This was better than expected. Muted aromas of cherry, notes of spice, cedar, and earth. The wine had a nice bright red color and tasted of low key cherry and cranberry up front, then finishes medium long with more red fruits, earth, tea leaves and subtle cedar spice with smooth tannins and overall tasted Burgundian. Unfortunately it just didn't hit that next level to be outstanding, but a good wine nonetheless, drink now and to 2015.
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Really delicious, but not extremely complex. Was very bright and clear with bing cherry and raspberry candy immediately, but woodsy cedar and spice box notes late. Very enjoyable, certainly ready to drink. wish I had more.
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Ruby, quite fruity red cherry with smoke on nose. May be at its peak with one more year on this vintage. Very light pepper finish with very light tannins.
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A fine Pinot, but nowhere near their single-vineyard bottles. This one had some heat on opening that really needed an hour or more to moderate. Color a beautiful, clear ruby -- they do make some optically beautiful wines at GF. The nose is herb and mineral heavy with some red fruit; the red fruit dominated the palate with a little tartness on the finish.
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14.2% alcohol. A disappointing, somewhat flabby bottle. There has been quite a bit of bottle variation in the Russian River blend this vintage. This had glimpses of the lovely red cherry fruit that has shown occasionally in prior bottles, but the flavors generally seemed muddled and unfocused. About half the time, the sips would give you a glimpse at the best of its raw material, though. So it was nice but frustrating at the same time. B+
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I have to push this one past the group average to 90 pts. This is a classic Pinot that is light bodied and smooth. The nose is filled with red fruits and a hint of minerality. The initial taste is filled with the red fruits again and predominately cherry. Possibly a hint of strawberries too on the mid palette along with some black pepper and spice. The finish has a quick bite from the tannins but not too severe to ruin the overall taste. This would compliment a Mediterranean style lamb dish perfectly.
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14.2% alcohol. Dark cherry color. Mineral-heavy nose of black cherry, spice, and dark earth. In the mouth, lively and quite tasty, if not as endearing as the bottle from this spring. Black cherry, light baking spice, and plenty of earth coat the mouth nicely, with a laser beam of a mouth feel. Strong acidity, which seems to be the component that has become a touch out of balance here. Lovely finish. A-
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fine Pinot - well made - light ruby color - some nice wild flowers on the nose - light red fruits and some mild vegetal notes which are not off putting. Good stuff
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on the verge of excellent, but not quite. Cherries and herb, as one expects from a RR Pinot - and the fainly lavors are pleasing. It is a bit short, and there is little depth, although certainly more than most solid $20-$30 pinots (Erath, Acrobat, McMurry Ranch)
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Light purplish red color with an initial wiff of oak and butter. First impression before tasting was that it could age for a few more years. A classic Pinot, light raspberry with a light to medium tannin content and good acidity. Nice finish, not real long but what I would expect. I can only imagine this will get better in a few years...the oak is just a hint strong for me but the tannins are low.
This wine reminded me of why I like Pinot noir so much. Like a nice champagne, with a cherry hint but not so dark as cherry. More of a finish akin to cranberries. A nose of boiled beets mixed with gym socks, sweet but not cloying. Good acidity, it's sharp but it doesn't seem wrong.
My initial impression was a 92 (I felt I was being generous), reeling from a corked bottle of Saperavi, but I think it deserves more. I may be giving it a higher than average number but I'm a cheap date, and I haven't met a 100 yet. I had been searching for something like Paul Hobbs' Crossbarn Pinot Noir, and I'd say this is a better replacement with more of a discount available. May pick up a little more and then see if the '07 goes on sale next year.
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14.2% alcohol. More time in the bottle has done wonders for this wine. It was showing spectacularly this day. Pure cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, a bit of spice, and an initial but fleeting whiff of oak. In the mouth, linear and gorgeously balanced, with one of the most memorable red cherry streaks I've tasted in a while. The spice creeps up to keep the complexity in the picture, along with a mineral streak and strong acidity. Long finish. A-/A
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Overall a very good although still young Russian River Valley pinot enjoyed earlier tonight at the first Hickory Wine Club tasting of the year. Very cherry and pepper forward, smooth and pleasant medium bodied pinot with a short aftertaste. Too expensive to be a good QPR, do recommend this wine though. Nose somewhat darker then expected, pepper and cherry and some strawberry. Primary flavors included dust, smoke, cherry and black pepper. Still somewhat disjointed, this wine will improve with more age and maturation.
