The wine looks rosy colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black pepper, oak and bark. Took from cellar 3 days prior to opening from 55 degrees to room temperature. Very strong tannins from the onset. Let it open up for 30 mins and settled in well. Has matured nicely but would not go past another 1 year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Has matured very nicely. All the alcohol and acidic overtones noted previously have long blown off leaving behind wonderful warm deep red fruit and a well rounded feel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice Strawberry and cherry. Still very nice, and fruit forward, with a bit of earthy grounding. Probably isn't getting any better from here, but still, not a bad value at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very similar to last notes on 4/26/14 only more subtle. Shows very well for an 8 year old domestic Pinot (of course excluding Kistler, DuMol, etc that can easily go that long). Still a solid 90 but drink up as this is going nowhere but downhill from here IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pleasant surprise. Earthy nose. More Burgundian than Cali. Nice black raspberry and black cherry flavors after about 20 minutes. A very good value at WTSO price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Nice sweet red fruits, forest floor and tree moss aromas. Palate: The sweet red fruits show (raspberry and cherry) with good richness, acidic lift and a medium length finish. While not worth the full retail of @ $45 this is a very good QPR at $20/btl from WTSO as it is a solid mid-level Pinot for a cheapie price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty typical SLH nose, subtle red fruit with a bit of earthiness. Cherry & Strawberry flavors, some minerality and a bit acidic. Finish faded quickly. Better than the last couple bottles, but still past it's prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured it into a decanter and immediately back into bottle through venturi. On the nose I get strawberries, some cola, some lilac, and some minerality. The strawberry and cola components carry through on the palate along with nice acidity, wood, and a bit of heat. Decent pinot for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maybe a better bottle, but there was a far more interesting nose, strawberry and dried apricot notes, musk and (yes) oak, than at the previous tasting not long ago. And I did not get volatile acidity today. But this is one to drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Frndnpa has this one about right, though I liked it slightly better than he did, or have lower standards. I get some fruit here but not much, also a little volatile acidity, some spice, something floral, a bit of funk, and lots of oak. Not a flawed wine but perhaps over the hill. Impressive bottle, wish I were more impressed with the contents.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light ruby color, dusty nose, takes some time to open up in the glass. Classic Burgandian style Pinot noir, tight and woody. Tart cherry on the palate, short stingy finish, not our favorite from SLH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It's been more than a year since I last tasted this wine so I was interested in what may have changed. The wine is getting better. bright clear fruit and cola flavor, medium plus finish. A very balanced wine firing on all cylinders.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Loved the slurpability of this wine, a medium-body pinot that shows abundant fruit, yet is smooth and balanced and has no alcohol burn that I seem to pick up from Santa Lucia pinots. The nose did not scream "look at me," but it still had an interesting cola component with hints of nuts, raspberry, and citrus. The mouthfeel was silky yet had ample zing catching your attention (definitely more Central Coast than Burgundy), with a velvety finish that had you refilling your glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/13/2023 - Central Coast Sharon wrote:
Raspberry. Smooth and light.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2016 - somersetwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine looks rosy colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like black pepper, oak and bark. Took from cellar 3 days prior to opening from 55 degrees to room temperature. Very strong tannins from the onset. Let it open up for 30 mins and settled in well. Has matured nicely but would not go past another 1 year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2016 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has matured very nicely. All the alcohol and acidic overtones noted previously have long blown off leaving behind wonderful warm deep red fruit and a well rounded feel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2016 - Gmandybur Likes this wine: 90 Points
From Allen
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2015 - highalpine wrote: 89 Points
Nice Strawberry and cherry. Still very nice, and fruit forward, with a bit of earthy grounding. Probably isn't getting any better from here, but still, not a bad value at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2014 - Mattshank wrote: 90 Points
Still very similar to last notes on 4/26/14 only more subtle. Shows very well for an 8 year old domestic Pinot (of course excluding Kistler, DuMol, etc that can easily go that long). Still a solid 90 but drink up as this is going nowhere but downhill from here IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2014 - highalpine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pleasant surprise. Earthy nose. More Burgundian than Cali. Nice black raspberry and black cherry flavors after about 20 minutes. A very good value at WTSO price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2014 - Mattshank wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Nice sweet red fruits, forest floor and tree moss aromas. Palate: The sweet red fruits show (raspberry and cherry) with good richness, acidic lift and a medium length finish. While not worth the full retail of @ $45 this is a very good QPR at $20/btl from WTSO as it is a solid mid-level Pinot for a cheapie price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2014 - mazik Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle seems to be singing, the inimitable SLH bouquet, lighter on fruit and more spice and forest floor, perfect with leftover cassoulet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2014 - Wrkolbeck wrote: 87 Points
Pretty typical SLH nose, subtle red fruit with a bit of earthiness. Cherry & Strawberry flavors, some minerality and a bit acidic. Finish faded quickly. Better than the last couple bottles, but still past it's prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2014 - Jchi.ny Likes this wine: 91 Points
Poured it into a decanter and immediately back into bottle through venturi. On the nose I get strawberries, some cola, some lilac, and some minerality. The strawberry and cola components carry through on the palate along with nice acidity, wood, and a bit of heat. Decent pinot for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2014 - 1961Vintage wrote: 85 Points
This bottle seemed a bit acidic and alcohol forward...Moreso than the previous two bottles. Covered up evidence of very nice fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2014 - mazik Likes this wine: 89 Points
Maybe a better bottle, but there was a far more interesting nose, strawberry and dried apricot notes, musk and (yes) oak, than at the previous tasting not long ago. And I did not get volatile acidity today. But this is one to drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2013 - mazik wrote: 86 Points
Frndnpa has this one about right, though I liked it slightly better than he did, or have lower standards. I get some fruit here but not much, also a little volatile acidity, some spice, something floral, a bit of funk, and lots of oak. Not a flawed wine but perhaps over the hill. Impressive bottle, wish I were more impressed with the contents.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2013 - WineCenturyAZ wrote: 83 Points
Light ruby color, dusty nose, takes some time to open up in the glass. Classic Burgandian style Pinot noir, tight and woody. Tart cherry on the palate, short stingy finish, not our favorite from SLH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2010 - brigcampbell wrote: 92 Points
It's been more than a year since I last tasted this wine so I was interested in what may have changed. The wine is getting better. bright clear fruit and cola flavor, medium plus finish. A very balanced wine firing on all cylinders.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2010 - pgb67 wrote: 93 Points
Loved the slurpability of this wine, a medium-body pinot that shows abundant fruit, yet is smooth and balanced and has no alcohol burn that I seem to pick up from Santa Lucia pinots. The nose did not scream "look at me," but it still had an interesting cola component with hints of nuts, raspberry, and citrus. The mouthfeel was silky yet had ample zing catching your attention (definitely more Central Coast than Burgundy), with a velvety finish that had you refilling your glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2009 - brigcampbell wrote: 90 Points
Classic pinot color. Good berry nose.
Lots of strawberries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2009 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Family Wine Makers: Med bod, solid, cin spice, good bal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2009 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Family Wine Makers: Grt conc., soy souce, smoke, black cherry, boysenberry! Powerful, cmplex, yet bal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment