This is my third (and last) bottle of this and this was a bit of a departure from the others as this comes off as particularly stewed and extracted compared to the first two. I know that last word is a bit charged, but it feels heavy and thick. Still, this is a tasty wine, that no doubt would please a large segment of the wine drinking population. thedrunkencyclist.com
I have already written about Belle Glos’ distinctive wax seal (if you are going to have wax, go all-in—don’t have the pull tab), so no need to go there again (although I think I just did). The wine, though, is still faring quite well. Opulent fruit, a touch of earth, and a solid finish. What’s not to jump up and down about? Well, in a word, nothing (since I don’t think they are going to heed my advice regarding the wax). thedrunkencyclist.com
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Retail $65. Honestly, I think the whole wax thing is a bit over the top. In fact, even Wagner sees it as simply decorative as they have a pull tab on top to assuage the fears of the wax averse. Once I get past the wax, this comes close to a whoa. Really close. Cherry and eucalyptus on the senses and the fruit continues to tantalize by tickling the tongue. Impeccably balanced with just a hint of tannins. Drink in the short term since there is no reason to wait. It is a big juicy Pinot and if you like that style, you will certainly love this. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Wonderful Pinot with a lot of body. Drank well by itself with hints of blackberry and chocolate. Didn't like the wax bottle cover because it was hard to remove and made a mess.
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The nose of this wine is made up of dried cherries, pencil lead, cedar, and a hint of smoke. It has solid, well rounded tannins and the finish lingers. This bottle is drinking really nice right now and I am happy to have cellared it for 5 years before opening it.
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My last bottle of this wine was opened early as I was wondering if it was aging much faster than expected; very rich nose full of berries and roses like the previous bottle; less acidic and more complex on the palate, yet the tannins were still quite noticeable in the long finish; overall, also 92-93 points at this stage; a few more years needed to reach maturity to me.
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Drinking very well. Served as second Pinot with Thanksgiving dinner. As with other Belle Glos bottlings, there is a nice balance between fruit and minerality, although the minerality showed through a little more.
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It's a sin to taste this wine so young; the nose, super rich in red berries and fragrant roses, plus some caramel and mineral powders; the palate, quite acidic, berries, cassises, incense, and licorice; medium to full bodied, yet still rather green and tight; the finish, creamy and lingering long; red and black berries coated with caramel, tropical spices, and sweet tannins; overall, 92-93 points for now; lots of promising potential ahead; will likely reach 94-95 points without breaking a sweat in 5 years, but too bad only one bottle left; will leave it alone in the cellar before 2018.
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No formal notes. New world nose, ripe juicy fruit, red cherry, raspberries, and good length. Candied red fruits on the palate. Decent acidity, no tannins. Fruity and easy drinking. Good.
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Outstanding Belle. Rich dark ruby in the glass. Rich bright cherries on the palate. This particular bottle(my last of this vintage) muted on the nose. So lowest score for this wine from me ever. But still outstanding.
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Medium body, rich fruit with hints of red currants deep cherry almost cherry preserves. Long finish. pomegranate on the nose. Fruit slightly overwhelming for a central coast but is Santa Lucia highlands so kind of expected.
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Californian Pinot Noir Tasting Flight (on board the Independence of the Seas)
Darkish ruby, a bit muted brilliance. Close red fruit nose. Light bodied, mild to moderate tannins, mild red fruits (mainly sour cherries) and earthy notes. Short length.
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Needed to decant about an hour for the sweaty socks nose to blow off. After that the bright fruit comes through nicely. There are notes of cherry, but there is some nice pepper undertones. Good complexity. Finish is medium length. Not as smooth as I would like it to be.
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More concentrated depth than first bottle and would recommend cellaring for 2-3 more years. Dark, red fruit with all spice and cinnamon on medium finish. Good QPR.
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Nice red fruit on the nose. Good concentration of limestone floor with sour cherries and balanced alcohol. A little too young which shows with the heated finish. Medium bodied that can devolp with some medium term cellaring.
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Why am I so cuckoo about Belle Glos? Why do I like it so much better than others? Why do words fail me to tell you what you're missing? Oh well, less for you. More for me. :-)
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Initially this seemed like quite a nice pinot, but by the time we'd gotten to the bottom of the bottle, I was glad to see the end of it... just a typical low end pinot.
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Concentrated, medium to full bodied. Forest floor on nose with rich, dark red fruit. A touch of spice on medium-length finish. Drinking very nice and even better on second night.
