Originally purchased three bottles back in '08 and distinctly remember this pinot was very young, a little too acidic and had the potential for cellaring. Five years later...Nailed it! Paired with a a pre-Thanksgiving trial dinner, we decanted the wine for 45 minutes to an hour and it was a true joy. All aspects of the wine were in complete balance. We could not believe we were drinking a $40 pinot. Hints of earth, plum, strawberry and cola all subtle, no particular component came to the forefront; again all very well balanced. The acid has subsided to an absolutely perfect level yielding a wine that married really well with food. We're excited to have the last bottle for Thanksgiving. If you are holding this vintage, I would drink it soon and do not hold longer than 2014.
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Medium garnet color. Limited nose but plenty of light, bright, red fruit on the palate. Well balanced with some earth, nutmeg and spice on the finish. Too bad this was the last bottle of he vintage.
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Nice, clear, medium red in the glass. Light red fruit, cherry and strawberry on the nose. Some earth, spice and moch on the palate. Full bodied with a touch of acidity. This is my preferred style of Pinot Noir. Went nicely with strawberries, aged gouda, cheddar and assorted crackers.
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Lots of fruit skin expression in front of sweet flavored fruits. There is a tinge of heat but nothing oppressive. Medium bodied with ample acidity. Not real interesting but a nice example of a Cali Pinot not entirely fruit driven.
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Closed down upon opening -- required an hour decant for fruit to emerge. Lovely bottle, medium bodied (or even heavy for a pinot noir). Well-balanced and delicious -- will hold up for at least 3 more years.
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Opened the night before and thought I had goofed - lovely color, but muted nose, tart and tannic. Tonight, it's a beauty. A clear, dark cherry color. Nose of forest floor, mushroom, spice and cherry. Palate is similar with great acidity and a long smooth finish. Excellent bottle.
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Beginning to show maturity. Nice and clear and deep garnet in color. Hints of strawberry and cherry on the nose but more earthy on the palate with hints of spice, chocolate and coffee. Still a tasty bottle of wine with some life left but time to drink this.
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Pinot funk and earthiness on the nose. Bitter black cherry, strawberry, nutmeg and crisp oak flavors on a mid-weight body. Tannins are a bit tight on the finish. Nice structure that will likely benefit from further aging.
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More earthy than the RN Estate. Palate resemblance is there by a touch -- both showing raspberry fruit. In a nice place right now. Peppier acidity than the RN Estate which we are comparing it to. Much longer last acid on the back as well.
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beautiful nose with sweet floral and cherry notes, nice red-fruited and balanced approach on the palate with a touch of oak in the background and some acidity apparent on the finish. Not great size or length, but very enjoyable none the less. I'll keep my other bottle for a couple of years and see the effect of some more age.
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Clear with medium deep garnet color, Nose dominated by floral, spice and oak. Medium to high acid levels with medium body. Palate is in line with nose with black cherry, plum, cola and some garden sage hebaceousness... This wine could use some more time in the bottle 1-2 years to improve but could be drunk now with some decanting..
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Taste from dispenser at Whole Foods Lincoln Park. Very nice overall. Both Jill and I enjoyed this alot. Light Burgundian characteristics. Spicy strawberries, white pepper and lovely shroomy earth. Silky opulent mouth feel with awesome acidity on the back end. Very nice effort.
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Nice spice on the finish. I preferred this over the ‘06 “Alloro,” as it seemed to be showing more dimensions today than the “Alloro.” I’m surprised this is Fiddlehead’s “entry level” Pinot, as I found it to be one of the better Pinots of the tasting. Perhaps its “entry level-ness” lends it to better showing when young than do the other bottlings.
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nose: nicely styled with sweet tones of strawberries, rich plum tones, bits of chocolate flake, and candied cherry tones
taste: good light feel with tones of tart strawberries, plum tones, and some candied cherries
overall: a really nice pinot, but just doesn't take it to that next level for me. The flavors are well balanced and the aromas are well balanced, but there just seems to be something missing, maybe time will bring out more complexity to it
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Initially was tight on the nose with an elegant feeling palate but not showing much. Revisit has some sweet flowers coming out with lazer focused fruit. This needs some time to unwind but good potential and nicely styled. Recommend leaving this alone for another year or two at least.
