Screw-top. I'm revisiting this wine after eight and a half years, and what memory I have of it suggests it hasn't much changed other than taking on a smoother ride, like it got the Cadillac suspension upgrade. I'm realizing now, after reading Keith's note, that the "vodka greyhound cocktail" component I noted before, and which remains today, is better described by his passage on Cola. The bitters are interesting to say the least, and the sensation of hard liquor isn't off putting the way one might think, references to wine heat, lack of balance, and such. The light, red fruits on the nose follow to a tensive palate that's split between sweet, pure cherry/strawberry juices with florals and the grapefruit, vodka, black-tea, and yes, cola bean imbued second act.
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This beautifully structured Pinot was tasted in single-blind fashion. Medium red/garnet in color, it offers an intense aromatic profile of smoky red bramble fruits, strawberries, Asian spices and ganache. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, softly tannic and without noticeable alcohol (13.2%), it delivers flavors mirroring the nose. The wine's oak component is complementary, accenting but not dominating the fruit. Long and silky-textured on the back end, this is clearly in its prime. Well-cellared bottles should continue to show nicely for another 3-4 years. Drink now-2023.
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13.2% alcohol. Red cherry color. Very pretty, elegant nose of red cherry, flowers, and spice. In the mouth, linear and precise, with lightly tart cherry fruit, which packs a really nice wallop, and complex notes of roses and baking spice. Strong acidity and a smooth, lenghty finish. This still has plenty of life left, at least 5-7 years. A-
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Pinkish red, with a hint of brown, but clear. Still a nice, light nose on this wine, with strawberry, anise, ginger scents. A lot of acidity, and a decent amount of tannin. Thin on the palate, though that seems to be the style of the OGV. The fruit is coming thru with some air, but the acidity still dominates, with sour cherry and savory meats. Moderate finish. Not sure if this wine is past its prime or shut down, but it's no longer young. Would be better with food at this point.
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Still a beautiful bottle of California pinot noir, and still young, too. This was my last bottle of three - I should have bought more, as this is such a satisfying wine I could be happy drinking it every day. It is suave and supple and polished like an orb, with a thin, feminine figure but plenty of sappy fruit to give it a rich presence just the same. Along with the beautifully pure black-tinged fruit is a nice snap of something that, for the first time ever, makes me wonder whether "cola" might really be typical of Russian River Valley pinot noir and not just typical of overripe pinot noir, like most Russian River Valley pinot noirs other than Inman. There really is something vaguely cola-like about this, but not in the sense that it tastes like Cherry Coke (like, you know, most RRVs), but rather it has that pleasantly bitter taste of cola nuts and spices and other stuff that would go into cola before it just becomes sweet soda syrup. That's also the main thing that distinguishes this vintage vis-a-vis the '06 and '07, which were just as beautiful but more focused on the fruit.
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Light in color, light aromas of red cherry and a bit of funk. Maybe mushroom/forest floor. On the palate very delicate. Not a typical RRV fruit bomb style Pinot. Medium acidity. Noted would go well with food, but didn't have the chance for a pairing. I don't agree that this wine is fading, but rather it is a lighter style that's strength is in it's subtlety. With the screw top closure and the structure of this wine I would bet it would go at least another decade.
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Color: Pale Ruby, very light, translucent Nose: Hint of strawberry and vanilla Taste: A dash of spice, essence of strawberry and a bit of vanilla. This wine is thin, with faded fruit and a very almost bland taste. It doesn't offend, but doesn't add anything either. Someone commented it tasted like red water. Drink up if you have these - fading fast.
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13.2% alcohol. This has come along nicely. Light red color. Fragrant nose of red cherry, notable floral accents, and good spice and earth. In the mouth, this is distinctly feminine and light, yet packs a delicious, well-concentrated punch of red cherry fruit that marries delightfully well with the floral and earth notes. Good acidity leads to a caressing, gentle, yet persistent finish. A-
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Drinking beautifully at the moment. This was just unscrew and pour, no decanting. Light clear ruby in the glass, a beautiful thing to look at. Wonderfully effusive nose of cherry, spices, cedar and a hint of forest floor and sage. The nose is what makes this wine. Light body with bright acidity. 45-60 second finish.
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A light, feminine pinot...the perfect antidote after a KB binge. Translucent raspberry in the glass. Dried roses/cherry/raspberry. Very elegant with a touch of spice on the finish. Just a very pretty, pretty, albeit a bit simple, pinot at its peak.
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Popped and poured. this was not nearly as good as a bottle I had 1 year ago that I purchased directly at the winery (this bottle being purchased more recently from Cinderella Wine.com). While the bottle I had last year was restrained, elegant and feminine, this was kind of thin and lifeless, fruit had faded considerably, and was less vibrant.. I'm wondering how these CW bottles were stored all these years... but on the otherhand, perhaps an extra year had a big impact on the wine... iI suspect its time to drink up if you have them...
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PnP to glass with a few minutes to warm and aerate some. Nice dirty raspberry color and correctly translucent. As I had hoped, this wine has lovely floral components adorning its bouquet. These flowers mesh with orange zest to make a very bright and zippy experience. Undercurrents of raspberry and vanilla with red cherry stir beneath the fresh perfume. Now on the palate this has a feminine touch, gliding lightly along; but not so much silky as it is crunchy and fresh, like water bound orange pulp and raspberry flesh and raw cranberries cracking open under the bite through a porous velveteen teabag. This is extremely light bodied and almost bashful at points. The alcohol never spikes but you get a taste of it in a vodka greyhound cocktail kind of way at times. Underpowered concentration and a little bereft of depth, this Pinot does find a way to strip away all the superfluous elements more typical of its varietal realm -- the oak, heavy vanilla, heavy fruits and alcohol heat -- what remains strikes me as true and substantiating of its source. Just a little bit of earth and rocks show in the nice, clean finish -- this is a floral, bright and lite fruit play; little in the way of obvious tannins, but good acid structure. This was very, very quaffable, and I am glad to have more as I"m sure this will continue to drink well for a while yet.
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Super smooth and sexy bottle of pinot - perhaps just a bit richer than prior bottles. Red berries, spice, flowers and minerals on the palate. Elegant and slightly feminine with terrific balance, good acidity and a medium to long fruity finish. Everything seems like it fits together just right - probably at its peak right now.
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Nice RRV pinot that seems to be in its prime. Very light ruby color. Dried rose petal, dusty oak, strawberries and cherries on the nose. Bright red fruit on the palate with med-acid and fine-grained, balanced tannins. The dusty, fruit notes linger on the finish. I don't have a whole lot of experience with properly aged Pinot, but I thought this was solid for less than $30.
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A nose of cherry and dusty spice, medium ruby in color. A smooth, medium bodied Pinot, cranberry, cherries, dusty spice, at it’s peak or a bit past, a good Pinot Noir.
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Light ruby, semi-translucent cranberry color. tight, even a bit unyielding, classic RRV pinot nose hinting at rich sour cherry, violets and some pinot funk. nice balance, great acidity. tastes like the grapes were picked at optimal ripeness. nice follow through on the mid palate but I was hoping for just a bit more richness. very nice and made in an elegant, true, pinot style.
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Another great bottle. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, this looks lightweight and has a perfumed nose of rose petals, stawberry and spice, but packs a punch of flavors that match the nose, but are very deep and flavorful. I love the elegance combined with the rich flavors.
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Popped and poured, enjoyed with a dinner of pan seared opah cooked with garlic, ginger and lime and shrimp cooked with garlic, olive oil and champagne. Nice ruby red color. Nose and taste of red raspberries, graham cracker, clove. Very well balanced, nicely acidic, added weight and depth as it opened. A very nice wine which is improving each year.
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13.2% alcohol. Opened one hour before serving but not decanted. This is coming along fairly slowly. A wine built to age, with a light cherry color, clear at the rim of the glass. Beautiful, refined aromatics of red cherry, black cherry, flowers, and minerals unfold in the glass, revealing the distinctly feminine character of the wine. In the mouth, caressing and positively graceful, with pure if slightly restrained cherry fruit, a touch of spice, distinct minerals and floral notes, and bright acidity. Long finish. This has some upside and will be better with another year or two in bottle. A-
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Screw top finish, 13.2% ABV. Decanted about 30 mins before consumption. Strikingly light garnet color, very clear with a coppery rim, clear at the edge. Nose has red fruit, cherry, strawberry, with an earthy pinot funk and some spice. Palate is similar to the nose, red berries, forest floor, some baking spice. This hints at fruity RRV california pinot, letting you know the fruit is there and where it came from, but at the same time is very elegant, feminine and restrained. Really quite nice, and well done.
