Last bottle from a batch bought from Bounty Hunter at release. Had to blow the dust off this one, almost forgot I had it. Fun to see how an old Soter wine has developed, thought it might be gone by now. Decanted for about 30 minutes, drank over 2 hours. Mild funk when first opened, blew off after 15 minutes.
Color is still vibrant, medium and clear ruby with mild separation at the edge. Nose is earthy, dark fruits, Fruit forward palate of plums, dusted black cherry and blackberry. Medium weight and finish.
This has mellowed from last bottles, becoming more mellow and elegant, even for a fruit forward CA Pinot...this has turned into a great wine to savor and contemplate over a longer evening. Would pair nicely with a range of foods. This should hold at this level for at least a few more years...nice surprise to the upside
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See prior notes - consistent with that bottle for flavor profile, nose and color. Drank this over two hours, this one really opened up. Even for those that don't like the riper CA Pinot style, this is a restrained and elegant Pinot by CA standards. Its aged nicely, right in its zone in my opinion.
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Been a few years since I had this version of Etude. Drank after a Woodenhead Russian River Valley (Valerie preferred the Woodenhead)
Popped and poured, some funky on the nose that blows off. Rich, deep and complex wine. Red and black cherry, spice, currants. Some sweetness mid palate - maybe honey/syrup. Medium finish.
Drinking beautifully right now, has life left in it. drink/hold
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Another good bottle, served last night with grilled Kurobuta pork chops from Jimmy P's in Naples. This was the first time I ever had this special kind of pork and we loved it -- actually found it more flavorful that a Wagyu #5 New York strip that we grilled the night before. Back to the Etude: I didn't notice any of the barnyardy smell that I detected in earlier bottles. Very smooth and rich, good length.
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nice nose, smooth to the taste, very nice finish. The wine looks Tawny colored. The legs are Medium. The body is Light/Medium. The wine is textured Smooth. The wine finishes Medium.
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Dark red fruit. Spicy currants, black pepper and allspice. Nice fleshly roundness on the palate. Excellent balance on the finish. A few years in the bottle has softened the edges on this beauty. Love it.
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Popped and poured. Perhaps I should have decanted... I had a hard time getting past the funky nose - all I could smell was blue cheese. It blew off after about 30-45 minutes. However, It was difficult for me to appreciate anything this wine subsequently had too offer...
I have fond memories of previous bottles from this vintage. I hope this was just an off bottle...
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Decanted and tasted, a little funk in the nose blew off after 30 min, revealing a burgundian like nose of earth, red fruits and smoke, that continue through the palate, finnishing somewhat short. I would not hesitate holding this wine for a couple of years in a cool cellar.
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This was better than I expected, light garnet medium bodied with no hot alcohol or tannins but with good acidity to have with a meal. Not much nose on opening but pleasant red fruit tastes, red plum. Try some more Etude's offerings.
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Drank at Thanksgiving. Very nice structure, fine tannins, dark fruit. Slightly smokey with a medium finish. Not a fruit bomb (which is appreciated) and food-friendly.
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True red-purple color. The word for this is thin. Dried cherries, some brush, lemon and a quick fade. That's what there is - drink this with food. A disappointment given the $.
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14.2% alcohol. Tasted over 4 hours. Initially begins with a funk, but then the aromas evolve into dark cherries, mandarin oranges, maple syrup, and truffles. And while initially very thin on the attack, by the second hour the palate fleshes out and wine shows nice Bing cherry, mandarin orange, and pink grapefruit flavors. A nice effort and should pair well with lighter foods.
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Definitely a restrained type of Cal pinot; alcohol in check, faint whiff of dark cherry and rose, medium intensity, modest finish and texture. Not much oak. Very good for a basic. Enjoyable with the meat courses at Four Rivers.
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Very nice juice and just short of outstanding. Medium color, not much happening on the nose, but a bit of black cherry can be coaxed out with swirling. Excellent texture, not too thin or acidic. Bright red and black cherry on the palate with deft use of oak. Could use another year or so to bring out the incipient aromas but certainly enjoyable right now.
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Firm purple color and a nose of tart cherry with some earthy notes and spice. Pretty smooth entry and a medium to firm rounded grip of well textured fruit and a medium finish. And a medium personality...not bad, not great, but even and pleasnt... making this a very nice sipper.