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12/4/2020 - RedorDead Likes this wine: 88 Points
Past it’s time.
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11/10/2013 - Drmarg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Originally purchased three bottles back in '08 and distinctly remember this pinot was very young, a little too acidic and had the potential for cellaring. Five years later...Nailed it! Paired with a a pre-Thanksgiving trial dinner, we decanted the wine for 45 minutes to an hour and it was a true joy. All aspects of the wine were in complete balance. We could not believe we were drinking a $40 pinot. Hints of earth, plum, strawberry and cola all subtle, no particular component came to the forefront; again all very well balanced. The acid has subsided to an absolutely perfect level yielding a wine that married really well with food. We're excited to have the last bottle for Thanksgiving. If you are holding this vintage, I would drink it soon and do not hold longer than 2014.
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11/21/2012 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Medium garnet color. Limited nose but plenty of light, bright, red fruit on the palate. Well balanced with some earth, nutmeg and spice on the finish. Too bad this was the last bottle of he vintage.
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4/4/2012 - wconnolly wrote: 86 Points
Nice, clear, medium red in the glass. Light red fruit, cherry and strawberry on the nose. Some earth, spice and moch on the palate. Full bodied with a touch of acidity. This is my preferred style of Pinot Noir. Went nicely with strawberries, aged gouda, cheddar and assorted crackers.
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1/14/2012 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Medium bodied, easy drinking Pinot Noir. Fruit is evident but this is an example of the school of more earthy and spicy CA pinot.
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11/4/2011 - Slamuel wrote: 95 Points
Mmmmmmm. Delish.
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10/31/2011 - WetRock wrote:
Lots of fruit skin expression in front of sweet flavored fruits. There is a tinge of heat but nothing oppressive. Medium bodied with ample acidity. Not real interesting but a nice example of a Cali Pinot not entirely fruit driven.
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9/5/2011 - cookiefiend wrote: flawed
Corked. :-P
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5/1/2011 - Redrum wrote: 92 Points
Closed down upon opening -- required an hour decant for fruit to emerge. Lovely bottle, medium bodied (or even heavy for a pinot noir). Well-balanced and delicious -- will hold up for at least 3 more years.
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4/28/2011 - Cancuk wrote: 87 Points
Sweet fruit and vanilla. Quaffable but one dimensional. Straightforward cali pinot.
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11/21/2010 - cabdrinker wrote:
Excellent bottle of wine.
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10/20/2010 - cookiefiend wrote:
Opened the night before and thought I had goofed - lovely color, but muted nose, tart and tannic. Tonight, it's a beauty. A clear, dark cherry color. Nose of forest floor, mushroom, spice and cherry. Palate is similar with great acidity and a long smooth finish. Excellent bottle.
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9/18/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Beginning to show maturity. Nice and clear and deep garnet in color. Hints of strawberry and cherry on the nose but more earthy on the palate with hints of spice, chocolate and coffee. Still a tasty bottle of wine with some life left but time to drink this.
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6/19/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
Pleasant easy drinking, medium bodied - black cherry, berry, nutmeg spice, hints of dark chocolate.
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5/28/2010 - Surfdoc wrote: 90 Points
Pinot funk and earthiness on the nose. Bitter black cherry, strawberry, nutmeg and crisp oak flavors on a mid-weight body. Tannins are a bit tight on the finish. Nice structure that will likely benefit from further aging.
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4/11/2010 - JJHACamp wrote: 91 Points
excellent example of central coast pinot noir...strawberries..a little cola..served with grilled salmon, sauteed spinach and mashed redskin potatoes
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3/25/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
More earthy than the RN Estate. Palate resemblance is there by a touch -- both showing raspberry fruit. In a nice place right now. Peppier acidity than the RN Estate which we are comparing it to. Much longer last acid on the back as well.
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3/21/2010 - peternelson wrote:
Wine Detective: rasp, candy; violtes, subtle dried pice, thyme; not much min., juicy, slite candy notes.
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3/12/2010 - wilmette vino wrote: 90 Points
beautiful nose with sweet floral and cherry notes, nice red-fruited and balanced approach on the palate with a touch of oak in the background and some acidity apparent on the finish. Not great size or length, but very enjoyable none the less. I'll keep my other bottle for a couple of years and see the effect of some more age.
