The wine has low acidity. It smells like almond, prune, mint, fig, black currant (cassis) and clove. The wine finishes medium. It tastes like light toast, black currant (cassis), almond, raisin, raspberry, mineral and cherry. The wine has smooth texture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Luscious red cherry notes on the nose here, deep and licoriced. This has layered red and black cherry flavors, sweet and ripe on the front, verging into raspberry licorice, and tart on the back. A bit of asperity on the back suggests to me it's time to drink before you lose the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
While we like the balance of fruit and earth at this point, it is lacking spice and complexity. This wine has nothing offensive in its nose and flavor, but there is no WOW factor. Rather spend the same amount of money on a Burgundy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Subtle, and not at all over extracted for a California pinot noir. Nice balance of fruit and oak. Reminds me of the Mondavi reserves of the '80's. Could use a bit more acidity. Given the price, I would expect a little better effort. Still a style of Cal. pinot that should be emulateed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted one hour and enjoyed with broiled ribeyes. An intense, concentrated nose of dark cherry and cola, which carried over nicely to the palate. No flab thanks to a nice touch of acidity, along with a silky mouthfeel that made it almost too easy to drink. The kind of powerful, "cabernet-lite" pinot that's not typically my style but that went really well with the steaks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby red, strong caramel nose with hints of cherries and vanilla. Nice balance on the palate with sweet strawberries held in check by a crisp acidity and velvety tannins. Relatively long and quite pleasant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted one hour. Black cherry cola, anise, cocoa, and cloves on the nose. Light bodied palate with tart, earthy cherry and cola flavors. High acidity, dusty tannins. Probably better with food. Its a well-made wine, and lots of people will like this, it's just not the flavor profile I like in Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really great pinot. Intense pure red fruit, dominated by cherry and rasberry, both tart and sweet. Some spice and cocoa in there too. Not much earthiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm not getting the cherry you would expect from a Pinot. A subtle hint of fruit but more of an ambiguous "red wine" to me. Would love to have my money back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine lost alot of its roughness over the past year we have had it cellared. It is turning into something closer to a cool-climate Pinot. I would not cellar this very much longer if I had more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/27/2015 - ewasowicz wrote: 92 Points
The wine has low acidity. It smells like almond, prune, mint, fig, black currant (cassis) and clove. The wine finishes medium. It tastes like light toast, black currant (cassis), almond, raisin, raspberry, mineral and cherry. The wine has smooth texture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2014 - fdub Likes this wine:
Fuller bodied style. Wonderfully deeply pitched with deep red fruit. Nose is starting to show some soy and spices. Don't see a reason to hold longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - FieldingYost wrote: 90 Points
Luscious red cherry notes on the nose here, deep and licoriced. This has layered red and black cherry flavors, sweet and ripe on the front, verging into raspberry licorice, and tart on the back. A bit of asperity on the back suggests to me it's time to drink before you lose the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2013 - RWCA wrote: 90 Points
Very well balanced and help up with lamb. Not your ususal Pinot, but not worth the price tag.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2012 - Bob in NC wrote: 89 Points
While we like the balance of fruit and earth at this point, it is lacking spice and complexity. This wine has nothing offensive in its nose and flavor, but there is no WOW factor. Rather spend the same amount of money on a Burgundy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2012 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
juicy fruit forward, licorice, voluptuous fruit, yum
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2011 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Subtle, and not at all over extracted for a California pinot noir. Nice balance of fruit and oak. Reminds me of the Mondavi reserves of the '80's. Could use a bit more acidity. Given the price, I would expect a little better effort. Still a style of Cal. pinot that should be emulateed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2011 - cartime wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed this more this time around. Found it more red-fruited and elegant with earthier spice and no cola. Bottle shock the last time? A nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2011 - Billigan wrote: 91 Points
Decanted one hour and enjoyed with broiled ribeyes. An intense, concentrated nose of dark cherry and cola, which carried over nicely to the palate. No flab thanks to a nice touch of acidity, along with a silky mouthfeel that made it almost too easy to drink. The kind of powerful, "cabernet-lite" pinot that's not typically my style but that went really well with the steaks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2011 - Sailquik wrote: 90 Points
Ruby red, strong caramel nose with hints of cherries and vanilla. Nice balance on the palate with sweet strawberries held in check by a crisp acidity and velvety tannins. Relatively long and quite pleasant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - cartime wrote: 88 Points
Decanted one hour. Black cherry cola, anise, cocoa, and cloves on the nose. Light bodied palate with tart, earthy cherry and cola flavors. High acidity, dusty tannins. Probably better with food. Its a well-made wine, and lots of people will like this, it's just not the flavor profile I like in Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2010 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
3 hr decant; soft well textured; sweet blackberry and some chocolate and dark coffee; long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2010 - Xfactor wrote: 95 Points
Sweet black raspberry nose, tart spicy cherry with a flowery note, black tea and spice finish. OUTSTANDING!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2010 - scotty_b wrote: 94 Points
Really great pinot. Intense pure red fruit, dominated by cherry and rasberry, both tart and sweet. Some spice and cocoa in there too. Not much earthiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2010 - BinVA wrote: 88 Points
I'm not getting the cherry you would expect from a Pinot. A subtle hint of fruit but more of an ambiguous "red wine" to me. Would love to have my money back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2010 - roblise wrote: 90 Points
This wine lost alot of its roughness over the past year we have had it cellared. It is turning into something closer to a cool-climate Pinot. I would not cellar this very much longer if I had more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2010 - Bob in NC wrote:
Outstanding
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2009 - acordo9 wrote: 95 Points
beautiful, rich pinot, complex
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment