Dark red, mixed berry nose, medium weight, fruit aplenty but a little tart, medium finish. Easy and pleasant to drink but probably should be drinking it up over next year or so.
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Bottle No. 0032 as shown on the label, purchased from the winery and stored properly. Cork is fine. Berry nose, black cherry with tobacco notes. Lacks dimension and finish is short. Possibly held too long.
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A 15-year old Pinot Noir bought ex winery; not decanted before serving, although the bottle had been standing upright for two weeks; some sediment, but not as much as expected. Cork was in fair to good condition with “wine creep” for half an inch but no leakage. - Color: Ruby with garnet overtones. – Bouquet: Red fruit, including red plum and cherry; hint of licorice, a touch of spice. - Palate: Cherry, red berry, red plum with some blueberry, a hint of spice and a touch of cola, some oak undertones. Tannins were soft, medium acid was present, fruit was still present but somewhat muted. A short finish, some fruit fade with time in the glass. – A fairly good pairing with broiled salmon fillet atop a bed of mixed greens, with side dishes including garlic couscous; sautéed yellow squash with diced sweet onion; lightly spiced crimson beets; and an avocado half topped with a splash of Balsamic vinegar. Drink ‘em if you got ‘em.
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Fresh, bright cherry on the nose. Light to medium body, but cloaks the mouth. High acid and low tannin. Lots of bright fruit. I don't know much about Kistler pinot, but from what I've heard this is atypical. Long finish. Drinking well now. Has some of the fruit declined? Not sure. A good drink, but not a great one. Finish is still going though...
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Dark like a junior not showing 12 years at this frame, Fruit forward, Cherry, Soft spice, licorice, mixed red berries some tart, some sweet but with a lithe backbone of acid, yes abundant and gorgeous acid, well in harmony though and adding spark, intensity and precision. Not always loving CA Pinots but this showed well tonight amongst 1er Cru NSG. I was thinking sell my other 5, but i'll stick based on this showing. Now thru 2019.
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cloudy, red, orange, in the color. raspberry, cherry, tart fruit, earth, spice, brett, cocoa, cola, oak, on the nose. medium acid, low tannins, on this long finish.
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Seemed to be a medium ruby color (not a lot of light in the wine bar of a friend's house). Readily noticeable aromas of cherry, along with raspberry, spice, floral notes and well integrated subtle oak. Soft and structured in the mouth. Spice and fruit flavors. A medium to long finish. Score 92-93.
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this was wine ,for sure. one of the few disappointments for me in Kistler PN over the years. not much going for it.very average , wasn't obviously pinot.
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Nice floral nose. Medium purple color. Popped and poured. Tannin fully integrated. Soft and elegant. Full California fruit profile without being too hot, extracted or over the top. Berry and cherry flavors with some soft spice. Would be rated higher but turns a bit acidic on the finish. Drink now.
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Perfect balance and fruit. Really deliscious with only a few points off for alcoholic heat at the end. 96 at least. So much more complete than others consumed this year and my last one.
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Full red color with raspberry and cherry on the nose. A little hot at first but softened with some time in the glass. Silky feel, dark fruit and slight spice.
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more typical of Kistler and of a Pinot than my last one in January. Ruby color, straightforward blueberry on nose and lighter fruit on the palate. Overall not a wow but very nice.
Day 2. A richness came up on day 2 making this a 90-91
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impenetrably deep color, typical to Kistler Pinot; nose was a heady floral scent (acacia? more reminiscent of a Cali Cab than Pint but on palate confectionary intense fruit compote, more bluebery than cherry or strawberry but they seemed to be there. Touch of acidity on finish, which I personally like but know it is controversial for others. This seems as opened as it will ever be
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This was a second bottle opened with the my wife's porcini dusted halibut with blueberry sauce. It was slightly fresher and richer than the first bottle.
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Great bottle of wine. Decanted for an hour before dinner. Went especially well with the pan seared pork loin and goat cheese polenta. Bright black fruits and spice evident. Has gained some secondary complexity with earth & mushrooms also, although the cardomon and nutmeg spices (and fruit) trump those characteristics right now. This may get better, but I'm thinking this is a great window to be drinking this wine. It's pretty damn good NOW.
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All the bright red fruit flavors have subsided and been replaced by the more seductive darker, brooding fruits and flavors of soil. More complexity has developed. Hard to distunguish from a 7-8 year old Gevrey right now.