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Decent nose, but not spectacular. Raspberry and other red fruits on the palate with just the right amount of tannin. A bit of cedar or wood at the end. Decent, not great.
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The wine was medium in color and had a lot of smoke and cherry on the nose. It was medium bodied in the mouth with smoke, earth and cherries. Enjoyed @ the Urban Cafe.
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This is good, tasty and balanced. Not attention-grabbing (or critic points-grabbing) with in-your-face fruit and alcohol, but balanced to last - which I like. Will probably be underrated for that reason. 89-90.
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14.2% alcohol. Black cherry color. Fragrant bouquet of blackberry, black cherry, light spice, and healthy oak. Perhaps the oak isn't quite as integrated as it could be at this point. In the mouth, an interesting combination of linear and rounded, with a bit of rich fatness to the fruit and spice, but a focused, acidic backbone. Long finish. Youthful but tasty. B+/A-
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seemed a bit overextracted for my palate. A rather fruity pinot, with obvious strawberry and plums in the mouth. i didnt quite find the acidity i was looking for. Overall nice; my dad really liked it.
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Consumed over 3 days. Day 1: Nose - Tight, some red fruit and black fruit, but very subdued. Palate: BLAGH! No fruit, just a very unpleasant tartness. Considered dumping bottle - but thought I'd wait a day. Day 2: Nose - still tight, more dark fruit - blue and black berry. Palate - Still not very good. A little unripe strawberry, not great but better than day 1. Day 3: Nose - still tight and dominated by darker fruit - surprising for a pinot. Palate: Finally relatively palatable - decent dark fruit, alot of oak showing. May be better in a few years but I doubt I'll be trying it.
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medium to light bodied withsmokiness and sour cherry onthe nose. Inthe mouth it had good acid withsmoke and earth. Also the sour cherry and good weight. We enjoyed it very much with a light dinner.
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I was expecting so much more out of this after really enjoying the 2005. Like drinking alcoholic grape juice, very simple nose, no depth of flavor, absolutely no finish to speak of. Like Welch's but worse. I'll hang on to the other couple of bottles I have for a while even though I didn't really detect any aging potential in this at all. Seriously I've had more than a couple 8-10 dollar bottles that would blow this away.
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5/23/2013 - SchlaepDog Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was better than expected. Muted aromas of cherry, notes of spice, cedar, and earth. The wine had a nice bright red color and tasted of low key cherry and cranberry up front, then finishes medium long with more red fruits, earth, tea leaves and subtle cedar spice with smooth tannins and overall tasted Burgundian. Unfortunately it just didn't hit that next level to be outstanding, but a good wine nonetheless, drink now and to 2015.
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5/6/2013 - dbay Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth, well balanced nicely matured Pinot. low to medium acidity, strawberries, red currants on the palette. Nice surprise
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10/30/2012 - rbrater wrote: 88 Points
Light fruit. Not a lot of complexity in the flavor, but quite pleasant.
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7/5/2012 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 90 Points
soft, sweet cherry flavor, short finish, soft on the palate.
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2/21/2012 - Scott Shapiro wrote: 86 Points
Average. Over priced
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1/3/2012 - BDofMSP wrote: 90 Points
Really delicious, but not extremely complex. Was very bright and clear with bing cherry and raspberry candy immediately, but woodsy cedar and spice box notes late. Very enjoyable, certainly ready to drink. wish I had more.
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11/24/2011 - bgreenak wrote: 87 Points
Drank with Thanksgiving dinner. Very nice. Typical California Pinot. Well made, good balance.
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8/21/2011 - Gig Harbor Estate wrote: 89 Points
Very nice. Strawberry color. Cherry nose with good fruit and heat balance.
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5/22/2011 - Noahc wrote:
Ruby, quite fruity red cherry with smoke on nose. May be at its peak with one more year on this vintage. Very light pepper finish with very light tannins.
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4/24/2011 - Mlawrence wrote:
Too many wines that are better at this price point. Drinks like a $23 pinot, not $40 +
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4/20/2011 - bboomer wrote: 89 Points
Probably should have opened this a year ago. Light to medium bodied, some fruit, pretty good.