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Part of the blind price point tasting. This was a great wine to drink by itself. Typical RRV fruit, some spice, and a dark to the core color of rasberry/blackberry. Decent wine, but not sure I'd buy it again.
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clear ruby with purple flashes, bing cherry and raspberry fruit with cinnamon/vanilla spice, tar, toast, smoke and stony earth, palate with fresh berry fruit, medium acid and silky tannins, some heat on medium finish, very good but not all the way up to the producer's high standards. 1st vintage for this bottling so I expect their do better in '05. 2G (Glazer's, 30.00)
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Really came to life with 2 hours of air. Rich purple. Nose of dark fruits, vanilla, and a hint of cedar. Lots of dark fruits at entry to the palate giving way to leather and tobacco. Decent finish -- a little heat right after opening the bottle but no sign of it later -- with a kiss of chocolate.
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Very good bottle of pinot. Slightly letdown b/c Etude can do better. Very thin-bodied pinot with nose of cherry and spice. Lots of fruit with little backbone to this wine. Some heat on the finish. Looking forward to better Etude offerings.
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Pinot on the River #3, Nose of barnyard, dark fruit, earth, very much a Carneros nose, more of the same on the palate, medium body, lovely tasting today, medium/long finish. Expensive but probably worth it.
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At $24, couldn't pass it up the six bottles sitting there looking me in the eye. Garnet in color. Slight barnyardy nose with a touch of sweet fruit. Big, earthy flavors in the mouth. Nice length. Popped and poured with dinner; I feel this will evolve into something even better over the next couple years.
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Color is ruby/garnet. Nose is faint. Light red fruit, some pinot characteristic, some earthiness. Palate is very dry and unimpressive. Not what I remember from my last Etude PN. Not what I expected. Glad to make room for new Pinots.
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All the reasons to love Pinot Noir. Garnet colored. Lovely legs. Nice barn yard nose with suggestions of brambles. A nice big, dry mouth full of flavorsfrom dusty berries to limestone to earth. I sipped from my glass over the course of 2 hours. During that time the nose got nearly sweet and the finish changed to one where tobacco and chocolate could be tasted on the finish. Lovely.
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Probably closer to an 89. This wine seemed very young and slightly disjointed but with solid components. I picked up some heat on the finish which brought down my score. If this one stays out of the "jammy, candied" flavors as it ages it has potential. Probably not worth more than ~$35. Included in a restaurant flight.
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This is an exceptional Pinot. I personally find this winery to be the most consistent of the many I have experienced. Greta earthiness and great fruit balanced with a smooth finish.
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1/12/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Doesn't look or taste it's age; still quite tannic.
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9/16/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle from a batch bought from Bounty Hunter at release. Had to blow the dust off this one, almost forgot I had it. Fun to see how an old Soter wine has developed, thought it might be gone by now. Decanted for about 30 minutes, drank over 2 hours. Mild funk when first opened, blew off after 15 minutes.
Color is still vibrant, medium and clear ruby with mild separation at the edge. Nose is earthy, dark fruits, Fruit forward palate of plums, dusted black cherry and blackberry. Medium weight and finish.
This has mellowed from last bottles, becoming more mellow and elegant, even for a fruit forward CA Pinot...this has turned into a great wine to savor and contemplate over a longer evening. Would pair nicely with a range of foods. This should hold at this level for at least a few more years...nice surprise to the upside
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8/2/2015 - Bethesda Paul wrote: 90 Points
Earthy smell and somewhat overly tannic on the finish. Improved once decanted over a few hours. Paired nicely with grilled barbecue pork chop.
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2/16/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
See prior notes, right in its zone. Will last but probably not improve much. Paired with Provençal chicken and sautéed potatoes...worked well
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1/27/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
See prior notes - consistent with that bottle for flavor profile, nose and color. Drank this over two hours, this one really opened up. Even for those that don't like the riper CA Pinot style, this is a restrained and elegant Pinot by CA standards. Its aged nicely, right in its zone in my opinion.
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12/22/2012 - walkerjfw wrote: 90 Points
Been a few years since I had this version of Etude. Drank after a Woodenhead Russian River Valley (Valerie preferred the Woodenhead)
Popped and poured, some funky on the nose that blows off. Rich, deep and complex wine. Red and black cherry, spice, currants. Some sweetness mid palate - maybe honey/syrup. Medium finish.
Drinking beautifully right now, has life left in it. drink/hold
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8/31/2011 - mouton45 wrote: 91 Points
Another good bottle, served last night with grilled Kurobuta pork chops from Jimmy P's in Naples. This was the first time I ever had this special kind of pork and we loved it -- actually found it more flavorful that a Wagyu #5 New York strip that we grilled the night before. Back to the Etude: I didn't notice any of the barnyardy smell that I detected in earlier bottles. Very smooth and rich, good length.
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4/3/2011 - asbrookes Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice nose, smooth to the taste, very nice finish.
The wine looks Tawny colored.
The legs are Medium.
The body is Light/Medium.
The wine is textured Smooth.
The wine finishes Medium.
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9/3/2009 - kenv wrote: 95 Points
WCC California Pinot Noir Blind Tasting (Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY): Muted but very appealing nose. Rich, delicious, and complex. Long, mildly tannic finish. This is a great bottle of wine. A true meditation wine. WOTN for me.
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6/1/2009 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured, simular to 10/19/08 notes, maybe a little less funk.
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3/7/2009 - Deadhead wrote: 90 Points
Thankfully the funk I encountered on our last bottle was nowhere to be found with this bottle. Dark fruits and medium body. Very nice bottle.
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1/23/2009 - ptelgenh wrote: 90 Points
delicate offering of red cherries, faded roses and earth. Medium bodied with nice balance. Well integrated. Drinking nicely right now.
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1/2/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Dark red fruit. Spicy currants, black pepper and allspice.
Nice fleshly roundness on the palate. Excellent balance on the finish.
A few years in the bottle has softened the edges on this beauty. Love it.
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12/30/2008 - spretzer wrote: 91 Points
enjoyed, nice, balanced, earthy pinot
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11/11/2008 - Deadhead wrote: 84 Points
Popped and poured. Perhaps I should have decanted... I had a hard time getting past the funky nose - all I could smell was blue cheese. It blew off after about 30-45 minutes. However, It was difficult for me to appreciate anything this wine subsequently had too offer...
I have fond memories of previous bottles from this vintage. I hope this was just an off bottle...
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10/19/2008 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and tasted, a little funk in the nose blew off after 30 min, revealing a burgundian like nose of earth, red fruits and smoke, that continue through the palate, finnishing somewhat short. I would not hesitate holding this wine for a couple of years in a cool cellar.
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10/18/2008 - Double D wrote: 92 Points
This was better than I expected, light garnet medium bodied with no hot alcohol or tannins but with good acidity to have with a meal. Not much nose on opening but pleasant red fruit tastes, red plum. Try some more Etude's offerings.
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1/13/2008 - lano wrote: 90 Points
Bright and fresh on the palate with great balance of tannin and acidity. Medium bodied and pairs well with food.
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1/12/2008 - Rani wrote: 89 Points
Drank at Thanksgiving. Very nice structure, fine tannins, dark fruit. Slightly smokey with a medium finish. Not a fruit bomb (which is appreciated) and food-friendly.
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12/26/2007 - ljl203 wrote: 88 Points
True red-purple color. The word for this is thin. Dried cherries, some brush, lemon and a quick fade. That's what there is - drink this with food. A disappointment given the $.
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12/2/2007 - shaneajohnson wrote: 89 Points
Nice.
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9/7/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
14.2% alcohol. Tasted over 4 hours. Initially begins with a funk, but then the aromas evolve into dark cherries, mandarin oranges, maple syrup, and truffles. And while initially very thin on the attack, by the second hour the palate fleshes out and wine shows nice Bing cherry, mandarin orange, and pink grapefruit flavors. A nice effort and should pair well with lighter foods.
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8/26/2007 - sdr wrote: 88 Points
Definitely a restrained type of Cal pinot; alcohol in check, faint whiff of dark cherry and rose, medium intensity, modest finish and texture. Not much oak. Very good for a basic. Enjoyable with the meat courses at Four Rivers.
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8/3/2007 - sdr wrote: 89 Points
Very nice juice and just short of outstanding. Medium color, not much happening on the nose, but a bit of black cherry can be coaxed out with swirling. Excellent texture, not too thin or acidic. Bright red and black cherry on the palate with deft use of oak. Could use another year or so to bring out the incipient aromas but certainly enjoyable right now.