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Beautifully made Pinot with hints of cherries and well balanced tannins. Drank with friends at Fig Restaurant in Santa Monica. Went very well with a variety of foods but especially with the meats.
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Drank with four people at my Birthday Dinner at Fig. The wine was delicious and went well with a variety of meals including both meat and fish. I thought that it had great balance and the wine had aged well with the berry flavors softening around their edges, not too tart. I would have to say that I continue to be a big fan of Kistler Pinot Noirs.
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Never really lived up to my expectations despite having decanted for some time. Initially pretty closed and a bit acidic on the palate. Gained concentration and body later, but actually tasted inferior to the Sonoma Coast I had a few weeks ago.
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heavy oak and spice, combined with an earthiness that was too much for me. black cherry and licorice, and a muddled midpalate. thick, overtly tannic finish. overall, out of balance and even somewhat bitter. yuck.
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Approaching full maturity but still has dark ruby color. Sweet aromas of black cherries, pie crust and spice. Surprisingly restrained and elegant fruit in the mouth with excellent structure and balance. Not a blockbuster but very good with food and enjoyable to drink.
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Medium ruby with slight cloudiness and a good amount of sediment (decanting is a must). Candied black cherries (Jolly Rancher) on the nose. Rich, mellow and complex, this has benefited from aging and is drinking very well right now, though I wouldn't hold on too much longer. My last bottle was indeed an off-bottle and hopefully the rest will be like this one.
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Brambly black raspberry, cola, pomegranate, campfire smoke and cumin. A quintessential RRV pinot that walks a fine line between elegance and boldness. This has integrated its oak nicely and retains just a kiss of tannin. Should continue to development positively over the next 2-3 years.
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Cloudy ruby red color. The nose hits you like a ton of bricks. Lots of crushed rose petals, briary berries and some good toasty oak. Long and lush on the palate. Drinking very well right now.
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Very smooth, good balance of flavor and spice. Not as striking as I though I remembered from a previous bottle, so it has mellowed out nicely. Very good to drink right now.
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Tasted December 9, 2007. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Quite pleasant and soft nose of black cherries, black berries and a bit of soft spices. Kind of reminds me of a Burgundy or possibly an Oregon Pinot Noir. Flavors of red and black berries, matching subtle cherry notes and a finish of sweet raspberries and/or strawberries. Medium acidity, integrated tannins, medium body. Balanced and just about seamless at this point. Probably could be held but now reason to do so; drinking well right now.
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Opened the day after Thanksgiving, this was everything I had hoped it would be. Not your typical, modern-day California Pinot with candied fruit and elevated alcohol, but rather a balance of natural red and black fruit with spice, earth and just a touch of vanilla. The palate was smooth but lively, with plenty of acidity to balance the fruit, and no trace of alcohol anywhere. Just a delicious wine, that could age well for a while, but is immensely enjoyable to drink now.
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Tasted blind November 8, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking towards center. Just a tad hot on the nose up front with aromas of Kirsch followed by melted black licorice and dried dark fruits. Almost amarone like in nature. Flavors of candied fruit almost to the point of jammy with some balancing tart cherries and berries. Medium acidity, firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or hold over the medium term.
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Chicago Pinot Dinner with Steve Rigisich (Feast Restaurant): Full, rich and dense nose has provocative aromas of ripe cherries, cola, brown sugar. Deliciously sweet and rich fruit on the palate shows chocolate covered cherries, toast and spice. Medium-to-full bodied fruit carry the aggressive oak very well. Well balanced, seamless and pure through a long, flavorful finish. Outstanding.
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Santana Row John Vanessa--great domestic pinot, big rich and ripe, deep fruit. Real crowd pleaser, leaning more toward fruity intensity than elegant terroir. A nice surprise.
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Nice wine -- far more open for business than the bottle we tried 2 years ago. Very nicely balanced. Solid fruit on the nose/palate with some earthiness that added some complexity to the wine. Moderate acidity but for some reason, it didn't go all that well with our food (grilled whole fish). Still, a nice wine.
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Slightly cloudy and deep ruby red. A wonderful mix of cherry, raspberry and vanilla on the nose and palate. Finishes with a slight sour cherry and a long dose of spices.