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My last 2005. Notes consistent with the others - but a bit smoother now. I think this was the favorite Pinot of the evening. Great mouthfeel and a bit of smoky finish. Berries and spices.
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Bouquet was bit muted today, didn't rise to prior occasions (but I did pop and pour). Color, acidity and mouth-feel still light and pleasant as always.
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Light ruby color, very expressive bouquet of red fruits with spice and cedar in the glass, carried over into the mouth. Light to medium body and a medium length finish.
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A clone of prior bottles. Light ruby color with a perfumed nose of rose petals, strawberry, spice and cedar. Aromas follow thru to the palate. Medium bodied with a very smooth mouthfeel and a medium, fruity finish. Very elegant and feminine, with lots of floral elements, but also with very good flavor intensity. Nothing I don't like about this wine. A very enjoyable alternative to the many rich, fruit-forward pinots from California.
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Popped (or rather "twisted") and poured. My first ever bottle of Inman, and I was very, very impressed. The color is a very light red/rose, that I could easily see thru. Delightful aromas of rose petals, with cherry, strawberry, herb and spice elements. The wine is lightweight, but with intense flavors of red berry, herbs, spice and some oak/cedar, with a smooth mouth feel and an vibrant, acidic finish. The wine is elegant and feminine, but also full flavored.. It definitely reminded me of a village burgundy. I really enjoyed this wine.
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Nice aroma of spices and red berries that match the palate. However, my wife thought the aroma reminder her of a large ink marker (non-Sharpie) and was turned off from that point on. Despite the great deal I got on this wine, I won't be buying more since it didn't pass the "wife test." :(
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Californian Pinots at Troquet with Kathleen Inman (Boston): Beautiful wine with lovely floral and red fruited aromas that reel you in and lead into a polished, glossy palate full of sappy red fruits, cinnamon, herbs and rose petal flavours. There's an incredible purity and elegance to the flavours here and a long refreshing finish that just stays with you. Wonderful.
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Elegant, polished and feminine with gorgeous aromatic notes of red cherry, rose petal, strawberry, cedar, and sweet oak spice. Light to medium bodied, and smooth textured but with great persistence of red fruit and cedar flavors. An outstanding effort with great acidity to keep this very friendly with food.
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Boy this wine just keeps getting better and better as it ages - it seems to be picking up richness and intensity. Lovely nose of rose ptetals, jasmine tea, strawberry and just a hint of spice.Nice thick palate with red fruit, sweet cinammon and rich syrup. Completely seamless from attack to a medium long finish. Outstanding!
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Popped and aerated in the glass for an hour, then paired with salmon. Nice ruby color. Refreshing nose evoking black cherry, raspberry, anise, and violets. Palate lushly textured and fine, showing pure raspberry fruit layered with iodine, dark plum, and a bit of iron. Refreshing acidity and long, lovely finish. Became more concentrated as the evening progressed. Really impressive showing at this early age.
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Popped and poured. It's everything I love in Pinot Noir - vigorous swirling reveals incredible nose of flowers, grilled meat, dusty roads, bright cherries, and sweet/savory spices. Very light bright clear red, with a little bricking at the edges. Lovely silken, sexy mouthfeel. The nose keeps telling me to stop drinking and sniff again... Light body, bright cherries and green tea on the palate and there's that grilled meat again. Soft and elegant. The kind of wine you don't drink at a tasting with big wines because this soft sexy voice will get lost in the din, but not because it is "less" but because it deserves all your attention. 30-45 second finish. Last glass was the very best - I'd decant for an hour or two next time.
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Rich nose with iron, limestone, musky underbrush, cedar, white pepper and strawberry fruit. Beautiful balance between red fruit, earth and acidity on the palate. Smoothly consistent from attack through to a medium long finish. Very nice indeed!
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Light, elegant, bright cherries and a paler softer pinot feel than the proceeding Jonata...Excellent but would've switched the batting order on these two
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"very pleasant" is the best way to describe it. not much in the way of nose (little smell) or color (very light), but the initial taste was powerful, fading to little aftertaste. but it was just so good that i kept drinking. not a "wow" wine, but nice and easy to drink. not worth $45, and wouldnt buy at that price again.
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Cal Poly Pomona Wine Dinner (Kellogg Ranch - Pomona, CA): This wine showed considerably better than the last time I tried it (I gave it 85 points back then). Delicate and refined notes of raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate, and clay. Nice acidity and good overall balance.
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Beautiful light ethereal color which matches the very feminine nose - cherry, strawberry cinammon and nutmeg, damp rich earth on the nose. Beautifully blalnced palate - nice blalnced fruit and a surpsingly firm backbone of tannic structure. Truly gracefully balanced.
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Family Winemakers of California (Pasadena, CA): Very restrained, almost to the point of being ethereal. Faint notes of raspberries, mineral, and a touch of stem. Sadly, this is a wine that would easily get lost in a crowd.
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Easy drinker with nice aroma of spice and berry on nose; very pleasant mouthfeel and enjoyable finish. I wanted this to be better than it was although it was still very enjoyable.
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Very nice aroma - red fruit, some spice. Well integrated with a good mouthfeel and mid-palet. Enough acid to give good balance. I really like what Kathleen does with this fruit.
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A modern miracle, California pinot noir at 22.6 (!!!) brix, finished at 13.2% ABV, and it sure makes a compelling argument for everybody to do it that way. This is a wine of polished elegance, as remarkable for what it lacks as for what it's got. No hint of licorice or cola or any of the other markers we're told are signatures of RRV terroir but are really just signatures of overripeness and fruit-juice winemaking. Even without that there is a certain gloss to the mouthfeel that shows its origins, the shininess hiding all the tannin and any other rough edges, making this a beauty to drink now.
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Chicago Pinot Dinner with Steve Rigisich (Feast Restaurant): Light ruby with an intriguing nose of chalk, cherries and spice. Medium bodied with velvety cherry fruit, minerals, earth and spice. Well balanced and elegantly styled with more length and end-to-end palate richness than the '04.
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Pinot Days in NYC 07 - LONG (javits center): light, excellent tannins, great acidity and balance, elegant..soo pleasant..this is a precious little gem - not the big 20 carrat diamond but that little garnet ring that you have treasured because someone you loved gave it to you
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Awesome as usual - lovely nose of cherry and earth that translates well onto the palete. This wine is so light and effortless, you will ask yourself why all pinot can't be this way. As the wine evolved through the night, hints of carmel and rose petals came through. The tannins showed themselves a few hours after opening by slightly drying the mouth. The Burg-like soft acidic finish was persistant throughout the night. Very enjoyable now, but will evolve into something awesome over the next 5 years.
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8/25/2019 - z_willus_d wrote: 92 Points
Screw-top. I'm revisiting this wine after eight and a half years, and what memory I have of it suggests it hasn't much changed other than taking on a smoother ride, like it got the Cadillac suspension upgrade. I'm realizing now, after reading Keith's note, that the "vodka greyhound cocktail" component I noted before, and which remains today, is better described by his passage on Cola. The bitters are interesting to say the least, and the sensation of hard liquor isn't off putting the way one might think, references to wine heat, lack of balance, and such. The light, red fruits on the nose follow to a tensive palate that's split between sweet, pure cherry/strawberry juices with florals and the grapefruit, vodka, black-tea, and yes, cola bean imbued second act.
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6/15/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
This beautifully structured Pinot was tasted in single-blind fashion. Medium red/garnet in color, it offers an intense aromatic profile of smoky red bramble fruits, strawberries, Asian spices and ganache. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, softly tannic and without noticeable alcohol (13.2%), it delivers flavors mirroring the nose. The wine's oak component is complementary, accenting but not dominating the fruit. Long and silky-textured on the back end, this is clearly in its prime. Well-cellared bottles should continue to show nicely for another 3-4 years. Drink now-2023.
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9/14/2015 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
13.2% alcohol. Red cherry color. Very pretty, elegant nose of red cherry, flowers, and spice. In the mouth, linear and precise, with lightly tart cherry fruit, which packs a really nice wallop, and complex notes of roses and baking spice. Strong acidity and a smooth, lenghty finish. This still has plenty of life left, at least 5-7 years. A-
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12/31/2014 - mhauser Likes this wine:
Pinkish red, with a hint of brown, but clear. Still a nice, light nose on this wine, with strawberry, anise, ginger scents. A lot of acidity, and a decent amount of tannin. Thin on the palate, though that seems to be the style of the OGV. The fruit is coming thru with some air, but the acidity still dominates, with sour cherry and savory meats. Moderate finish. Not sure if this wine is past its prime or shut down, but it's no longer young. Would be better with food at this point.
