Nice black cherry aromas w a bit of bark. Palate w nice black cherries, bark, a bit of medicinal herbs. Nice acids on a full body. Some cola on the back end. Mild+ tannins w nice acids. Nice fruit and bark on the finish. 90+
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Soft red in color. A soft raspberry and spice nose. Fruit is faded but still nice, strawberry, raspberry. Sharp tannins and acidity, just a bit out of balance. Finishes long but hard. Still drinkable but definitely past prime. In general, Brian's pinots hold up better than he (at least used) to claim. But there's a breaking point and this one has reached it.
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The “Loring Red” of the wine remains intact despite the age of the wine. Sweet cherry, Asian 5 spice, cola and vanilla on the nose with deep intensity. The mouthfeel is lively and fresh with integrated tannins. The attack is big and the mid-palate respectable, but it all comes up short on the finish. A very satisfying Loring. 14.7% alc. With duck cassoulet and the Schreibers and Fords. Recommended.
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A youthful magenta rim with a burgundy core. Black cherry, pomegranate, Dr. Pepper, cinnamon, tobo, with a deep and intense, well-fruited nose; shy and retiring, it ain’t. The bouquet comes to life as it transitions over to the palate. The powdery tannins glide across the tongue. Bold, bright fruit goes deep on the attack and carries through to an unfortunately short finish. Despite the length of the finish, this remains a classic Loring Pinot. 14.7% alc. No significant sediment. With leftover pork tenderloin under a mustard-horseradish sauce. Recommended.
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The wine was a translucent garnet color with a little bricking. There's a bit of bruléed funky raspberry fruit jam, and a distant salinity of the sea, that tastes like there was a pinch of cardamon added to the mix long ago such that it had permeated the full bouquet just a little bit. The bottle was given to me by Mr. Loring as a gift after visiting his facility in Lompoc, prior to release, and has been stored with care since then. It's super fresh today, and has a life ahead. He told me that this vineyard starts off with walls that come down over time to reveal fruit. I'm glad I saved this bottle because he was right.
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An opaque Loring red; this looks like a classic Loring Pinot. Even with the slightest dollop in the glass, light does not escape the glass when looking through the wine. Cranberry dominates the wine from the first opening. Following that is cola, plum, and Asian 5 spice. Dr. Pepper joins the palate of flavors in the mouth. The mouthfeel is soft, even velvety and delivering a very long finish. This is such an easy drinking wine! Everything comes together here with precision. Delicious! 14.7% alc. Sediment grains compliment the last pours. With panko crusted salmon under a mustard sauce. Recommended.
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14.7% abv. I liked this more than I expected to like it. It is a little hot from the alcohol but it has bright fruit and prominent spice. It suggests purple plums and perhaps spices from India. I'm not sure if the quality is bolstered by the age of the wine or by the inherent quality of the grape source--the Clos Pepe Vineyard--or both.
The thin rim is cranberry then quickly shading to ... Loring opaque. Light cannot escape from the core of this wine. The nose is full with ripe, deep, bing cherry, Asian 5 spice, blueberry (?), Dr. Pepper and rosemary. How precise the flavor profile follows the nose is hard to say, but suffice that it’s precise. The finish segues to mineral/graphite with a smokey goodness. But the real story here is how wonderfully incredible the mouthfeel is. It’s rich. It’s satiny. It’s balanced. And it’s wonderfully complete. One of the best Loring Clos Pepe yet! 14.7% alc. With rack of lamb under a pecan, molasses, mustard and garlic; killer. Easter. Recommended.
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Opened during snowstorm, for hearty meal, lightish coloring, redolent of very ripe raspberries on the nose, this medium bodied pinot displaying effervescent bright fruit notes of raspberry and cherry. Day two plus under vac-u-vin this continues to be somewhat light bodied, with oak driven phenols on a raspberry wave.
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This pinot is really drinking well. Nose of earth, eucalyptus, spice, pepper ans a little cigar. Flavors beautifully integrated with fruit, floral and spice. Happy to have one left. way better than earlier bottle.
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etail $50. I have chronicled on this blog before my affinity for Clos Pepe fruit. I have also stated several times that Brian Loring does a fabulous job and even though most of his wines are consumed fairly early on, I think his wines hold up very nicely with some additional age. Thus, this bottle promised to be a home run. It was. Deep, rich fruit (but not overpowering) with secondary flavors bursting out on the mid palate. The finish was firm, enticing, and long. Outstanding. 92-94 Points.
Big and bold with nice chewy fruit and good balance. California Pinot through and through and few do it better than Brian. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Loring is known for rather big and bombastic wines. Starting with ripe Clos Pepe fruit getting such a wine is not a stretch. Since I generally eschew those blockbusters, I held on to this for a while. I think Brian Loring would agree that he thinks his wines should be consumed young, but this really held up. Sure the fruit was more muted, sure it was not over the top. But it was good. Outstanding even. My type of Pinot.
Less fruit, more acid compared to last time. We'll see how the bottle opens up, but I'm less enthused than previously (although it's a perfectly drinkable bottle of wine).
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Cranberry colored at the core with that color carrying to the rim. This is still a young wine. Black cherry, earth and smokey cinnamon on the attack that morphs to a longish finish of lavender, anise and herbs. A wine of excellent balance and depth. Yeah, the Loring exuberance appears on the attack, but depth and complexity and length sets this wine apart. A tiny amount of sediment. 14.1% alc. With grilled duck with blackberry-plum sauce. BBH joined us this weekend. Highly Recommended.
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Old world style wine that paired well with food. Tart cherry flavors with medium body. The finish however, had an acidic astringency that was not pleasant.
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Faint fruit aroma, medium little fruit on the palate, sharp acidic finish. The second day saw nice cherry fruit emerge from the acidic background, balancing each other.
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Too tart for me. Had a hard time getting through the bottle. The next day it was still tart and never wholly developed into anything impressive. Maybe past it's prime? Loads of sour red fruit if you like that kind of thing.
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Very much like the ‘04 bottling, but a bit hot initially. After it settles down, it is very much like the ‘04 bug bigger, fuller with cherry, smoke, herb and cola. Not a bit hot at all - a very pleasant discovery. Very velvety as the night wears on. Like the ‘04, it pairs nicely with the truffle salt. 14.7% alc. A second wine with smoked duck with blackberry sauce (and a side of mashed potatoes). Recommended.