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Tasted semi-blind against a 2003 Gevrey-Chambertin, a 2000 Chambolle-Musigny, a 2000 Williams Selyem and a 2004 Wild Earth pinot from Central Otago. The Kistler was the highest-priced of the lot but showed very poorly, coming in 4th. Strange menthol aroma and lots of artificial candied fruit on the palate. Really disappointing.
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Cherry, a bit of cola, and pinot spice with a velvety delivery. Very Smooooooooth. None of the mildly candied fruit I found in the bottle opened last year. This was my last bottle and I can't imagine it drinking any better. It was a great accompaniement to the truffle foie gras mousse and gouda goat cheese starters.
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Now we're talking. Great bottle of Calif Pinot. Long finish, plenty of cherry and kirsch. Well integrated. Very smooth remaining tannins. I could drink this stuff every night. Had it with crispy duck breast in a little bit of cajun spices...
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Consumer on the same evening with 01 Marcassin Estate, 96 Leory Pommard and Vose Romanne Les G and 2 other 96 burgs...Kistler came across as heavy and very cherry syrup-like. Liked the Marcassin better, although not $150 better, but both were outclassed by two Leroy burgs...the mouth feel, secondary flavor profile and overall complexity were superior. Potentially unfair comparision given younger nature of CA pinots...time will tell when next bottle is opened.
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This note was originally entered on the Sonoma Coast. This was the correct wine. A rather nice US Pinot in a Burgundian style. The problem with this wine was a lack of balance - the acids were way too prominent along with the alcohol. It did not have the complexity or interest to merit a higher score.
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An absolutely fantastic showing. This a clear winning Wine of the Trip (on my expedition to Antarctica) with a blockbuster nose of red fruits, spice and earth. The wine was luscious, incredibly balanced with a great, long finish. Extraordinary!
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I couldn't wait any longer and it was worth the wait. Very bright, nice nose upon opening....bottle was gone before it had much of a chance to open up. Some tannins but balanced with favorful fruit.
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Drank with a 2001 Pisoni Estate and Arcadian Gary's 2001. This wine had the best mouthfeel of the 3, rich and extracted but by no means over the top or syrah like. Rasberry/red fruit. Only con was that the nose was somewhat subdued. Overall, excellent.
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This wine is really coming into it's prime drinking window. So good now it hard to believe that it will get even better with time. I have not been that impressed with several of the Kislters I've consumed lately but this is a notable exception. Absolutely beautiful pinot.
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Tanzer says the oak complements this, for me, the oak dominates it. Luckily, after a couple of hours the oak was more subdued letting some fruit and mint nuances through. I can see the attraction here. Silky smooth, with velvety tannins and a myriad of flavors, this is a well made wine in a style that's not to my taste.
I'll leave this for the termites out there. :)
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(replaced a corked 2000 in the Pinot tasting - would have been #1 for me). Deep red/pink. Rich bright red fruit and spiciness. Still young, but lovely. 6/05
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Whoa! I love Kistler Pinots, but this was something. Lush fruit aromas of macerated cherries, a faint hint of vanilla, and a tad of lavender and violets hit me on the nose. What followed was a lucious wine of great balance and delicious fruit and layers of complexity. We'd had it open for about a half an hour before we really took a sip and trank it out of Riedel Vinum Burg stems (I think that is what they were) and drank it over about 3 hours. It got better along the way, for sure, but it was wonderful throughoput. I really enjoyed the caramel notes and the finish was practically neverending.
While this wine was not the Cuvee Elizabeth I had back in 2003, this was a great Pinot.
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My first Kistler pinot and I now understand why the raves. Not decanted but it probably should have been based upon the greater complexity of the second glass. At first it had some of that candied fruit on the nose but that blew off and gave way to what I refer to as pinot spice. On the palate, what a velvety, balanced wine with the longest finish of any pinot I've ever had. I'm glad I have 2 left but will let them rest for a little while.
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Complex nose of earth and cherries. Both cherry and raspberry emerge in the initial taste, with darker fruit (blackberry and dark cherry), earth, and well-integrated oak on the midpalate and finish (which, by the way, was the longest of the evening). I hope this wine will get even better with age.
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6/15/2023 - jimcopland wrote: 92 Points
A very nice Pinot, still robust, with secondary flavors. Holding well.
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11/8/2018 - Schwarzer Hund wrote:
Dark red, mixed berry nose, medium weight, fruit aplenty but a little tart, medium finish. Easy and pleasant to drink but probably should be drinking it up over next year or so.
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11/13/2016 - Lightenup wrote: 88 Points
Bottle No. 0032 as shown on the label, purchased from the winery and stored properly. Cork is fine. Berry nose, black cherry with tobacco notes. Lacks dimension and finish is short. Possibly held too long.
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4/25/2016 - RWallace Likes this wine: 88 Points
A 15-year old Pinot Noir bought ex winery; not decanted before serving, although the bottle had been standing upright for two weeks; some sediment, but not as much as expected. Cork was in fair to good condition with “wine creep” for half an inch but no leakage. - Color: Ruby with garnet overtones. – Bouquet: Red fruit, including red plum and cherry; hint of licorice, a touch of spice. - Palate: Cherry, red berry, red plum with some blueberry, a hint of spice and a touch of cola, some oak undertones. Tannins were soft, medium acid was present, fruit was still present but somewhat muted. A short finish, some fruit fade with time in the glass. – A fairly good pairing with broiled salmon fillet atop a bed of mixed greens, with side dishes including garlic couscous; sautéed yellow squash with diced sweet onion; lightly spiced crimson beets; and an avocado half topped with a splash of Balsamic vinegar. Drink ‘em if you got ‘em.
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5/26/2014 - Winevestor wrote: 90 Points
Fresh, bright cherry on the nose. Light to medium body, but cloaks the mouth. High acid and low tannin. Lots of bright fruit. I don't know much about Kistler pinot, but from what I've heard this is atypical. Long finish. Drinking well now. Has some of the fruit declined? Not sure. A good drink, but not a great one. Finish is still going though...
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8/23/2013 - MDV wrote: 93 Points
Dark like a junior not showing 12 years at this frame, Fruit forward, Cherry, Soft spice, licorice, mixed red berries some tart, some sweet but with a lithe backbone of acid, yes abundant and gorgeous acid, well in harmony though and adding spark, intensity and precision. Not always loving CA Pinots but this showed well tonight amongst 1er Cru NSG. I was thinking sell my other 5, but i'll stick based on this showing. Now thru 2019.
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5/2/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 92 Points
cloudy, red, orange, in the color. raspberry, cherry, tart fruit, earth, spice, brett, cocoa, cola, oak, on the nose. medium acid, low tannins, on this long finish.
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4/5/2013 - lebo9968@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still medium dark red color. Cherry, coffee and cola nose and palate. Holding up nicely, still lots of fruit, but nothing particularly special.
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3/5/2013 - rsbeck wrote: flawed
Oxidized.
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11/12/2011 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
Seemed to be a medium ruby color (not a lot of light in the wine bar of a friend's house). Readily noticeable aromas of cherry, along with raspberry, spice, floral notes and well integrated subtle oak. Soft and structured in the mouth. Spice and fruit flavors. A medium to long finish. Score 92-93.
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3/17/2011 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSS WW Peter's Pinot at PrVera. Mid Tier.
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3/6/2011 - jsebiri wrote:
this was wine ,for sure. one of the few disappointments for me in Kistler PN over the years. not much going for it.very average , wasn't obviously pinot.
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11/28/2010 - huntinpagan wrote: 91 Points
Nice floral nose. Medium purple color. Popped and poured. Tannin fully integrated. Soft and elegant. Full California fruit profile without being too hot, extracted or over the top. Berry and cherry flavors with some soft spice. Would be rated higher but turns a bit acidic on the finish. Drink now.
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8/10/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote: 96 Points
Perfect balance and fruit. Really deliscious with only a few points off for alcoholic heat at the end. 96 at least. So much more complete than others consumed this year and my last one.
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6/13/2010 - rdfech01 wrote: 90 Points
Full red color with raspberry and cherry on the nose. A little hot at first but softened with some time in the glass. Silky feel, dark fruit and slight spice.
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3/26/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote: 90 Points
more typical of Kistler and of a Pinot than my last one in January. Ruby color, straightforward blueberry on nose and lighter fruit on the palate. Overall not a wow but very nice.
Day 2. A richness came up on day 2 making this a 90-91
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2/28/2010 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
Medium red color. Cherry, raspberry, grape nose. Palate a bit harsh at first, needed aeration to smooth out. Palate rather thin, watery and harsh.
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2/14/2010 - kjcampbell wrote: 86 Points
Inconsistent, each bottle that I have tried has been different. Not bad but I expect better quality from Kistler.