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2/14/2014 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still a beautiful bottle of California pinot noir, and still young, too. This was my last bottle of three - I should have bought more, as this is such a satisfying wine I could be happy drinking it every day. It is suave and supple and polished like an orb, with a thin, feminine figure but plenty of sappy fruit to give it a rich presence just the same. Along with the beautifully pure black-tinged fruit is a nice snap of something that, for the first time ever, makes me wonder whether "cola" might really be typical of Russian River Valley pinot noir and not just typical of overripe pinot noir, like most Russian River Valley pinot noirs other than Inman. There really is something vaguely cola-like about this, but not in the sense that it tastes like Cherry Coke (like, you know, most RRVs), but rather it has that pleasantly bitter taste of cola nuts and spices and other stuff that would go into cola before it just becomes sweet soda syrup. That's also the main thing that distinguishes this vintage vis-a-vis the '06 and '07, which were just as beautiful but more focused on the fruit.
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1/10/2014 - Spl232 wrote: 88 Points
past it's peak window, drinking a little flat, but still a favorite RRV pinot for me.
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2/10/2013 - trifecta Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light in color, light aromas of red cherry and a bit of funk. Maybe mushroom/forest floor. On the palate very delicate. Not a typical RRV fruit bomb style Pinot. Medium acidity. Noted would go well with food, but didn't have the chance for a pairing. I don't agree that this wine is fading, but rather it is a lighter style that's strength is in it's subtlety. With the screw top closure and the structure of this wine I would bet it would go at least another decade.
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11/16/2012 - mhauser wrote:
Pleasant but thin on the palate at this point. Not much fruit or body left. Not bad at all, but a bit past its prime
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4/17/2012 - smahk wrote: 87 Points
Color: Pale Ruby, very light, translucent
Nose: Hint of strawberry and vanilla
Taste: A dash of spice, essence of strawberry and a bit of vanilla.
This wine is thin, with faded fruit and a very almost bland taste. It doesn't offend, but doesn't add anything either. Someone commented it tasted like red water. Drink up if you have these - fading fast.
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4/1/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
13.2% alcohol. This has come along nicely. Light red color. Fragrant nose of red cherry, notable floral accents, and good spice and earth. In the mouth, this is distinctly feminine and light, yet packs a delicious, well-concentrated punch of red cherry fruit that marries delightfully well with the floral and earth notes. Good acidity leads to a caressing, gentle, yet persistent finish. A-
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2/22/2012 - subir wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully at the moment. This was just unscrew and pour, no decanting. Light clear ruby in the glass, a beautiful thing to look at. Wonderfully effusive nose of cherry, spices, cedar and a hint of forest floor and sage. The nose is what makes this wine. Light body with bright acidity. 45-60 second finish.
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12/20/2011 - dmatley wrote: 91 Points
A light, feminine pinot...the perfect antidote after a KB binge. Translucent raspberry in the glass. Dried roses/cherry/raspberry. Very elegant with a touch of spice on the finish. Just a very pretty, pretty, albeit a bit simple, pinot at its peak.
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2/22/2011 - Grape_ape wrote:
Popped and poured. this was not nearly as good as a bottle I had 1 year ago that I purchased directly at the winery (this bottle being purchased more recently from Cinderella Wine.com). While the bottle I had last year was restrained, elegant and feminine, this was kind of thin and lifeless, fruit had faded considerably, and was less vibrant.. I'm wondering how these CW bottles were stored all these years... but on the otherhand, perhaps an extra year had a big impact on the wine... iI suspect its time to drink up if you have them...
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2/1/2011 - z_willus_d wrote: 90 Points
PnP to glass with a few minutes to warm and aerate some. Nice dirty raspberry color and correctly translucent. As I had hoped, this wine has lovely floral components adorning its bouquet. These flowers mesh with orange zest to make a very bright and zippy experience. Undercurrents of raspberry and vanilla with red cherry stir beneath the fresh perfume. Now on the palate this has a feminine touch, gliding lightly along; but not so much silky as it is crunchy and fresh, like water bound orange pulp and raspberry flesh and raw cranberries cracking open under the bite through a porous velveteen teabag. This is extremely light bodied and almost bashful at points. The alcohol never spikes but you get a taste of it in a vodka greyhound cocktail kind of way at times. Underpowered concentration and a little bereft of depth, this Pinot does find a way to strip away all the superfluous elements more typical of its varietal realm -- the oak, heavy vanilla, heavy fruits and alcohol heat -- what remains strikes me as true and substantiating of its source. Just a little bit of earth and rocks show in the nice, clean finish -- this is a floral, bright and lite fruit play; little in the way of obvious tannins, but good acid structure. This was very, very quaffable, and I am glad to have more as I"m sure this will continue to drink well for a while yet.
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2/1/2011 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
Super smooth and sexy bottle of pinot - perhaps just a bit richer than prior bottles. Red berries, spice, flowers and minerals on the palate. Elegant and slightly feminine with terrific balance, good acidity and a medium to long fruity finish. Everything seems like it fits together just right - probably at its peak right now.
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1/16/2011 - pete s. wrote: 90 Points
Nice RRV pinot that seems to be in its prime. Very light ruby color. Dried rose petal, dusty oak, strawberries and cherries on the nose. Bright red fruit on the palate with med-acid and fine-grained, balanced tannins. The dusty, fruit notes linger on the finish. I don't have a whole lot of experience with properly aged Pinot, but I thought this was solid for less than $30.
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12/22/2010 - corkscrews wrote: 90 Points
A nose of cherry and dusty spice, medium ruby in color. A smooth, medium bodied Pinot, cranberry, cherries, dusty spice, at it’s peak or a bit past, a good Pinot Noir.
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12/15/2010 - flyinburrito wrote: 91 Points
Light ruby, semi-translucent cranberry color. tight, even a bit unyielding, classic RRV pinot nose hinting at rich sour cherry, violets and some pinot funk. nice balance, great acidity. tastes like the grapes were picked at optimal ripeness. nice follow through on the mid palate but I was hoping for just a bit more richness. very nice and made in an elegant, true, pinot style.
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11/25/2010 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
Another great bottle. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, this looks lightweight and has a perfumed nose of rose petals, stawberry and spice, but packs a punch of flavors that match the nose, but are very deep and flavorful. I love the elegance combined with the rich flavors.
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10/29/2010 - blondon wrote:
Popped and poured, enjoyed with a dinner of pan seared opah cooked with garlic, ginger and lime and shrimp cooked with garlic, olive oil and champagne. Nice ruby red color. Nose and taste of red raspberries, graham cracker, clove. Very well balanced, nicely acidic, added weight and depth as it opened. A very nice wine which is improving each year.
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4/5/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
13.2% alcohol. Opened one hour before serving but not decanted. This is coming along fairly slowly. A wine built to age, with a light cherry color, clear at the rim of the glass. Beautiful, refined aromatics of red cherry, black cherry, flowers, and minerals unfold in the glass, revealing the distinctly feminine character of the wine. In the mouth, caressing and positively graceful, with pure if slightly restrained cherry fruit, a touch of spice, distinct minerals and floral notes, and bright acidity. Long finish. This has some upside and will be better with another year or two in bottle. A-
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2/6/2010 - Grape_ape wrote: 92 Points
Screw top finish, 13.2% ABV. Decanted about 30 mins before consumption. Strikingly light garnet color, very clear with a coppery rim, clear at the edge. Nose has red fruit, cherry, strawberry, with an earthy pinot funk and some spice. Palate is similar to the nose, red berries, forest floor, some baking spice. This hints at fruity RRV california pinot, letting you know the fruit is there and where it came from, but at the same time is very elegant, feminine and restrained. Really quite nice, and well done.
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12/25/2009 - tederf wrote: 92 Points
My last 2005. Notes consistent with the others - but a bit smoother now. I think this was the favorite Pinot of the evening. Great mouthfeel and a bit of smoky finish. Berries and spices.
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11/15/2009 - subir wrote: 89 Points
Bouquet was bit muted today, didn't rise to prior occasions (but I did pop and pour). Color, acidity and mouth-feel still light and pleasant as always.
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11/15/2009 - Ali wrote: 92 Points
very ripe, but not jammy at all. Well balance with red fruits and a smokey finish. Wish I had more
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7/25/2009 - subir wrote: 92 Points
Light ruby color, very expressive bouquet of red fruits with spice and cedar in the glass, carried over into the mouth. Light to medium body and a medium length finish.