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4/3/2011 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 88 Points
A fine Pinot, but nowhere near their single-vineyard bottles. This one had some heat on opening that really needed an hour or more to moderate. Color a beautiful, clear ruby -- they do make some optically beautiful wines at GF. The nose is herb and mineral heavy with some red fruit; the red fruit dominated the palate with a little tartness on the finish.
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2/24/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. A disappointing, somewhat flabby bottle. There has been quite a bit of bottle variation in the Russian River blend this vintage. This had glimpses of the lovely red cherry fruit that has shown occasionally in prior bottles, but the flavors generally seemed muddled and unfocused. About half the time, the sips would give you a glimpse at the best of its raw material, though. So it was nice but frustrating at the same time. B+
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2/3/2011 - gutt22 wrote: flawed
14.2% alcohol. Corked.
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12/24/2010 - wineywhites wrote: 85 Points
Cherry and raspberry, but there's a tartness there we did not care for
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12/5/2010 - zacojam wrote: 90 Points
I have to push this one past the group average to 90 pts. This is a classic Pinot that is light bodied and smooth. The nose is filled with red fruits and a hint of minerality. The initial taste is filled with the red fruits again and predominately cherry. Possibly a hint of strawberries too on the mid palette along with some black pepper and spice. The finish has a quick bite from the tannins but not too severe to ruin the overall taste. This would compliment a Mediterranean style lamb dish perfectly.
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11/28/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. Dark cherry color. Mineral-heavy nose of black cherry, spice, and dark earth. In the mouth, lively and quite tasty, if not as endearing as the bottle from this spring. Black cherry, light baking spice, and plenty of earth coat the mouth nicely, with a laser beam of a mouth feel. Strong acidity, which seems to be the component that has become a touch out of balance here. Lovely finish. A-
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11/25/2010 - JuliannaDHS wrote: 89 Points
A nice light bodied pinot, just a little too light for my taste. Good fruit though and it went pretty well with my Thanksgiving feast!
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11/1/2010 - JR512 wrote: 88 Points
An okay pinot... not a favorite
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10/23/2010 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
fine Pinot - well made - light ruby color - some nice wild flowers on the nose - light red fruits and some mild vegetal notes which are not off putting. Good stuff
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10/2/2010 - BailliSacks wrote:
Nice, leaner than expected for breed. Eucalyptus, but not excessive.
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9/28/2010 - kenthargis wrote: 89 Points
Perfectly pleasant medium bodied pinot. Not as expressive as some of theirs, but still worth getting.
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8/19/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 89 Points
on the verge of excellent, but not quite. Cherries and herb, as one expects from a RR Pinot - and the fainly lavors are pleasing. It is a bit short, and there is little depth, although certainly more than most solid $20-$30 pinots (Erath, Acrobat, McMurry Ranch)
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8/13/2010 - Noahc wrote: 94 Points
Light purplish red color with an initial wiff of oak and butter. First impression before tasting was that it could age for a few more years. A classic Pinot, light raspberry with a light to medium tannin content and good acidity. Nice finish, not real long but what I would expect. I can only imagine this will get better in a few years...the oak is just a hint strong for me but the tannins are low.
This wine reminded me of why I like Pinot noir so much. Like a nice champagne, with a cherry hint but not so dark as cherry. More of a finish akin to cranberries. A nose of boiled beets mixed with gym socks, sweet but not cloying. Good acidity, it's sharp but it doesn't seem wrong.
My initial impression was a 92 (I felt I was being generous), reeling from a corked bottle of Saperavi, but I think it deserves more. I may be giving it a higher than average number but I'm a cheap date, and I haven't met a 100 yet. I had been searching for something like Paul Hobbs' Crossbarn Pinot Noir, and I'd say this is a better replacement with more of a discount available. May pick up a little more and then see if the '07 goes on sale next year.
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4/16/2010 - Naso wrote: 85 Points
Light with cherry blackberry. Better pinos availabe for the price
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3/31/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. More time in the bottle has done wonders for this wine. It was showing spectacularly this day. Pure cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, a bit of spice, and an initial but fleeting whiff of oak. In the mouth, linear and gorgeously balanced, with one of the most memorable red cherry streaks I've tasted in a while. The spice creeps up to keep the complexity in the picture, along with a mineral streak and strong acidity. Long finish. A-/A
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3/15/2010 - Maliblue wrote: 89 Points
Did not jump out at me as overly impressive. Kind of light. Decent fruit. Not one that I would rush out to get.
