this offers aromas of fresh black cherries, blackberry jam, crème de framboise, violets and toast. To be very honest, this smells better than I expected it to; it isn't particularly stewed and lacks the burnt wood aromas found on many other Wagner family wines. Full bodied on the palate with medium acidity and what is almost certainly a dash of residual sugar adding viscosity but also helping pop the fruit flavors. This is not serious or intellectual wine, and after a glass grows tiresome, but it has an obvious appeal and surely many fans.
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The wine looks rosy colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like strawberry, cherry and light toast. It tastes like cranberry and cherry. The body is light. The wine has narrow texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.
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Like it “a lot” wasn’t an option. Huge pinot noir. fruits open to moderate tannins, depth, balanced tartness. The mix of tartness, lingering tannins, dark fruits lasts forever. Terrific
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So we enjoyed this wine, but it's much bigger, richer, almost jammy, very different from what I expect out of a Pinot. A lot of plum and dark fruit, missing the Pinot brightness, fresh acidity and subtlety that I really enjoy. It went fine with the NY steak dinner but this would not be a wine that I would grab if I was craving a good bottle of Pinot Noir. Looking through other notes after I wrote this, Been There nailed it - this is clearly quite intentional by the winemaker, the Wagner/Caymus formula they are replicating with this offering.
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Dark garnet, thin and a touch pink, minimal edge clearing Minimal nose, a touch of berry, a touch of loam? No joke grapefruit acidity hits up front with darker black berries and black cherries, and black pepper finish. Fortunately the fruit is not too sweet and this comes across dry but with incredible acidity. Thick body and mineral character. Low, fine tannins add body over the back of the tongue, but there is a touch of green lingering there. This is a bigger wine than I expected but is still good, the texture is amazing and the balance is great.
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Slightly heavier than the Dairyman and I think a bit better as well. But the differences are very minimal. For the same price I buy the Clark and Telephone if C&T is more expensive over a $ or two I buy the Dairyman.
This bottle was big fruit and good balance with nice long finish with a bit of tartness.
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We like West Coast Pinot Noir and bought a few bottles of this one based on a friend’s recommendation... the first two (rated 75) left us somewhat indifferent but this third one seemed better (hence the 82 rating)... we may give it another try at some point.
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This is intentionally decadent American Pinot Noir. Color closer to Syrah than Pinot? Yes. Residual sugar for crowd appeal? Yes. Candy, syrupy aspect to the fruit? Yes. Embarrassingly high ABV for Pinot Noir (14.6%)? Yes. Identifiable terroir (other than New World)? Nope. Quality/price acceptable? Nope. I would struggle drinking it at room temperature. But at 62°F, it’s drinkable, and very appealing for crowds at an upscale event. This wine is no accident; it’s targeted, formulaic and commercial, but without technical faults. I can’t decide whether that’s an accomplishment.
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Very pretty looking, deep purple in the glass, slightly less so around the rim. Nose is terrifically big, lots of black cherry and rich strawberry. But drinking this and man is it spineless. That alcohol and fruit are coming in way too hot, this is overpowering anything I pair with it. I have one more bottle, I’ll let it rest and decant for a bit but I don’t like my Pinots to be this harsh.
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I bought this after tasting at a Belle gloss dinner and it struck me at 92. This bottle was a nice fruity and medium+ bodied wine. There were plenty of fruit flavors but they were all bound up (nicely) together. Structure was solid with a nice medium finish of fruit and mild tannin. I did not see the Integrated and layered flavors I had experienced at the Dinner
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Opaque purple colour. Blackberry jam nose and cherry liqueur nose. Dark and full palate; weighty with saturated fruit, warm to hot alcohol and tart acidity. Fruity, sweet-centred finish. 3/5
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Very bright red cherry, cranberry and raspberry/strawberry jam at first pop. Aromas of wild blackberry and cedar box. Muted floral notes. Medium acidity and supple mouthfeel. Fine grained medium tannins with medium textural weight and structure. Abundant fruit is balanced by firm acidity and well-defined texture and complexity of structure that will open up and develop after 30 minutes and the finer elements, especially spice and subtle earth, will really begin working together optimally. The rating improved significantly from 89 to 91 after 30 minutes. The breathing time on this one cannot be overemphasized.
RELEASE DATE: October 2018
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This is a very big pinot noir. Very vanilla on the smell and goes through smoothly on initial taste to finish. The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, strawberry, cranberry, strawberry jam and vanilla. It tastes like vanilla, coconut, blackberry and cranberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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nose of deep prune, blueberry and raspberry, dark and fruit forward, blackberry concentrate, smoke, strawberry and cherry on the palate, somewhat jammy, with tons of deep flavor, feels clumsy for my palate
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11/27/2023 - wtianseter wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking nicely. Big fruity body and mouth. Fruity finish with medium tannin
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12/24/2022 - Senrab Likes this wine: 91 Points
The hit of a Christmas Eve prime rib dinner at Stevie Coles.
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10/20/2022 - wino_tim wrote: 82 Points
Very deep ruby, almost purple at its core. Only vaguely Pinot Noir like on the nose, this offers aromas of fresh black cherries, blackberry jam, crème de framboise, violets and toast. To be very honest, this smells better than I expected it to; it isn't particularly stewed and lacks the burnt wood aromas found on many other Wagner family wines. Full bodied on the palate with medium acidity and what is almost certainly a dash of residual sugar adding viscosity but also helping pop the fruit flavors. This is not serious or intellectual wine, and after a glass grows tiresome, but it has an obvious appeal and surely many fans.
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8/5/2022 - Jag76 wrote: 90 Points
The wine looks rosy colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like strawberry, cherry and light toast. It tastes like cranberry and cherry. The body is light. The wine has narrow texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.
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7/23/2022 - TMethvin1 wrote:
Gave bottle to Deborah renfroe to take home
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3/30/2022 - Esegreto wrote:
14.6% alc. by vol.
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12/3/2021 - Mark4w Likes this wine: 91 Points
A cab lovers Pinot. Very full bodied for a Pinot. Fruit forward and smooth rounded tannins. Very nice bottle as well.
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11/28/2021 - Casellar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Like it “a lot” wasn’t an option. Huge pinot noir. fruits open to moderate tannins, depth, balanced tartness. The mix of tartness, lingering tannins, dark fruits lasts forever. Terrific
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11/25/2021 - booksmiths Likes this wine: 90 Points
A good choice for Thanksgiving. It seemed to work with all of the flavors of a Thanksgiving meal.
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11/23/2021 - SDSUDons Likes this wine:
Was really good as always
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11/7/2021 - dariuskoenig Likes this wine: 88 Points
So we enjoyed this wine, but it's much bigger, richer, almost jammy, very different from what I expect out of a Pinot. A lot of plum and dark fruit, missing the Pinot brightness, fresh acidity and subtlety that I really enjoy. It went fine with the NY steak dinner but this would not be a wine that I would grab if I was craving a good bottle of Pinot Noir. Looking through other notes after I wrote this, Been There nailed it - this is clearly quite intentional by the winemaker, the Wagner/Caymus formula they are replicating with this offering.
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7/4/2021 - Sashimie Likes this wine:
Dark garnet, thin and a touch pink, minimal edge clearing
Minimal nose, a touch of berry, a touch of loam?
No joke grapefruit acidity hits up front with darker black berries and black cherries, and black pepper finish. Fortunately the fruit is not too sweet and this comes across dry but with incredible acidity. Thick body and mineral character. Low, fine tannins add body over the back of the tongue, but there is a touch of green lingering there. This is a bigger wine than I expected but is still good, the texture is amazing and the balance is great.
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3/18/2021 - Orange Tsian wrote: 90 Points
息比较上扬,有黑樱桃、黑加仑、黑莓、还有些黑水果糖等味道,但不会太宽,具有一定纵向线条感,带有一点点暗色花香,比较明显的热香料(肉桂卷等),一缕草本,四散铺展开的薄荷脑粉末带来的清凉感,收尾略带些无花果干。入口顺滑,结构比较立体,纵向线条感明显些,丹宁较低,但是铺满整个口腔,表现细腻如纱巾,比较舒服,整体平衡感不错。黑果香和嗅觉一致,还带有些药草,香草、肉桂卷等香料,中后段有来自桶味的香草奶油加成,使后段有圆滑的弧线,收尾较长。90+/100
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2/20/2021 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Another solid Belle Glos experience - Wagner family makes a solid Calif Pinot- tons of rich sun baked berry cherry fruit
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1/31/2021 - wtianseter wrote: 92 Points
Slightly heavier than the Dairyman and I think a bit better as well. But the differences are very minimal. For the same price I buy the Clark and Telephone if C&T is more expensive over a $ or two I buy the Dairyman.
This bottle was big fruit and good balance with nice long finish with a bit of tartness.
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11/24/2020 - Eric G Likes this wine: 82 Points
We like West Coast Pinot Noir and bought a few bottles of this one based on a friend’s recommendation... the first two (rated 75) left us somewhat indifferent but this third one seemed better (hence the 82 rating)... we may give it another try at some point.
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11/3/2020 - Plasmatini wrote: 88 Points
It’s not bad. It just doesn’t taste like Pinot noir.
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10/9/2020 - agsdlswine wrote: 84 Points
Disappointing. No Pinot characteristics w/Syrah like color & noticeable RS.
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7/2/2020 - Joedrexel21 Likes this wine:
Good
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6/19/2020 - Les Raisins Du Aron Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good fruity Pinot flavor, but nothing special.
