Twisted and poured. A "fading flower" from the Acker Auction: five bottles of the Loring Clos Pepe, two of the 07 and three of 08, all for sixty bucks total. Must have been well stored since there's quite a bit of life left in this old girl. Dark garnet with no browning in the glass, black cherry and raisins on the nose with caramel and a bit of dust, plenty of fruit on the palate, some fine tannins still acting puckery. Medium body and medium finish. Alcohol 14.9 covered.
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A gift from friends with careful but passive Southern California storage--not mistreated but no doubt more mature by 2-3 years than properly stored bottles. Riper, pulpier than the 07 Loring Garys' they shared last week, and on the edge of pruniness. I'm alarmed to see 251 bottles still in other CT cellars--these wines aren't made for aging, and they won't get any better. Drink up!
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We decided to have a pair off between this and the 2007 Clos Pepe. The results were interesting. The woman preferred the ‘08. I preferred the ‘07. The ‘07 is brighter, longer, bigger. The ‘08 was softer, rounder, more fruit forward. But the ‘08 lacked the depth and completeness of the ‘07. Both have loads of “Loring Red”. Both have cherry and cola and cinnamon. The ‘08 leads with cranberry and cloves while the ‘07 tucks in with allspice. Both have fully integrated tannins, but the ‘07 is more balanced, more complete, bigger, longer finish and more polished. And yes, the ‘08 is a touch too acidic. Drink now. 14.9% alc. With homemade pasta and mushrooms. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended.
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Opened and imbibed with pizza. Light yet peppery. Clear ruby in color. Black raspberry on the nose, with black cherry and pepper. Good acidity. Not too overdone or cloying. Showing secondaries, but not in a bad way. Enjoyable at 11 years old.
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As the last bottle of the evening and the “how-about-one-more” selection at that, the notes are a bit, er, hazy. Translucent at the rim; opaque at the core; youthful in every way. Cinnamon, black cherry, allspice, and cola wrapped in a sweet, balanced package. Bright on the attack and long on the finish with balance and a silky mouthfeel from start to finish. same on the palate with a fruit laden attack, spicy mid-palate and silky smooth on the finish. 14.9% alc., but no heat. Drink now. With duck cassoulet and the Schreibers and Fords. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended.
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Full on translucent “Loring Red” at the rim shading to full on opaque at the core. The nose if round with cinnamon, mint, allspice, black cherry, cola and lavender. All the same on the palate with a fruit laden attack, spicy mid-palate and silky smooth on the finish. As usual, this wine is long on the attack, smooth and nearly seamless to the finish. 14.9% alc., but not a bit of heat. With incredible lamb burgers spiced with cinnamon, paprika and mint served in brioche bun under pickled red onion. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended.
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P n P. No real sed. Soft red fruits, not over the top. Still alive , but mellowed from memory of tasting. Not much life on nite 2. Had w baked chicken and matched well. Enjoy sooner than later.
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Dark and clear in the glass, but there was considerable sediment in the bottle. Still a good nose of Pinot fruit. On the dark side. Terrific balance with resolved tannins and acidity. Not flabby or candied as some big Pinots might exhibit. Long finish. Exceeded expectations for a wine many say drink within 3 years.
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Consistent with prior note of nine months ago. Color of medium red. Scents of smooth, not over ripe, red fruit. Tastes of smooth, not over ripe, red fruit with some minerality. Since nine months ago, it is showing some further aging with the somewhat mellowing of the red fruits.
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Not as complex as I remembered from a couple years ago. Chocolate cherry cola on the nose upon opening, feeling a little heat after a bit of air. Still has nice mouthfeel with medium finish. My last bottle, have enjoyed these.
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The last one in the cellar and no where near the bottle last year. Fruit has faded and has a reductive note on the finish. Unfortunately an off bottle.
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My last bottle held as an experiment to see what happens to my favorite of the Loring wines with a bit of age. The fruit fades, the earth remains, but overall it was dark and brooding but without any definition. A rich, herbal cola. Enjoy these young!
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Black cherry, raspberry fruit with carmel, vanilla and a touch of cola. Some spiciness and complexity. Nice structure. Medium length on the finish. Interesting.
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Solid showing, has mellowed a bit and varietal was shining through. Ready now. Purple fruit, minerality and grip on the midpalate but no sharp edges. A grillin' pinot. Last of my '07s and this was one of the best bottles.
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Beautiful evolution on this joyous wine which is has retained its depth and vibrancy. The fist pumping components of a few years ago now feel more like they're embracing one another with that same enthusiasm.
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The day was much more about the people than the wine, so no detailed notes This has tamed down considerably since being last tasted in 2009. Full of cloves, cinnamon, black cherry, and the teaberry and cola, while still present, those flavors have calmed down a bit. A long attack that nearly seamlessly moves to a long spicy finish. 14.9% alc., but not a bit of heat. With balsamic glazed smoked King salmon and roast turkey wrapped in rosemary, sage and pancetta. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended..
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Consistent with my note from four months ago. Fabulous nose. Plush fruit yet soft and subtle. Cherry, anise, cedar, cinnamon and a long memorable finish. This is drinking superbly well.
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I think I should have splash decanted or something. This was big and drinking hot. Can't say I found it tightly wound, just hot. Was distracting from what's likely good raw material underneath. Have two more and will give those airtime before serving in the future.
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Twist and pour; Fairly dark for a PN, nose is full-bodied with rich dark fruit, lavender, pepper and well-aged wood. Medium-bodied but more fruit-driven and lacking in depth. Drink within a year before the structure has dissipated.
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14.9% alcohol. Dark cherry color. Pretty nose of jammy blackberry and minerals. In the mouth, jammy and laden in fruit. There's good acidity and vibrance to the wine. A fun drink. A-
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Layers of fruit, some oak, and decent tannins on the finish. This drank very well initially. We came back to the closed bottle 2 hours after drinking the first 1/2, and it was amazing how much this wine fell apart. It was still drinkable, but a lot of the fruit and complexity had vanished, and was replaced by an alcohol burn. Wow. Drink up.
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First bottle of this wine that we have opened in two years and it is in excellent form. Translucent garnet color. A generous ripe red fruit and earth nose. The dominant flavor elements are cherry and clove. My wife is also picking up a smoky incense note. This is excellent. We have been drinking entirely too little Pinot Noir as of late.
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Pop/pour. In the sunlight, beautiful color and clarity...something I normally don't pay much attention to. Red fruits, rhubarb, and something reminiscent of mint on the nose. On the palate, still a touch tart (as it was in Jan 2010), but this has diminished since the last tasting and helps to keep this lively. A light dose of tannins on the finish. Opens up nicely with 30 minutes of air.
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Outstanding, though it's not going to get any better. My first taste made me worry that I had already missed the window. The rest was great, but I would drink up.
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Beautiful cranberry color in the glass. Excellent structure--could easily go a few more years. Some blackberry but more red fruit than I normally pick up from SRH pinots. Good depth of fruit, nice acidity, nice finish. We had bottle open for 8 hours and just got better. Fully expect this to be just singing in 3-5 more years. Kudos to Brian. Well done!
