Still going strong - needs about an hour in the decanter to deepen, build some mouthfeel and add secondary flavors. Not a blockbuster but strikes a good balance of flavor and lightness to be suave for a Central Coast pinot, even at 14 years old.
PJHR says it perfectly with the note of: "Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, forest floor, and cedar with delicious resolving tannins and tasty acidity on a long finish."
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Found this buried in the cellar! Maturing gracefully since my last bottle 5 years ago. Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, forest floor, and cedar with delicious resolving tannins and tasty acidity on a long finish.
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Getting more serious and darker fruited with age. More tannins than last bottle and more body but definitely not heavy. Can see the transition from the earlier vintages which were almost syrah like to the lighter style of the past 8 years. Some light spice.
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-- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 – 3 hours --
NOSE: high-toned (perhaps some lift from the alcohol); mostly red-fruited (ripe red berries), veering just a bit towards the purple fruit spectrum.
BODY: garnet-ruby color of medium depth with slight bricking throughout; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: a bit oakier than I'd prefer, but it's not ruined; medium acidity; not tannic; a touch alcoholic (14.5% labelled); ripe; big, but not comically huge; perhaps drying out now, so drink up; not funky. Drink Now. gut impression score: 90 – 91.
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Subsequent notes on this wine from over four years ago. Deep, rich, dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & aromatic nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones earthy & smoky notes, some floral notes, dried herbs, minerals, spices, anise & a hint of oak/vanilla. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, rich, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & blueberries with spices, cola, earthy, herbs, minerals & some toasty oak/vanilla. Smooth lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but at 12 years of age is at or near its peak of development, so drink up!
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Took a 1.5L to Bouchon tonight to share with friends. The well stored bottle still tasted fresh and showed plenty of fruit still. A nice beverage, held back a bit by a little extra ripeness/alcohol. Tasty nonetheless and no where near over the hill from the magnum.
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2007 SEA SMOKE SOUTHING STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR- a gracious 14.5% abv; it had a deep dark purple colour befitting it youthfulness; the nose gave intense ripe black fruit and the taste had jammy black cherry, plum and blackberry; this and many of the other wines would have benefitted from being decanted.
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Seems past its prime (agree with most recent note). Noticeable alcohol, a mild tartness/bitterness follows prevalent tannin. No fruit to combat all the rest. I have another bottle, will revisit notes when I drink that one (will be soon given this one). Day 2 notes = Day one notes.
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Consumed with a group of friends on St. Patty's Day (how does that make sense?). A crowd pleaser but I love this wine much earlier in it's maturation. My last bottle. Drink up if you have any!
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Opened for 30 minutes... definitely on the downside.. enjoyable, but definitely lacked the vibrancy of its youth. Going to grab the other 2 I have left and drink soon.. and hope the 1.5L is showing better.
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Really takes awhile to open up but it's worth the wait. Intense red fruit and spice with bracing acidity. A hair heavy on the oak for me but I'm nitpicking - overall I'm very impressed with this bottle.
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Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of briar patch, black raspberries and black cherries. Flavors of Bing cherries, black berries and a hint of earthiness. Medium acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink now.
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Make simple, just copy the note previously. This wine is not aging well, on the down hill slippery slope.
Extremely dark looking like a SRH Syrah. This is a very ripe and concentrated wine, too ripe for me, as the aromas and flavors are dominated by dark plum pushing towards prune. A little cherry lingers around but it's surrounded by a heavy handed oak treatment. Medium firm tannins.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Cherries on the nose and palate. This wine is in its sweet spot - drinking beautifully. Balanced, good acidity, and long finish. Glad I have more bottles!
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Translucent color. Gorgeous nose of cranberry, earth, rose, violets and earth
Medium bodied on the palate. Cranberry/vanilla. Lively and juicy. Acid keeps this fresh on the back end. Not much in the way of tannin. Looooong finish. Has really mellowed. Perfect to drink now. Don't think this will get better with any more aging.
Bigger than I expected. Classic Sea Smoke nose which was quite open with the spice and flowered notes. Raspberry and cherry with a bit of acidity. Very nice but not in top tier sea smokes I've had.
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Couldn't finish a glass. Much worse than my last bottle 2.5yrs ago. All heat and cola, with little fruit intensity.Dry bitter tannins on back end. Not flawed, but didn't age well given the size of this wine and just seemed very unbalanced. I can only hope the Ten's are better.
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Sea Smoke Southing Vertical (Traci's House): Extremely dark looking like a SRH Syrah. This is a very ripe and concentrated wine, too ripe for me, as the aromas and flavors are dominated by dark plum pushing towards prune. A little cherry lingers around but it's surrounded by a heavy handed oak treatment. Medium firm tannins.
Terrific bottle-- great time to drink. Dark garnet hue. Dark strawberry nose. Strawberry jam, little dry, smooth, long finish for pinot, little tart, all around nice wine.
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I tested my Coravin with this 2007 Sea Smoke Southing. It was first accessed in December 2013. It was drunk three times over a period of a year, including a midpoint in June 2014. In January 2015 I uncorked the bottle and drank the last glass – it tasted as fresh as the first! Coravin is the real deal!
As for the wine, it was okay but muted - how did Sea Smoke mess up the 2007 vintage?!
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A rather unremarkable bottle that wasn't enjoyed at our Superbowl dinner. Lots of tannins. Some smoothness. The non-geeks said it was 'ok', and they usually like whatever I bring. After 90 minutes, the wine thinned out. Ouch.
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Well, this was a superb bottle and the last three were 88-90 from 2013 - 2014 . The only difference? To make room in my cellar over a year ago, I took all of my remaining 2007 Southings out of their 55 degree comfort and placed them in my office that fluctuates from 68 - 78 degrees. Go figure ...
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Terrific nose and drinking in a good spot right now. Lots of sour cherries a bit of earth, and solid finishing acidity. Went well with Dijon mushroom chicken in a cream sauce.
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Nice vino on RoshH dinner. Lovely nose of new-world PN, bright and muted cherry...smooth and balanced on the palate. Well-made/crafted central coast PN.
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Color is a light garnet, suggesting this may be showing some age. However the nose shows a hint of rose petal, ripe cherry and a surprisingly pleasant hint of wax shoe polish. On the palate this is classic Southing. Chewy with tart cherry and raspberry on the mid palate and chocolate with a touch of oak on a lingering finish.
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Deep, rich, dark garnet in color. Forward, attractive & complex nose of ripe dark fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & blackberries with lovely secondary notes of earthy & smoky overtones, some floral notes, dried herbs, minerals, some spices, anise and a hint of toasty oak & vanilla. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of dense, still youthful but well-integrated, smooth, rich, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & blueberries with spices, cola, earthy, herbs,minerals and some toasty oak and vanilla. Smooth lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but has the depth, fruit & structure to develop further.
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No formal notes, but do recall it took about 30+ minutes in the glass to open up after a pop and pour. Good red fruit profile with subdued baking spices and subtle hint of sassafras.
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Slightly reductive funky Pinot nose which doesn't blow off, thankfully. Pushing the darker side of Pinot. Nose leads you to believe it might be older. Good earth notes. Palate is driven by a mild sweet cherry and pine notes with very fine tannins. Slightly aggressive oak or stem finish. Tough not to enjoy this wine.
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This was the first of 3 bottles purchased on release and decanted for 30 minutes. It was certainly not an inspired bottling but it wasn’t terrible either. It just left me unimpressed; almost like the soul had been sucked out of the wine before it was poured. Others have created a collective impression of the aromatics and palate experience that mirrors mine and there is little to add there. Like many others, I consider it is a relatively poor showing for the price. I don’t see this getting any better, but it isn’t on the edge of the cliff either.
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Cherries and bright on the nose. Went down from there. Lighter body then most Sea Smokes (still more full then most Cali Pinots). Limited complexity and finish. Somewhat flimsy. Not bad but nothing profound. Drink now, perhaps getting old??? My last bottle was much richer and exciting.
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I always thought cellaring a bottle for a few years was a good idea. Improve with age and all that. This wine had no nose to speak of. Very dark in a Sea Smoke way. Some bitterness. After 30 minutes, there was a perfume nose. The wine tasted light, not heavy. After 60 minutes this was smoothing out, and it lost its bitterness. It was either elegant or not remarkable. I have another bottle left, and will drink it next year. Drank this with salmon at Morgan's Fish House in Rye NY. I wished the '07 tasted like the '08 Southing that I drank last year.
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Nose of dark fruit, esp. Black cherry and ETOH. Dark ruby color. Fruit forward on the palate, but the alcohol is not particularly noticeable. Black cherries, licorice on the finish. Medium to full bodied mouth feel. Medium finish. I think these have reached a peak in their evolution, but should last several years more.
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This bottle is still tasting beautifully. Dark ruby color. Nose of cherries and dark berries. Luscious creamy body and the fruit is still there. This has aged as well as any other Sea Smoke vintage I've had. Has evolved to elegant and smooth. No signs of age or being tired. Decanting not required. Lovely straight to the glass. I believe this was the first vintage of the new winemaker and and 7 years later it is still extremely enjoyable.
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I have to give this bottle credit - for a 14.5% pinot, it remained balanced, fresh, fragrant and alive. Finish was very disappointing. I didn't pick up as much cola as in past bottles, but its not getting any better, only starting to thin out a bit.
Actually in some way nicer than in its over the top youth, still, I would move these bottles to the front of your racks and start finding "special occasions" to begin getting rid of them....... My special occasion tonight was because it was Thursday (again!).
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Significantly improved from last tasting in March, 2012. Bright cherry cola notes layered with allspice and fine tannins. Drinking beautifully now. Well worth the wait.