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7/15/2009 - rickspicks wrote: 93 Points
A clone of prior bottles. Light ruby color with a perfumed nose of rose petals, strawberry, spice and cedar. Aromas follow thru to the palate. Medium bodied with a very smooth mouthfeel and a medium, fruity finish. Very elegant and feminine, with lots of floral elements, but also with very good flavor intensity. Nothing I don't like about this wine. A very enjoyable alternative to the many rich, fruit-forward pinots from California.
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6/20/2009 - rickspicks wrote: 93 Points
Popped (or rather "twisted") and poured. My first ever bottle of Inman, and I was very, very impressed. The color is a very light red/rose, that I could easily see thru. Delightful aromas of rose petals, with cherry, strawberry, herb and spice elements. The wine is lightweight, but with intense flavors of red berry, herbs, spice and some oak/cedar, with a smooth mouth feel and an vibrant, acidic finish. The wine is elegant and feminine, but also full flavored.. It definitely reminded me of a village burgundy. I really enjoyed this wine.
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6/1/2009 - HFuzzell wrote: 93 Points
Disappeared VERY quickly :)
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5/17/2009 - mdaniel wrote: 89 Points
Nice aroma of spices and red berries that match the palate. However, my wife thought the aroma reminder her of a large ink marker (non-Sharpie) and was turned off from that point on. Despite the great deal I got on this wine, I won't be buying more since it didn't pass the "wife test." :(
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5/14/2009 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Californian Pinots at Troquet with Kathleen Inman (Boston): Beautiful wine with lovely floral and red fruited aromas that reel you in and lead into a polished, glossy palate full of sappy red fruits, cinnamon, herbs and rose petal flavours. There's an incredible purity and elegance to the flavours here and a long refreshing finish that just stays with you. Wonderful.
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4/2/2009 - BrewWench wrote: 86 Points
Very nice, especially after being open a bit.
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3/30/2009 - wino_tim wrote: 92 Points
Elegant, polished and feminine with gorgeous aromatic notes of red cherry, rose petal, strawberry, cedar, and sweet oak spice. Light to medium bodied, and smooth textured but with great persistence of red fruit and cedar flavors. An outstanding effort with great acidity to keep this very friendly with food.
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3/12/2009 - jreis wrote:
Boy this wine just keeps getting better and better as it ages - it seems to be picking up richness and intensity. Lovely nose of rose ptetals, jasmine tea, strawberry and just a hint of spice.Nice thick palate with red fruit, sweet cinammon and rich syrup. Completely seamless from attack to a medium long finish. Outstanding!
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2/24/2009 - Ali wrote: 92 Points
This is good stuff. Nice perfume
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2/18/2009 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hour and had a glass. Had a second glass after a 2 hour decant and it had improved further.
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1/15/2009 - spacewrangler wrote:
Reminds me of a village level Volnay, very feminine and floral nose.
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1/3/2009 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Popped and aerated in the glass for an hour, then paired with salmon. Nice ruby color. Refreshing nose evoking black cherry, raspberry, anise, and violets. Palate lushly textured and fine, showing pure raspberry fruit layered with iodine, dark plum, and a bit of iron. Refreshing acidity and long, lovely finish. Became more concentrated as the evening progressed. Really impressive showing at this early age.
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11/28/2008 - Opimian wrote: 92 Points
beautiful pinot, went very, very quickly :-)
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11/2/2008 - willowtree59 wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured.
It's everything I love in Pinot Noir - vigorous swirling reveals incredible nose of flowers, grilled meat, dusty roads, bright cherries, and sweet/savory spices. Very light bright clear red, with a little bricking at the edges. Lovely silken, sexy mouthfeel. The nose keeps telling me to stop drinking and sniff again...
Light body, bright cherries and green tea on the palate and there's that grilled meat again. Soft and elegant. The kind of wine you don't drink at a tasting with big wines because this soft sexy voice will get lost in the din, but not because it is "less" but because it deserves all your attention. 30-45 second finish.
Last glass was the very best - I'd decant for an hour or two next time.
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10/11/2008 - jreis wrote:
Rich nose with iron, limestone, musky underbrush, cedar, white pepper and strawberry fruit. Beautiful balance between red fruit, earth and acidity on the palate. Smoothly consistent from attack through to a medium long finish. Very nice indeed!