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Nose of floral and a hint of tobacco, but still a bit closed on the nose. Deep dark ruby almost inky purple color with low rim variation, flavors of dark cherry, dark fruits. A bit hot (after eating something with spice) and short on the finish, but showed balance on the mid-palate. Paired with grilled haddock, grilled lobster, bacon wrapped scallops. Very nice compliment and I will be buyng more.
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Tasted at the Epcot Wine and Food Festival with comparisons to the other 07 Belle Glos' (Telephone & Clark and Taylor Lane). This Pinot is a bit bolder and heavier bodied than the other 2. Ruby red, medium rim variation and grew legs quickly. Found the Las Alturas to have more substance than the others.
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Pinot Days Chicago (Navy Pier, Chicago): Nice dark fruit & spice notes. Dark fruit flavors with better structure, balance and acid than the Telephone Vineyard. 90-91 pts.
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5/10/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is my third (and last) bottle of this and this was a bit of a departure from the others as this comes off as particularly stewed and extracted compared to the first two. I know that last word is a bit charged, but it feels heavy and thick. Still, this is a tasty wine, that no doubt would please a large segment of the wine drinking population. thedrunkencyclist.com
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1/31/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
I have already written about Belle Glos’ distinctive wax seal (if you are going to have wax, go all-in—don’t have the pull tab), so no need to go there again (although I think I just did). The wine, though, is still faring quite well. Opulent fruit, a touch of earth, and a solid finish. What’s not to jump up and down about? Well, in a word, nothing (since I don’t think they are going to heed my advice regarding the wax). thedrunkencyclist.com
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1/31/2016 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 92 Points
Retail $65. Honestly, I think the whole wax thing is a bit over the top. In fact, even Wagner sees it as simply decorative as they have a pull tab on top to assuage the fears of the wax averse. Once I get past the wax, this comes close to a whoa. Really close. Cherry and eucalyptus on the senses and the fruit continues to tantalize by tickling the tongue. Impeccably balanced with just a hint of tannins. Drink in the short term since there is no reason to wait. It is a big juicy Pinot and if you like that style, you will certainly love this. thedrunkencyclist.com
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4/7/2015 - The Raven Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful Pinot with a lot of body. Drank well by itself with hints of blackberry and chocolate. Didn't like the wax bottle cover because it was hard to remove and made a mess.
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3/21/2015 - Swekman wrote: 92 Points
The nose of this wine is made up of dried cherries, pencil lead, cedar, and a hint of smoke. It has solid, well rounded tannins and the finish lingers. This bottle is drinking really nice right now and I am happy to have cellared it for 5 years before opening it.
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3/14/2015 - CWang wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle of this wine was opened early as I was wondering if it was aging much faster than expected; very rich nose full of berries and roses like the previous bottle; less acidic and more complex on the palate, yet the tannins were still quite noticeable in the long finish; overall, also 92-93 points at this stage; a few more years needed to reach maturity to me.
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6/1/2014 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very much near the end of its window. Has lost some of its fruit vibrancy, still very nice.
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12/14/2013 - Grenik Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bright red fruit, good balance, medium finish.
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11/29/2013 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking very well. Served as second Pinot with Thanksgiving dinner. As with other Belle Glos bottlings, there is a nice balance between fruit and minerality, although the minerality showed through a little more.
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5/25/2013 - CWang wrote: 92 Points
It's a sin to taste this wine so young; the nose, super rich in red berries and fragrant roses, plus some caramel and mineral powders; the palate, quite acidic, berries, cassises, incense, and licorice; medium to full bodied, yet still rather green and tight; the finish, creamy and lingering long; red and black berries coated with caramel, tropical spices, and sweet tannins; overall, 92-93 points for now; lots of promising potential ahead; will likely reach 94-95 points without breaking a sweat in 5 years, but too bad only one bottle left; will leave it alone in the cellar before 2018.
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4/18/2013 - Bjamin wrote: 95 Points
Amazing wine. Aged to perfection. One or two more years and it would be toast. Nice and complex.
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9/5/2012 - clarktoews wrote: 91 Points
this bottle was better all around then my last one. fruit was more integrated and balanced and the finsih was much more smooth and lasting.
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8/30/2012 - clarktoews wrote: 90 Points
decent wine, good light fruit bu was a touch green on the finish
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8/15/2012 - thomasthoustrup wrote: 90 Points
very good. fruity, not too much, complex, nice acid/tannin balance. very well made wine.
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6/26/2012 - swtrader wrote:
Gave to Elaine retirement
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6/11/2012 - clarktoews wrote: 90 Points
very nice wine, has mellowed out sicne my last bottle. well integrated abut lacks a wow factor for me to give it a higher score.