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Wow, thick and heavy. Would not have gussed a pinot if blind. Rich cherry vanilla, some cola with a lot of wood. Not your typical Pinot but thats why I like it.
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Another simply delicious bottle! Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, vanilla, and cedar with delicious tannins and acidity on a long finish.
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Shaped up nicely after a few years slumber. IMHO the bottle age added weight and depth. Cola and cherries and hallmark spice. Worked well with 4 hours in the decanter.
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Splash decanted and drank over 3 hours. A bit simple and cola dominated at first but the fruit deepened and all the elements came together by the end. Very nice wine with spice and freshening acidity. Light red fruits in a silky package. Interesting wine.
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This bottle was drinking beautifully and open within an hour of opening. There does seem to be some bottle variation, but when they are singing, they truly are wonderful pinots!
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I think this wine is really ready to drink now. This bottle showed lots of character, finesse and texture that younger bottles did not. Instead of being an extracted, alcohol laden fruit bomb, this wine showed layers of flavor and aroma younger Southings did not. It's still an over-priced cult wine, but I'm glad I hung on to a few. One more left. I don't think I'll wait too long to drink it.
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I see where there are some negative remarks about this wine. I felt it was a little thin and just average also, and not at all like previous vintages, which I thought were good.. I still hold out hope time will be kind to it.
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Very nice structure and maturity with the quality of the fruit still shining through. Nice plum and dark berry notes with adept application of oak has this one drinking very well at this point. Took a bit to open up and become integrated in the glass but showed more with a bit of time and air.
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SRH taste comparison! Drank a 2008 Fiddlehead 728 side-by-side with 2007 Sea Smoke "Southing". Fiddlehead (90 pts): a lighter, fruit-forward style pinot, with raspberry, crushed cranberries and other red fruits on the nose; sweet red fruits, sandalwood and earth on the palate. Lean, with a tart but round finish. Sea Smoke Southing (87 pts): Dark, brooding pinot that didn't give up much on the nose - black cherry, a little cola. Heavy and round on the palate, but not much flavor - black cherry, vanilla. Round finish. Mixed opinions at our table, but most preferred the Fiddlehead.
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Fresh crisp nose of strawberry and tobacco. Followed through on palate. Nothing chewy and sinewy but worth every sip. Paired with baked sea scallops. Yum. Awaiting the same year TEN!
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Thank goodness this was my last bottle.While it was not a flawed bottle it had a fair amount of volatile acid and little friuit. I've had better $15 bottles. Overall Seasmoke is the most overrated and overpriced pinot I've ever had and don'tplan to buy again.
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Perfumed nose per usual but a bit flat on the mid palate. While somewhat more subdued, not my favorite vintage. Definitely Cali-noir, nothing French Burgundian about it. Finish relatively short.
Tasted several times over the past year and not getting any better. Hmmmm?
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Great Bottle. The fruit has finally shed its baby fat. This is integrating nicely and look forward to secondary notes with my last bottle. Waiting a few more years to open my last.
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Intensely fragrant on approach, almost overwhelming. So powerful that a full big sniff numbs your nose and the wine can't compete on your palate. When the dust settles I found the mid palate weak, a little candy-noir one dimensional actually and a finish that closes down as you swallow it as opposed to a wine that gets bigger and bigger after you swallow it. Disappointing in mouth feel and presence. Certainly NOT worth the current prices being asked for this wine.
Just another BIG upfront Cali-noir that looks better than it fights? Tasted last summer with much better results. I was really not at all excited this summer. I have a few more bottles so lets see what next summer brings.....
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I must say I am very disappointed but have to agree with the most recent notes. This wine is flat, stewy has none of the classic notes of a high quality pinot. Nothing exciting or intriguing at all about this wine. I fear that the owners of this wine have been severely oversold...
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This was one of the "not good" bottles. Monolithic, stewed fruit that I did not enjoy at all. Tried glasses on two consecutive nights and ended up dumping both.
Taste like good quality fruit worked a little too hard before reaching bottle. Pretty texture, nice fruit, just a touch of heat. Some slightly stewed notes showed especially on day two along with a little chared bacon. A little Rhone like.
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Couldn't take detailed notes, but there seemed to be a tad too much oak throwing this out of balance. The wine is very round with a nice balance of earth and red fruit. To me, this seems to have plenty of time left.
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From looking over my previous notes, I see that this wine just isn't coming together. After 6 years from vintage I'm going to stop making excuses for it, like the parent of a substance abusing child (these are problems our friends face, fortunately not us), and come to the realization that this wine is just not going to live up to the potential that I thought it would be.
Opened not decanted. Light and sweet blackberry juice on the nose. On the entry: sweet black and dark fruit with touches of charred oak; a pleasant but watery mid palate and ends with a drying dark concord / black cherry finish. Still tastes narrow and constricted. Also worrisome that the oak is coming through and the fruit is not showing more. Drink up or sell. Good to Good +.
Nice wine but there are better options for the money. If you are looking for the classic big rich full forward Sea Smoke style, spend the extra for the Ten.
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Not flawed (no TCA) but not up to snuff. Like the "Ten" last week, it tasted cooked, though not so badly. There was some fruit in the nose and on the palate, but it was not a good much less a great wine. Winery suggests problem may have been the Fedex ground shipment in mid-November of 2009 rather than the wine itself, and I have no reason to doubt it, maybe it's the victim of a truckdriver who let his load heat up somewhere. But I haven't had this problem with other wines shipped from California, e.g. from DuMol. I have a feeling that my experience is the same as other tasters who gave this wine a 90 out of respect for the label.
I'll have to go along with Brian's comments below. I had 2 bottles over the holidays and for the price, expectation, and memories of great Seasmoke, this was disappointing. Fruit has faded, not well integrated, or anything else going on. Makes me glad I cancelled my allocation 2yrs ago. There are so many better Pinots out there for less money, like Foxen, right next door. Others must feel the same since it is available at the local store.
Cherry, strawberry, forest floor, pretty standard Pinot aromas. Red fruit on the palate, nice acidity but quite tart, a little hot on the backend but otherwise good balance. Not as good as the Ten I had last year.
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The 6th and last bottle. Consumed them over the course of 6 years, and the best notes were in 2010 and 2011. I think the fruit is starting to fade here, and this is in decline. The fruit is more subdued and the finish seems much shorter. Not much excitement left.
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Typical Sea Smoke style, big and rich. Tannins still prominent, and somewhat closed down. Lots of potential, this could be great with more cellar time.
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I have to concur with Nutty08. The acidity was unbalanced and the wine died on the mid-palate. Will try again this morning after letting it rest over night, but I'm not expecting a lot of improvement on this wine. The 07 Ten is a much better wine.
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This 07 Southing is why I love Sea Smoke-! This seemed like the perfect time to drink the 07 vintage, as the raspberry and cherry flavors were matched nicely with the ideal balance of soft tannins. Actually a creamy, lush feel and no heat after we let it open for about 30 minutes. I wouldn't, however, let much more time go by to drink the 07's. It might be getting close to going past its prime, if you wait too much longer. A very nice bottle last night with Oso Bucco.
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This is a weird bottle of Cali pinot. Nose shows some super ripe red fruits with raspberry dominating. Palate is an odd mix of ripe red fruits, vibrant acidity (with a cherry pit character), but is somehow watery and unexpressive. Over acidified? Finishes rather quickly, simple and sour. This is a perplexing wine, not especially enjoyable now and I'm not really sure time will help, but hopefully it will gain some weight and become more open. Terrible value given the price.
What a transformation since 9 months ago, a classic Sea Smoke! Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, indian spice, and cedar with delicious tannins and acidity on a tasty finish. Two bottles with consistent notes.
Decanted for 2 hours before Thanksgiving dinner. Big red fruits of rasberry, bing cherries, and cassis up front. Contrasted and provided balance with the tobacco, leather, and lively acidity in the mouth and finish. Very new age and bright Pinot. Earthiness not as apparent as other Pinot's from similar regions. The acidity was more apparent than I expected which contributed to its complexity but I think the up-front fruit can't compete much longer. Probably at its prime right now and trending downhill. Still very good though.
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About as a good abottle of Domestic Pinot Noir as I can remember having. I'm not sure if the wine will improve from where it's at now, but it also doesn't seem to be heading down hill.
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Good. Very disjointed. Ripe red fruit and acid profile was not integrated with the oak component. Hints of lead and cedar present as well with the oak. Heat on the finish. This was nothing like my previous bottle 18 months ago. I can't tell whether it needs time or has had too much.
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Opened this 1+ hrs before, then decanted, then decanted again. It just didn't open. Before and after decanting, there was light notes of red fruit, black fruit and lots of alcohol on the nose. No complexity other than that. It would be an OK $15 wine. I have 1 more bottle, and am not sure whether to drink now to get rid of it, or to cellar it for a few more years and see what happens. I'm thinking the former.
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Opened 90 minutes prior to consumption. Another excellent bottle - bright cherry cola with smoky herbs. Some secondary complexity with hints of licorice and darker fruit. No getting the bottle variation others have experienced, but not sure on the QPR. If scoring, 91-93.
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A little disappointing. A lot of alcohol in the nose to begin. Flavors weren't particularly well integrated. Maybe this Sea Smoke vintage really is as inconsistent as others have said. We'll see ... have several more bottles in the wine cabinet.
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Compared to other bottles this seemed youngish. Nose of black cherry, cola, tea, mushroom, cranberry. On the palate, black cherry, sour cherry, rhubarb, spice, earth. Finishes very tart with nice sappiness. Drink or hold, this seems to have some years left.
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Open, but not decanted, for an hour. Tasted over the next 2 hours. Palate was tight but had tart cherry and some spice. Certainly not anything special.
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Juicy, berries, smokey, balanced with just enough restraint. Very nice offering from California's Grand Cru Winery (their words, not mine.....).
I understand all the agida from other frustrated drinkers who pay a lot for this Pinot and expect the base ball bat to the head attack that big name Cali producers are famous for, but perhaps, just perhaps these guys are actually serious about being a true Grand Cru, instead of another Punch you in the face Pinot provider?
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I am a Sea Smoke fan, and I am simply not impressed with this bottle. Very muted nose, with a flat and dull palate with very little acidity. Just not a whole lot going on here. Hopefully, it will improve with more air.
big let down here. flat, not much on the nose. maybe too long in the cooler, maybe not a wine that should have aged. either way it was a dud until about 2 hrs later when it became a decent pinot, but at that point why bother with it anymore.
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I owe this wine an apology. This bottle tasted like high class pinot. Nose of red fruit, vanilla and some alcohol, which blew off with swirling. Berries, some oak and acidity on the palate with a long finish. The bottle variation is shocking. The last was almost undrinkable and others have had the same experience. This bottle was just fine--kind of why I chased the list and bought what I could. Four left--drink or wait?
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DC Offline (Cedar, Washington, DC): A ripe, rich style with dark cherry and blackberry fruit with fairly low acidity that was a little sour and unbalanced on the finish, hurting the overall impression and score.
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I opened this with some trepidation because the CT reviews have been mixed--for good reason. The nose is less than special--no amount of swirling brings out any fruit to speak of--alcohol predominates. However, on the palate there is a modicum of sweet fruit but still alcohol. I am saving the second half of the bottle until tomorrow in the hope it will improve with time.
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Reeks of Santa Rita Hills. Shows oak on the palate where I noticed none on the nose but not overtly. Just enough to know it's there. Plenty of fruit as well but leaner than previous vintages. Still not shy though. Probably in a good drinking window.
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Nice nose with berries and some menthol or eucalyptus to add some mystery. Nose came across as alcoholic however, almost like spirits, to where I didn't want to nose deeply into the glass to avoid the burn. On the palate, deep fruit flavors that were marred by a bitter note on the finish. In its favor, not as cloying as some SS, but the finish made me scratch my head. My impression - ok wine, but for me not great value; I haven't purchased for the last couple vintages and I think I'm done with this wine for good.
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Held off on opening one b/c of notes here on CT. Glad I waited. This was beautiful. A little thin when opened but with a couple hours of air it really opened up and was great.
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My third bottle of this and almost a year since last one. Well worth the wait. Drinking beautifully right now. Gorgeous color, still wonderful nose of dark fruit (blackberry/blueberry), tannins have mellowed and a very nice finish. Not sure this can get better, but still have a few bottles to go. '07 and '08 area an excellent start for new winemaker here.
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Hints of depth and complexity on the nose and on the initial attack but failed to sustain. Time didn't help over next couple of hours. Hard to tell if the wine was simply closed or if Sea Smoke just missed it with this one. Will try again in 9 mos to a year. A decent to good Pinot, but not what I've come to expect from Sea Smoke.
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What a shame. This wine has fallen apart. This is my second subpar bottle. Bitter, disjointed. If it weren't Sea Smoke and I didn't know better I wouldn't be so bummed.
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Great stuff, but probably needs a few more years to really blossom. Reserved scents of raspberry and sandalwood. Well balanced with supporting acidity and ample but refined tannins paired to ripe and juicy flavors of red raspberry and wild cherry. Still very primary, but showing lots of promise. Great mouthfeel.
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Another disappointment, from a winery and vintage that I've historically loved. Neither pretty nor big. Did somebody switch the label on me?!? I want the wine the rest of you seem to have gotten here!
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Very nice. Opened two hours prior to consumption. Nose of cherries and raspberries. Cherry vanilla cola on the palate with enough spice to keep it interesting. Well integrated. Is scoring 91-92.
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Nose of sour cherry, black cherry, cola, cranberry, rhubard, spice, black raspberry. On the palate black cherry, black raspberry, pie cherry, rhubarb, cola, spice, vanilla. Nice transition to a sappy tart finish with a bit of grip. Drink over the next few years.
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Drank for K's birthday dinner with take-out from Panache. Definition of consistent quality (for our tastes.) Elegant with enough power to keep things interesting. Beautiful wine.
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This Pinot was better than my first SS 07 but I just don't get the hype. Average Pinot Noir, at best, for a price that is double what it should be. I dropped off the list, after I tried my first bottle of 07, and this re-confirmed my stance. I have 3 SS '08 to go through and then I could care less if I ever have this over hyped wine again.
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I'm really not having good luck with high ticket Cali bottles over the past couple days. This is hot, disjointed, thin. Lacking fruit, heavy on tannin. Not even close to previous SS glory. Perhaps in a close-down state but more likely an off bottle.
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Nice spice, raspberry, strawberry nose and flavors. Medium to full body and longish finish. Has not developed much complexity but is much more integrated than last year. Certainly not bad but I was hoping for more.
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Clear, dark garnet. The nose is all spicy red and black fruit. Full bodied and a bit jammy. Raspberry and strawberry preserves. Decent acidity keeps it from going dull, but this is singing one single note and won't be adding more to the repertoire anytime soon. Slightly hot, but expressive and long finish.
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Nose of black cherry, black raspberry, cranberry, spice, On the palate, black cherry, sour cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, cola, spice. Nice transition to a good finish with tart acidity and fine grained tannins.
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Seems to need a serious decant to coax out the fruit over the oak. Did not enjoy this one nearly as much as the last bottle, mainly because the primary fruits seems to overwhelmed by the oakiness. Saved about half the bottle and let it slow-ox overnight. Second day, the alcohol and oak seemed to be better integrated and cherry flavors intermixed with spices emerged. Definite improvement, but still lacked the secondary nuances I noticed last time.
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A true knock out and it proves to me why I continue to be a faithful wine list member, buying each year whatever I can afford (or what my wife allows me to cellar). If you like an elegant, rich but burgundian style wine at a fraction of the price then go for it. I will add that this one is still a bit young but with phenomenal potential.
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Hmm. Not nearly as nice a wine as the bottle enjoyed a little over a year ago. This was missing that really huge spice component on the nose that the previous bottle displayed. The alcohol seems to have shied away however and finished with a touch of a green ending. Just an ok bottle not worth all the hype and tarriff in my book.
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At 14.5% alcohol, this was a real monster. We've had Australian Shiraz at lower levels than this! Knowing this, it was paired with simple grilled beef tenderloin and oven roasted potatoes. It was a typical California bottle: Perfectly made, beautiful package, and almost no soul. Maybe some age will mellow these bottles out, but age won't reduce the alcohol, will it?
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Opened approximately 45 minutes prior to consumption. Fragrant nose of cherries and flowers. Smells wonderful. More cherries on the palate with smoky oak, spice and raspberries. Smooth finish that lasts a good while. Aging well and drinking nicely now.
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Fell short of the expectations, but showed well at Devine dinner. Nose had nice ripe berry notes, oak, and vanilla. Heavy pinot with silky texture. The oak was prominent all dinner, would have liked to try on day 2 for it to really open up.
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NY/NJ WLTV Offline (Fonda Del Sol, NYC): Medium intensity ruby color. Slightly served nose with notes of cherry cola, oak and baking spice. Weighty mouthfeel with medium high fine tannin, medium high acid and a medium long finish.
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I opened this to see if this was a bottle I would like to acquire more of. P&P and followed over 24 hrs. Initial pour showed nothing but oak and heat. Did not like this at all on the first night. Gave up after 3 hrs and let it rest. Re-visited on day two. Much, much better. Oak very faint now, fruit to the forefront. Still not much on the nose, but palate of mixed red berries, nice acidity. This is good...but not great. Got this bottle at a great price and would only purchase again at the same great price. Would not buy at release price.
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This was served at an offline on Sunday. Disclosure: I'm still feeling the effects of a nasty summer cold (week 3) which has really impacted my sense of smell and somewhat dulled my sense of taste. Great blackberry fruit with a bit of sweetness, but still showing a restrained, angular finish. This is my second tasting of this this year and I think it is going through a dumb phase. Note to self: wait another year before popping a bottle. Good+ right now.
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This is a full bodied California Pinot Noir. Dark fruit, earthy undertones and floral notes with a fairly aggressive midpalate of cassis. Soft tannins and white pepper on the med finish. I always like Sea Smoke, but today I found the floral aromas and flavors to almost be off-putting. However, I still enjoyed this bottle of wine very much.
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Opened not decanted. Did not need much air time, but then again it did not show as well as I remember of other vintages. Big and muscular, definitely the free weight (gym rats with get the reference) style of Pinot. Blackberry fruit with a bit of sweetness, but still showing a restrained, angular abd somewhat short finish. Good.
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This was absolutely dynamite. Huge, soaring nose. Big on the palate but perfectly balanced. Great fruit and a crunchy, earthy pinot funk on the palate. Finishes with a velvety texture. WOTN.
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Drank at Guy's 60th at 32 East in magnum. Raspberry, cranberry and sweet pomegranate. Medium body and fun to drink. I am not sure if this is a long term ager and may drink these up in the next few years.
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Cannot believe it has already been a year since I have opened one of these. Really maturing nicely. The sour cherry fruit has mellowed out and really just leaves beautiful cherry and smoke on the palate that makes you want to pour another glass. Two left, but how long to wait to finish them off? This is drinking well right now.
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Decanted for an hour prior to drinking. Such an amazing texture to this wine. The alcohol troubles I noticed a few years ago are long gone as the balance here is now just about perfect. Fruit is maturing, but still quite fresh with some cherry cola and smoke out of the finish. Really excellent stuff that should continue to get better.
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Decanted through a Vinturi and let rest for 1 hour. Probably the best showing for this wine so far. Same profile as before with maybe an added cola note in there as well. Great bottle.
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Sour cherry, good acidity and moderately long finish. Tannins still a bit drying. Decanting helped a bit, (but mostly all gone by the time it was more approachable) Will not touch again for at least 2 years. I find these Seasmiokes need at least 5 yeras from bottling to maximally. A bit too soon on this one (I hope)
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Decanted one hour. Similar to the 2006 and much better than the 2005. Beautiful color and nose. Nice balanced wine - good fruit, acidity, and mouthfeel, with a long finish. Kept improving over the next couple of hours. Went perfectly with cedar-planked, Copper River salmon.
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Intensity and, for the most part, balance were the story here. Not particularly noteworthy in terms of flavor and expression, but extremely well-made for its style. Was drinking great on the second day, too.
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Very well polished pinot noir with a nose of Black Cherry Liquer, Plums, Ripe Strawberry and Vanillin. Palate is silky, with nice middle weight that is backed up with deeply concetrated fruit. Oak does show a bit heavy in the midpalate. Finish is well polished with a touch of heat here and there but dark red fruits abound and a nice asian spice character shows up. Pinot in a very new world style that is not for everyone.
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This was a very good Pinot Noir, however I was let down in relation to the reputation this winemaker has. There are many better Pinots at a lower cost.
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Bright red with a nose of cedar, spice, cherries, decanted for an hour. Nicely knit Southing with typical cola, red fruit profile. Enjoyable but still a little young.
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I got my shipment of Sea Smoke 2007 about 18 months ago. The first bottle I tasted was interesting but needed more time. Opened the second bottle last night and it was awesome. Many people have criticized this vintage perhaps due in part to the change in winemakers. I believe the criticism is unjustified. There was beautiful dark fruit, complexity and wow what a finish. For me this vintage has exceeded both my 2006 and 2005 Southings. The 2004 is still my favorite but all of them are first rate pinots. Can't wait for my next bottle.
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It has potential, but needs more bottle age. Even w/ two hours of decanting, and drinking over two more, it was too tight to really enjoy. The combination of relatively high acidity and a sour cherry streak overwhelm the rest of the fruit profile. Decanting longer *might* bring things into balance, but I suspect it would still be overly bright on the palate.
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Bright red color. Cherry, spring flowers & raspberry aroma. A mouth full of cherry, raspberry, & smokey spices on the palate with crisp acidity & a slightly tart hint of cinnamon near the end of a long finish.
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Striking Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir that looks as good in the glass as it tastes in the mouth. Focused blackcherry abounds, with hints of smoke and wild berry, layered with coffee. A youngster, but radiant and shows a great deal of promise. Medium weight, with enticing color and floral nose. A waxy edge developed in the second day which did subtract for this wine. Detailed, long finish revealing dark chocolate and spice. Drink now through 2014. Lisa's 50th birthday - Newbury Park.
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Decanted for three hours in the cellar and tasted over two hours. Decent nose of red fruit and spice. Cali red fruit candy, Cola, and oak on the palate. Heat creaps up on the finish. Short finish. Not very interesting and flat.
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Nice nose of cherries and cola. The palate is full bodied with creaminess to it. Ripe cherries but tight and holding back. Solid acidity and long finish with some tannins. Like it but will like it better in a few years.
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Pretty similar to my note from a few months ago. Well made wine and enjoyable. Not sure why, but there just seems to be an element of 'manufactured wine" about this that does not help its case.
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Pretty nose of cherry cola, dark fruit and some earthy, brambly undertones. This is a med to full bodied PN with the dark fruit dominating on the palate. Some leather, damp earthy notes and dusty tannins on the 40 second finish. Today this had a more Burgundian flare than Sea Smoke usually has for me. Double decanted and needed several hours to open.
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Opened not decanted. Currently at the 1.5 hour mark. Still tight with tart red cherry fruit. Ends with a dry and spicy abd ever so slightly sweet blackberry finish. Good. Will put a cork in and finish it off tomorrow.
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Checking in to see where this wine is going. Basically unchanged from last tasting almost a year ago. Nose of black cherry, red raspberry, cranberry, spice, On the palate, black cherry, pie cherry, rhubarg spice. Finished with tart acidity and fine grained tannins. Needs some more time to develop that sappy mid-palate that I love in good Pinot. Check in again in one year.
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Menthol and some mint on the nose with nice minerality. Still very young. Guess was Central Coast. Fruit is muted but balance. Cherry flavors but a bit tart/sour. Opened up as night went on and I raised my rating from 89 to 93. Lesson - decant this one for a few hours or wait a few more years.
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Probably still a bit young. Took to a party with Chris and therefore had no opportunity to decant. It was a bit austere at first but started to show its stuff- unfortunately gone prior to reaching the best drinking point. Bright red cherry, some herbs and minerals lurking underneath. Silky mouthfeel and oak undertones. I will definitely hold my remaining bottle an additional year or two or at least decant longer if I can't keep my hands off it.
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Outstanding bottle of Pinot. Decanted for 2 hours. Had alongside the 2008. The aromas of cherry and blackberry jumped from the decanter. A masculine wine with velvety tannin and big flavors. Reflected the vintage (2007). Big fruit on the palate: dark cherry and blackberry with herbs, anise and cola notes. Nice balance. Needs time but really enjoyed this.
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94-95 pts. I don't understand the severity of the scores on this wine. It was really a beautiful bottle. Color was really nice and had the brightness of wine still on its youthful side. We decanted for an hour and a half and enjoyed over two. It just kept getting better and in the future will decant at least two. Aromatics were subtle but had notes of raspberry and cherry, a breadlike yeastiness that I find very warm and pleasant, and a touch of pepper. On the palate I found everything harmonious from restrained fruitiness to earth and spice, the slightest bit of cola. I found it well balanced. Had with duck confit, cauliflower soup with white truffle oil, garlic whipped potatoes and portobello mushrooms a la Julia Child. Would definitely go back for this.
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To me, it is clear that the 07 vintage represents a stylistic change by the new winemaker. The acidity on these is so high that I wonder if is was not put through malo. Decanted for 5 hours, returned to bottle for 2 more and it never came close to opening up. Had a bit of raspberry and cherry on the palate. I'm guessing that many will disagree with me, but as of the 09 vintage I am done. Someone else can have my "c2" spot on the list :-)
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Second time I've had this in just over a week. Almost the same exact notes as before. Oaky at first, but left in the decanter and when I returned it was just wonderful. Got pretty much the same thing I did on 12/31, although this time there was a great cranberry element to the taste. Other than that both bottles were very similar.
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Decanted for two hours upon advice from other CT notes. Great decision. Upon opening up for this long, it went from very average to above average, especially in the nose which shows warm brown sugar, raspberries, and strawberry pie. Mouthfeel is round and chewy for a pinot. A little grippy which I now understand other notes seeking a few more bottle years. A little tart too, not sweet at all on pallet. The finish is 30 seconds plus. This is my 6th and by far best showing of this wine.
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– decanted immediately before tasting – – tasted non-blind over a couple hours –
NOSE: initially, this was a bit alcoholic and nothing-but-oak on the Nose ---- I left it alone in the decanter, and came back to it an hour or hour and a half later. This wine seriously turned a corner for the better in that decanter: when I came back to it 60 - 90 minutes after decanting, lots (but not all) of the oak had fallen to the background, and a pleasantly seductive cranberry and cherry wash had forced its way to the forefront; some more time in the glass brought more ripe red berry aromas and spice.
BODY: raspberry color of medium depth; clear; medium bodied.
TASTE: initially, good acidity, but nothing but oak flavors showing ---- when I came back to it, the oak was less prominent, allowing the ripe red berry flavors through; palate is full; well-balanced between acid and tannin; ripe, and carries its alcohol well. Overall, this was a wine of two faces: upon opening, it was an oak monster; after aerating in decanter, it was much better. Needs more time in the cellar; hold ‘till 2013.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91
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Well...this turned out to be a fantastic bottle of wine. Grafstrb brought this over for NYE and when we first had it, we both got mostly Oak, although he seemed to get more of it than I did. Left it in the decanter for a while and came back to it. Wow, what a difference. Black Cherries, raspberries and some cedar on the nose. Medium bodied, juicy wine with the black cherries absolutely shining on the palate with an underlying bit of mocha (oak.) Finish was long and beautiful with everything in balance. I can't wait to see what this tastes like a few years down the road.
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Nice offering from Seasmoke. Bright red fruit and terroir on the nose. Strawberries or maybe raspberries and earth on the palate. Some really tasty juice.
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Another strong showing from Sea Smoke, though not as popular as either the DuMOL or Rochioli Pinot Noirs opened for the same party. Black fruit on the nose and the palate. Decanted, but drank right away. Might want to see how the wine develops with a bit more decanting time.
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This was a pleasant surprise, better than most Sea Smoke's I have had in the last couple years. Nice nose and palate of red fruits, some floral components and spices. Young, but pretty well balanced. Enjoyable to sip on with company.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Beautiful floral nose with red fruit and rose. On the palate sour cherries, mineral and flowers. A tad bit hot at first, but balalnced up nicely. Looking forward to my next bottle.
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Sea Smoke is what got me started on Pinot Noir. Have had every vintage since '04. Seems like the new winemaker maybe changed the style a bit. In any event, this Pinot needs more time. Have enough bottles to try one every 6 months or so and see how it evolves.
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As good as advertised. A pleasant nose and beautiful pale red in the glass. Lots of sweet fruit on the palette. Extremely smooth and a long and tasty finish. Did not disappoint.
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Both complex and elegant with dried and fresh flowers on the nose with blueberiies and a hint of guava. Voluptuous mouthfeel and very fine tannins on the palate with cherry cola and red raspberry. Could benefit from some additional time to fully come together but the 40 minute decant provided the full perspective of what this bottle held. Seamless and wonderful delivery.
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Nose of caramel, black cherry and some subtle herbal notes. Soft, feminine flavors of cherry cola, red rasberry, a hint of licorice and abit of white pepper. This was fairly closed on opening but open dramatically after about 2 hours in the decanter.
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This held up well over the course of a leisurely dinner (probably 2 hours), and is still young. Very well-balanced and flavorful without being a proverbial "fruit bomb".
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Better than the last time I had this wine. Still need a couple more years, but is drinking well now. Would love to see how it improves with a few more years in the bottle.
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My first Sea Smoke. I was initally concerned that this would be an over the top CA Pinot, but found this to be quite balanced. Could have decanted a bit longer, and I agree with other notes that say this could use some more time, but this was delicious.
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Another check-in on the 07 Southing. Decanted about 3 hours this time, which isn't really enough to completely open the wine up to it's full potential but it does start to poke through nicely. Pretty much the same as the bottles previously opened and noted on last summer and last fall. Continue to hold if you can. For those reading this note who didn't get the 08s, in my opinion they are far superior to the 07s and 06s.
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A very solid wine. Sour cherry and raspberry flavor. Some slight acidity made me feel like this was a bit young. Delicate and not heavily extracted which was a pleasant surprise. This was my first Sea Smoke and it did not disappoint. I'll probably sit on my other bottle of this for a few more years.
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This wine was great. Decanted just a few minutes before drinking and it was everything we expect from a California Pinot. Big fruit, but not overly extracted. Bright cherry and raspberry flavors, some oak, nice long finish. The first taste had a bit of heat that dissipated as the wine opened up. Glad I have five more.
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Ok, so now I might be a little disappointed I didn't re-up for my 2008's. This was way better than I was expecting based on what I've seen and read. Nice nose of bing cherries and a great spice not on the nose. A little bit of unresolved alcohol on the nose and finish but overall drinking really well for a wine that typically needs years in bottle to flesh out a bit. Much better than a recent 05.
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This was excellent, but...it was a little too "hot" and austere for me to give it a higher score. I really did enjoy it, but I expected it to blow me away but it did not. Will "hold" my remaining 2 bottles.
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This was opened with a glass poured, and then recorked. Did not get back to it until the third day, when it was absolutely excellent. Nose of flinty black cherry, with flowers, wet rocks, hard candy, and a hint of cola. Palate offers tart cherry and black cherry, with notes of baking spice and minerals. Long finish. Superbly balanced, with no off notes at all. Still very young. Should improve.
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Taken to the Wood Tavern, Oakland. One glass poured the rest decanted over an hour. Initial attack of tart, sharp red cherry with a slightly sour and hot finish. Very tight and un-giving. Very slowly opened during our dinner and the last glass was the best with darker black cherry with round mouthfilling fruit with less heat. Needs 1 - 1 1/2 hours of decanting. Good to Very Good.
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Came home from a baseball game and Mrs. Coupe had popped this. Actually showed pretty well, dark cherry profile, a lot of fruit and a lot of acidity, still a little tannic..good effort, but would better with some more time I believe.
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Deep ruby color, nose of ripe red fruit and alcohol. The wine has big fruit up front with a lot of acidity. Still quite tannic and a somewhat sharp finish. A bit of alcohol as well. Good now but likely needs another 2-3 years to settle down a bit.
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Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stones, florals, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and a hint of bitters. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Hold. Not ready yet.
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While this needs more time in the bottle to fully blossom, it's potential shines though. The red cherry fruit is played perfectly - not overly sweet nor subdued that leads to cinnamon spice mid, hints of earth and fine tannins that give this wine a wonderful soft velvety mouth feel. Suggest this wine be held for 2 to 3 years to allow the earthy tones to develop and tannins subdue slightly.
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Bottle was drinkable from the time is was opened. Full of Cherry and cola. Smooth from start to the very finish. Velvety and lush for a Santa Rita Hills Pinot. Very nice wine.
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Good wine with lots of fruit but still very tannic at this stage. A bit heavy handed, so don't go looking for elegance here. Seems less stewed than the '06.
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Opened several hours before consuming. Dark, thick, and very polished. Finish was extraordinary. Notes were more earthy than most wines from this region. Don't be afraid to let this decant more than usually as I believe it really benefited from the additional time.
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Opened up to air about an hour to hour and a half, but not decanted. Drank over the next 2 - 3 hours. Black cherry, blackberry, boysenberry. A little sour cherry and toasted oak on the palate. Tannins are noticeable, but not too gritty. Medium length finish. Seems to be improving compared to the first bottle 3 months ago. Still something a little odd in the sourness on the palate.
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Took a while to open up. Didn't decant, but the last part of the bottle was much better than the first. will decant the remaining bottles I have. should get better with time.
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What's the big deal? Muted disparate flavors, some typical of Pinot, others more a bit like cabernet. OK nose, minimal presence on palette. Balance between fruit, tannins and acicity was good.
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Popped and poured. This was my first '07 SS. A much lighter-bodied effort from this producer- this for better or worse lacks a lot of the oak, sweetness, and extraction that they are known for. This definitely improved in the glass over time, and was a big hit with our tasting group. I am curious whether SS will continue this stylistic change- I like it- but this may not appeal to fans of "full throttle" PN.
Decided to check in with this to see where it is. Popped and poured. Nose of black cherry, red raspberry, cranberry, spice, On the palate, black cherry, pie cherry, spice, cinnamon. Finished with laser acidity and fine grained tannins with nice grip. This will be a winner. Drink or hold. This has a good life in front of it. Oustanding. OK Value.
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A more Burgundian offfering from Sea Smoke. No where near as much oak or richness as previous vintages. Has vibrant red berry fruit on top of a solid mineral backbone with a fair bit of acidity. Light on tannins that will allow for early drinking, but will certainly improve with age given the acidity. Enjoy!!!
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Drinks better young than previous vintages. As expected, not super complex but bright cherry and spice, floral nose with cherry and spice box. plenty of acid makes me excited for what this wine will.show in years to come
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Decanted for 2 hrs. Still very tightly wound. Loads of sour cherry though. A little one dimensional at this point, yet seems to have great potential. Will wait at least a year before opening another.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Open for four hours in the bottle. A seriously youthful though still accessible bottling. Classic culty California Pinot Noir nose of creamy cranberries, light cherries, curry spice and peat moss. Palate is full bodied showing more bright berries, white pepper and light earth. Finish is in harmony with nice acidity but not showing the overly flamboyant style of past vintages. In five years this will round out and show even better.
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Sweet tarragon, mint, black pepper nose. Not a lot on the front, big on the middle and large and tannic on the back with sour cherry with vanilla raspberry undertones. Really a wine I look forward to having in a couple more years when the rough edges smooth out.
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The nose had cherry and spice, some mushroom, and a little rose petal at the end. The palate had a load of sour cherry and forest floor. There was also some pepper, and it finished with some very good floral notes.
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$130 on the wine list at SeaStar Lake Union. (If retail is ~50, this was clearly a bit of a shaft.) Decanted for maybe 20 minutes, definitely needed more air, as it kept improving over the 60-90 minutes we drank it. Medium body, laser-beam strong red fruit flavors, very nicely balanced.
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Pop and poured over first course at Noir's on New Year's Eve.
First impression on tasting was the purity of the fruit - red berries. A more austere version than the Ten - just depends on your preference as which you may prefer. It does not have the depth or the spices associated w/ the Ten. Found the wine to be very well balanced.
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Popped and poured. Much softer style than previous vintages. Very low acidity. Nice balance of fruit from start to finish with cherry and rasberry. Light finish.
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Undrinkable. No clues in its appearance but the nose of prune, latex paint and burnt rubber leaves little doubt. Hopefully not a widespread problem. Will try another one in a few weeks.
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friend popped one of these for me tonight. Color was young pinot, dark ruby red. Nose of cranberry, rasberry, strawberry and slightly sour cherries. Same fruit notes as the nose, with a bit of a greenish quality that I hop will integrate with time. Nice solid finish with relatively round tannins. I think that this will be a youngish drink-em up, within 5 years. Will let my bottles rest for a year and re-address.
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Purchased off of restaurant wine list at $59 and triple splash decanted by the sommelier, and left to decant for 2 hours while we enjoyed a Rivers-Marie Old Vines Summa Vineyard pinot. First and foremost, before anyone can complain about the '07 Sea Smoke, you have to know that these wines require some bottle/cellar time before they truly start to show their stuff. I have said it once, and I'll say it again, we're just finishing '04's from our cellar that I drinking fabulously right now, but even those will hold up another 5 plus years. Haven't even gotten around to thinking about popping '05's yet, let alone 06's and '07's. I think the 07's will come around sometime around '15 at the earliest to my tastes, but that is me, and I like them with some age on them. From the decanter to glass, great color, with a ton of cherry, strawberry, cola, butterscotch, some baking spice, and Santa Rita Hills soil on the nose. There is something so distinct about SRH pinot to me, but I can't quite put my finger on it. On the palate, plenty of dark fruits: black cherry, blackberry, and maybe a hint of blueberry. Still some acidity and tannin as the 2 hour decant wasn't long enough, leaving a little heat on the finish, but really, what can you possibly expect? Anyone who knows Sea Smoke knows to hold these, unless you were allocated a few and don't mind the infantcide. At this price off a restaurant list, I'd order it again in a heartbeat so that my cellar stash is safe. No rating now as this shows nowhere near it's potential, that I am guessing will be 91-93 with some bottle time. Cheers!
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Had this one at the Epic Roasthouse in SF. Very strong vegetal notes on the notes and some wild cherry. Surprisingly thin and lean on the palate. This bottle was not corked, but must have been flawed in some way. It did tend to blow off a bit with air, but still very disappointing.
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Good juice. Popped and poured. Very good at this point. Got better as the night went on. Every sip was smooth. Cherry cola and ripe berries. Nose is pretty - not overbearing. Very approachable bottle of pinot noir. Sea Smoke has done it again.
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nose- light smoke. mouth - delicious red fruit, tasted side by side other pinots blinded, i found it a touch bitter on the finish which i attributed to slight over extraction. Dry tannins and good minearality. Possibly will do well with bottle age.
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Showing better balance than I expected. Fruit wasn't fleshy, overly ripe and huge actually coming off as on the leaner side. Identifiable as Santa Rita Hills on the nose showing a similar note to Sonoma Coast Pinots. Somewhat tight over all but promising.
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This is still really young but the bright cherry, nutmeg and tobacco smoke will integrate and mellow over time. I say, don't touch the other bottles again until late 2011.
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Tart cherries through and through. Was initially so tight it practically had no taste - consistent with others opinions, lay this one down for a minimum of a year before drinking and be sure to decant. Beautiful Pinot!
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Clear, deep ruby red. Clean aromas of cherry, vanilla, some black fruits. Medium acidity, soft tannins, medium finish. Flavors match aromas with tart cherry and earthy herbal finish. Hold for 2-3 years. Very nice with room to improve once things come together.
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Decanted for 24 hours this time and that seems to have nicely unlocked this beast. Shows nice big cherry scents with some spicy oak. Flavors have really melded together well on the palate and the overall texture has taken on an elegant smoothness that I wasn't expecting. Medium to full bodied with voluptuous fruit flavors and a great finish. Certainly lives up to the potential I was expecting from my previous note but also tells me that if you want to pop and pour this baby, wait for about 5 or 6 years.
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This is the second time that I have had this wine, and yes, I am killing babies here, but of all of the Sea Smoke that I have had, this is by far the vintage most in need of a long aging period. Once you can get past the imbalance with the 14.5% ABV, and the pretty intense candied fruits, there are some amazing flavors of dusty and damp earth, deep dark berries, all spice and mint. I am thinking that this wine will be absolutely dynamite in about 10 years when the glycerine and alcohol integrate. For me, this is unfortunate because I typically enjoy Sea Smoke in the short term, but these will have to be hidden away. This just won't show well without some serious bottle time, IMO.
Day 2 - It has certainly softened and and smoothed out. Completely silky smooth texture. Similar flavor profile as yesterday with the sweet spices, damp earth, black berries and black cherries. I am still struggling with the alcohol balance here. I sure hope this dies down with time or this will be a bit of a disappointment from a producer that I love in what was said to be a great vintage for Central CA pinot. 92 for it's potential, but fingers are crossed.
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I just had to get a sneak peak at the 07 Southing to see what we have in store for the future. Decanted this for about 4 hours. This doesn't appear to be quite as "big" as the previous vintages I've had in the past. The label shows only 0.2% less alcohol compared to the 06 and 05, which both list 14.7%. Shows nice black cherries on the palate, but is a little tannic and backwards. Extremely young and primary right now but there is really a lot going on and I think that given enough time, this will really become something quite nice. 92 based on potential.
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Opened w/o decanting. Compared to 2004-2006, perhaps the most backward, ungiving Southing I've ever had at this early age. Most enjoyable on the 2nd day, when the aromas and concentrated flavors seemed to come together. It'll be a good one, but it needs time to integrate.
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4/2/2022 - vinolovers wrote: 87 Points
Clean cork with a nice cherry red color. A burst of red fruit on the nose which faded quickly. Very thin on the finish.
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10/23/2021 - ARiverofPisoni Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needed an hour of decanting
Past it’s peak but was enjoyable once it opened up.
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7/14/2021 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still going strong - needs about an hour in the decanter to deepen, build some mouthfeel and add secondary flavors. Not a blockbuster but strikes a good balance of flavor and lightness to be suave for a Central Coast pinot, even at 14 years old.
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7/2/2021 - Ghoulardi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Seems to be holding together fine, but it’s a bit primary and one dimensional for my tastes.
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4/19/2021 - davudvl Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious
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3/13/2021 - NY Wino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking nicely
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1/14/2021 - wynlvr wrote: 92 Points
PJHR says it perfectly with the note of: "Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, forest floor, and cedar with delicious resolving tannins and tasty acidity on a long finish."
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10/4/2020 - Callybrian Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very light nose that only reveals some earthiness. Bold berry taste with an undertone of earthiness. Finish hits with alcohol. Not bad at all.
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8/20/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Found this buried in the cellar! Maturing gracefully since my last bottle 5 years ago. Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, forest floor, and cedar with delicious resolving tannins and tasty acidity on a long finish.
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8/13/2020 - PVJC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Kept longer than planned, but good move, wine drinking well & much better than the last bottle we had in 2013
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3/30/2020 - tfesmgk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Time did this wine well. Definite improvement. Darker, longer, richer. Finish of dark cherry & wood.
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12/23/2019 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Getting more serious and darker fruited with age. More tannins than last bottle and more body but definitely not heavy. Can see the transition from the earlier vintages which were almost syrah like to the lighter style of the past 8 years. Some light spice.
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6/19/2019 - grafstrb wrote:
-- decanted immediately before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 – 3 hours --
NOSE: high-toned (perhaps some lift from the alcohol); mostly red-fruited (ripe red berries), veering just a bit towards the purple fruit spectrum.
BODY: garnet-ruby color of medium depth with slight bricking throughout; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: a bit oakier than I'd prefer, but it's not ruined; medium acidity; not tannic; a touch alcoholic (14.5% labelled); ripe; big, but not comically huge; perhaps drying out now, so drink up; not funky. Drink Now. gut impression score: 90 – 91.
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2/23/2019 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Subsequent notes on this wine from over four years ago. Deep, rich, dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & aromatic nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones earthy & smoky notes, some floral notes, dried herbs, minerals, spices, anise & a hint of oak/vanilla. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, rich, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & blueberries with spices, cola, earthy, herbs, minerals & some toasty oak/vanilla. Smooth lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but at 12 years of age is at or near its peak of development, so drink up!
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11/6/2018 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 91 Points
Took a 1.5L to Bouchon tonight to share with friends. The well stored bottle still tasted fresh and showed plenty of fruit still. A nice beverage, held back a bit by a little extra ripeness/alcohol. Tasty nonetheless and no where near over the hill from the magnum.
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3/4/2018 - Blake Brown wrote:
2007 SEA SMOKE SOUTHING STA. RITA HILLS PINOT NOIR- a gracious 14.5% abv; it had a deep dark purple colour befitting it youthfulness; the nose gave intense ripe black fruit and the taste had jammy black cherry, plum and blackberry; this and many of the other wines would have benefitted from being decanted.
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12/17/2017 - sbwino Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ready to drink
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12/9/2017 - TheFoodieTraveler Likes this wine: 89 Points
Better than some recent tasting notes IMHO, but Drink up
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12/2/2017 - fishncanuck wrote: 81 Points
Seems past its prime (agree with most recent note). Noticeable alcohol, a mild tartness/bitterness follows prevalent tannin. No fruit to combat all the rest. I have another bottle, will revisit notes when I drink that one (will be soon given this one). Day 2 notes = Day one notes.
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6/2/2017 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 90 Points
High alcohol content. It was passed it's prime as the fruit seemed have died
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5/29/2017 - ARiverofPisoni Likes this wine: 89 Points
On the downside... still enjoyable, but I should have consumed this one earlier.
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4/22/2017 - Miamidivorcelawyer Likes this wine: 97 Points
An absolute winner! Huge in structure and body with a surprising slightly burgundy profile than expected, still no doubt it was a California wine.
Lush big waves of ripe strawberries and flowers with the structure to carry all the complex undertones of violets, spice and dried stone fruit.
Plenty of tannin left and I think it still has several years before it may be on the decline.
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3/18/2017 - Vinyljunkee Likes this wine: 89 Points
Consumed with a group of friends on St. Patty's Day (how does that make sense?). A crowd pleaser but I love this wine much earlier in it's maturation. My last bottle. Drink up if you have any!
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2/18/2017 - ARiverofPisoni Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened for 30 minutes... definitely on the downside.. enjoyable, but definitely lacked the vibrancy of its youth. Going to grab the other 2 I have left and drink soon.. and hope the 1.5L is showing better.
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12/29/2016 - judgepalmer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really takes awhile to open up but it's worth the wait. Intense red fruit and spice with bracing acidity. A hair heavy on the oak for me but I'm nitpicking - overall I'm very impressed with this bottle.
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12/8/2016 - t.c.green Likes this wine: 90 Points
understated with a long aftertaste, balanced well with king salmon
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11/25/2016 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind.
Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of briar patch, black raspberries and black cherries. Flavors of Bing cherries, black berries and a hint of earthiness. Medium acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink now.
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11/24/2016 - brigcampbell wrote:
Make simple, just copy the note previously. This wine is not aging well, on the down hill slippery slope.
Extremely dark looking like a SRH Syrah. This is a very ripe and concentrated wine, too ripe for me, as the aromas and flavors are dominated by dark plum pushing towards prune. A little cherry lingers around but it's surrounded by a heavy handed oak treatment. Medium firm tannins.
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9/5/2016 - pmarlo wrote: 92 Points
the best showing of this wine yet. Quit there, infiltrated cork about one third, but still solid. Softened a bit bit very nice.
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8/27/2016 - ARiverofPisoni Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still a nice bottle of wine, but a little off its peak.
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8/21/2016 - rmgroves wrote: 94 Points
Great Pinot at its peak
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7/27/2016 - discoverwine wrote:
Past its prime now.
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6/5/2016 - MLwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine has gotten much better over the past couple of years. Alcohol has integrated more fully. Much more balanced. A really enjoyable wine.
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5/28/2016 - kgh wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking well, dark cherry fruit, some earth tones, and lovely finish. Smooth on the palate with integrated tannins.
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5/22/2016 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 91 Points
good dark fruits and drinking nicely
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2/6/2016 - joefel wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Cherries on the nose and palate. This wine is in its sweet spot - drinking beautifully. Balanced, good acidity, and long finish. Glad I have more bottles!
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1/15/2016 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine. Wood is noticeable but not objectionable. Nice cocktail wine. Crowd pleaser. Drink up.
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11/29/2015 - yonster24 wrote:
Translucent color. Gorgeous nose of cranberry, earth, rose, violets and earth
Medium bodied on the palate. Cranberry/vanilla. Lively and juicy. Acid keeps this fresh on the back end. Not much in the way of tannin. Looooong finish. Has really mellowed. Perfect to drink now. Don't think this will get better with any more aging.
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11/26/2015 - kgh wrote: 88 Points
Subdued fruit profile with cherry and touch of mineral/earth notes. Medium body. Drink soon.
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9/18/2015 - cns wrote: 87 Points
Fruit is fading, way too high in alcohol and the oak levels are too high.
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7/24/2015 - yeti575rider wrote: 91 Points
Bigger than I expected. Classic Sea Smoke nose which was quite open with the spice and flowered notes. Raspberry and cherry with a bit of acidity. Very nice but not in top tier sea smokes I've had.
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7/18/2015 - davidsm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really nice at this stage. Starting to fade a bit but in a good place. Don't wait much longer.
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6/13/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle.
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5/31/2015 - Nutty08 Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Couldn't finish a glass. Much worse than my last bottle 2.5yrs ago. All heat and cola, with little fruit intensity.Dry bitter tannins on back end. Not flawed, but didn't age well given the size of this wine and just seemed very unbalanced. I can only hope the Ten's are better.
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5/10/2015 - brigcampbell wrote: 87 Points
Sea Smoke Southing Vertical (Traci's House): Extremely dark looking like a SRH Syrah. This is a very ripe and concentrated wine, too ripe for me, as the aromas and flavors are dominated by dark plum pushing towards prune. A little cherry lingers around but it's surrounded by a heavy handed oak treatment. Medium firm tannins.
#1 2008 Botella #2 2005 Southing #3 2006 Southing #4 2007 Southing
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4/11/2015 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific bottle-- great time to drink. Dark garnet hue. Dark strawberry nose. Strawberry jam, little dry, smooth, long finish for pinot, little tart, all around nice wine.
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2/16/2015 - brucerob wrote: 89 Points
I tested my Coravin with this 2007 Sea Smoke Southing. It was first accessed in December 2013. It was drunk three times over a period of a year, including a midpoint in June 2014. In January 2015 I uncorked the bottle and drank the last glass – it tasted as fresh as the first! Coravin is the real deal!
As for the wine, it was okay but muted - how did Sea Smoke mess up the 2007 vintage?!
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2/1/2015 - dhammer53 wrote: 88 Points
A rather unremarkable bottle that wasn't enjoyed at our Superbowl dinner. Lots of tannins. Some smoothness. The non-geeks said it was 'ok', and they usually like whatever I bring. After 90 minutes, the wine thinned out. Ouch.
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1/19/2015 - Cellar Baron wrote: 92 Points
Well, this was a superb bottle and the last three were 88-90 from 2013 - 2014 . The only difference? To make room in my cellar over a year ago, I took all of my remaining 2007 Southings out of their 55 degree comfort and placed them in my office that fluctuates from 68 - 78 degrees. Go figure ...
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1/17/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic Sea Smoke! Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, tart cherry, vanilla, and cedar with moderate tannins and acidity on a long finish.
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1/2/2015 - rmgroves wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful Pinot. Muted cherry. Great nose. Outstanding
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1/1/2015 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 90 Points
plush and delicious. Served on New Year's Eve and it was gone before I could make detailed notes
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12/28/2014 - kgh wrote: 91 Points
Somewhat acidic alone, but paired great with smoked turkey. Blackberry notes up front, with tastes of mineral, dried mushroom, and leather.
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12/25/2014 - VinoDiver Likes this wine: 91 Points
Subdued red fruit profile with a nice lushness and robust structure. It actually held up very well to a standing rib roast.
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12/24/2014 - karenlindsey wrote:
Ava
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12/7/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
Solid performance.
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11/30/2014 - gordoyflaca wrote: 92 Points
Nice clean and pure restrained black cherry with a cleansing bitter finish.
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11/2/2014 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific nose and drinking in a good spot right now. Lots of sour cherries a bit of earth, and solid finishing acidity. Went well with Dijon mushroom chicken in a cream sauce.
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9/28/2014 - zoeldar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice vino on RoshH dinner. Lovely nose of new-world PN, bright and muted cherry...smooth and balanced on the palate. Well-made/crafted central coast PN.
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9/26/2014 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 82 Points
Had many bottles that were great. This one had a strong vinyl/plasticizer nose that ruined it, even after a few hours.
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9/24/2014 - jfkwines wrote: 90 Points
Great flavor but lacks structure, a beautriful wine from the vintage, ahead of an excellent wine but needs more back bone to reach the 90's
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9/20/2014 - wconnolly wrote: 90 Points
Color is a light garnet, suggesting this may be showing some age. However the nose shows a hint of rose petal, ripe cherry and a surprisingly pleasant hint of wax shoe polish. On the palate this is classic Southing. Chewy with tart cherry and raspberry on the mid palate and chocolate with a touch of oak on a lingering finish.
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9/7/2014 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, rich, dark garnet in color. Forward, attractive & complex nose of ripe dark fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & blackberries with lovely secondary notes of earthy & smoky overtones, some floral notes, dried herbs, minerals, some spices, anise and a hint of toasty oak & vanilla. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of dense, still youthful but well-integrated, smooth, rich, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & blueberries with spices, cola, earthy, herbs,minerals and some toasty oak and vanilla. Smooth lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but has the depth, fruit & structure to develop further.
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6/8/2014 - Grape Stuff wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes, but do recall it took about 30+ minutes in the glass to open up after a pop and pour. Good red fruit profile with subdued baking spices and subtle hint of sassafras.
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5/24/2014 - KeithSurg wrote: 91 Points
Better than the bottle I had a year ago. Very dark ruby color. Tart cherry and raspberry flavors with nice minerality.
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5/17/2014 - grafstrb wrote:
Quite oaky upon opening, but an hour or so in the decanter helped melt the oak away. Red-fruited. Seems that it would benefit from more cellar time.
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5/10/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Slightly reductive funky Pinot nose which doesn't blow off, thankfully. Pushing the darker side of Pinot. Nose leads you to believe it might be older. Good earth notes. Palate is driven by a mild sweet cherry and pine notes with very fine tannins. Slightly aggressive oak or stem finish. Tough not to enjoy this wine.
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4/28/2014 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
The fruit is beginning to fade, leaving a bit of a hot finish. Probably past peak...
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4/26/2014 - JohnnyShiraz Likes this wine:
14.5% ABV, WS 90, WS drink window is 2008-2012
Tannins are very smooth, I wish I had consumed in 2013, I think it peaked last year. Drink now if you own bottles.
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4/19/2014 - VTCellarDweller wrote: 90 Points
This was the first of 3 bottles purchased on release and decanted for 30 minutes. It was certainly not an inspired bottling but it wasn’t terrible either. It just left me unimpressed; almost like the soul had been sucked out of the wine before it was poured.
Others have created a collective impression of the aromatics and palate experience that mirrors mine and there is little to add there.
Like many others, I consider it is a relatively poor showing for the price.
I don’t see this getting any better, but it isn’t on the edge of the cliff either.
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4/14/2014 - spineguy wrote: 87 Points
Cherries and bright on the nose. Went down from there. Lighter body then most Sea Smokes (still more full then most Cali Pinots). Limited complexity and finish. Somewhat flimsy. Not bad but nothing profound. Drink now, perhaps getting old??? My last bottle was much richer and exciting.
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4/4/2014 - dhammer53 wrote: 88 Points
I always thought cellaring a bottle for a few years was a good idea. Improve with age and all that. This wine had no nose to speak of. Very dark in a Sea Smoke way. Some bitterness. After 30 minutes, there was a perfume nose. The wine tasted light, not heavy. After 60 minutes this was smoothing out, and it lost its bitterness. It was either elegant or not remarkable. I have another bottle left, and will drink it next year. Drank this with salmon at Morgan's Fish House in Rye NY. I wished the '07 tasted like the '08 Southing that I drank last year.
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4/4/2014 - pjhr wrote: flawed
Definitely a bit oxidized but drinkable.
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3/30/2014 - ksmith wrote: 91 Points
Nose of dark fruit, esp. Black cherry and ETOH. Dark ruby color. Fruit forward on the palate, but the alcohol is not particularly noticeable. Black cherries, licorice on the finish. Medium to full bodied mouth feel. Medium finish. I think these have reached a peak in their evolution, but should last several years more.