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1/19/2010 - profiler54 wrote: 92 Points
Clear with medium deep garnet color, Nose dominated by floral, spice and oak. Medium to high acid levels with medium body. Palate is in line with nose with black cherry, plum, cola and some garden sage hebaceousness... This wine could use some more time in the bottle 1-2 years to improve but could be drunk now with some decanting..
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1/8/2010 - al-Zabba wrote:
I've never tasted the wood on this as much as in this lineup. VERY pretty, though. Serene texture and weight. Yes.
(Tasted with Palacios Bierzo Mencia, Cline Mourvedre, Dry River Lovat Syrah, and Pieropan Calvarino Soave)
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1/8/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Touches of green. Richard keeps interrupting me.
Touches of green and tomato stem in the pretties way. Being bitched around right now by the Dry River Syrah.
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12/21/2009 - Fokker's Feint wrote:
Muscular and concentrated. Not extremely fruit-forward. Spicy on the back-end.
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11/30/2009 - Capybara562 wrote: 89 Points
light ruby red color, with faint aromas of red fruits and oak. Robust flavors of raspberry, strawberry, oak, and tannin. Clean, medium-long finish.
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11/12/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Taste from dispenser at Whole Foods Lincoln Park.
Very nice overall. Both Jill and I enjoyed this alot.
Light Burgundian characteristics. Spicy strawberries, white pepper and lovely shroomy earth.
Silky opulent mouth feel with awesome acidity on the back end.
Very nice effort.
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10/11/2009 - grafstrb wrote:
Fiddlehead Cellars 2009 Fall Open House: – tasted non-blind at Fiddlehead’s 2009 Fall Open House –
Nice spice on the finish. I preferred this over the ‘06 “Alloro,” as it seemed to be showing more dimensions today than the “Alloro.” I’m surprised this is Fiddlehead’s “entry level” Pinot, as I found it to be one of the better Pinots of the tasting. Perhaps its “entry level-ness” lends it to better showing when young than do the other bottlings.
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9/26/2009 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
Ruby color, with notes of cherries, licorice and tarragon. Black cherry and chalky soil tones on the palate, with a drying finish.
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9/13/2009 - marcw23 wrote: 89 Points
Dark cherry red, extremely smooth and fruit forward, some spice on the short finish. Somewhat tight and seems like it has more potential.
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9/5/2009 - peternelson wrote: 87 Points
Winery: Blackberry, leather, sticks; dry, med. drk, simple, med. lite; perfumey, silky length, bk cherry.
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8/14/2009 - JuliannaDHS wrote: 92 Points
Smoothing out nicely, nice soft cherry flavor, medium complexity, very smooth.
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6/10/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Mr Stox with T-Bone's Crew (Mr Stox, Anaheim, CA): Very bright light berry fruited. Well balanced against big fruits. Best in a couple years when the fruit can relax.
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5/25/2009 - JerzeyJohn wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable wine - needs a bit more time. Cherry and plum nose
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4/11/2009 - nkredich wrote: 89 Points
Tight but good.
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3/28/2009 - jhannah27 wrote:
Weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley; 3/27/2009-3/30/2009 (Solvang, Los Olivos, Lompoc, and surround areas): Tasted at the winery. Round nose of cherries, prunes and damp earth. Mouth coating with spicy oak, dark cherry, plum, and raisin into the brief finish. Overall a very nice wine, but I think it needs some time to really come together and integrate all those flavors.
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12/19/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 87 Points
nose of cola, cherry. nice body in the mouth with strawberry and cherry.
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10/15/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
nose: nicely styled with sweet tones of strawberries, rich plum tones, bits of chocolate flake, and candied cherry tones
taste: good light feel with tones of tart strawberries, plum tones, and some candied cherries
overall: a really nice pinot, but just doesn't take it to that next level for me. The flavors are well balanced and the aromas are well balanced, but there just seems to be something missing, maybe time will bring out more complexity to it
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8/8/2008 - WetRock wrote:
Initially was tight on the nose with an elegant feeling palate but not showing much. Revisit has some sweet flowers coming out with lazer focused fruit. This needs some time to unwind but good potential and nicely styled. Recommend leaving this alone for another year or two at least.
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