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14.9% alcohol. Rocking bottle of wine right now. Jumps out of the nose with slightly jammy blackberry fruit, along with notes of black cherry and baking spice. In the mouth, plush and delicious, with a tangy streak to it. There is loads of fruit and just enough earth and spice keeping it from being simple. Bright acidity. Long finish. More upside with another year or so. A-
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Pop and Pour, tasted over 3 hours. Didn't really do it for me. Not sure if my palate was off or what (Chris liked it fine) but it seemed to be both relatively high acid (for a Loring) and empty, just generally unfruited compared to what I was expecting. I'm going to chalk this one up to user error, becuase I don't think it was flawed.
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This bottle a touch pruny or oxydized. All of the right flavors were there but the very, very ripe fruit was a bit over the edge. Hope next one is better.
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Wonderful nose upon opening -- even passed the first glass around so folks could get a wiff. Nice cherry and spice in the mouth, full bodied for a pinot, with a background of tannins. Nice moderate finish. Think it still has a few years. Much better than my first bottle 2 years ago, and bet it still has at least another 2 or 3 years to go.
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So I definitely have a minority report on this one, even though some of my favorites rate it strongly. Dense ruby. This is quite extracted and fruit with black cherry and blueberry. There is a good bit of oak influence showing and a hint of earth, but really very little to me. Quite full bodied for a pinot, fruit forward, but just not much that really seemed like pinot noir to me. Did not at all to me seem like a SRH pinot. Not really heavy handed, but just lacking in any finesse or nuance. I tried it in different glasses, at different temps, and giving it more air time, but this never tasted to me like more than a middling $23 pinot, much less one at about twice that price. Maybe a weak bottle, but I can only report what I experience, which I'm afraid is mostly disappointment. 86-87
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This is a wonderful, big in your face pinot with lots of cherry and spice on the nose and a full flavored layered palate of cherry, spice, earth and tannins.
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Found this in the cellar and didn't have it in my inventory. Not the first 2007 Loring I have found. Just like a holiday morning. Good Pinot funk and it is big but definitely not over the top. Not candied like some other CA Pinots from other producers. Stay tuned for more found treasures.
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Bought this bottle at Total Wine & More at a Loring Wine Co. tasting for $50 and drank with our Friday night go-to Pinot pairing: grilled salmon steaks with grilled veggies. The bouquet is typically Pinot, meaning plenty of earth/dirt up-front, along with suggestions of oak, spice, and fruit. This wine pours much darker than most Santa Rita Hills Pinots I've had. The Pinots from Melville, Sanford, Babcock, Foley, Alma Rosa, and Lafond (to name a few) are much lighter-colored and have much more delicate bouquets. Somehow/someway/for-some-reason, Brian prefers to extract more tannins and color from the skins during the wine making process? Perhaps. Regardless of extracted color (and flavors?), this is a nice, earthy, spicy, slightly creamy Central California Pinot. The wine's terrior/earth, oak, and spice (especially black pepper) is most prominent up-front. Mid-palate, the red and dark fruits shine through, including sour cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and plums. The finish highlights the wine's tannins, structure, and depth/complexity, including a smooth, well-balanced follow-through. We bought this bottle a couple of years ago and properly stored it, but I would imagine this wine would continue to age well, mature, and develop for another 10 years or so. This was a very unexpected SRH Pinot. As mentioned above, most SRH Pinots are delicate and, for lack of a better term, feminine; they're usually lightly colored, with pretty, floral bouquets, and made with a very light touch/hands. This wine is also much creamier than most SRH Pinots. If I had tasted this wine blind, I would have guessed that this was a Northern Cal Pinot (i.e. Napa or Sonoma). It's much richer, creamier, and "heavy" than most Central Calif Pinots. Not at all bad (especially if you like oaky, creamy, rich Pinots), but nothing quite like a Pinot from the Hills North of Santa Barbara (aka SRH). This went only "OK" with the salmon, due to it's "heavy" richness. This wine would go better with duck or red meats, especially lamb or grilled steaks. Well done, but not what I was expecting.
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Definitely a big, Santa Rita Hills style Pinot, but not over the top. Layers of fruit, along with some spice and earth and a solid structure of tannins and acidity. Drinking well now, but has some time left.
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Very Cali in style. Polished, ripe, red fruit, earth, flowers, vanilla, and tannins on the end. Seamless flow of well made wine. Great vintage and very reassuring of why sometimes you just need Cali Pinot. Recommended.
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Deep garnet color. Cherry, mint, olives, spice, with a bit of minerals and earth on the nose. Medium to full body with soft, ripe tannins and good acidity. Juicy and very flavorful on the palate with the fruit and savory elements in perfect balance with just a bit of spicy oak in the background. Long finish with the fruit and spice lingering nicely. Very tasty stuff. Not Burgundian, but just what I wanted.
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Opened and decanted for one hour. This was consumed side-by-side with the 2007 Siduri Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. I enjoy tasting wines from the same vintage and vineyard but form different winemakers simultaneously, it is amazing to see how big a "stamp" the winemaker can leave.
In this case the wines were amazingly different, while the same bright fruit of cherry, pomegranate, and some blueberry came through, the Loring wine was much BIGGER! Don't be afraid, Brian, really did a great job, the fruit was bigger, but he managed to keep everything balanced. I know, I hate that descriptor as well. SO, what I mean is, the fruit was bright and fresh, the tannins were ripe and well integrated, the acid was there so that the fruit did not seem like plum jam. My only negative was the finish, it wasn't bad, it just was missing (length and texture).
The Siduri pinot was not bad, I really liked the wine. It just was not as enjoyable. The fruit was more muted, there was a black tea component that led to a vegetal brininess, that while I can definitely appreciate, seemed to be misplaced here. If I had to guess, this saw some whole-cluster fermentation, which you know Loring did not do. In this case, De-Stem 1, Whole-Cluster 0. 50+5+13+16+7
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big, ripe, balanced black cherry pinot, with great spice and moderate acidity. Wonderful concentration, and a special bottle. One of Loring's best if in a big style...
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Kemp's 65th including some 1945 wines.: I thought this was very good. Much more restrained than I expected. Earthy and spiced on the nose. Complex with good balanced cherry fruit on the palate. Nice.
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Wonderful purity of fruit. Black fruit with great intensity and focus. Ripe and rich with currant, black cherry, and blueberry fruit that is simply delicious. Supple, layered and complex with a long and lingering finish. A stellar effort from Brian Loring. The last bottle in my cellar of this great wine.
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14.9% ABV. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Slightly minty/herbal nose with black cherry fruit in the background. Medium full bodied with black cherry fruit and a touch of tea. Nice persistence. This was throwing a fair amount of sediment.
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pop & pour nose: a nice mixture of earth, dust, slate, and, of course, juicy, rambunctious red raspberry, plum, and all sorts of red fruit palate: very lively acid, but so is the fruit. Very delicious, with cranberry, cherry, and slight tannin to knock against the med-high acid. Almost delicate for the producer. Probably one of my favorite Lorings to date.
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Big and fruit forward but not flabby. Black cherry cola, extracted and spicy. Good acidic structure and tastes as fresh as it did 18 months ago. Stellar effort from Loring in 2007.
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Nose of dark berries and a hint of camphor and olives. The palate carriws over some olive tapenade flavors, some dark berries and a little cinnamon. Full bodied but not overripe. The finish has calmed down a lot in a year...velvety.
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Needed about 30 minutes of air to show its stuff. BTW, Ive noticed that all of Brian's wine benefit from the ol' MD shake. They all release some gas even one year out. Anyway, dark berries, cinnamon, some savory elements. Full bodied and smooth. Great finish.
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There is a limit to how extracted a Pinot should be, and this wine is at the edge. Very new world. Would have guessed it was a syrah. Didnt get any spice or cinammon that other are referring to...just massive black fruit. Possible served too cold. Drank without food.
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Ive loved it more before but still typical American pinot with dark cherries, some oak, cinnamon. The palate is full and smooth with a little heat on the back end. Missing a bit of fruit for me on this night.
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Bright cherry and raspberry fruit. Lots of it. A little bit of spice, but found the tannins were covering up the subtleties. Enough acidity on the end to hint at sour so pour it with a richer dish--teriyaki beef was my choice and it was a good match for that. All in all, I'm not in a hurry to drink the rest of my bottles and see if age helps lower the tannin and expose the nuances.
12/20/10 Wow, doesn't seem to be the same wine that I tasted last time. Notes this time were that fruit was muted, but still good black cherry and blueberry. Noticed some black tea and a good amount of earthiness. Oak and tannins were strong, but not overpowering and contributed to a nice long finish. Looking forward to my next bottle as I'd rate this one 92 or 93 compared to my previous 88.
6/22/12 My bipolar view on this continues. Much more like the first set of comments. Blackberry and blueberry fruit, a bit tart, and a pretty fair amount of tannin for a Pinot. Good with our wasabi crusted swordfish and asian spiced vegetables. But lack of complexity makes this a good wine, not a great one.
9/23/12 Trending to the consensus in my notes that this is a good food wine. It has a nice balance of acidity and oak on the end, but you have to let it breathe a bit for that to come through. Pop and pour it's pretty closed up.
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fell slightly short of my expectations in that was slightly bold but lacked a certain complexity that would've compelled me to rate it in the 90's. I will hold off on opening my other bottle till 2012 in hopes that it gains something with a little more age.
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Different from the other Lorings I've had, bit more musk and Asian spice on the nose, nice ripe red fruit. Sweet and ripe with juicy red cherry and raspberry fruit. Medium bodied but light acidity and only a light tannic backbone. Nice finish. No reason to keep for an extended period - drinking well.
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14.9% ABV. Dark garnet, somewhat translucent in the glass. High toned nose of mulberry, sap, and maybe sandalwood and a touch of metal. Medium bodied with ripe red berry fruit turning more tangy red in the finish. This seems fairly large scaled for a Pinot, but not heavy in any way. Good.
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Rich, ruby in color. Black fruit on the nose. Very ripe and intense. Deliciously, sweet fruit and rich flavor profile. Great fruit in this bottle. Very layered, very complex- long, lingering finish.
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Compared to the 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Rancho La Vina opened last week, this one seemed to be in many ways similar, but in need of more time than that bottle. Nose - distinct note of sour that also carries to the palate. Nose itself is somewhat muted. Medium bodied on the palate. Seemingly balanced but somewhat out of sorts at present / lacks integration. Should've decanted it. Update after 2 hours: Like the Rancho La Vina, this also improved after some air. Nose much more forward - florals, cherry, sour now more in the background. Palate not as rough, but now it comes across as a little out of balance for current drinking, and not as precise as the La Vina. Rich mouthfeel, but more acid than I like for the fruit that's there. I'm rating this on the 2 hour mark, thinking that this might score a couple points better in 2-3 years if everything falls into place.
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Big fruit flavors in this complex Pinot. Blackberries, cherries, cola and asian spices in an elegant and silky delivery. Nice acidity and refined tannins.
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Fantastic. drinking like adream now. Hints of spice and baking chocolate on the nose with dark fruit, cranberries, and herbs on the palate. nice long finish and a soft mouthfell to it. Was drunk straight from the bottle.
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Rich ruby in color. Black fruit notes on the nose. Ripe and intense. Bright dark berries and currant. Full weight, Rich on the nose and in flavor. Purity of fruit here. Supple, layered and complex. Long, lingering finish.
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Pours a dark ruby, still somewhat translucent in the glass. On the nose, notes of rich, dense ripe raspberry, marshmallow, strawberry blossom, and fresh herbs. On the palate, this wine is initially dominated by a salty minerality. It gives way to menthol, anise, rhubarb, lemongrass, raspberry, strawberry, and a trace of bitter espresso. An intellectual sipper, this was a fun wine to explore as it developed over the evening.
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Delicious, mouth-watering Pinot Noir. Very rich, fruit-filled nose. Aromas of dark cherries and chocolate. Very satisfying combination of tastes: currants, raspberries, cherry. Smooth and blended throughout the night. Creamy finish. Very enjoyable.
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Luscious ripe fruit nose. Garnet in color. Full, rich dark cherry juice with hints of exotic spices. Noticeable tannins on the first sip that did not disappear but mellowed as the evening progressed and the wine responded to exposure. This may get better with time but it is damn fine now.
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14.9% alcohol. This is a terrific example of the best of Brian Loring. Big, fruit-forward bouquet. A slight hint of reduction lurking behind the blackberry and black cherry fruit, along with earth, spice, and minerals. In the mouth, plush yet refined and somewhat racy. Excellent body and mouth feel. Bright acidity. A strong showing at this point for this wine, reinforced by the long finish. A-
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Nose of cherries, flowers, and creamed Indian dessert; plenty of irresistible fruit scattered and balanced along the spectrum from tart to sweet, with hints of pepper, earth, and herbs underneath. Score should reflect a handicap for the stunning Mountain Winery picnic setting before Wilco.
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Slightly spicy fruit nose. Dark fruits and a subtle, yet powerful body which I hadn't noticed before. Nice edges and perceived sweetness. Finish gives off some nice spice.
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A little tannic. Little overpowering and disjointed. Needs more time to fully develop. Great potential. Came in 3rd for the night, though, behind a Ken Wright and a Shea.
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Explosive nose of kirsch royale, raspberries/chambord, earth, bramble, some oaky vanilla and spice. On the palate, cherry juice, earth, forest floor, oaky vanilla, fresh cranberries, a hint of white pepper. Good tannins, incredible structure. High on the deliciousness scale
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This is a really nice bottle of Syrah ( oh it's not Syrah ) well just not my thing anymore, ripe dark fruits with some structure just more Syrah like than pinot.
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Decanted 4 hours. Gorgeous medium ruby color. Still can see my fingers through the juice. Wonderful aromas of currant, fig newtons, rhubarb, Asian spice and some light oak accents. Beautifully smooth and balanced palate after breathing for some time -- definitely needed the decanting. Exquisite palate with more medium red fruit. Spicy raspberries, more layers of fig and earth lead to a medium long finish. Moderate high alcohol and acidity with moderate low tannins lend a beautifully crafted wine which will develop over the next 5-7 years. I am an immediate LWC fan.
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Great combo with BBQ Berkshire pork. Slightly chilled, a core of grape Nehi which folds into spice, smoke and aromatics. A sweetness on the edges. Round and soft with just enough acids to support. Yummy.
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Excellent pinot. Reminds me of a particular Kosta Browne that I've had in the past. Very nice flavor profile, midpalate, and finish. Perhaps, the ever slightest more tannic than I would like. Otherwise fabulous. Tremendous value. Could be a top 10 wine of 2009.