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6/26/2007 - dawgdaze wrote: 89 Points
Color: Light Ruby, Aroma: blackberry. Tasting notes: tobacco & chocolate. Nice fruit with a good balance.
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6/3/2007 - chrisraub wrote: 87 Points
A hint of cherry on the nose. Easy on the palate. Smooth, middle of road pinot noit.
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5/16/2007 - Tejano wrote: 89 Points
Firm purple color and a nose of tart cherry with some earthy notes and spice. Pretty smooth entry and a medium to firm rounded grip of well textured fruit and a medium finish. And a medium personality...not bad, not great, but even and pleasnt... making this a very nice sipper.
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4/15/2007 - shudave wrote: 91 Points
Part of the blind price point tasting. This was a great wine to drink by itself. Typical RRV fruit, some spice, and a dark to the core color of rasberry/blackberry. Decent wine, but not sure I'd buy it again.
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4/8/2007 - dhonig wrote: 90 Points
Light nose with a hint of oak and vanilla. Oaky palate, with vanilla and leafy terroir. Pleasant balance, not too fruity.
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2/15/2007 - Barberolo wrote:
clear ruby with purple flashes, bing cherry and raspberry fruit with cinnamon/vanilla spice, tar, toast, smoke and stony earth, palate with fresh berry fruit, medium acid and silky tannins, some heat on medium finish, very good but not all the way up to the producer's high standards. 1st vintage for this bottling so I expect their do better in '05. 2G (Glazer's, 30.00)
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2/10/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: flawed
CORKED!
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1/22/2007 - ClassicWater wrote: 90 Points
Really came to life with 2 hours of air. Rich purple. Nose of dark fruits, vanilla, and a hint of cedar. Lots of dark fruits at entry to the palate giving way to leather and tobacco. Decent finish -- a little heat right after opening the bottle but no sign of it later -- with a kiss of chocolate.
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12/25/2006 - WineGirl66 wrote: 90 Points
Nice bottle, very smooth wine.
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11/6/2006 - spacewrangler wrote: 87 Points
Very good bottle of pinot. Slightly letdown b/c Etude can do better. Very thin-bodied pinot with nose of cherry and spice. Lots of fruit with little backbone to this wine. Some heat on the finish. Looking forward to better Etude offerings.
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11/4/2006 - 97mjr wrote: 89 Points
Moderate concentration, good mouth feel. brambleberry, herbs. Likely to improve with time. Pleasant but unmemorable, preferred the 02
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10/29/2006 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pinot on the River #3, Nose of barnyard, dark fruit, earth, very much a Carneros nose, more of the same on the palate, medium body, lovely tasting today, medium/long finish. Expensive but probably worth it.
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10/25/2006 - plitton wrote: 86 Points
Overextracted and not a great value at $38.
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10/18/2006 - mouton45 wrote: 90 Points
At $24, couldn't pass it up the six bottles sitting there looking me in the eye. Garnet in color. Slight barnyardy nose with a touch of sweet fruit. Big, earthy flavors in the mouth. Nice length. Popped and poured with dinner; I feel this will evolve into something even better over the next couple years.
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10/6/2006 - caboychuck wrote:
Color is ruby/garnet. Nose is faint. Light red fruit, some pinot characteristic, some earthiness. Palate is very dry and unimpressive. Not what I remember from my last Etude PN. Not what I expected. Glad to make room for new Pinots.
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9/10/2006 - nubbin wrote: 90 Points
All the reasons to love Pinot Noir. Garnet colored. Lovely legs. Nice barn yard nose with suggestions of brambles. A nice big, dry mouth full of flavorsfrom dusty berries to limestone to earth. I sipped from my glass over the course of 2 hours. During that time the nose got nearly sweet and the finish changed to one where tobacco and chocolate could be tasted on the finish. Lovely.
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7/17/2006 - Winetex wrote: 88 Points
Probably closer to an 89. This wine seemed very young and slightly disjointed but with solid components. I picked up some heat on the finish which brought down my score. If this one stays out of the "jammy, candied" flavors as it ages it has potential. Probably not worth more than ~$35. Included in a restaurant flight.
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5/26/2006 - winelover1 wrote: 90 Points
This is an exceptional Pinot. I personally find this winery to be the most consistent of the many I have experienced. Greta earthiness and great fruit balanced with a smooth finish.
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