No longer showing “Loring Red” at the rim; just a solid cranberry color from rim to core. Sour cherry, pomegranate, cloves, cola and vanilla. “Big” continues to be an apt discriptor what with its big nose and attack and its long finish. The tannins are fully integrated. Glycerol-like mouthfeel delivers a sense of the wine gliding across the palate. Well fruited, balanced, long finished; what’s not to lover here? Between this, the Clos Pepe and Cargasacchi, this takes the prize by just edging out the Clos Pepe. Both this and the Clos Pepe leave the Cargasacchi in the dust. 14.3% alc. 600 cases. With duck cassoulet and the Schreibers and Fords. Recommended.
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The color is plum at the core and “Loring Red” at the rim; bright and exuberant. The nose is molasses, black cherry, rosemary, cedar and mocha. This wine has shed so much of its initial profile and become something much better; much more complex. The wine is a touch shrill with acid, but it evens out on the mid-palate. The wine is exuberant and lively. 14.3% alc. With roasted bone-in pork chop under a balsamic cranberry sauce. 600 cases. Recommended.
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Pleasantly surprised with this wine. One of my last 2006 Lorings, this clearly showed some age, but it was very well integrated with the fruit. Some slight bricking, but otherwise a beautiful translucent burgundy color. Nice finish, and an otherwise lovely wine.
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The color is not at all opaque but what we now call “Loring Red” which is neither magenta, nor ruby nor burgundy, but a color with shades of all of these. The nose is all violets, dusty rose, cola and teaberry and something herbal. The blueberry scent of a bottle 3 years ago is nowhere to be detected. Like before, “the bouquet is integrated and inviting.” Something a tad earthy on the finish, maybe even green. Drink now. 14.3% alc. With roasted salmon under a mustard-panko crust. 600 cases. Recommended.
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This wine has come along rather nicely. The broad rim is all claret-like, while the center core still suggests a dark blueberry; simply beautiful. The nose is all blueberry, plum and herbs. The scent of blueberry is only a note and not demanding of attention. The bouquet is integrated and inviting. If a wine can be said to smell smooth, then this is such a wine. On the palate this is .... smooth; so completely smooth and silky with flavors of black cherry, plum and herbs. This fruits carry to the finish, but are complimented with earth notes. Drink now. 14.3% alc. With broiled salmon. 600 cases. Recommended.
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Good solid performance for this bottle. Nice cherry with some earthiness. Good balance. the wine still has a bit of tannins and should go a few more years.
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2nd time tasting this wine with consistent results. Ruby Red, dark/nearly opaque for a pinot. Complex and powerful pinot nose with cola, dark cherry, spice and a hint of sea mist. Nothing earthy. Mouth-filling silky texture, mouth-watering acidity with the sea water hint that adds a uniqueness, medium heavy weight, (Note the overwhelming cola taste from last night has diminished to a more balanced flavor), strong almost harsh tannins that persist on the finish. This well-made wine deserves more time in the cellar. Distinctive. Definitely Sonoma Coast.
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I would like to explore the unique landscape of the Sonoma Coast and of Sebastipol. Perfect time to drink. Deep ruby red with hints of purple very dark, powerful looking. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry, Cherry, Mineral, Mushroom, Tea and Black Pepper. An interesting high tone in the nose like ?saltiness? seashore? The tart acid nicely balances the fruit that lingers on the tip of the tongue. It tastes like Blackberry, Red Currant, Cherry, Forest floor, Mushroom, Vanilla, Black Pepper, and Herbes de Provence with a persistent bitterness that intrigues. The medium-full body has a silky mouthfeel. The wine has fleshy texture. and finishes long and sweet with a spicy tanginess at the very end. A Pinot unique to the micro climate of the coast.
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I was not a big fan of this wine on day 1, as it showed more tannin than fruit, and I enjoyed it considerably less than either the '06 Graham or '06 Keefer, which I also purchased on closeout from Winex. Fruit was mostly tart cranberry with a muddled earthy profile and notes of stewed cherry compote. However, this opened up considerably by day 2/3 and softened quite a bit, so perhaps this is just in need of a bit more time for everything to come together.
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The best of the '06 Lorings sampled so far. Vibrant red fruit, with nuances of rhubarb, cloves, pie crust, and baking spices. Nice acidity and balance.
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Drinking very well from this batch, medium to medium+ body and concentration, with red plums, red cherries and a tasty pinot profile. This has filled out nicely, is not too heavy, and balanced by smooth tannins. I suspect the beginning of the optimal drinking window...
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Dark red to rim. Cherry, berry nose, fairly primary. Medium body, bit acidic but good fruit and decent balance, improves after an hour of air time. Very good
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Dark red to rim. Cherry, berry nose, fairly primary. Medium body, bit acidic but good fruit and decent balance, fairly simple but enjoyable. Very good.
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Popped and poured. Could probably use more time. Black berry and cherry fruit with baking spice. Somewhat brooding and slightly tart, with tannic grip and mineral finish. Better after a couple hurs.
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Our friends loved this one, and it was a pretty well balanced, fruit forward wine, but just didn't quite do it for me. Hard to say why. The aromatics and fruit profile just weren't as "pretty" as they are in my favorite pinots. Happy to drink another bottle, but would prefer a Clos Pepe.
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Very masculine nose of cedar, forest floor, beeswax and sprucy spice. Kind of tight and closed on the palate with a nice feral quality to the finish, and a little bit of fruit peeking out behind a tightly wound mid palate. This seems to have closed down even further than last time I tried one.
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Beautiful dark ruby color. Still pretty tightly wound with a dense nose of black cherry, spruce and white pepper. More giving on the palate with some intense dark cherry fruit on the attack with a veyr long intense finish. Another year or two of bottle age will do this good.
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Extremely fruit forward PN upon opening, both on the nose and on the palate. Lot of cherries and some strawberry on day 1 but it somehow evolved to blueberries on Day 2. Held up well in the fridge to Day 3 and by then the fruit was more well integrated.
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Dark garnet color. Spicy nose with cranberries and sage. Kind of smells like Thanksgiving dinner. Nicely balanced. This is the best Loring Pinot I've had.
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I hope this is just shut down. there is some underlying dark fruits and cola, but it's buried under huge tannins. I have hope, but it's not drinking well right now.
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Some dried herbs and sage on the nose. Good black raspberries and spice. A bit restrained. Slight heat towards the end. Nice finish but nothing particularly interesting about the wine. Well made but given the price, not a great one.
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Although I have both the ‘04 and the ‘05 in the cellar, I’ve never twisted off the top of one of these until this ‘06 which has been sitting waiting for a bin spot to open up. You might say it found the ultimate bin - my glass. It’s a beautiful color of dark, royal purple, but not nearly as dark as a Garys’. Dark fruits with a depth that is hard to describe. Let’s just say “gobs of fruit.” But there’s more here with some smokiness and earth. The youthfulness comes through on the palate with fairly big tannins giving it a rawness that with time should smooth out. 14.3% alc. None really. 600 cases. Because this was consumed with friends (Randy and Rosalie) over conversation without any real focus on the wine itself, I’m not making any recommendation on this at this time.
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mildly alcoholic and somewhat muted on the nose. mr loring attributed this to sub standard glassware, but all four wines were presented in the same shaped glass. i commented that the sonoma fruit doesn't compliment the loring style. in any event, i found the wine very ordinary, lacking in character.
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I decanted this wine about 5 1/2 hours. The nose begins with a cherry and raspberry cocktail and gently fades into a nice earth and stone aroma. It ends with a shot of asian spice. In the mouth it is a bit tannic, but does have some good cherry cola and forest floor flavors. It finishes with a little spice and oak.
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Deep dark fruit flavors accompanied by minerality and spice. Pretty heavyweight and a tannic on the finish. I look forward to trying again 6 months or so down the road.
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A very deep ruby red in color. The nose was fragrant raspberry and mineral. Flavors of red berry, cola and strawberry are there in equal parts. Somewhat tannic on the finish for a Pinot. Needs more time in the bottle.
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2/17/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
No longer showing “Loring Red” at the rim; just a solid cranberry color from rim to core. Sour cherry, pomegranate, cloves, cola and vanilla. “Big” continues to be an apt discriptor what with its big nose and attack and its long finish. The tannins are fully integrated. Glycerol-like mouthfeel delivers a sense of the wine gliding across the palate. Well fruited, balanced, long finished; what’s not to lover here? Between this, the Clos Pepe and Cargasacchi, this takes the prize by just edging out the Clos Pepe. Both this and the Clos Pepe leave the Cargasacchi in the dust. 14.3% alc. 600 cases. With duck cassoulet and the Schreibers and Fords. Recommended.
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3/16/2017 - timewithwine wrote:
The color is plum at the core and “Loring Red” at the rim; bright and exuberant. The nose is molasses, black cherry, rosemary, cedar and mocha. This wine has shed so much of its initial profile and become something much better; much more complex. The wine is a touch shrill with acid, but it evens out on the mid-palate. The wine is exuberant and lively. 14.3% alc. With roasted bone-in pork chop under a balsamic cranberry sauce. 600 cases. Recommended.
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1/12/2017 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pleasantly surprised with this wine. One of my last 2006 Lorings, this clearly showed some age, but it was very well integrated with the fruit. Some slight bricking, but otherwise a beautiful translucent burgundy color. Nice finish, and an otherwise lovely wine.
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2/4/2016 - timewithwine wrote:
The color is not at all opaque but what we now call “Loring Red” which is neither magenta, nor ruby nor burgundy, but a color with shades of all of these. The nose is all violets, dusty rose, cola and teaberry and something herbal. The blueberry scent of a bottle 3 years ago is nowhere to be detected. Like before, “the bouquet is integrated and inviting.” Something a tad earthy on the finish, maybe even green. Drink now. 14.3% alc. With roasted salmon under a mustard-panko crust. 600 cases. Recommended.
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10/31/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 89 Points
Time to drink up.
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1/8/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last of these. Drinking well with grilled salmon.
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7/18/2013 - timewithwine wrote:
This wine has come along rather nicely. The broad rim is all claret-like, while the center core still suggests a dark blueberry; simply beautiful. The nose is all blueberry, plum and herbs. The scent of blueberry is only a note and not demanding of attention. The bouquet is integrated and inviting. If a wine can be said to smell smooth, then this is such a wine. On the palate this is .... smooth; so completely smooth and silky with flavors of black cherry, plum and herbs. This fruits carry to the finish, but are complimented with earth notes. Drink now. 14.3% alc. With broiled salmon. 600 cases. Recommended.
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4/25/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good solid performance for this bottle. Nice cherry with some earthiness. Good balance. the wine still has a bit of tannins and should go a few more years.
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10/17/2012 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 Points
2nd time tasting this wine with consistent results. Ruby Red, dark/nearly opaque for a pinot. Complex and powerful pinot nose with cola, dark cherry, spice and a hint of sea mist. Nothing earthy. Mouth-filling silky texture, mouth-watering acidity with the sea water hint that adds a uniqueness, medium heavy weight, (Note the overwhelming cola taste from last night has diminished to a more balanced flavor), strong almost harsh tannins that persist on the finish. This well-made wine deserves more time in the cellar. Distinctive. Definitely Sonoma Coast.
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9/16/2012 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
More structured than other Lorings. A nice quaff at age 6, mith plums, black cherry and pomegranate + spice and herbs to finish.
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6/10/2012 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 Points
I would like to explore the unique landscape of the Sonoma Coast and of Sebastipol. Perfect time to drink. Deep ruby red with hints of purple very dark, powerful looking. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry, Cherry, Mineral, Mushroom, Tea and Black Pepper. An interesting high tone in the nose like ?saltiness? seashore? The tart acid nicely balances the fruit that lingers on the tip of the tongue. It tastes like Blackberry, Red Currant, Cherry, Forest floor, Mushroom, Vanilla, Black Pepper, and Herbes de Provence with a persistent bitterness that intrigues. The medium-full body has a silky mouthfeel. The wine has fleshy texture. and finishes long and sweet with a spicy tanginess at the very end. A Pinot unique to the micro climate of the coast.
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4/4/2012 - fultonjf wrote: 84 Points
Heading downhill fast. Not horrible (yet) but I held this a year too long.
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1/30/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 85 Points
Fruit almost absent from the nose, not much left on the palate except substantial acidity, drink up.
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6/24/2011 - theodore3 wrote: 92 Points
A very tasty Loring.
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5/18/2011 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
I liked this wine. Nice balance, good fruit and some complexity. Went great with king salmon.
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3/30/2011 - GrapeScott wrote: 88 Points
I was not a big fan of this wine on day 1, as it showed more tannin than fruit, and I enjoyed it considerably less than either the '06 Graham or '06 Keefer, which I also purchased on closeout from Winex. Fruit was mostly tart cranberry with a muddled earthy profile and notes of stewed cherry compote. However, this opened up considerably by day 2/3 and softened quite a bit, so perhaps this is just in need of a bit more time for everything to come together.
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5/16/2010 - ginfizz wrote: 88 Points
Well stored bottles are still closed down. Hold.
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2/27/2010 - pjhr wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes to previous bottle.
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1/16/2010 - topher18 wrote: 92 Points
Very aromatic. Sweet cherry with a hint of vanilla. Delicate tannins, mouth coating yet not heavy. Good acidity.
color 5/5
nose 8/10
taste 16/20
balance 9/10
finish 4/5
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1/14/2010 - Baeyens Cellars wrote: 86 Points
Fruit forward and effervescent. Earthy, dusty red cherry. Drink now.
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12/2/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 87 Points
Closed, and only after an hour of breathing does this show some balance with light to medium intensity dusty fruit and acidity. Hold.
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10/25/2009 - pjhr wrote: 90 Points
Dark cherries and earthy notes on the nose and palate with a tasty finish.
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8/30/2009 - JOJ wrote: 90 Points
The best of the '06 Lorings sampled so far. Vibrant red fruit, with nuances of rhubarb, cloves, pie crust, and baking spices. Nice acidity and balance.
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7/31/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very well from this batch, medium to medium+ body and concentration, with red plums, red cherries and a tasty pinot profile. This has filled out nicely, is not too heavy, and balanced by smooth tannins. I suspect the beginning of the optimal drinking window...
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7/15/2009 - 2loyal wrote: 87 Points
Notes consistent with prior tasting (still very enjoyable, but not improving with more bottle age).
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6/24/2009 - dbg wrote:
Dark red to rim. Cherry, berry nose, fairly primary. Medium body, bit acidic but good fruit and decent balance, improves after an hour of air time. Very good
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5/1/2009 - dbg wrote:
Dark red to rim. Cherry, berry nose, fairly primary. Medium body, bit acidic but good fruit and decent balance, fairly simple but enjoyable. Very good.
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3/13/2009 - MJTed wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Could probably use more time. Black berry and cherry fruit with baking spice. Somewhat brooding and slightly tart, with tannic grip and mineral finish. Better after a couple hurs.
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10/13/2008 - rnellans wrote: 88 Points
Dark cherries. Pretty well balanced. Fruit forward. Not a lot of complexity. So, so wine.
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10/4/2008 - 2loyal wrote: 88 Points
Our friends loved this one, and it was a pretty well balanced, fruit forward wine, but just didn't quite do it for me. Hard to say why. The aromatics and fruit profile just weren't as "pretty" as they are in my favorite pinots. Happy to drink another bottle, but would prefer a Clos Pepe.
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9/24/2008 - jreis wrote:
Very masculine nose of cedar, forest floor, beeswax and sprucy spice. Kind of tight and closed on the palate with a nice feral quality to the finish, and a little bit of fruit peeking out behind a tightly wound mid palate. This seems to have closed down even further than last time I tried one.
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8/26/2008 - jreis wrote:
Beautiful dark ruby color. Still pretty tightly wound with a dense nose of black cherry, spruce and white pepper. More giving on the palate with some intense dark cherry fruit on the attack with a veyr long intense finish. Another year or two of bottle age will do this good.
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7/31/2008 - javadrinker wrote: 88 Points
Extremely fruit forward PN upon opening, both on the nose and on the palate. Lot of cherries and some strawberry on day 1 but it somehow evolved to blueberries on Day 2. Held up well in the fridge to Day 3 and by then the fruit was more well integrated.
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6/30/2008 - elamasters wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet color. Spicy nose with cranberries and sage. Kind of smells like Thanksgiving dinner. Nicely balanced. This is the best Loring Pinot I've had.
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6/19/2008 - glaze3 wrote:
I hope this is just shut down. there is some underlying dark fruits and cola, but it's buried under huge tannins. I have hope, but it's not drinking well right now.
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4/28/2008 - t_moderne wrote: 87 Points
Some dried herbs and sage on the nose. Good black raspberries and spice. A bit restrained. Slight heat towards the end. Nice finish but nothing particularly interesting about the wine. Well made but given the price, not a great one.
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3/14/2008 - timewithwine wrote:
Although I have both the ‘04 and the ‘05 in the cellar, I’ve never twisted off the top of one of these until this ‘06 which has been sitting waiting for a bin spot to open up. You might say it found the ultimate bin - my glass. It’s a beautiful color of dark, royal purple, but not nearly as dark as a Garys’. Dark fruits with a depth that is hard to describe. Let’s just say “gobs of fruit.” But there’s more here with some smokiness and earth. The youthfulness comes through on the palate with fairly big tannins giving it a rawness that with time should smooth out. 14.3% alc. None really. 600 cases. Because this was consumed with friends (Randy and Rosalie) over conversation without any real focus on the wine itself, I’m not making any recommendation on this at this time.
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3/9/2008 - whynblog wrote: 88 Points
Similar to previous notes and bottle. Tannins have rounded a bit but still gripping on the finish.
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3/8/2008 - Deryl wrote: 88 Points
OK, nothing remarkable. Certainly not a good value.
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3/6/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 86 Points
mildly alcoholic and somewhat muted on the nose. mr loring attributed this to sub standard glassware, but all four wines were presented in the same shaped glass. i commented that the sonoma fruit doesn't compliment the loring style. in any event, i found the wine very ordinary, lacking in character.
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3/6/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 85 Points
Raspberry, earth, charred oak and dried herbs. Exhibiting some heat of the chalky dried berry finish.
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1/7/2008 - mmurry wrote: 88 Points
I decanted this wine about 5 1/2 hours. The nose begins with a cherry and raspberry cocktail and gently fades into a nice earth and stone aroma. It ends with a shot of asian spice. In the mouth it is a bit tannic, but does have some good cherry cola and forest floor flavors. It finishes with a little spice and oak.
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11/30/2007 - MJTed wrote: 90 Points
Deep dark fruit flavors accompanied by minerality and spice. Pretty heavyweight and a tannic on the finish. I look forward to trying again 6 months or so down the road.
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11/14/2007 - whynblog wrote: 88 Points
A very deep ruby red in color. The nose was fragrant raspberry and mineral. Flavors of red berry, cola and strawberry are there in equal parts. Somewhat tannic on the finish for a Pinot. Needs more time in the bottle.
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