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6/10/2012 - godx wrote: 87 Points
No formal notes. New world nose, ripe juicy fruit, red cherry, raspberries, and good length. Candied red fruits on the palate. Decent acidity, no tannins. Fruity and easy drinking. Good.
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1/22/2012 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding Belle. Rich dark ruby in the glass. Rich bright cherries on the palate. This particular bottle(my last of this vintage) muted on the nose. So lowest score for this wine from me ever. But still outstanding.
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12/25/2011 - clarktoews wrote: 91 Points
very nice and clean. smooth and rounded and decent length of finish.
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11/20/2011 - Ewwgene wrote:
Medium body, rich fruit with hints of red currants deep cherry almost cherry preserves. Long finish. pomegranate on the nose. Fruit slightly overwhelming for a central coast but is Santa Lucia highlands so kind of expected.
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3/16/2011 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
93 is my story and I'm sticking to it. Every bit as luscious as my last bottle. Too bad I just have one of these babies left.
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12/28/2010 - chanote44 wrote: 92 Points
Wow, what a great pinot. Beautiful nose of cherry and spice. Silky smooth mouthfeel and fine tannins.
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11/13/2010 - Yme wrote: 82 Points
Californian Pinot Noir Tasting Flight (on board the Independence of the Seas)
Darkish ruby, a bit muted brilliance. Close red fruit nose. Light bodied, mild to moderate tannins, mild red fruits (mainly sour cherries) and earthy notes. Short length.
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11/8/2010 - Grenik wrote: 90 Points
Needed to decant about an hour for the sweaty socks nose to blow off. After that the bright fruit comes through nicely. There are notes of cherry, but there is some nice pepper undertones. Good complexity. Finish is medium length. Not as smooth as I would like it to be.
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10/4/2010 - thomasthoustrup wrote: 87 Points
good wine, but way too pricy for me
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9/14/2010 - warkat wrote: 94 Points
Excellent nose, good fruit nice finish
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9/4/2010 - raydawgone wrote: 94 Points
More concentrated depth than first bottle and would recommend cellaring for 2-3 more years. Dark, red fruit with all spice and cinnamon on medium finish. Good QPR.
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8/20/2010 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
Belle, you nailed it again. Everything paradise.
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3/24/2010 - Ciao! wrote: 95 Points
Smooth oaky wonderful nose
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3/11/2010 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 85 Points
Completely different to the last bottle, this is an adequate wine, but is just too sweet and fruity for my taste.
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3/6/2010 - wineguy58 wrote: 90 Points
Nice red fruit on the nose. Good concentration of limestone floor with sour cherries and balanced alcohol. A little too young which shows with the heated finish. Medium bodied that can devolp with some medium term cellaring.
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2/27/2010 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
Why am I so cuckoo about Belle Glos? Why do I like it so much better than others? Why do words fail me to tell you what you're missing? Oh well, less for you. More for me. :-)
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2/21/2010 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 80 Points
Initially this seemed like quite a nice pinot, but by the time we'd gotten to the bottom of the bottle, I was glad to see the end of it... just a typical low end pinot.
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2/20/2010 - raydawgone wrote: 93 Points
Concentrated, medium to full bodied. Forest floor on nose with rich, dark red fruit. A touch of spice on medium-length finish. Drinking very nice and even better on second night.
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11/13/2009 - pghgator wrote: 90 Points
Nose of floral and a hint of tobacco, but still a bit closed on the nose. Deep dark ruby almost inky purple color with low rim variation, flavors of dark cherry, dark fruits. A bit hot (after eating something with spice) and short on the finish, but showed balance on the mid-palate. Paired with grilled haddock, grilled lobster, bacon wrapped scallops. Very nice compliment and I will be buyng more.
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10/3/2009 - pghgator wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at the Epcot Wine and Food Festival with comparisons to the other 07 Belle Glos' (Telephone & Clark and Taylor Lane). This Pinot is a bit bolder and heavier bodied than the other 2. Ruby red, medium rim variation and grew legs quickly. Found the Las Alturas to have more substance than the others.
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9/27/2009 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Newport Wine and Food Festival (Marble House): Pretty big Pinot. It gets away with it, but doesn't thrill.
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11/15/2008 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Pinot Days Chicago (Navy Pier, Chicago): Nice dark fruit & spice notes. Dark fruit flavors with better structure, balance and acid than the Telephone Vineyard. 90-91 pts.
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11/15/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Pinot Days Grand Tasting (Navy Pier - Chicago, IL): Pinot Days 2008 at Navy Pier - Chicago, IL
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