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1/12/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote: 90 Points
impenetrably deep color, typical to Kistler Pinot; nose was a heady floral scent (acacia? more reminiscent of a Cali Cab than Pint but on palate confectionary intense fruit compote, more bluebery than cherry or strawberry but they seemed to be there. Touch of acidity on finish, which I personally like but know it is controversial for others. This seems as opened as it will ever be
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12/31/2009 - hsacks wrote: 93 Points
This was a second bottle opened with the my wife's porcini dusted halibut with blueberry sauce. It was slightly fresher and richer than the first bottle.
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12/31/2009 - hsacks wrote: 92 Points
Same as the 10/1/08 bottle. Beautifully matched with my wife's porcini dusted halibut with blueberry sauce.
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11/22/2009 - wine guy wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle of wine. Decanted for an hour before dinner. Went especially well with the pan seared pork loin and goat cheese polenta. Bright black fruits and spice evident. Has gained some secondary complexity with earth & mushrooms also, although the cardomon and nutmeg spices (and fruit) trump those characteristics right now. This may get better, but I'm thinking this is a great window to be drinking this wine. It's pretty damn good NOW.
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11/15/2009 - Edclr wrote: 93 Points
All the bright red fruit flavors have subsided and been replaced by the more seductive darker, brooding fruits and flavors of soil. More complexity has developed. Hard to distunguish from a 7-8 year old Gevrey right now.
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11/14/2009 - capnkirk wrote: 93 Points
Beautifully made Pinot with hints of cherries and well balanced tannins. Drank with friends at Fig Restaurant in Santa Monica. Went very well with a variety of foods but especially with the meats.
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10/22/2009 - rstark wrote: 91 Points
Pinot Noir Cage Match ... The $350 Wine Came in Last ... ACK!! (The Shores Restaurant, La Jolla, California): Nose is pretty closed. Nice high-pedigree dark fruit, but low acidity makes it a wine that seems to be past it's prime. Flabby and losing the fruit after just an hour.
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10/19/2009 - Edclr wrote: flawed
Last bottle and it was corked...
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10/16/2009 - smphelps wrote: 94 Points
Rich and full bodied. Dark red cherries and dark plums with a dose of violets and other flowers. Full and exotic. Balanced.
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10/11/2009 - capnkirk wrote: 92 Points
Drank with four people at my Birthday Dinner at Fig. The wine was delicious and went well with a variety of meals including both meat and fish. I thought that it had great balance and the wine had aged well with the berry flavors softening around their edges, not too tart. I would have to say that I continue to be a big fan of Kistler Pinot Noirs.
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12/17/2008 - Peech wrote: 88 Points
Never really lived up to my expectations despite having decanted for some time. Initially pretty closed and a bit acidic on the palate. Gained concentration and body later, but actually tasted inferior to the Sonoma Coast I had a few weeks ago.
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11/26/2008 - jeff nowak wrote:
heavy oak and spice, combined with an earthiness that was too much for me. black cherry and licorice, and a muddled midpalate. thick, overtly tannic finish. overall, out of balance and even somewhat bitter. yuck.
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10/2/2008 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 92 Points
Nice wine with lot of finesse. A few at the table thought the wine was un-kistler like. I would have to agree.
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10/1/2008 - hsacks wrote: 92 Points
Approaching full maturity but still has dark ruby color. Sweet aromas of black cherries, pie crust and spice. Surprisingly restrained and elegant fruit in the mouth with excellent structure and balance. Not a blockbuster but very good with food and enjoyable to drink.
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8/20/2008 - nvandyk wrote: 94 Points
Medium ruby with slight cloudiness and a good amount of sediment (decanting is a must). Candied black cherries (Jolly Rancher) on the nose. Rich, mellow and complex, this has benefited from aging and is drinking very well right now, though I wouldn't hold on too much longer. My last bottle was indeed an off-bottle and hopefully the rest will be like this one.
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8/3/2008 - nvandyk wrote: 85 Points
Very astringent. Have had many Kistler pinots and none came off like this...Bad bottle?
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6/1/2008 - Pool Boy wrote: 91 Points
General impression only. Drinking extremely well, pop, pour and enjoy. Seamlessly integrated and delicious. 91-92pts.
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4/3/2008 - pgordon62 wrote: 92 Points
Brambly black raspberry, cola, pomegranate, campfire smoke and cumin. A quintessential RRV pinot that walks a fine line between elegance and boldness. This has integrated its oak nicely and retains just a kiss of tannin. Should continue to development positively over the next 2-3 years.