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The nose had cranberry, cherry, raspberry, forest floor, oak, and a touch of cake spice at the the end. The palate was smooth and sweet, and had cherry, cranberry, raspberry, earth, spice, and a little oak on the finish
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The color is nothing short of plum. The nose is interesting, being more complex than most earlier Clos Pepe wines by Brian; and this is from someone who is a Loring Clos Pepe fan. The nose is full of cinnamon, black cherry, vanilla, teaberry, cola....and something that compliments black olive without actually being a black olive scent. The bouquet delivers the palate. Round and soft; in fact, softer than many Lorings. The attack is long and moves seamlessly to the mid-palate where it “clunks” to the finish, probably due to being a bit too youthful just now. A whopping 14.9% alc., but to my amazement, it does not show. With roasted rack of lamb crusted with mustard, honey molasses and pecans. Recommended - leaning to Highly Recommended.
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Needs an hour in the decanter to come together. Riper and fuller than other Lorings I have tried, this is absolutely delicious once it opens up. More roundness with age should up the score a point or two over the next years...
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Great nose of cherries, red fruits and smoke. Wonderful tastes of cherries, red fruit, spices and smoke. Great body and well balanced wine. Excellent Pinot Noir, looking forward to trying another one with some age on it.
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Dark cherry on the nose. Also, there is lots of spice (which seems to be a theme with these wines) - too much spice for my tastes. Nice, medium-long finish.
Found this on sale in a local store for $34 and decided to try based on WS rating of 94. A good wine, but I was slightly disappointed. This is probably the 3rd or 4th Loring I've tried and although I think they are good, well-made wines, there are others I like more in the price range.
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wrong setting to open this one so early... twist and pour... but beautifully balanced.. would have preferred to decant for an hour, as always last glass was better by a mile than the first.
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Wow, this was really good... Good nose, classic cali pinot, cherry, spice and a bit floral even. Palate really shines, great balance and good extraction of fruit. Cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and apricot with a little creme on the end.
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Wow. This is a stunning wine, one of Brian's best ever. Black and blue fruit explodes from the glass. Powerful and concentrated but not over the top, with a complex of spices, and earth on the finish. Big but balanced.
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Glunz Wines Winter Portfolio tasting (union league club, chicago IL): nose: very bold and rich nose with all sorts of black spices, black cherries, anise, and loads of various dark berry tones. Very big nose that you'd expect from a loring pinot. There is no elegance here, but more brute force
taste: Big and rich with full body giving off tones of blackberries, black spices, all sorts of dark mixed berries and some bits of anise
overall: while the opposite of what I normally like from a pinot, this is an outstanding wine. Great complexity and depth. Not neccessarily over the top, but definitely extracted bordering on sensory overload, but it does bring it back a bit
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8/27/2023 - TheSauerKraut wrote:
Surprisingly good, and still intact, despite the screw top.
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3/10/2023 - Deadhead wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was fantastic! I found some Loring bottles tucked away in the cellar. Well balanced. Nice acidity. What a treat!
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2/17/2020 - mazik Likes this wine: 89 Points
Twisted and poured. A "fading flower" from the Acker Auction: five bottles of the Loring Clos Pepe, two of the 07 and three of 08, all for sixty bucks total. Must have been well stored since there's quite a bit of life left in this old girl. Dark garnet with no browning in the glass, black cherry and raisins on the nose with caramel and a bit of dust, plenty of fruit on the palate, some fine tannins still acting puckery. Medium body and medium finish. Alcohol 14.9 covered.
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9/2/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine:
A gift from friends with careful but passive Southern California storage--not mistreated but no doubt more mature by 2-3 years than properly stored bottles. Riper, pulpier than the 07 Loring Garys' they shared last week, and on the edge of pruniness. I'm alarmed to see 251 bottles still in other CT cellars--these wines aren't made for aging, and they won't get any better. Drink up!
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5/31/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
We decided to have a pair off between this and the 2007 Clos Pepe. The results were interesting. The woman preferred the ‘08. I preferred the ‘07. The ‘07 is brighter, longer, bigger. The ‘08 was softer, rounder, more fruit forward. But the ‘08 lacked the depth and completeness of the ‘07. Both have loads of “Loring Red”. Both have cherry and cola and cinnamon. The ‘08 leads with cranberry and cloves while the ‘07 tucks in with allspice. Both have fully integrated tannins, but the ‘07 is more balanced, more complete, bigger, longer finish and more polished. And yes, the ‘08 is a touch too acidic. Drink now. 14.9% alc. With homemade pasta and mushrooms. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended.
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5/16/2018 - Senso-beak wrote: 89 Points
Opened and imbibed with pizza. Light yet peppery. Clear ruby in color. Black raspberry on the nose, with black cherry and pepper. Good acidity. Not too overdone or cloying. Showing secondaries, but not in a bad way. Enjoyable at 11 years old.
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2/17/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
As the last bottle of the evening and the “how-about-one-more” selection at that, the notes are a bit, er, hazy. Translucent at the rim; opaque at the core; youthful in every way. Cinnamon, black cherry, allspice, and cola wrapped in a sweet, balanced package. Bright on the attack and long on the finish with balance and a silky mouthfeel from start to finish. same on the palate with a fruit laden attack, spicy mid-palate and silky smooth on the finish. 14.9% alc., but no heat. Drink now. With duck cassoulet and the Schreibers and Fords. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended.
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5/28/2017 - timewithwine wrote:
Full on translucent “Loring Red” at the rim shading to full on opaque at the core. The nose if round with cinnamon, mint, allspice, black cherry, cola and lavender. All the same on the palate with a fruit laden attack, spicy mid-palate and silky smooth on the finish. As usual, this wine is long on the attack, smooth and nearly seamless to the finish. 14.9% alc., but not a bit of heat. With incredible lamb burgers spiced with cinnamon, paprika and mint served in brioche bun under pickled red onion. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended.
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4/5/2017 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 89 Points
P n P. No real sed. Soft red fruits, not over the top. Still alive , but mellowed from memory of tasting. Not much life on nite 2. Had w baked chicken and matched well. Enjoy sooner than later.
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5/29/2016 - Deadhead wrote: 91 Points
No notes. My wife really enjoyed it.
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5/1/2016 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Dark and clear in the glass, but there was considerable sediment in the bottle. Still a good nose of Pinot fruit. On the dark side. Terrific balance with resolved tannins and acidity. Not flabby or candied as some big Pinots might exhibit. Long finish. Exceeded expectations for a wine many say drink within 3 years.
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3/29/2015 - dase13 wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with prior note of nine months ago. Color of medium red. Scents of smooth, not over ripe, red fruit. Tastes of smooth, not over ripe, red fruit with some minerality. Since nine months ago, it is showing some further aging with the somewhat mellowing of the red fruits.
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3/9/2015 - whudock Likes this wine: 92 Points
cranberry fruit, spice and great complexity.
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1/8/2015 - Schlutt wrote: 89 Points
Not as complex as I remembered from a couple years ago. Chocolate cherry cola on the nose upon opening, feeling a little heat after a bit of air. Still has nice mouthfeel with medium finish. My last bottle, have enjoyed these.
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12/7/2014 - dmatley wrote: flawed
The last one in the cellar and no where near the bottle last year. Fruit has faded and has a reductive note on the finish. Unfortunately an off bottle.
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11/18/2014 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
My last bottle held as an experiment to see what happens to my favorite of the Loring wines with a bit of age. The fruit fades, the earth remains, but overall it was dark and brooding but without any definition. A rich, herbal cola. Enjoy these young!
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9/6/2014 - iamandyc wrote: 91 Points
Black cherry, raspberry fruit with carmel, vanilla and a touch of cola. Some spiciness and complexity. Nice structure. Medium length on the finish. Interesting.
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6/7/2014 - dase13 wrote: 90 Points
Color of medium red. Scents of smooth, not over ripe, red fruit. Tastes of smooth, not over ripe, red fruit with some minerality.
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5/29/2014 - RandyOnie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Library purchase from LWC. Beautiful wine from one of my favorite vineyards and favorite producers.
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3/6/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: 90 Points
red, orange, in color. earth, cherry, on the nose. smoke, spicy, cherry, raspberry, strawberry, timber, on the palate. high acid on the finish.
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2/26/2014 - TheWineDon wrote: 91 Points
Smoothed out considerably and very easy drinking.
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2/7/2014 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Solid showing, has mellowed a bit and varietal was shining through. Ready now. Purple fruit, minerality and grip on the midpalate but no sharp edges. A grillin' pinot. Last of my '07s and this was one of the best bottles.
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9/28/2013 - dmatley wrote: 92 Points
One of the best 2007 Lorings in recent memory. Luscious dark cherry, nice aromatics and great finish. I don't see this getting much better. Enjoy.
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9/17/2013 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light body and color. Beautiful Cherry Fruit and Balancing Acidity. Very refreshing. This has aged beautifully. Outstanding!
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6/24/2013 - tantotinto wrote: 92 Points
Our last bottle and it is still great. Previous notes apply.
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3/10/2013 - btock wrote: 91 Points
A better showing, bold, anise, boisenberry, smoky and a crowd pleaser. Lots of grip. Not delicate by any means but that was not the point!
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1/27/2013 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful evolution on this joyous wine which is has retained its depth and vibrancy. The fist pumping components of a few years ago now feel more like they're embracing one another with that same enthusiasm.
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12/25/2012 - timewithwine wrote:
The day was much more about the people than the wine, so no detailed notes This has tamed down considerably since being last tasted in 2009. Full of cloves, cinnamon, black cherry, and the teaberry and cola, while still present, those flavors have calmed down a bit. A long attack that nearly seamlessly moves to a long spicy finish. 14.9% alc., but not a bit of heat. With balsamic glazed smoked King salmon and roast turkey wrapped in rosemary, sage and pancetta. Recommended, leaning to Highly Recommended..
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12/11/2012 - tantotinto Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with my note from four months ago. Fabulous nose. Plush fruit yet soft and subtle. Cherry, anise, cedar, cinnamon and a long memorable finish. This is drinking superbly well.
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12/2/2012 - khmark7 wrote:
Sharp with either VA or secondary ferment in the bottle. At 14.9% alcohol anything could be possible. Sorry....undrinkable.
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11/17/2012 - btock wrote: 87 Points
I think I should have splash decanted or something. This was big and drinking hot. Can't say I found it tightly wound, just hot. Was distracting from what's likely good raw material underneath. Have two more and will give those airtime before serving in the future.
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10/19/2012 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Twist and pour; Fairly dark for a PN, nose is full-bodied with rich dark fruit, lavender, pepper and well-aged wood. Medium-bodied but more fruit-driven and lacking in depth. Drink within a year before the structure has dissipated.
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9/6/2012 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
14.9% alcohol. Dark cherry color. Pretty nose of jammy blackberry and minerals. In the mouth, jammy and laden in fruit. There's good acidity and vibrance to the wine. A fun drink. A-
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8/24/2012 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Layers of fruit, some oak, and decent tannins on the finish. This drank very well initially. We came back to the closed bottle 2 hours after drinking the first 1/2, and it was amazing how much this wine fell apart. It was still drinkable, but a lot of the fruit and complexity had vanished, and was replaced by an alcohol burn. Wow. Drink up.
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8/21/2012 - tantotinto wrote: 92 Points
First bottle of this wine that we have opened in two years and it is in excellent form. Translucent garnet color. A generous ripe red fruit and earth nose. The dominant flavor elements are cherry and clove. My wife is also picking up a smoky incense note. This is excellent. We have been drinking entirely too little Pinot Noir as of late.
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4/4/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Pop/pour. In the sunlight, beautiful color and clarity...something I normally don't pay much attention to. Red fruits, rhubarb, and something reminiscent of mint on the nose. On the palate, still a touch tart (as it was in Jan 2010), but this has diminished since the last tasting and helps to keep this lively. A light dose of tannins on the finish. Opens up nicely with 30 minutes of air.
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11/30/2011 - 2loyal wrote: 91 Points
Outstanding, though it's not going to get any better. My first taste made me worry that I had already missed the window. The rest was great, but I would drink up.
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11/25/2011 - emdub wrote: 92 Points
Same as previous note. Delicious.
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11/24/2011 - Bob in NC wrote: 90 Points
Great layers of flavors of cherry fruit, spices and mild tannic finish.
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11/20/2011 - dmatley wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful cranberry color in the glass. Excellent structure--could easily go a few more years. Some blackberry but more red fruit than I normally pick up from SRH pinots. Good depth of fruit, nice acidity, nice finish. We had bottle open for 8 hours and just got better. Fully expect this to be just singing in 3-5 more years. Kudos to Brian. Well done!
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10/14/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
14.9% alcohol. Rocking bottle of wine right now. Jumps out of the nose with slightly jammy blackberry fruit, along with notes of black cherry and baking spice. In the mouth, plush and delicious, with a tangy streak to it. There is loads of fruit and just enough earth and spice keeping it from being simple. Bright acidity. Long finish. More upside with another year or so. A-
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10/11/2011 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Nice full-bodied PN. Not too much funk, extracted fruit. Didn't last to day two. Good to go now or over 3+ years
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10/10/2011 - kkleg wrote: 93 Points
Didn't take detailed notes, but this was a nice bottle of wine. It's ready to drink, but will hold for a couple of years too.
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10/10/2011 - ljl203 wrote: 91 Points
In a nice spot. Great cherry, rose notes, cinnamon allspice and smooth tannins.
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9/20/2011 - tarheel17 wrote:
Pop and Pour, tasted over 3 hours. Didn't really do it for me. Not sure if my palate was off or what (Chris liked it fine) but it seemed to be both relatively high acid (for a Loring) and empty, just generally unfruited compared to what I was expecting. I'm going to chalk this one up to user error, becuase I don't think it was flawed.
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8/28/2011 - ginfizz wrote: 88 Points
This bottle a touch pruny or oxydized. All of the right flavors were there but the very, very ripe fruit was a bit over the edge. Hope next one is better.
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8/14/2011 - bvwino wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful nose upon opening -- even passed the first glass around so folks could get a wiff. Nice cherry and spice in the mouth, full bodied for a pinot, with a background of tannins. Nice moderate finish. Think it still has a few years. Much better than my first bottle 2 years ago, and bet it still has at least another 2 or 3 years to go.
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7/11/2011 - MindMuse wrote: 87 Points
So I definitely have a minority report on this one, even though some of my favorites rate it strongly. Dense ruby. This is quite extracted and fruit with black cherry and blueberry. There is a good bit of oak influence showing and a hint of earth, but really very little to me. Quite full bodied for a pinot, fruit forward, but just not much that really seemed like pinot noir to me. Did not at all to me seem like a SRH pinot. Not really heavy handed, but just lacking in any finesse or nuance. I tried it in different glasses, at different temps, and giving it more air time, but this never tasted to me like more than a middling $23 pinot, much less one at about twice that price. Maybe a weak bottle, but I can only report what I experience, which I'm afraid is mostly disappointment. 86-87
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6/28/2011 - Acohen wrote: 92 Points
This is a wonderful, big in your face pinot with lots of cherry and spice on the nose and a full flavored layered palate of cherry, spice, earth and tannins.
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6/14/2011 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Found this in the cellar and didn't have it in my inventory. Not the first 2007 Loring I have found. Just like a holiday morning. Good Pinot funk and it is big but definitely not over the top. Not candied like some other CA Pinots from other producers. Stay tuned for more found treasures.
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4/8/2011 - DaveZack wrote: 88 Points
Bought this bottle at Total Wine & More at a Loring Wine Co. tasting for $50 and drank with our Friday night go-to Pinot pairing: grilled salmon steaks with grilled veggies.
The bouquet is typically Pinot, meaning plenty of earth/dirt up-front, along with suggestions of oak, spice, and fruit.
This wine pours much darker than most Santa Rita Hills Pinots I've had. The Pinots from Melville, Sanford, Babcock, Foley, Alma Rosa, and Lafond (to name a few) are much lighter-colored and have much more delicate bouquets. Somehow/someway/for-some-reason, Brian prefers to extract more tannins and color from the skins during the wine making process? Perhaps.
Regardless of extracted color (and flavors?), this is a nice, earthy, spicy, slightly creamy Central California Pinot. The wine's terrior/earth, oak, and spice (especially black pepper) is most prominent up-front. Mid-palate, the red and dark fruits shine through, including sour cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and plums. The finish highlights the wine's tannins, structure, and depth/complexity, including a smooth, well-balanced follow-through. We bought this bottle a couple of years ago and properly stored it, but I would imagine this wine would continue to age well, mature, and develop for another 10 years or so.
This was a very unexpected SRH Pinot. As mentioned above, most SRH Pinots are delicate and, for lack of a better term, feminine; they're usually lightly colored, with pretty, floral bouquets, and made with a very light touch/hands. This wine is also much creamier than most SRH Pinots. If I had tasted this wine blind, I would have guessed that this was a Northern Cal Pinot (i.e. Napa or Sonoma). It's much richer, creamier, and "heavy" than most Central Calif Pinots. Not at all bad (especially if you like oaky, creamy, rich Pinots), but nothing quite like a Pinot from the Hills North of Santa Barbara (aka SRH). This went only "OK" with the salmon, due to it's "heavy" richness. This wine would go better with duck or red meats, especially lamb or grilled steaks. Well done, but not what I was expecting.
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4/1/2011 - thebonnydooner wrote:
this seemed a little flawed, not as fruity as I remember and a little dry on the finish. Not rated
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3/15/2011 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Definitely a big, Santa Rita Hills style Pinot, but not over the top. Layers of fruit, along with some spice and earth and a solid structure of tannins and acidity. Drinking well now, but has some time left.
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3/12/2011 - jsherdc wrote: 91 Points
Very tasty. Fruit forward style (Cherry/Plum). Smooth finish. I am not convinced its actually a Pinot...
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3/8/2011 - emdub wrote: 92 Points
Very Cali in style. Polished, ripe, red fruit, earth, flowers, vanilla, and tannins on the end. Seamless flow of well made wine. Great vintage and very reassuring of why sometimes you just need Cali Pinot. Recommended.
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2/9/2011 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Similar notes to previous bottle.
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2/5/2011 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Consistent notes
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1/23/2011 - cbbrown3 wrote:
Deep garnet color. Cherry, mint, olives, spice, with a bit of minerals and earth on the nose. Medium to full body with soft, ripe tannins and good acidity. Juicy and very flavorful on the palate with the fruit and savory elements in perfect balance with just a bit of spicy oak in the background. Long finish with the fruit and spice lingering nicely. Very tasty stuff. Not Burgundian, but just what I wanted.
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12/31/2010 - psirah wrote: 91 Points
Opened and decanted for one hour. This was consumed side-by-side with the 2007 Siduri Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. I enjoy tasting wines from the same vintage and vineyard but form different winemakers simultaneously, it is amazing to see how big a "stamp" the winemaker can leave.
In this case the wines were amazingly different, while the same bright fruit of cherry, pomegranate, and some blueberry came through, the Loring wine was much BIGGER! Don't be afraid, Brian, really did a great job, the fruit was bigger, but he managed to keep everything balanced. I know, I hate that descriptor as well. SO, what I mean is, the fruit was bright and fresh, the tannins were ripe and well integrated, the acid was there so that the fruit did not seem like plum jam. My only negative was the finish, it wasn't bad, it just was missing (length and texture).
The Siduri pinot was not bad, I really liked the wine. It just was not as enjoyable. The fruit was more muted, there was a black tea component that led to a vegetal brininess, that while I can definitely appreciate, seemed to be misplaced here. If I had to guess, this saw some whole-cluster fermentation, which you know Loring did not do.
In this case, De-Stem 1, Whole-Cluster 0.
50+5+13+16+7
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12/30/2010 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle.
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12/29/2010 - ginfizz wrote: 93 Points
big, ripe, balanced black cherry pinot, with great spice and moderate acidity. Wonderful concentration, and a special bottle. One of Loring's best if in a big style...
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12/13/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Kemp's 65th including some 1945 wines.: I thought this was very good. Much more restrained than I expected. Earthy and spiced on the nose. Complex with good balanced cherry fruit on the palate. Nice.
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12/5/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful purity of fruit. Black fruit with great intensity and focus. Ripe and rich with currant, black cherry, and blueberry fruit that is simply delicious. Supple, layered and complex with a long and lingering finish. A stellar effort from Brian Loring. The last bottle in my cellar of this great wine.
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12/5/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine:
14.9% ABV. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Slightly minty/herbal nose with black cherry fruit in the background. Medium full bodied with black cherry fruit and a touch of tea. Nice persistence. This was throwing a fair amount of sediment.
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11/26/2010 - Schlutt wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Loaded with red fruit flavors, nice acidity and a smooth medium-long finish. Liked all around.
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11/24/2010 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle.
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11/23/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 92 Points
pop & pour
nose: a nice mixture of earth, dust, slate, and, of course, juicy, rambunctious red raspberry, plum, and all sorts of red fruit
palate: very lively acid, but so is the fruit. Very delicious, with cranberry, cherry, and slight tannin to knock against the med-high acid. Almost delicate for the producer. Probably one of my favorite Lorings to date.
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11/11/2010 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Tasty dark cherries with spice and oak aromas and flavors with juicy tannins on the finish.