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RicksPicks' Nov-2010 review below nailed this for me, though I'd round down a notch on the rating. Still liked it, and expect it to please others, but not my favorite.
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Black, sour cherry and spice on the nose, and also a dose of alcohol. Medium boded with rich, intense flavors that match the nose along with some plum and oak. Big wine and big structure with a medium slightly acidic finish. Nothing subtle about this wine - it is a big blast of flavor and texture.
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The bottle was taken to the lawn seating area of an outdoor theatre to share with friends and consumed out of plastic cups (apologies to Brian!). The Pinot funk and sour fruit profile came through and the bottle was enjoyed by all who imbibed. The second and last bottle will be treated with more respect...and savored.
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Dark, rich fruits hide behind tannin and acids to imply that we have not seen the best this has to give yet. A complete success for the vintage, this needs another year or two to start showing some of the complexities of age.
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much more structured than other Lorings I've tasted. More tannin, more acid, but the same intensity of fruit. Flavors of mud, roots, ripe berries, and blackberry-rhubarb jam (or what I imagine blackberry-rhubarb jam to taste like). Very good. 88-89
EDIT: Day two. Like most Lorings, I find this not as good on day two. More bitter, with a dusty component and more prominent alcohol (fruit has probably faded to the background). I don't know how many times I have to make a mental note of this, but I'll do it again: "finish the night you open, ya goober."
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Took this delicious last bottle of this vintage and appellation from Loring to enjoy before seeing the Zac Brown Band with Chris on a beautiful late summer evening in the city. Although we drank it out of Solo cups the wine still offered flavors of rich fruit and spice with a funky nose. Some black cherry, plums and a touch of spicy oak. Nice end to my supply of this wine.
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Brought to Amanda and Tim's for fried chicken dinner. Nice pairing. This wine is drinking really well now. The last bottle I have is in the "time to drink up" que.
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Drinking very nicely now, rich fruit and spice, lovely funky nose. We emptied this one in a blink. Nice for only our second "dinner on the deck" of the summer.
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Decanted for 30 mins. Medium to dark ruby color. Black cherry, kirsch, plums and a touch of spicy oak on the nose. More juicy red fruit flavors on the palate with a definite raspberry cream aspect and a bit of vanilla and sweet spice as well. No heat on the back end this time around so the extra bottle time certainly helped in that respect. Silky smooth mouthfeel and a long, sweet finish. A nice treat for a weeknight wine.
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Just an exceptional bottle of wine. Still exhibits rich, fresh fruit flavora and aromas and has matured into even a more balanced representative of some of Brian's finest work. Dark berries with some forest floor funk round out this delicious Pinot Noir.
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I didn't have the standout experience that others mentioned. For me, the tartness of the cherry overwhelmed a chance at other nuanced flavors. Good ruby color and enough oak on the finish to end well and preserve some balance.
11/11/11 I noted some plum and a little blackberry to balance the cherry this time. Good balance, but still missing some complexity I would have hoped for. Overall I rated this a couple of points higher the second time around.
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A bit of earth and ripe cherries on the nose. Some spice and minerals with a floral hint. Great mothfeel and filled the palate nicely. Fill of ripe fruit flavor and could have had a touch more acidity but wonderful to drink in any case. Rich and intense but with good balance.
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Burgundy dinner with the Nervie's (McAfee house): Smoky oak, black cherry liquor, a little raisin/prune, smooth mouthfeel, lower acidity, and a little backend warmth. This didn't pair as well with the meal, but was better than the Burgs as a stand-alone drink. My 4th of the night.
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Rich garnet with some purple hints in color. Black cherry, spice and earth on the nose. Rich black cherry flavors, some black fruit with a hint of tartness, strawberry. Rich mouthfeel. Nice juicy acidity and drinking great now.
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Very nice nose of black cherry, minerals, spice, earth, oak and a bit of floral element. Aromas carry over to the palate with rather rich, intense flavors. Medium to full bodied, but still light on its feet with excellent balance and good grip. Very much in the Loring style of big, bold pinots.
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Garnet color. Notes of black cherry, mineral and earth with a floral undertone. Well-balanced, with red and black fruit tones and a nice medium+ finish.
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Also had this on New Year’s Eve after having an ’06 Siduri from Clos Pepe as well. This seemed to drink in a similar style to the Siduri, and I actually ended up rating them both exactly the same. This was my first ’06 Clos Pepe from Loring, so I didn’t have a previous bottle to compare it to. This bottle was unscrewed and left open over the course of 2 hours at cellar temperature. Very similar ruby/garnet color as the Siduri, with a nose black cherry and tons of spice. You could also smell the alcohol on the nose, and it was definitely more prevalent than the Siduri. Once this wine came up to room temperature, there were more strawberry and earth tones to it, as well as some red fruits, but again, nothing stood out. On the palate, there was again some tart black fruit, with subtle hints of raspberry, strawberry and cherry. No hints of cola whatsoever in this bottle, but again some nice acidity and a bit of tannin. The alcohol came through a bit on the finish, and just proves that this could really use a good 3-4 hour splash decant, or an aggressive decant. Good pinot, but I don’t know if it is worth the price tag at this point. This seems to be more and more of a reality for me with ’06 pinot, but who knows. Regardless, still nice to drink, but not the Loring that I have grown to love. 89 points.
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Deep purplish hue. Earth, strawberry and red berries on the nose. Some darker fruit flavors on the palate with plums, cherry , cola and more red berries. Nice juicy palate and vibrant flavors.
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A little bit of earth and a little bit of strawberries and cola on the nose. Nice, juicy palate with hints of strawberries. Classic pinot taste with vibrant flavor. Will age for a few years but is drinking well now. Loring wines rarely disappoint!
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18 months since the last bottle so there is some history to build on for me here. This showing is very nice, probably the best 2006 Loring of the bunch for me so far to date. Tea, mineral, cranberry, creamy black cherry, with a bit of a drying finish. it lingers with a long sense of mineral and red fruited raspberry acidity. Very nice work, Brian.
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Terrific nose of red berries, strawberry, truly pinot in character, and a little green earth. On the palate it was nice, crisp, but full of flavor. Terrific acidity, adequate red berry fruit and a little stemmy in nice way.
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popped and poured...dark color..the nose seemed a bit tight at first but opened up with some dark fruit on the nose and spice...on the palate it seemd a bit off balance..medium bodied with spice and cherries ..A good amount of black pepper on the back end along with a tad of heat...Pretty good overall but does not compare to the 06 siduri clos pepe which i had a few weeks back....I would no doubt decant this wine when I open my next bottle. I have 1 left in my cellar and will not be adding.
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Purple tinged ruby in color. Nice Pinot nose, blackberry and raspberry with a little earth. Palate shows plums and black cherry. Got better with air. Crisp acidity, some Asian spice and cola.
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Popped and decanted, but immediately began to pour. Purchased at the Winery Restaurant in Tustin. Deep purple hue. Spicy blackberries and raspberries with some underlying damp earth on the nose. Started out a little awkward with lots of nice flavors, but none of it really coming together to make a cohesive flavor profile. Dark fruit, plums, and black cherry flavors with some cola, clove, and medium acidity into the slightly hot finish. After about 45 minutes or so in the decanter, this hit its stride in a big bad way as everything integrated and exploded with elegant, but vibrant flavors that really showed well with my scallops, prawns, and saffron risotto as well as with my wife's filet mignon. This was my first Loring pinot and now I know what all the hype is about.
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Excellent bottle of Pinot from this popular vineyard as crafted by Brian Loring. Lighter ruby red. Spicy sweet oak, cherry and plum on the nose. Silky elegance with big fruit flavors of blackberry, cherries, cola and asian spices. Rich tannins and crisp acidity.
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Opened not decanted. Purchased off the list at the Wood Tavern, Oakland. Subtle, tart fruit on the nose. On the palate: strong tangerine with citrus peel and citrus rind; very light in body with a semi-dry finish. It through some beet slaw like sediment in the last glass. While enjoyable, this seemed really narrow; and never opened up to develop beyond the fruit tartness. Needs some serious time in the cellar to round out, maybe 2-3 years? Good, but I would not recommend to drink any right now if you have some in the cellar.
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Popped and poured drank half the bottle night one. Nose of Black fruit, tar, a little strawberry. night one it wasn't giving up that much, not the over extracted fruit forwardness that's typical of a loring pinot. Night two actually like it more, tart cherry, cola, not quite ripe strawberry almost had some cabernet characteristics to it, Held up nicely to a new york strip.
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this was good but not great - nice colour, lacking a little Pinot character on the nose, although still interesting. Palate similar, nice Pinot weight, not overdone, nice cherry and strawberry fruit, but with a little dry brush, wood on the finish which made this more tight and unyeilding than expected. Overall pretty good, let down by the nose and finish.
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Review of 2006 Pinot Noir (Think Cafe Restaurant, Chicago, IL): Sight: Medium red colored wine of an unusual low viscosity. Nose: Tar and some asphalt notes are initial standouts. Black cherry came across nicely too. An odd note that I could not place - reminded me of "'Lectric Shave". Taste: Warm with some alcohol heat. Flamed cherries and an overall rich mouthfeel. Overall: 89 Points. Stoung thoughts of syrah in the mix at the table for this tasting. One other comment - when I went to enter a tasting note I was amazed at how many varieties of 2006 Pinot Noir that Loring produces. Given the vaste number of varieties that they produce, it makes me wonder if they can actually focus on creating a solid wine rather than a large number of good but not great pinots.
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Cali Pinot at Think Cafe (Think Cafe, Chicago, IL): Dark nose...just dark. Plum, cherry, crushed dark pepper...D A R K. Front end brings those fruits with a big grip. While powerful it's kind and does not rip the mouth but just firmly grabs it. Peppercorns reappear with the dark fruit in the mid. Again, powerful but elegant through the finish.
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a few 2006 cali pinots(with a couple of 05s) (think cafe, chicago IL): nose: dark and brooding nose with loads of dark cherries, black spices, and bits of peppercorns. This was not close to the normal extracted loring style that I'm used to, but still had a heavy backdrop to it
taste: medium/full bodied(for a pinot) with plum tones, dark cherries, and black spices. More elegant on the palate with the body to match
overall: The feel really wins this wine for me, but the nose was in a way non-descript. Well balanced and placed flavors on the palate, but just doesn't seem to stand out in a way or meld together in perfect harmony, it just exists in the plane it is, and while nice, doesn't really inspire
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Decanted for around 2 hours yesterday prior to pouring. Gorgeous color. Deep garnet with perfect clarity, translucent edges and strong legs. Upon initial opening (prior to decanting), the wine had a strong barnyard funk to the nose but that blew off during the decanting process and what remained was loads of sweet cherries. Cherries really dominated the entire nose and continued to the palate where it reminded me of the cherry liquer inside those chocolate covered cherries. Great, long sweet finish. The wine is still young and I think would benefit from some additional bottle time. Not many secondary flavors to speak of right now and there was a tad of heat that I believe subside as well. Looking forward to re-trying in another 1-2 years.
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This is actually a very elegant wine. Nose of forest floor and black fruit. Palate is well balanced and no sign of alcohol for such a high percentage. Not hugely complex, but very refined and tasty.
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I have a feeling this will be a particularly noteworthy bottle of wine in several years...no problem with oak or heat...lots going on...throwing off a bit of sediment...
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A big, ripe, tannic wine that could use a bit more time for sure. Beautiful ruby color with those little pinkish highlights that let you know this can't be some black-as-night Cabernet. Nice aromatic complexity, starting out earthy and then picking up a great well of savory red fruits, especially raspberries, and some nice spice and tobacco notes as well. Excellent length on the finish with both fruit and spice intertwined. Still quite tannic on the palate, but there is an excellent core of fruit lurking just beneath. Give it a good six more months or so and it may score even higher. Now I'm jus trying to figure out what went wrong with the Rosella's (very simple, just a little cherry and that was it) and especially the Cargasacchi (no aroma or flavor to speak of at all, yet not in the way of a closed wine, just one with no aroma or flavor!)
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Loring Pinot Noirs with Brian Loring (Village Wines at City House): Exceptional wine with forward, but not extracted fruit, balanced with clos pepe peperiness, some exotic spice, and a nose of cherry and cigar/leather/musk. Nice finish. I prefer the Lorings slightly less young, and this should be exceptional in a year or two.
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I decanted this wine about 5 1/2 hours. The nose had a lot sweet raspberry and cherry, a spicy middle, and a hint of oak at the end. The palate was smooth with nice tartness, and had cherry cola, spice, and some vanilla on the finish.
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OPened for an hour but didn't decant. Solid core of fruit/spice with terrific structure. Just started to emerge as I finished 4 hours after opening. Will be better I think with 6-12 more months bottle age.
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Decanted 4 hours. Dense dark ruby appearance with intense dark pinot fruit (primarily cherry) on the nose and mid palate sensation of cherry, raspberry, vanilla and cigar box spice with long lingering finish. Not showing much oak at this stage but a big wine that was nicely balanced. Drank side by side with a 2005 Clos Pepe Estate (not decanted). Both wines were very different even though the same fruit but equally as good once the '05 CP Estate had a chance to open up. It really showed off the different winemaking styles.
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Drinking very nicely now but I think a little more time is in order. I really liked how this wine had big fruit but was not heavy or forceful on the palate. I thought this showed a very nice balance of oak and not as toasty as some other Lorings. Slightly bitter on the finish on the finish but not distracting. Needs a bit of air time and while I often keep these wines fairly cool, this shows very nicely when it gets to a proper temperature.
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Drank next to Dain's 2006 Juliet and the ROAR 2003 Pisoni this just didn't compare. A fine wine, with a tight core of fruit, but over 4 hours it didn't really develop from the dark cherry notes and rich mouthfeel. I liked the acid streak in the wine.
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Man, this is drinking so well and is just delicious. I had the good fortune to taste it 2X over the course of this past weekend, both presented blind. And in fact, in the second setting, this wine was presented when my palate and perceptions were quite clear and pure. In the first settting, it showed plush, dark and even a bit tight with my TN showing the word "promise". The second setting, it was even better, with my notes saying beautiful, complex with nice layers and with lovely palance. This wine has yet to be released but for me, given the balance and depth shown here, an easy purchase--well done, Brian.
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Wow... prerelease bottle, opened it at the Casual Saturday tasting at the Wine Hotel... beautiful perfume nice, beautifully balanced and lush mouthfeel... i'm definitely buying a bunch when this is released in the spring....
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Wow, this has been in the barrel only 6 months or so, but is already incredible. Once it's blended and aged, it will be a knock-out. Even better than the '05, I don't go by critics scores but I would be surprised if this didn't get notice. Pre-buy if you can from the winery. I know I will...
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10/1/2022 - James Kim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice black cherry aromas w a bit of bark. Palate w nice black cherries, bark, a bit of medicinal herbs. Nice acids on a full body. Some cola on the back end. Mild+ tannins w nice acids. Nice fruit and bark on the finish. 90+
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7/22/2021 - Charlie C wrote: 80 Points
Soft red in color. A soft raspberry and spice nose. Fruit is faded but still nice, strawberry, raspberry. Sharp tannins and acidity, just a bit out of balance. Finishes long but hard. Still drinkable but definitely past prime. In general, Brian's pinots hold up better than he (at least used) to claim. But there's a breaking point and this one has reached it.
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2/17/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
The “Loring Red” of the wine remains intact despite the age of the wine. Sweet cherry, Asian 5 spice, cola and vanilla on the nose with deep intensity. The mouthfeel is lively and fresh with integrated tannins. The attack is big and the mid-palate respectable, but it all comes up short on the finish. A very satisfying Loring. 14.7% alc. With duck cassoulet and the Schreibers and Fords. Recommended.
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5/4/2017 - timewithwine wrote:
A youthful magenta rim with a burgundy core. Black cherry, pomegranate, Dr. Pepper, cinnamon, tobo, with a deep and intense, well-fruited nose; shy and retiring, it ain’t. The bouquet comes to life as it transitions over to the palate. The powdery tannins glide across the tongue. Bold, bright fruit goes deep on the attack and carries through to an unfortunately short finish. Despite the length of the finish, this remains a classic Loring Pinot. 14.7% alc. No significant sediment. With leftover pork tenderloin under a mustard-horseradish sauce. Recommended.
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2/8/2017 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine was a translucent garnet color with a little bricking.
There's a bit of bruléed funky raspberry fruit jam, and a distant salinity of the sea, that tastes like there was a pinch of cardamon added to the mix long ago such that it had permeated the full bouquet just a little bit.
The bottle was given to me by Mr. Loring as a gift after visiting his facility in Lompoc, prior to release, and has been stored with care since then.
It's super fresh today, and has a life ahead. He told me that this vineyard starts off with walls that come down over time to reveal fruit. I'm glad I saved this bottle because he was right.
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12/8/2016 - timewithwine wrote:
An opaque Loring red; this looks like a classic Loring Pinot. Even with the slightest dollop in the glass, light does not escape the glass when looking through the wine. Cranberry dominates the wine from the first opening. Following that is cola, plum, and Asian 5 spice. Dr. Pepper joins the palate of flavors in the mouth. The mouthfeel is soft, even velvety and delivering a very long finish. This is such an easy drinking wine! Everything comes together here with precision. Delicious! 14.7% alc. Sediment grains compliment the last pours. With panko crusted salmon under a mustard sauce. Recommended.
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9/1/2016 - wondersofwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
14.7% abv. I liked this more than I expected to like it. It is a little hot from the alcohol but it has bright fruit and prominent spice. It suggests purple plums and perhaps spices from India. I'm not sure if the quality is bolstered by the age of the wine or by the inherent quality of the grape source--the Clos Pepe Vineyard--or both.
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4/10/2016 - rnellans wrote: 90 Points
Jammy ripe raspberry with some cola and spice. Medium body. Lack depth. Still a bit of fruit. Short finish . I would drink up.
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4/5/2015 - timewithwine wrote:
The thin rim is cranberry then quickly shading to ... Loring opaque. Light cannot escape from the core of this wine. The nose is full with ripe, deep, bing cherry, Asian 5 spice, blueberry (?), Dr. Pepper and rosemary. How precise the flavor profile follows the nose is hard to say, but suffice that it’s precise. The finish segues to mineral/graphite with a smokey goodness. But the real story here is how wonderfully incredible the mouthfeel is. It’s rich. It’s satiny. It’s balanced. And it’s wonderfully complete. One of the best Loring Clos Pepe yet! 14.7% alc. With rack of lamb under a pecan, molasses, mustard and garlic; killer. Easter. Recommended.
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5/24/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully, medium body Pinot, as I like it.
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5/7/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 89 Points
Will not improve from here.
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2/13/2014 - Senso-beak wrote: 86 Points
Opened during snowstorm, for hearty meal, lightish coloring, redolent of very ripe raspberries on the nose, this medium bodied pinot displaying effervescent bright fruit notes of raspberry and cherry. Day two plus under vac-u-vin this continues to be somewhat light bodied, with oak driven phenols on a raspberry wave.
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12/11/2013 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured at Anvil for boys' night out with Ram and the ESO. Cola, cherry, plum and earth tones. Nice fruit through the finish. 89-90 pts.
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12/11/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Allred at Anvil. Black cherry notes with some baking spice as well.
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8/7/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 91 Points
This pinot is really drinking well. Nose of earth, eucalyptus, spice, pepper ans a little cigar. Flavors beautifully integrated with fruit, floral and spice. Happy to have one left. way better than earlier bottle.
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7/22/2013 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
etail $50. I have chronicled on this blog before my affinity for Clos Pepe fruit. I have also stated several times that Brian Loring does a fabulous job and even though most of his wines are consumed fairly early on, I think his wines hold up very nicely with some additional age. Thus, this bottle promised to be a home run. It was. Deep, rich fruit (but not overpowering) with secondary flavors bursting out on the mid palate. The finish was firm, enticing, and long. Outstanding. 92-94 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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6/22/2013 - ljl203 wrote:
Sadly the fruit seems to have left my bottle.
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4/26/2013 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big and bold with nice chewy fruit and good balance. California Pinot through and through and few do it better than Brian. Outstanding. thedrunkencyclist.com
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3/8/2013 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 91 Points
Loring is known for rather big and bombastic wines. Starting with ripe Clos Pepe fruit getting such a wine is not a stretch. Since I generally eschew those blockbusters, I held on to this for a while. I think Brian Loring would agree that he thinks his wines should be consumed young, but this really held up. Sure the fruit was more muted, sure it was not over the top. But it was good. Outstanding even. My type of Pinot.
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12/7/2012 - alpha_ori Likes this wine: 87 Points
Less fruit, more acid compared to last time. We'll see how the bottle opens up, but I'm less enthused than previously (although it's a perfectly drinkable bottle of wine).
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11/3/2012 - alpha_ori wrote: 91 Points
This works for me. Good acid, red fruit, earth, cola. Good concentration.
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9/22/2012 - timewithwine wrote:
Cranberry colored at the core with that color carrying to the rim. This is still a young wine. Black cherry, earth and smokey cinnamon on the attack that morphs to a longish finish of lavender, anise and herbs. A wine of excellent balance and depth. Yeah, the Loring exuberance appears on the attack, but depth and complexity and length sets this wine apart. A tiny amount of sediment. 14.1% alc. With grilled duck with blackberry-plum sauce. BBH joined us this weekend. Highly Recommended.
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9/17/2012 - cakebread88 wrote: 93 Points
Bottle from last night even better after 24 hours.
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9/16/2012 - cakebread88 wrote: 91 Points
Not sure why such a difference in the two bottles. Give it half an hour.
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9/13/2012 - cakebread88 wrote: flawed
Dead bottle.
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3/6/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 86 Points
Vague red fruit on the nose, massive acidity on the palate
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1/30/2012 - davidspieker wrote: 84 Points
Old world style wine that paired well with food. Tart cherry flavors with medium body. The finish however, had an acidic astringency that was not pleasant.
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1/17/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 87 Points
Faint fruit aroma, medium little fruit on the palate, sharp acidic finish. The second day saw nice cherry fruit emerge from the acidic background, balancing each other.
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10/16/2011 - ListenToMeWine wrote: 82 Points
Too tart for me. Had a hard time getting through the bottle. The next day it was still tart and never wholly developed into anything impressive. Maybe past it's prime? Loads of sour red fruit if you like that kind of thing.
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9/3/2011 - Edclr wrote: 85 Points
Alcohol to high. Unbalanced. Overwhelms fruit.
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8/28/2011 - ginfizz wrote: 88 Points
Acidity creeping up on this one. Good red fruits, some tanning, acidity, crisp. I will hold for another couple of years.
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8/27/2011 - timewithwine wrote:
Very much like the ‘04 bottling, but a bit hot initially. After it settles down, it is very much like the ‘04 bug bigger, fuller with cherry, smoke, herb and cola. Not a bit hot at all - a very pleasant discovery. Very velvety as the night wears on. Like the ‘04, it pairs nicely with the truffle salt. 14.7% alc. A second wine with smoked duck with blackberry sauce (and a side of mashed potatoes). Recommended.
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8/8/2011 - discotrog wrote: 88 Points
slighlty reductive
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5/13/2011 - AWei wrote: 87 Points
Alcohol and jam on the nose. Significant depth on the palate. Will check in on my last bottle in 2-3 years.
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4/11/2011 - khmark7 wrote:
More tannic than other Loring offerings, but still pleasant. 2006 as a vintage hasn't aged very well.
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4/3/2011 - MJTed wrote: 89 Points
Has filed out and put on some weight. Good depth of black cherry plum fruit, some clove and other spice. Medium bodied and balanced.
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2/27/2011 - ListenToMeWine wrote: 90 Points
Still youthful, lots of pinot funk. Waiting another year or so on my remaining bottle.
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2/20/2011 - ARiverofPisoni wrote: 88 Points
4 bottles into the night, pleasing, but not standout
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2/13/2011 - 2loyal wrote: 89 Points
RicksPicks' Nov-2010 review below nailed this for me, though I'd round down a notch on the rating. Still liked it, and expect it to please others, but not my favorite.
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12/25/2010 - ARiverofPisoni wrote: 89 Points
Really enjoyed this tonight.... particularly after an hour of air... Red Fruit, creamy mouthfeel, tasty through the midpalate and through the finish.
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12/25/2010 - ARiverofPisoni wrote: 88 Points
Everyone enjoyed this one... nicely balanced, red fruit, nice body, mouthfeel and finish
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11/30/2010 - EmilyE wrote:
Not to my liking. Nothing nice to say.
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11/17/2010 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Black, sour cherry and spice on the nose, and also a dose of alcohol. Medium boded with rich, intense flavors that match the nose along with some plum and oak. Big wine and big structure with a medium slightly acidic finish. Nothing subtle about this wine - it is a big blast of flavor and texture.
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10/15/2010 - BonnieM wrote:
Cranberry tart, some moss and Pinot funk on the nose. Very enjoyable.
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9/23/2010 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
The bottle was taken to the lawn seating area of an outdoor theatre to share with friends and consumed out of plastic cups (apologies to Brian!). The Pinot funk and sour fruit profile came through and the bottle was enjoyed by all who imbibed. The second and last bottle will be treated with more respect...and savored.
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9/12/2010 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Dark, rich fruits hide behind tannin and acids to imply that we have not seen the best this has to give yet. A complete success for the vintage, this needs another year or two to start showing some of the complexities of age.
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9/2/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 88 Points
much more structured than other Lorings I've tasted. More tannin, more acid, but the same intensity of fruit. Flavors of mud, roots, ripe berries, and blackberry-rhubarb jam (or what I imagine blackberry-rhubarb jam to taste like). Very good. 88-89
EDIT: Day two. Like most Lorings, I find this not as good on day two. More bitter, with a dusty component and more prominent alcohol (fruit has probably faded to the background). I don't know how many times I have to make a mental note of this, but I'll do it again: "finish the night you open, ya goober."
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8/19/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
Took this delicious last bottle of this vintage and appellation from Loring to enjoy before seeing the Zac Brown Band with Chris on a beautiful late summer evening in the city. Although we drank it out of Solo cups the wine still offered flavors of rich fruit and spice with a funky nose. Some black cherry, plums and a touch of spicy oak. Nice end to my supply of this wine.
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8/15/2010 - BonnieM wrote:
Brought to Amanda and Tim's for fried chicken dinner. Nice pairing. This wine is drinking really well now. The last bottle I have is in the "time to drink up" que.
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7/28/2010 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice with fresh red salmon. Good fruit. balanced with the right amount of acidity and tannin.
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7/10/2010 - BonnieM wrote:
Drinking very nicely now, rich fruit and spice, lovely funky nose. We emptied this one in a blink. Nice for only our second "dinner on the deck" of the summer.
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6/16/2010 - Rich S wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 mins. Medium to dark ruby color. Black cherry, kirsch, plums and a touch of spicy oak on the nose. More juicy red fruit flavors on the palate with a definite raspberry cream aspect and a bit of vanilla and sweet spice as well. No heat on the back end this time around so the extra bottle time certainly helped in that respect. Silky smooth mouthfeel and a long, sweet finish. A nice treat for a weeknight wine.
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6/13/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
Just an exceptional bottle of wine. Still exhibits rich, fresh fruit flavora and aromas and has matured into even a more balanced representative of some of Brian's finest work. Dark berries with some forest floor funk round out this delicious Pinot Noir.
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6/1/2010 - underwds wrote: 88 Points
I didn't have the standout experience that others mentioned. For me, the tartness of the cherry overwhelmed a chance at other nuanced flavors. Good ruby color and enough oak on the finish to end well and preserve some balance.
11/11/11 I noted some plum and a little blackberry to balance the cherry this time. Good balance, but still missing some complexity I would have hoped for. Overall I rated this a couple of points higher the second time around.
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5/31/2010 - CRL Stc wrote: 90 Points
Plenty of spice and dark cherry. Long pleasant finish.
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5/27/2010 - ljl203 wrote: 90 Points
Much better on Day 2. Sour black cherries, hint of tobacco, melon and lime, tightly curled tannins. Nice lingering finish.
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5/11/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
A bit of earth and ripe cherries on the nose. Some spice and minerals with a floral hint. Great mothfeel and filled the palate nicely. Fill of ripe fruit flavor and could have had a touch more acidity but wonderful to drink in any case. Rich and intense but with good balance.
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4/10/2010 - T-Mac wrote: 87 Points
Burgundy dinner with the Nervie's (McAfee house): Smoky oak, black cherry liquor, a little raisin/prune, smooth mouthfeel, lower acidity, and a little backend warmth. This didn't pair as well with the meal, but was better than the Burgs as a stand-alone drink. My 4th of the night.
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3/30/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
Rich garnet with some purple hints in color. Black cherry, spice and earth on the nose. Rich black cherry flavors, some black fruit with a hint of tartness, strawberry. Rich mouthfeel. Nice juicy acidity and drinking great now.
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3/30/2010 - CRL Stc wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruit, cherry, earthy. Smooth. Classic Santa Rita Hills. A winner.
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3/28/2010 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Very nice nose of black cherry, minerals, spice, earth, oak and a bit of floral element. Aromas carry over to the palate with rather rich, intense flavors. Medium to full bodied, but still light on its feet with excellent balance and good grip. Very much in the Loring style of big, bold pinots.
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1/1/2010 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Garnet color. Notes of black cherry, mineral and earth with a floral undertone. Well-balanced, with red and black fruit tones and a nice medium+ finish.
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12/31/2009 - markjahnke wrote: 89 Points
Also had this on New Year’s Eve after having an ’06 Siduri from Clos Pepe as well. This seemed to drink in a similar style to the Siduri, and I actually ended up rating them both exactly the same. This was my first ’06 Clos Pepe from Loring, so I didn’t have a previous bottle to compare it to. This bottle was unscrewed and left open over the course of 2 hours at cellar temperature. Very similar ruby/garnet color as the Siduri, with a nose black cherry and tons of spice. You could also smell the alcohol on the nose, and it was definitely more prevalent than the Siduri. Once this wine came up to room temperature, there were more strawberry and earth tones to it, as well as some red fruits, but again, nothing stood out. On the palate, there was again some tart black fruit, with subtle hints of raspberry, strawberry and cherry. No hints of cola whatsoever in this bottle, but again some nice acidity and a bit of tannin. The alcohol came through a bit on the finish, and just proves that this could really use a good 3-4 hour splash decant, or an aggressive decant. Good pinot, but I don’t know if it is worth the price tag at this point. This seems to be more and more of a reality for me with ’06 pinot, but who knows. Regardless, still nice to drink, but not the Loring that I have grown to love. 89 points.
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12/31/2009 - sdatl wrote: 87 Points
Rich, nice funk nose, smooth tannins, but a bit fruity and monolithic for my taste
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12/11/2009 - mdstenner wrote: 91 Points
Absolutely rocking, lots of spice, drinking so well, with a gorgeous rich mouth-feel. Not super complex but hit all the right spots.
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12/6/2009 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Tasty dark cherries with spice and vegetal aromas and flavors with juicy tannins on the finish.
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11/4/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
Deep purplish hue. Earth, strawberry and red berries on the nose. Some darker fruit flavors on the palate with plums, cherry , cola and more red berries. Nice juicy palate and vibrant flavors.
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10/31/2009 - kkleg wrote: 91 Points
A little bit of earth and a little bit of strawberries and cola on the nose. Nice, juicy palate with hints of strawberries. Classic pinot taste with vibrant flavor. Will age for a few years but is drinking well now. Loring wines rarely disappoint!
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8/13/2009 - glaze3 wrote:
Favorite Loring to date. Nice deep red fruits with juicy acidity, in a perfect drinking window right now.
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8/9/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
18 months since the last bottle so there is some history to build on for me here. This showing is very nice, probably the best 2006 Loring of the bunch for me so far to date. Tea, mineral, cranberry, creamy black cherry, with a bit of a drying finish. it lingers with a long sense of mineral and red fruited raspberry acidity. Very nice work, Brian.
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7/23/2009 - jreis wrote:
Limestone, dark cherry and grape jelly on the nose. Quite sweet on the palate with a nice earthy under current. A little too sweet?
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7/19/2009 - caboychuck wrote:
Terrific nose of red berries, strawberry, truly pinot in character, and a little green earth. On the palate it was nice, crisp, but full of flavor. Terrific acidity, adequate red berry fruit and a little stemmy in nice way.
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6/17/2009 - vinopa wrote: 89 Points
popped and poured...dark color..the nose seemed a bit tight at first but opened up with some dark fruit on the nose and spice...on the palate it seemd a bit off balance..medium bodied with spice and cherries ..A good amount of black pepper on the back end along with a tad of heat...Pretty good overall but does not compare to the 06 siduri clos pepe which i had a few weeks back....I would no doubt decant this wine when I open my next bottle. I have 1 left in my cellar and will not be adding.
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6/2/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
Purple tinged ruby in color. Nice Pinot nose, blackberry and raspberry with a little earth. Palate shows plums and black cherry. Got better with air. Crisp acidity, some Asian spice and cola.
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5/22/2009 - juggernt wrote:
Classic Pinot nose, but more restrained than other Cali Pinots. Very good, but not a $50 wine. I would have been happy paying $30ish.
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4/10/2009 - jhannah27 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and decanted, but immediately began to pour. Purchased at the Winery Restaurant in Tustin. Deep purple hue. Spicy blackberries and raspberries with some underlying damp earth on the nose. Started out a little awkward with lots of nice flavors, but none of it really coming together to make a cohesive flavor profile. Dark fruit, plums, and black cherry flavors with some cola, clove, and medium acidity into the slightly hot finish. After about 45 minutes or so in the decanter, this hit its stride in a big bad way as everything integrated and exploded with elegant, but vibrant flavors that really showed well with my scallops, prawns, and saffron risotto as well as with my wife's filet mignon. This was my first Loring pinot and now I know what all the hype is about.
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3/27/2009 - eltejano wrote: 90 Points
tanglenet's comments below are very similar to my notes- I still have half the bottle left so I'll wrap it up tonight and re-compare notes
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1/17/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 93 Points
Excellent bottle of Pinot from this popular vineyard as crafted by Brian Loring. Lighter ruby red. Spicy sweet oak, cherry and plum on the nose. Silky elegance with big fruit flavors of blackberry, cherries, cola and asian spices. Rich tannins and crisp acidity.
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1/9/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Purchased off the list at the Wood Tavern, Oakland. Subtle, tart fruit on the nose. On the palate: strong tangerine with citrus peel and citrus rind; very light in body with a semi-dry finish. It through some beet slaw like sediment in the last glass. While enjoyable, this seemed really narrow; and never opened up to develop beyond the fruit tartness. Needs some serious time in the cellar to round out, maybe 2-3 years? Good, but I would not recommend to drink any right now if you have some in the cellar.
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12/7/2008 - twelch wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured drank half the bottle night one. Nose of Black fruit, tar, a little strawberry. night one it wasn't giving up that much, not the over extracted fruit forwardness that's typical of a loring pinot.
Night two actually like it more, tart cherry, cola, not quite ripe strawberry almost had some cabernet characteristics to it, Held up nicely to a new york strip.
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11/29/2008 - JimN wrote: 88 Points
Pleasant enough, but still needs time. Wine is very tight. If opening now, decant.
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11/15/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 87 Points
this was good but not great - nice colour, lacking a little Pinot character on the nose, although still interesting. Palate similar, nice Pinot weight, not overdone, nice cherry and strawberry fruit, but with a little dry brush, wood on the finish which made this more tight and unyeilding than expected. Overall pretty good, let down by the nose and finish.
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11/13/2008 - t_moderne wrote: 89 Points
Good raspberry and cola flavors. A bit sweet. Nice finish. Good fruit and structure
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11/5/2008 - brianofthevine wrote: 89 Points
Strawberry, cola notes.
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10/26/2008 - aimp wrote: 91 Points
elegant wine. well done. dark fruit on the nose. >30s finish. slight heat on the palate that goes away. an hour decanting helps.
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10/17/2008 - burningstarIV wrote: 87 Points
50+4+13+14+6=87
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9/30/2008 - Claudio161 wrote: 89 Points
Review of 2006 Pinot Noir (Think Cafe Restaurant, Chicago, IL): Sight: Medium red colored wine of an unusual low viscosity.
Nose: Tar and some asphalt notes are initial standouts. Black cherry came across nicely too. An odd note that I could not place - reminded me of "'Lectric Shave".
Taste: Warm with some alcohol heat. Flamed cherries and an overall rich mouthfeel.
Overall: 89 Points. Stoung thoughts of syrah in the mix at the table for this tasting. One other comment - when I went to enter a tasting note I was amazed at how many varieties of 2006 Pinot Noir that Loring produces. Given the vaste number of varieties that they produce, it makes me wonder if they can actually focus on creating a solid wine rather than a large number of good but not great pinots.
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9/30/2008 - cobbpa wrote: 88 Points
Cali Pinot at Think Cafe (Think Cafe, Chicago, IL): Dark nose...just dark. Plum, cherry, crushed dark pepper...D A R K. Front end brings those fruits with a big grip. While powerful it's kind and does not rip the mouth but just firmly grabs it. Peppercorns reappear with the dark fruit in the mid. Again, powerful but elegant through the finish.
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9/30/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
a few 2006 cali pinots(with a couple of 05s) (think cafe, chicago IL): nose: dark and brooding nose with loads of dark cherries, black spices, and bits of peppercorns. This was not close to the normal extracted loring style that I'm used to, but still had a heavy backdrop to it
taste: medium/full bodied(for a pinot) with plum tones, dark cherries, and black spices. More elegant on the palate with the body to match
overall: The feel really wins this wine for me, but the nose was in a way non-descript. Well balanced and placed flavors on the palate, but just doesn't seem to stand out in a way or meld together in perfect harmony, it just exists in the plane it is, and while nice, doesn't really inspire
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8/24/2008 - Rich S wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for around 2 hours yesterday prior to pouring. Gorgeous color. Deep garnet with perfect clarity, translucent edges and strong legs. Upon initial opening (prior to decanting), the wine had a strong barnyard funk to the nose but that blew off during the decanting process and what remained was loads of sweet cherries. Cherries really dominated the entire nose and continued to the palate where it reminded me of the cherry liquer inside those chocolate covered cherries. Great, long sweet finish. The wine is still young and I think would benefit from some additional bottle time. Not many secondary flavors to speak of right now and there was a tad of heat that I believe subside as well. Looking forward to re-trying in another 1-2 years.
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6/14/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Falltacular 2008 (San Juan Capistrano, CA): Fleshy and meaty with rich dark cherry flavors and a creamy texture.
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6/9/2008 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
This is actually a very elegant wine. Nose of forest floor and black fruit. Palate is well balanced and no sign of alcohol for such a high percentage. Not hugely complex, but very refined and tasty.
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6/7/2008 - E wrote: 91 Points
I have a feeling this will be a particularly noteworthy bottle of wine in several years...no problem with oak or heat...lots going on...throwing off a bit of sediment...
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5/31/2008 - TampaDan wrote: 92 Points
A big, ripe, tannic wine that could use a bit more time for sure. Beautiful ruby color with those little pinkish highlights that let you know this can't be some black-as-night Cabernet. Nice aromatic complexity, starting out earthy and then picking up a great well of savory red fruits, especially raspberries, and some nice spice and tobacco notes as well. Excellent length on the finish with both fruit and spice intertwined. Still quite tannic on the palate, but there is an excellent core of fruit lurking just beneath. Give it a good six more months or so and it may score even higher. Now I'm jus trying to figure out what went wrong with the Rosella's (very simple, just a little cherry and that was it) and especially the Cargasacchi (no aroma or flavor to speak of at all, yet not in the way of a closed wine, just one with no aroma or flavor!)
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5/14/2008 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 93 Points
Loring Pinot Noirs with Brian Loring (Village Wines at City House): Exceptional wine with forward, but not extracted fruit, balanced with clos pepe peperiness, some exotic spice, and a nose of cherry and cigar/leather/musk. Nice finish. I prefer the Lorings slightly less young, and this should be exceptional in a year or two.
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4/11/2008 - mmurry wrote: 90 Points
I decanted this wine about 5 1/2 hours. The nose had a lot sweet raspberry and cherry, a spicy middle, and a hint of oak at the end. The palate was smooth with nice tartness, and had cherry cola, spice, and some vanilla on the finish.
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4/6/2008 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
OPened for an hour but didn't decant. Solid core of fruit/spice with terrific structure. Just started to emerge as I finished 4 hours after opening. Will be better I think with 6-12 more months bottle age.
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4/5/2008 - kanab ram wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Dense dark ruby appearance with intense dark pinot fruit (primarily cherry) on the nose and mid palate sensation of cherry, raspberry, vanilla and cigar box spice with long lingering finish. Not showing much oak at this stage but a big wine that was nicely balanced. Drank side by side with a 2005 Clos Pepe Estate (not decanted). Both wines were very different even though the same fruit but equally as good once the '05 CP Estate had a chance to open up. It really showed off the different winemaking styles.
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3/25/2008 - jasonh wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very nicely now but I think a little more time is in order. I really liked how this wine had big fruit but was not heavy or forceful on the palate. I thought this showed a very nice balance of oak and not as toasty as some other Lorings. Slightly bitter on the finish on the finish but not distracting. Needs a bit of air time and while I often keep these wines fairly cool, this shows very nicely when it gets to a proper temperature.
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3/17/2008 - mdstenner wrote: 90 Points
Drank next to Dain's 2006 Juliet and the ROAR 2003 Pisoni this just didn't compare. A fine wine, with a tight core of fruit, but over 4 hours it didn't really develop from the dark cherry notes and rich mouthfeel. I liked the acid streak in the wine.
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1/6/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Man, this is drinking so well and is just delicious. I had the good fortune to taste it 2X over the course of this past weekend, both presented blind. And in fact, in the second setting, this wine was presented when my palate and perceptions were quite clear and pure. In the first settting, it showed plush, dark and even a bit tight with my TN showing the word "promise". The second setting, it was even better, with my notes saying beautiful, complex with nice layers and with lovely palance. This wine has yet to be released but for me, given the balance and depth shown here, an easy purchase--well done, Brian.
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12/8/2007 - ARiverofPisoni wrote: 94 Points
Wow... prerelease bottle, opened it at the Casual Saturday tasting at the Wine Hotel... beautiful perfume nice, beautifully balanced and lush mouthfeel... i'm definitely buying a bunch when this is released in the spring....
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3/25/2007 - olivethegreat wrote: 95 Points
Wow, this has been in the barrel only 6 months or so, but is already incredible. Once it's blended and aged, it will be a knock-out. Even better than the '05, I don't go by critics scores but I would be surprised if this didn't get notice. Pre-buy if you can from the winery. I know I will...
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