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7/4/2008 - tederf wrote: 92 Points
just great - i only have one more left:( big hit at our july 4 dinner.
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6/24/2008 - jmd60611 wrote: 91 Points
Light, elegant, bright cherries and a paler softer pinot feel than the proceeding Jonata...Excellent but would've switched the batting order on these two
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5/23/2008 - jehirsch wrote: 89 Points
"very pleasant" is the best way to describe it. not much in the way of nose (little smell) or color (very light), but the initial taste was powerful, fading to little aftertaste. but it was just so good that i kept drinking. not a "wow" wine, but nice and easy to drink. not worth $45, and wouldnt buy at that price again.
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5/10/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Cal Poly Pomona Wine Dinner (Kellogg Ranch - Pomona, CA): This wine showed considerably better than the last time I tried it (I gave it 85 points back then). Delicate and refined notes of raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate, and clay. Nice acidity and good overall balance.
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4/14/2008 - HFuzzell wrote: 94 Points
This is really opening up and is outstanding right now.
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4/8/2008 - jreis wrote:
Beautiful light ethereal color which matches the very feminine nose - cherry, strawberry cinammon and nutmeg, damp rich earth on the nose. Beautifully blalnced palate - nice blalnced fruit and a surpsingly firm backbone of tannic structure. Truly gracefully balanced.
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4/6/2008 - tim_c wrote:
A nice wine, but not my preference. Too reserved.
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3/18/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 85 Points
Family Winemakers of California (Pasadena, CA): Very restrained, almost to the point of being ethereal. Faint notes of raspberries, mineral, and a touch of stem. Sadly, this is a wine that would easily get lost in a crowd.
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3/18/2008 - lewrose@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Easy drinker with nice aroma of spice and berry on nose; very pleasant mouthfeel and enjoyable finish. I wanted this to be better than it was although it was still very enjoyable.
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3/9/2008 - tederf wrote: 92 Points
Very nice aroma - red fruit, some spice. Well integrated with a good mouthfeel and mid-palet. Enough acid to give good balance. I really like what Kathleen does with this fruit.
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2/29/2008 - LWilliams374 wrote: 93 Points
Really starting to come along.
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11/15/2007 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 94 Points
A modern miracle, California pinot noir at 22.6 (!!!) brix, finished at 13.2% ABV, and it sure makes a compelling argument for everybody to do it that way. This is a wine of polished elegance, as remarkable for what it lacks as for what it's got. No hint of licorice or cola or any of the other markers we're told are signatures of RRV terroir but are really just signatures of overripeness and fruit-juice winemaking. Even without that there is a certain gloss to the mouthfeel that shows its origins, the shininess hiding all the tannin and any other rough edges, making this a beauty to drink now.
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11/10/2007 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Pinot Days - Chicago (Navy Pier): In an elegant style. Soft perfume of cherries and spice. Fresh and restrained on the palate.
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10/18/2007 - spacewrangler wrote: 90 Points
Nice balanced red fruit attack, with a gorgeous floral and baking spice element. One of my favorite RRV pinots.
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8/14/2007 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
eBob California Pinot offline with Steve R. (Feast): Warm red cherry nose. Nice full cherry candy on the palate with a long structured finish. Definitely more balanced and a good step up from the 04.
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8/14/2007 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Chicago Pinot Dinner with Steve Rigisich (Feast Restaurant): Light ruby with an intriguing nose of chalk, cherries and spice. Medium bodied with velvety cherry fruit, minerals, earth and spice. Well balanced and elegantly styled with more length and end-to-end palate richness than the '04.
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4/29/2007 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Pinot Days in NYC 07 - LONG (javits center): light, excellent tannins, great acidity and balance, elegant..soo pleasant..this is a precious little gem - not the big 20 carrat diamond but that little garnet ring that you have treasured because someone you loved gave it to you
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3/17/2007 - SuitePhoto wrote: 93 Points
Awesome as usual - lovely nose of cherry and earth that translates well onto the palete. This wine is so light and effortless, you will ask yourself why all pinot can't be this way. As the wine evolved through the night, hints of carmel and rose petals came through. The tannins showed themselves a few hours after opening by slightly drying the mouth. The Burg-like soft acidic finish was persistant throughout the night. Very enjoyable now, but will evolve into something awesome over the next 5 years.
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