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3/4/2010 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Hazy cranberry red. Soft and spicy with clean notes of light strawberry and cherry. Nice.
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3/1/2010 - Rich Aurilia wrote: 90 Points
Very fruit forward. Not bad for a bottle to open and drink for no occasion, just to open in the middle of the week.
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1/21/2010 - East Dallas Wino wrote: 87 Points
Medium to heavy bodied, with some major sour cherry notes. Tasty stuff, although I'd probably grab another pinot at the price point.
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1/11/2010 - ikkaariainen wrote: 88 Points
Overall a very good although still young Russian River Valley pinot enjoyed earlier tonight at the first Hickory Wine Club tasting of the year. Very cherry and pepper forward, smooth and pleasant medium bodied pinot with a short aftertaste. Too expensive to be a good QPR, do recommend this wine though. Nose somewhat darker then expected, pepper and cherry and some strawberry. Primary flavors included dust, smoke, cherry and black pepper. Still somewhat disjointed, this wine will improve with more age and maturation.
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10/30/2009 - aagrawal wrote: 85 Points
Decent nose, but not spectacular. Raspberry and other red fruits on the palate with just the right amount of tannin. A bit of cedar or wood at the end. Decent, not great.
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10/23/2009 - emf wrote:
The wine was medium in color and had a lot of smoke and cherry on the nose. It was medium bodied in the mouth with smoke, earth and cherries. Enjoyed @ the Urban Cafe.
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10/17/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Light/medium color. Taste of strawberry, low acidity. Medium finish.
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7/30/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 89 Points
This is good, tasty and balanced. Not attention-grabbing (or critic points-grabbing) with in-your-face fruit and alcohol, but balanced to last - which I like. Will probably be underrated for that reason. 89-90.
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7/22/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. Black cherry color. Fragrant bouquet of blackberry, black cherry, light spice, and healthy oak. Perhaps the oak isn't quite as integrated as it could be at this point. In the mouth, an interesting combination of linear and rounded, with a bit of rich fatness to the fruit and spice, but a focused, acidic backbone. Long finish. Youthful but tasty. B+/A-
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7/22/2009 - gutt22 wrote: flawed
Corked. Badly corked. Four Gary Farrell wines in the last year.
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6/1/2009 - Gig Harbor Estate wrote: 89 Points
Good but I was not as happy as I have been in the past with Gary Farrel. A little tight and required some breathing.
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5/27/2009 - soyhead wrote: 87 Points
seemed a bit overextracted for my palate. A rather fruity pinot, with obvious strawberry and plums in the mouth. i didnt quite find the acidity i was looking for. Overall nice; my dad really liked it.
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5/16/2009 - prasm wrote: 84 Points
Consumed over 3 days. Day 1: Nose - Tight, some red fruit and black fruit, but very subdued. Palate: BLAGH! No fruit, just a very unpleasant tartness. Considered dumping bottle - but thought I'd wait a day.
Day 2: Nose - still tight, more dark fruit - blue and black berry. Palate - Still not very good. A little unripe strawberry, not great but better than day 1.
Day 3: Nose - still tight and dominated by darker fruit - surprising for a pinot. Palate: Finally relatively palatable - decent dark fruit, alot of oak showing. May be better in a few years but I doubt I'll be trying it.
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5/16/2009 - emf wrote:
medium to light bodied withsmokiness and sour cherry onthe nose. Inthe mouth it had good acid withsmoke and earth. Also the sour cherry and good weight. We enjoyed it very much with a light dinner.
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12/9/2008 - mgoblue82 wrote: 80 Points
I was expecting so much more out of this after really enjoying the 2005. Like drinking alcoholic grape juice, very simple nose, no depth of flavor, absolutely no finish to speak of. Like Welch's but worse. I'll hang on to the other couple of bottles I have for a while even though I didn't really detect any aging potential in this at all. Seriously I've had more than a couple 8-10 dollar bottles that would blow this away.
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