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11/10/2010 - MJTed wrote: 93 Points
Big and fruit forward but not flabby. Black cherry cola, extracted and spicy. Good acidic structure and tastes as fresh as it did 18 months ago. Stellar effort from Loring in 2007.
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9/5/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
Nose of dark berries and a hint of camphor and olives. The palate carriws over some olive tapenade flavors, some dark berries and a little cinnamon. Full bodied but not overripe. The finish has calmed down a lot in a year...velvety.
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8/24/2010 - pakabear wrote:
Wow, this is gotten so bad since I had it before... I don't know what I'm going to do with my last bottle. One dimensional and flabby. NR
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8/16/2010 - brian przyzycki wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle. Great stuff. Solid 92.
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8/14/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes.
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8/3/2010 - shaferguy91 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Not as good as previous bottles. Closing down ?
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7/30/2010 - JS199 wrote: 89 Points
Opened and consumed over 2 and half hours. Very tight, heavy tannins, austere, tumbleweeds dry. Opened up a little after 2 hours, but not much. 89+
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7/13/2010 - brian przyzycki wrote: 92 Points
Much more civilized than the previous bottle. Impecible balance. Long finish. Wow
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7/11/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
Needed about 30 minutes of air to show its stuff. BTW, Ive noticed that all of Brian's wine benefit from the ol' MD shake. They all release some gas even one year out. Anyway, dark berries, cinnamon, some savory elements. Full bodied and smooth. Great finish.
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6/26/2010 - brian przyzycki wrote: 92 Points
There is a limit to how extracted a Pinot should be, and this wine is at the edge. Very new world. Would have guessed it was a syrah. Didnt get any spice or cinammon that other are referring to...just massive black fruit. Possible served too cold. Drank without food.
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5/31/2010 - Uglypinga wrote:
Ive loved it more before but still typical American pinot with dark cherries, some oak, cinnamon. The palate is full and smooth with a little heat on the back end. Missing a bit of fruit for me on this night.
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5/25/2010 - underwds wrote: 88 Points
Bright cherry and raspberry fruit. Lots of it. A little bit of spice, but found the tannins were covering up the subtleties. Enough acidity on the end to hint at sour so pour it with a richer dish--teriyaki beef was my choice and it was a good match for that. All in all, I'm not in a hurry to drink the rest of my bottles and see if age helps lower the tannin and expose the nuances.
12/20/10 Wow, doesn't seem to be the same wine that I tasted last time. Notes this time were that fruit was muted, but still good black cherry and blueberry. Noticed some black tea and a good amount of earthiness. Oak and tannins were strong, but not overpowering and contributed to a nice long finish. Looking forward to my next bottle as I'd rate this one 92 or 93 compared to my previous 88.
6/22/12 My bipolar view on this continues. Much more like the first set of comments. Blackberry and blueberry fruit, a bit tart, and a pretty fair amount of tannin for a Pinot. Good with our wasabi crusted swordfish and asian spiced vegetables. But lack of complexity makes this a good wine, not a great one.
9/23/12 Trending to the consensus in my notes that this is a good food wine. It has a nice balance of acidity and oak on the end, but you have to let it breathe a bit for that to come through. Pop and pour it's pretty closed up.
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4/28/2010 - A&C wrote: 92 Points
This is by far the single best Loring I've ever had. It was silky, and smooth, and wonderful. Their best wine yet.
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4/21/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Big pinot with cherry, raspberry, and spice notes.
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3/30/2010 - jbfitts wrote: 89 Points
fell slightly short of my expectations in that was slightly bold but lacked a certain complexity that would've compelled me to rate it in the 90's. I will hold off on opening my other bottle till 2012 in hopes that it gains something with a little more age.
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3/29/2010 - JS199 wrote: 88 Points
Good pinot, dark, rich, smooth. Didn't have the complexity to be in the 90s.
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3/25/2010 - thebonnydooner wrote: 91 Points
Different from the other Lorings I've had, bit more musk and Asian spice on the nose, nice ripe red fruit. Sweet and ripe with juicy red cherry and raspberry fruit. Medium bodied but light acidity and only a light tannic backbone. Nice finish. No reason to keep for an extended period - drinking well.
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3/3/2010 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, but I can see holding this wine now for more maturity. The baby fat is beginning to disappear.
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3/2/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 91 Points
14.9% ABV. Dark garnet, somewhat translucent in the glass. High toned nose of mulberry, sap, and maybe sandalwood and a touch of metal. Medium bodied with ripe red berry fruit turning more tangy red in the finish. This seems fairly large scaled for a Pinot, but not heavy in any way. Good.
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2/26/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 92 Points
Rich, ruby in color. Black fruit on the nose. Very ripe and intense. Deliciously, sweet fruit and rich flavor profile. Great fruit in this bottle. Very layered, very complex- long, lingering finish.
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2/14/2010 - Acohen wrote: 91 Points
Big, lush with lots of dark cherry and some spice with a good integrated finish
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1/12/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Compared to the 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Rancho La Vina opened last week, this one seemed to be in many ways similar, but in need of more time than that bottle. Nose - distinct note of sour that also carries to the palate. Nose itself is somewhat muted. Medium bodied on the palate. Seemingly balanced but somewhat out of sorts at present / lacks integration. Should've decanted it. Update after 2 hours: Like the Rancho La Vina, this also improved after some air. Nose much more forward - florals, cherry, sour now more in the background. Palate not as rough, but now it comes across as a little out of balance for current drinking, and not as precise as the La Vina. Rich mouthfeel, but more acid than I like for the fruit that's there. I'm rating this on the 2 hour mark, thinking that this might score a couple points better in 2-3 years if everything falls into place.
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1/11/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 92 Points
Big fruit flavors in this complex Pinot. Blackberries, cherries, cola and asian spices in an elegant and silky delivery. Nice acidity and refined tannins.
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12/27/2009 - Pinot Evil wrote: 93 Points
Intense nose and flavor of ripe red cherries, currant and blackberry, light tannins and a lasting finish.
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11/30/2009 - Zonk wrote: 92 Points
Cherry and cranberry, touch of spice on the finish. hard to keep our hands off and as a result I don't think we got to see it fully develop.
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11/28/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 94 Points
Dark color. Bright cherry nose. Beautiful taste with spice, cherry and rasberry. Nice finish.
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11/2/2009 - cvvhrn wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic. drinking like adream now. Hints of spice and baking chocolate on the nose with dark fruit, cranberries, and herbs on the palate. nice long finish and a soft mouthfell to it. Was drunk straight from the bottle.
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10/23/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 92 Points
Rich ruby in color. Black fruit notes on the nose. Ripe and intense. Bright dark berries and currant. Full weight, Rich on the nose and in flavor. Purity of fruit here. Supple, layered and complex. Long, lingering finish.
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9/14/2009 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Not decanted.
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8/27/2009 - skinowdrinklater wrote: 91 Points
Pours a dark ruby, still somewhat translucent in the glass. On the nose, notes of rich, dense ripe raspberry, marshmallow, strawberry blossom, and fresh herbs. On the palate, this wine is initially dominated by a salty minerality. It gives way to menthol, anise, rhubarb, lemongrass, raspberry, strawberry, and a trace of bitter espresso. An intellectual sipper, this was a fun wine to explore as it developed over the evening.