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2/23/2008 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 93 Points
Cloudy ruby red color. The nose hits you like a ton of bricks. Lots of crushed rose petals, briary berries and some good toasty oak. Long and lush on the palate. Drinking very well right now.
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1/31/2008 - chicagobagley wrote: 93 Points
Very smooth, good balance of flavor and spice. Not as striking as I though I remembered from a previous bottle, so it has mellowed out nicely. Very good to drink right now.
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12/9/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92,PURPLE90
Tasted December 9, 2007. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Quite pleasant and soft nose of black cherries, black berries and a bit of soft spices. Kind of reminds me of a Burgundy or possibly an Oregon Pinot Noir. Flavors of red and black berries, matching subtle cherry notes and a finish of sweet raspberries and/or strawberries. Medium acidity, integrated tannins, medium body. Balanced and just about seamless at this point. Probably could be held but now reason to do so; drinking well right now.
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11/24/2007 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Opened the day after Thanksgiving, this was everything I had hoped it would be. Not your typical, modern-day California Pinot with candied fruit and elevated alcohol, but rather a balance of natural red and black fruit with spice, earth and just a touch of vanilla. The palate was smooth but lively, with plenty of acidity to balance the fruit, and no trace of alcohol anywhere. Just a delicious wine, that could age well for a while, but is immensely enjoyable to drink now.
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11/6/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90+
Tasted blind November 8, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking towards center. Just a tad hot on the nose up front with aromas of Kirsch followed by melted black licorice and dried dark fruits. Almost amarone like in nature. Flavors of candied fruit almost to the point of jammy with some balancing tart cherries and berries. Medium acidity, firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or hold over the medium term.
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9/2/2007 - gmat5497 wrote: 91 Points
Very well balanced. Nice aromas, subdued fruits, very Burgundian
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8/14/2007 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
eBob California Pinot offline with Steve R. (Feast): Slightly hot nose of red/black cherry. Lovely rich round red fruit with great sweetness. 93-94 pts.
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8/14/2007 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Chicago Pinot Dinner with Steve Rigisich (Feast Restaurant): Full, rich and dense nose has provocative aromas of ripe cherries, cola, brown sugar. Deliciously sweet and rich fruit on the palate shows chocolate covered cherries, toast and spice. Medium-to-full bodied fruit carry the aggressive oak very well. Well balanced, seamless and pure through a long, flavorful finish. Outstanding.
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7/27/2007 - danstrings wrote: 92 Points
Santana Row John Vanessa--great domestic pinot, big rich and ripe, deep fruit. Real crowd pleaser, leaning more toward fruity intensity than elegant terroir. A nice surprise.
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6/24/2007 - SUN-J wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine -- far more open for business than the bottle we tried 2 years ago. Very nicely balanced. Solid fruit on the nose/palate with some earthiness that added some complexity to the wine. Moderate acidity but for some reason, it didn't go all that well with our food (grilled whole fish). Still, a nice wine.
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4/9/2007 - neil wrote: 95 Points
Great wine! Big, fruit forward, soft tannis, drinking now. Matched very well with game hen with pancetta.
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2/14/2007 - ken-yyz wrote: 93 Points
Slightly cloudy and deep ruby red. A wonderful mix of cherry, raspberry and vanilla on the nose and palate. Finishes with a slight sour cherry and a long dose of spices.
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2/4/2007 - SJ wrote: 75 Points
Tasted semi-blind against a 2003 Gevrey-Chambertin, a 2000 Chambolle-Musigny, a 2000 Williams Selyem and a 2004 Wild Earth pinot from Central Otago. The Kistler was the highest-priced of the lot but showed very poorly, coming in 4th. Strange menthol aroma and lots of artificial candied fruit on the palate. Really disappointing.
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9/30/2006 - PeterH wrote: 95 Points
Just delicious
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9/22/2006 - JFish wrote:
Cherry, a bit of cola, and pinot spice with a velvety delivery. Very Smooooooooth. None of the mildly candied fruit I found in the bottle opened last year. This was my last bottle and I can't imagine it drinking any better. It was a great accompaniement to the truffle foie gras mousse and gouda goat cheese starters.
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8/25/2006 - PeterH wrote: 95 Points
Now we're talking. Great bottle of Calif Pinot. Long finish, plenty of cherry and kirsch. Well integrated. Very smooth remaining tannins. I could drink this stuff every night. Had it with crispy duck breast in a little bit of cajun spices...
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5/24/2006 - JBVino wrote: 90 Points
Consumer on the same evening with 01 Marcassin Estate, 96 Leory Pommard and Vose Romanne Les G and 2 other 96 burgs...Kistler came across as heavy and very cherry syrup-like. Liked the Marcassin better, although not $150 better, but both were outclassed by two Leroy burgs...the mouth feel, secondary flavor profile and overall complexity were superior. Potentially unfair comparision given younger nature of CA pinots...time will tell when next bottle is opened.
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2/10/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
I much preferred this to the Marcassin. Very pinot, yet in a full throttle style. Lingers. Delicious. (18.5)
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2/7/2006 - Winetex wrote: 90 Points
This note was originally entered on the Sonoma Coast. This was the correct wine. A rather nice US Pinot in a Burgundian style. The problem with this wine was a lack of balance - the acids were way too prominent along with the alcohol. It did not have the complexity or interest to merit a higher score.
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1/27/2006 - ken-yyz wrote: 95 Points
An absolutely fantastic showing. This a clear winning Wine of the Trip (on my expedition to Antarctica) with a blockbuster nose of red fruits, spice and earth. The wine was luscious, incredibly balanced with a great, long finish. Extraordinary!
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1/24/2006 - Double D wrote: 94 Points
I couldn't wait any longer and it was worth the wait. Very bright, nice nose upon opening....bottle was gone before it had much of a chance to open up. Some tannins but balanced with favorful fruit.
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1/21/2006 - luko wrote:
Drank with a 2001 Pisoni Estate and Arcadian Gary's 2001. This wine had the best mouthfeel of the 3, rich and extracted but by no means over the top or syrah like. Rasberry/red fruit. Only con was that the nose was somewhat subdued. Overall, excellent.
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11/26/2005 - Screameagle wrote: 93 Points
This wine is really coming into it's prime drinking window. So good now it hard to believe that it will get even better with time. I have not been that impressed with several of the Kislters I've consumed lately but this is a notable exception. Absolutely beautiful pinot.
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11/24/2005 - Tubbs wrote: 93 Points
Tanzer says the oak complements this, for me, the oak dominates it. Luckily, after a couple of hours the oak was more subdued letting some fruit and mint nuances through. I can see the attraction here. Silky smooth, with velvety tannins and a myriad of flavors, this is a well made wine in a style that's not to my taste.
I'll leave this for the termites out there. :)
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9/11/2005 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
Delicious. Decanted 1 hour.
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6/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
(replaced a corked 2000 in the Pinot tasting - would have been #1 for me). Deep red/pink. Rich bright red fruit and spiciness. Still young, but lovely. 6/05
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1/29/2005 - Pool Boy wrote: 93 Points
Had this with dinner at Palena in DC.
Whoa! I love Kistler Pinots, but this was something. Lush fruit aromas of macerated cherries, a faint hint of vanilla, and a tad of lavender and violets hit me on the nose. What followed was a lucious wine of great balance and delicious fruit and layers of complexity. We'd had it open for about a half an hour before we really took a sip and trank it out of Riedel Vinum Burg stems (I think that is what they were) and drank it over about 3 hours. It got better along the way, for sure, but it was wonderful throughoput. I really enjoyed the caramel notes and the finish was practically neverending.
While this wine was not the Cuvee Elizabeth I had back in 2003, this was a great Pinot.
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11/19/2004 - JFish wrote: 94 Points
My first Kistler pinot and I now understand why the raves. Not decanted but it probably should have been based upon the greater complexity of the second glass. At first it had some of that candied fruit on the nose but that blew off and gave way to what I refer to as pinot spice. On the palate, what a velvety, balanced wine with the longest finish of any pinot I've ever had. I'm glad I have 2 left but will let them rest for a little while.
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8/18/2004 - jwgauthier wrote: 94 Points
Complex nose of earth and cherries. Both cherry and raspberry emerge in the initial taste, with darker fruit (blackberry and dark cherry), earth, and well-integrated oak on the midpalate and finish (which, by the way, was the longest of the evening). I hope this wine will get even better with age.
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5/31/2004 - buckeye76 wrote: 95 Points
CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR WITH A TOUCH OF EARTHINESS. NICE LEGS AND LONG FINISH.
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