Kept opened and sipped for 4 days. Dark purple enough to be opaque with an inch pour. Still impressively bright and refreshing at 13 years old. Richly fruity, with black and red cherry, and a surprising strawberry. The tannin is rounded upfront but comes back more firm and drying in the swallow. Overall, manages the hat trick of being both powerful and elegant.
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I bought a 12 bottle case of this, and this bottle is the best it has ever been. Almost opaque with an inch pour. Very rich nose of black cherry and black plum. A concentrated and smooth sip, edged with ample drying tannin, that coats the entire mouth when swished and adds a blackberry flavor. The swallow elegantly glides down into a long 2 minute aftertaste. The interplay of integrated and powerful fruit, acid, and tannin throughout the entire taste is magnificent. The unabated freshness and vivacity of this 10 year old wine show that it will remain eminently drinkable for another decade.
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This is drinking well now. Much better than my previous bottle - its neighbor in a sixer. Benefited with air, it picked up some more stems in aromas and flavors after a few hours. Really a nice wine, albeit a bigger/muscular style. Drink now and watch its evolution. It will easily go at least 5 more years.
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I'm not normally a fan of domestic pinots, but this is spectacular. Very bright, showing a cool climate profile - spicy red fruits on both nose and palate. Big yet stylish, powerful yet understated and refined. This is the real deal and is something I'd seek out again. Great length to go with the detail and nuance. Best US pinot in a long while. At peak now, this was slow-oxed for 4 hours, then enjoyed over three, and didn't budge. Awesome wine.
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Still a young looking wine with its purple edged dark, dense color. This structured wine has an iron core yet displays some nice mostly black fruits. I've had several bottles of this over the last 2 years and it has gone from a wine that was enjoyable, if young, in its youth, to a wine that went into shut down mode, to a wine that is now beginning to come around. I don't get this type of evolution from many California Pinots. I think this wine is going to get even better. This has structure and balance that I don't see much in domestic Pinot. I've got several bottles left and I'm going to take my time with this. This has great potential.
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damn... hot, disjointed, tannins and acid are out of balance. Air/time did not help. This was not enjoyable and its my 2nd bottle like this. I dont think I'll drink another for years...or something - hoping the bottle will achieve what I know this estate is capable of
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wow - that was good. light and feminine. earthy and fruity. smooth and a nice finish. really as good as pinot from central coast gets - to me. all good.
c- 3 a - 14 t - 18 o - 7
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5/13/2019 - Mossrose wrote: 94 Points
Kept opened and sipped for 4 days. Dark purple enough to be opaque with an inch pour. Still impressively bright and refreshing at 13 years old. Richly fruity, with black and red cherry, and a surprising strawberry. The tannin is rounded upfront but comes back more firm and drying in the swallow. Overall, manages the hat trick of being both powerful and elegant.
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9/14/2016 - Mossrose wrote: 96 Points
I bought a 12 bottle case of this, and this bottle is the best it has ever been. Almost opaque with an inch pour. Very rich nose of black cherry and black plum. A concentrated and smooth sip, edged with ample drying tannin, that coats the entire mouth when swished and adds a blackberry flavor. The swallow elegantly glides down into a long 2 minute aftertaste. The interplay of integrated and powerful fruit, acid, and tannin throughout the entire taste is magnificent. The unabated freshness and vivacity of this 10 year old wine show that it will remain eminently drinkable for another decade.
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2/1/2015 - arthrovine wrote: 91 Points
This is drinking well now. Much better than my previous bottle - its neighbor in a sixer. Benefited with air, it picked up some more stems in aromas and flavors after a few hours. Really a nice wine, albeit a bigger/muscular style. Drink now and watch its evolution. It will easily go at least 5 more years.
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5/24/2014 - sawira wrote: 94 Points
I'm not normally a fan of domestic pinots, but this is spectacular. Very bright, showing a cool climate profile - spicy red fruits on both nose and palate. Big yet stylish, powerful yet understated and refined. This is the real deal and is something I'd seek out again. Great length to go with the detail and nuance. Best US pinot in a long while. At peak now, this was slow-oxed for 4 hours, then enjoyed over three, and didn't budge. Awesome wine.
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4/4/2014 - caciagli wrote: 90 Points
Ah what a nice finish and a bit if effervesce with a kiwi layer and a bitter middle
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9/9/2011 - dexwine wrote: 91 Points
Still a young looking wine with its purple edged dark, dense color. This structured wine has an iron core yet displays some nice mostly black fruits. I've had several bottles of this over the last 2 years and it has gone from a wine that was enjoyable, if young, in its youth, to a wine that went into shut down mode, to a wine that is now beginning to come around. I don't get this type of evolution from many California Pinots. I think this wine is going to get even better. This has structure and balance that I don't see much in domestic Pinot. I've got several bottles left and I'm going to take my time with this. This has great potential.
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5/4/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 86 Points
damn... hot, disjointed, tannins and acid are out of balance. Air/time did not help. This was not enjoyable and its my 2nd bottle like this. I dont think I'll drink another for years...or something - hoping the bottle will achieve what I know this estate is capable of
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9/19/2010 - schnittle wrote: 92 Points
wow - that was good. light and feminine. earthy and fruity. smooth and a nice finish. really as good as pinot from central coast gets - to me. all good.
c- 3
a - 14
t - 18
o - 7
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6/3/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 85 Points
not a strong effort...tart, almost sour cherries, light to medium tannins - while not bad, cetainly would expect more for the price.
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10/26/2008 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Pinot on the River Tastings; 10/25/2008-10/26/2008 (Russian River Valley Winery): Light berry and plum nose; spicy, tart plum and berry palate; medium finish
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