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8/27/2009 - jtonglet wrote: 94 Points
Delicious, mouth-watering Pinot Noir. Very rich, fruit-filled nose. Aromas of dark cherries and chocolate. Very satisfying combination of tastes: currants, raspberries, cherry. Smooth and blended throughout the night. Creamy finish. Very enjoyable.
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8/23/2009 - tantotinto wrote: 93 Points
Luscious ripe fruit nose. Garnet in color. Full, rich dark cherry juice with hints of exotic spices. Noticeable tannins on the first sip that did not disappear but mellowed as the evening progressed and the wine responded to exposure. This may get better with time but it is damn fine now.
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7/23/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
14.9% alcohol. This is a terrific example of the best of Brian Loring. Big, fruit-forward bouquet. A slight hint of reduction lurking behind the blackberry and black cherry fruit, along with earth, spice, and minerals. In the mouth, plush yet refined and somewhat racy. Excellent body and mouth feel. Bright acidity. A strong showing at this point for this wine, reinforced by the long finish. A-
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7/8/2009 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points
It is really good. A little thin at first but opened up. Aroma of butterscotch candy. Very smooth(STP).
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6/27/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
Nose of cherries, flowers, and creamed Indian dessert; plenty of irresistible fruit scattered and balanced along the spectrum from tart to sweet, with hints of pepper, earth, and herbs underneath. Score should reflect a handicap for the stunning Mountain Winery picnic setting before Wilco.
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6/6/2009 - ChinonRouge wrote: 90 Points
Serve it a little chilled, and it sings.
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5/30/2009 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Slightly spicy fruit nose. Dark fruits and a subtle, yet powerful body which I hadn't noticed before. Nice edges and perceived sweetness. Finish gives off some nice spice.
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5/29/2009 - skaliner wrote:
Delicious bottle of wine.
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5/19/2009 - bvwino wrote: 89 Points
A little tannic. Little overpowering and disjointed. Needs more time to fully develop. Great potential. Came in 3rd for the night, though, behind a Ken Wright and a Shea.
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5/19/2009 - branman1986 wrote: 93 Points
Explosive nose of kirsch royale, raspberries/chambord, earth, bramble, some oaky vanilla and spice. On the palate, cherry juice, earth, forest floor, oaky vanilla, fresh cranberries, a hint of white pepper. Good tannins, incredible structure. High on the deliciousness scale
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5/18/2009 - glaze3 wrote:
This is a really nice bottle of Syrah ( oh it's not Syrah ) well just not my thing anymore, ripe dark fruits with some structure just more Syrah like than pinot.
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5/17/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 4 hours.
Gorgeous medium ruby color. Still can see my fingers through the juice.
Wonderful aromas of currant, fig newtons, rhubarb, Asian spice and some light oak accents.
Beautifully smooth and balanced palate after breathing for some time -- definitely needed the decanting.
Exquisite palate with more medium red fruit. Spicy raspberries, more layers of fig and earth lead to a medium long finish.
Moderate high alcohol and acidity with moderate low tannins lend a beautifully crafted wine which will develop over the next 5-7 years.
I am an immediate LWC fan.
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5/10/2009 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Great combo with BBQ Berkshire pork. Slightly chilled, a core of grape Nehi which folds into spice, smoke and aromatics. A sweetness on the edges. Round and soft with just enough acids to support. Yummy.
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4/25/2009 - ChinonRouge wrote: 93 Points
Excellent pinot. Reminds me of a particular Kosta Browne that I've had in the past. Very nice flavor profile, midpalate, and finish. Perhaps, the ever slightest more tannic than I would like. Otherwise fabulous. Tremendous value. Could be a top 10 wine of 2009.
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4/13/2009 - mmurry wrote: 92 Points
The nose had cranberry, cherry, raspberry, forest floor, oak, and a touch of cake spice at the the end. The palate was smooth and sweet, and had cherry, cranberry, raspberry, earth, spice, and a little oak on the finish
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4/11/2009 - timewithwine wrote:
The color is nothing short of plum. The nose is interesting, being more complex than most earlier Clos Pepe wines by Brian; and this is from someone who is a Loring Clos Pepe fan. The nose is full of cinnamon, black cherry, vanilla, teaberry, cola....and something that compliments black olive without actually being a black olive scent. The bouquet delivers the palate. Round and soft; in fact, softer than many Lorings. The attack is long and moves seamlessly to the mid-palate where it “clunks” to the finish, probably due to being a bit too youthful just now. A whopping 14.9% alc., but to my amazement, it does not show. With roasted rack of lamb crusted with mustard, honey molasses and pecans. Recommended - leaning to Highly Recommended.
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4/10/2009 - yhn wrote: 90 Points
Nose - zesty, smooth, tight, warm purple fruit.
Zesty, creamy, mandarin zest, graphite, boysenberry, green tannin, char. Grippy, needs a year to smooth out. 90+ pts
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4/5/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 93 Points
Needs an hour in the decanter to come together. Riper and fuller than other Lorings I have tried, this is absolutely delicious once it opens up. More roundness with age should up the score a point or two over the next years...
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4/4/2009 - Bob in NC wrote: 93 Points
Great nose of cherries, red fruits and smoke. Wonderful tastes of cherries, red fruit, spices and smoke. Great body and well balanced wine. Excellent Pinot Noir, looking forward to trying another one with some age on it.
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3/31/2009 - B Paul wrote: 90 Points
Dark cherry on the nose. Also, there is lots of spice (which seems to be a theme with these wines) - too much spice for my tastes. Nice, medium-long finish.
Found this on sale in a local store for $34 and decided to try based on WS rating of 94. A good wine, but I was slightly disappointed. This is probably the 3rd or 4th Loring I've tried and although I think they are good, well-made wines, there are others I like more in the price range.
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3/28/2009 - ARiverofPisoni wrote: 93 Points
wrong setting to open this one so early... twist and pour... but beautifully balanced.. would have preferred to decant for an hour, as always last glass was better by a mile than the first.
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3/28/2009 - sdatl wrote: 92 Points
Excellent... and very Loring; dark fruit wit a nice structure and good acidity; spicy, rich, and full of cola... mmm
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3/16/2009 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Wow, this was really good... Good nose, classic cali pinot, cherry, spice and a bit floral even. Palate really shines, great balance and good extraction of fruit. Cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and apricot with a little creme on the end.
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3/14/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 92 Points
Steak, Crab and Great Red Wine (San Antonio, TX): Decanted for 30 minutes. Nice, dark color. Good balance of fruit and acidity, with a medium finish.
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3/8/2009 - MJTed wrote: 94 Points
Wow. This is a stunning wine, one of Brian's best ever. Black and blue fruit explodes from the glass. Powerful and concentrated but not over the top, with a complex of spices, and earth on the finish. Big but balanced.
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1/26/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Glunz Wines Winter Portfolio tasting (union league club, chicago IL): nose: very bold and rich nose with all sorts of black spices, black cherries, anise, and loads of various dark berry tones. Very big nose that you'd expect from a loring pinot. There is no elegance here, but more brute force
taste: Big and rich with full body giving off tones of blackberries, black spices, all sorts of dark mixed berries and some bits of anise
overall: while the opposite of what I normally like from a pinot, this is an outstanding wine. Great complexity and depth. Not neccessarily over the top, but definitely extracted bordering on sensory overload, but it does bring it back a bit
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