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5/25/2020 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Bright, berry, and voluptuous.... bullocks this is good juice
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5/22/2020 - Been There wrote:
This is intentionally decadent American Pinot Noir. Color closer to Syrah than Pinot? Yes. Residual sugar for crowd appeal? Yes. Candy, syrupy aspect to the fruit? Yes. Embarrassingly high ABV for Pinot Noir (14.6%)? Yes. Identifiable terroir (other than New World)? Nope. Quality/price acceptable? Nope. I would struggle drinking it at room temperature. But at 62°F, it’s drinkable, and very appealing for crowds at an upscale event. This wine is no accident; it’s targeted, formulaic and commercial, but without technical faults. I can’t decide whether that’s an accomplishment.
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5/10/2020 - willie_p74 wrote: 75 Points
Very pretty looking, deep purple in the glass, slightly less so around the rim. Nose is terrifically big, lots of black cherry and rich strawberry. But drinking this and man is it spineless. That alcohol and fruit are coming in way too hot, this is overpowering anything I pair with it. I have one more bottle, I’ll let it rest and decant for a bit but I don’t like my Pinots to be this harsh.
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3/25/2020 - wtianseter wrote: 88 Points
I bought this after tasting at a Belle gloss dinner and it struck me at 92. This bottle was a nice fruity and medium+ bodied wine. There were plenty of fruit flavors but they were all bound up (nicely) together. Structure was solid with a nice medium finish of fruit and mild tannin. I did not see the Integrated and layered flavors I had experienced at the Dinner
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2/26/2020 - Double-A Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Opaque purple colour. Blackberry jam nose and cherry liqueur nose. Dark and full palate; weighty with saturated fruit, warm to hot alcohol and tart acidity. Fruity, sweet-centred finish.
3/5
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1/30/2020 - ChristiD Likes this wine: 90 Points
Had a taste of this wine. Was worthy of buying.
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1/9/2020 - NaturalizedTexan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good fruit but not jammy, raspberry and red currant flavors. The finish is dominated by a bright spiciness.
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12/25/2019 - erwanlemoing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still very good. Youthful, fruity, complex. A great pinot
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11/30/2019 - Smksmk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very bright red cherry, cranberry and raspberry/strawberry jam at first pop. Aromas of wild blackberry and cedar box. Muted floral notes. Medium acidity and supple mouthfeel. Fine grained medium tannins with medium textural weight and structure. Abundant fruit is balanced by firm acidity and well-defined texture and complexity of structure that will open up and develop after 30 minutes and the finer elements, especially spice and subtle earth, will really begin working together optimally. The rating improved significantly from 89 to 91 after 30 minutes. The breathing time on this one cannot be overemphasized.
RELEASE DATE: October 2018
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11/19/2019 - Coastaldrinker Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a very big pinot noir. Very vanilla on the smell and goes through smoothly on initial taste to finish.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, strawberry, cranberry, strawberry jam and vanilla. It tastes like vanilla, coconut, blackberry and cranberry. The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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11/5/2019 - mats13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fuller bodied than most pinot, delicious stuff esp with some air. Probably better if given a few years in bottle.
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11/4/2019 - rojoloco wrote: 90 Points
Way too young. I have 2016 I have been holding. Had a 2015 recently and it was ready to go.
This one I would hold 2 more years.
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10/15/2019 - Bud Break Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good better than Dairyman
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10/14/2019 - erwanlemoing Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice Pinot. Easy drinking. Light
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8/12/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Spice and ripe fruit, but not roasted fruit on the nose. Soft and generous on the palate. Big. Hot. Heavy.
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7/21/2019 - Gruffalius wrote: 89 Points
A bit over extracted. Dark berries, almost like berry pie filling.
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6/8/2019 - black sheep 2130 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful round taste with a soft fruit background. Long smooth finish.
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4/25/2019 - whits Does not like this wine: 79 Points
nose of deep prune, blueberry and raspberry, dark and fruit forward, blackberry concentrate, smoke, strawberry and cherry on the palate, somewhat jammy, with tons of deep flavor, feels clumsy for my palate
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4/20/2019 - riskvsreward Likes this wine: 91 Points
A bit fruity for my taste but definitely a nice, easy drinking Pinot for the price. Will buy some more
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4/13/2019 - apg23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice Wine for the price. Red fruit on the nose. Smooth and fruity in the mouth. Nice finish for a Pinot.
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3/30/2019 - TMethvin1 wrote:
Made by Wagner Family who make Caymus
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3/12/2019 - CMARSHALL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very jammy and full body. My favorite Pinot
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2/23/2019 - swade wrote: 92 Points
This had really nice pinosity. Bright, with raspberry and cola accents. Fine acids. 92
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2/12/2019 - DrNorm Likes this wine: 90 Points
Heavier than most pinot. Nice fruit, acidic finish.
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