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3/19/2014 - leadpencil wrote: 93 Points
Pomegranate
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3/14/2014 - coreywb Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle is still tasting beautifully. Dark ruby color. Nose of cherries and dark berries. Luscious creamy body and the fruit is still there. This has aged as well as any other Sea Smoke vintage I've had. Has evolved to elegant and smooth. No signs of age or being tired. Decanting not required. Lovely straight to the glass. I believe this was the first vintage of the new winemaker and and 7 years later it is still extremely enjoyable.
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3/7/2014 - Kayentacellars wrote:
Served with salmon, dinner party w/ Cindy, Brent, Richard, Judith, Paul and Jill
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3/6/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: 88 Points
red, orange, in color. sweet spice, red fruit, on the nose. spicy, hot, blackberry, cherry, on the palate. medium acid on the finish.
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3/6/2014 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
I have to give this bottle credit - for a 14.5% pinot, it remained balanced, fresh, fragrant and alive. Finish was very disappointing. I didn't pick up as much cola as in past bottles, but its not getting any better, only starting to thin out a bit.
Actually in some way nicer than in its over the top youth, still, I would move these bottles to the front of your racks and start finding "special occasions" to begin getting rid of them....... My special occasion tonight was because it was Thursday (again!).
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3/4/2014 - MystMrQ wrote: 92 Points
Significantly improved from last tasting in March, 2012. Bright cherry cola notes layered with allspice and fine tannins. Drinking beautifully now. Well worth the wait.
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3/1/2014 - J2K wrote:
Wow, thick and heavy. Would not have gussed a pinot if blind. Rich cherry vanilla, some cola with a lot of wood. Not your typical Pinot but thats why I like it.
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2/22/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another simply delicious bottle! Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, vanilla, and cedar with delicious tannins and acidity on a long finish.
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2/22/2014 - leadpencil wrote: 93 Points
Pomegranate,allspice
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2/15/2014 - bruce61 Likes this wine: 92 Points
- Crimsom color. It's balanced and has flavours of strawberry with a medium/full body. Oily texture with a medium finish.
This review was created by vinopad from a couple of buttons. I like the wine. A touch of acid which softened over time.
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2/9/2014 - sbfireman wrote: 94 Points
Shaped up nicely after a few years slumber. IMHO the bottle age added weight and depth. Cola and cherries and hallmark spice. Worked well with 4 hours in the decanter.
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2/2/2014 - SeaSmoke wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes to Sept. 2013
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1/14/2014 - Cellar Baron wrote: 88 Points
Nothing special ... sadly, again.
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12/28/2013 - unrelenting wrote: 89 Points
Drink now (or years prior). the crowd-pleasing taste SS creates does not last -- certainly not benefit from age. No structure. No finish
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12/27/2013 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Splash decanted and drank over 3 hours. A bit simple and cola dominated at first but the fruit deepened and all the elements came together by the end. Very nice wine with spice and freshening acidity. Light red fruits in a silky package. Interesting wine.
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12/4/2013 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle was drinking beautifully and open within an hour of opening. There does seem to be some bottle variation, but when they are singing, they truly are wonderful pinots!
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11/29/2013 - bruinboozer wrote: 86 Points
Too much variability. No longer purchasing.
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11/28/2013 - dontime wrote:
A bit disappointing up against the competition. Cherry fruit with a bit of spice, but seemed a bit flat. If scoring 88-90.
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11/27/2013 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
Brilliant flavors and layers upon layers of them. The wine is drinking great right now. Wish I had more.
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11/24/2013 - jrglm Likes this wine: 90 Points
I think this wine is really ready to drink now. This bottle showed lots of character, finesse and texture that younger bottles did not. Instead of being an extracted, alcohol laden fruit bomb, this wine showed layers of flavor and aroma younger Southings did not. It's still an over-priced cult wine, but I'm glad I hung on to a few. One more left. I don't think I'll wait too long to drink it.
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11/3/2013 - pmarlo wrote: 90 Points
Inadvertently drank two. Only one left.
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11/3/2013 - pmarlo wrote: 89 Points
I see where there are some negative remarks about this wine. I felt it was a little thin and just average also, and not at all like previous vintages, which I thought were good.. I still hold out hope time will be kind to it.
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11/2/2013 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice structure and maturity with the quality of the fruit still shining through. Nice plum and dark berry notes with adept application of oak has this one drinking very well at this point. Took a bit to open up and become integrated in the glass but showed more with a bit of time and air.
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9/15/2013 - SeaSmoke wrote: 90 Points
Blackberries on the nose. On the palate black and dark fruit with touches of oak; not much spice on the finish. Very mild and medium to short finish.
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9/6/2013 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 87 Points
SRH taste comparison! Drank a 2008 Fiddlehead 728 side-by-side with 2007 Sea Smoke "Southing". Fiddlehead (90 pts): a lighter, fruit-forward style pinot, with raspberry, crushed cranberries and other red fruits on the nose; sweet red fruits, sandalwood and earth on the palate. Lean, with a tart but round finish. Sea Smoke Southing (87 pts): Dark, brooding pinot that didn't give up much on the nose - black cherry, a little cola. Heavy and round on the palate, but not much flavor - black cherry, vanilla. Round finish. Mixed opinions at our table, but most preferred the Fiddlehead.
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8/19/2013 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
Berries and cherries over a firm core. Lingers in the mouth. Great wine.
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8/15/2013 - runandshoot wrote: flawed
Crumbly cork, wine badly oxidized.
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8/2/2013 - rexmerlot wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine. Not overly complex. Not worth the price
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8/2/2013 - monk1019 wrote: 90 Points
Fresh crisp nose of strawberry and tobacco. Followed through on palate. Nothing chewy and sinewy but worth every sip. Paired with baked sea scallops. Yum. Awaiting the same year TEN!
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7/13/2013 - g-man wrote: 87 Points
Thank goodness this was my last bottle.While it was not a flawed bottle it had a fair amount of volatile acid and little friuit. I've had better $15 bottles. Overall Seasmoke is the most overrated and overpriced pinot I've ever had and don'tplan to buy again.
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7/6/2013 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 88 Points
Perfumed nose per usual but a bit flat on the mid palate. While somewhat more subdued, not my favorite vintage. Definitely Cali-noir, nothing French Burgundian about it. Finish relatively short.
Tasted several times over the past year and not getting any better. Hmmmm?
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6/20/2013 - gigmoney Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great Bottle. The fruit has finally shed its baby fat. This is integrating nicely and look forward to secondary notes with my last bottle. Waiting a few more years to open my last.
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5/27/2013 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 87 Points
Intensely fragrant on approach, almost overwhelming. So powerful that a full big sniff numbs your nose and the wine can't compete on your palate. When the dust settles I found the mid palate weak, a little candy-noir one dimensional actually and a finish that closes down as you swallow it as opposed to a wine that gets bigger and bigger after you swallow it. Disappointing in mouth feel and presence. Certainly NOT worth the current prices being asked for this wine.
Just another BIG upfront Cali-noir that looks better than it fights? Tasted last summer with much better results. I was really not at all excited this summer. I have a few more bottles so lets see what next summer brings.....
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5/8/2013 - 1961Vintage Does not like this wine: 80 Points
I must say I am very disappointed but have to agree with the most recent notes. This wine is flat, stewy has none of the classic notes of a high quality pinot. Nothing exciting or intriguing at all about this wine. I fear that the owners of this wine have been severely oversold...
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5/6/2013 - JoeDwine wrote: 93 Points
More resolved.
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5/6/2013 - curtispomeroy wrote: 75 Points
This was one of the "not good" bottles. Monolithic, stewed fruit that I did not enjoy at all. Tried glasses on two consecutive nights and ended up dumping both.
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4/14/2013 - mazik wrote: 75 Points
Oxidized, lifeless, pathetic, we're not ordering this stuff any more.
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4/10/2013 - Drewine wrote: 90 Points
Taste like good quality fruit worked a little too hard before reaching bottle. Pretty texture, nice fruit, just a touch of heat. Some slightly stewed notes showed especially on day two along with a little chared bacon. A little Rhone like.
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4/8/2013 - cbkamp Likes this wine: 90 Points
Couldn't take detailed notes, but there seemed to be a tad too much oak throwing this out of balance. The wine is very round with a nice balance of earth and red fruit. To me, this seems to have plenty of time left.
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3/30/2013 - tanglenet wrote:
From looking over my previous notes, I see that this wine just isn't coming together. After 6 years from vintage I'm going to stop making excuses for it, like the parent of a substance abusing child (these are problems our friends face, fortunately not us), and come to the realization that this wine is just not going to live up to the potential that I thought it would be.
Opened not decanted. Light and sweet blackberry juice on the nose. On the entry: sweet black and dark fruit with touches of charred oak; a pleasant but watery mid palate and ends with a drying dark concord / black cherry finish. Still tastes narrow and constricted. Also worrisome that the oak is coming through and the fruit is not showing more. Drink up or sell. Good to Good +.
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3/19/2013 - BillyRayValentine wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine but there are better options for the money. If you are looking for the classic big rich full forward Sea Smoke style, spend the extra for the Ten.
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3/15/2013 - memphishusky Likes this wine:
This was good but lost to Peay tonight
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3/12/2013 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was closed down hard but with beautiful structure.
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3/4/2013 - konadog wrote: 89 Points
better on the second day, some raspberry and cola notes. not worth the price of admission but since it was a gift it's all good.
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3/1/2013 - PVJC Does not like this wine:
Didn't particularly like this ... a bit sour/harsh
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2/23/2013 - mazik Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Not flawed (no TCA) but not up to snuff. Like the "Ten" last week, it tasted cooked, though not so badly. There was some fruit in the nose and on the palate, but it was not a good much less a great wine. Winery suggests problem may have been the Fedex ground shipment in mid-November of 2009 rather than the wine itself, and I have no reason to doubt it, maybe it's the victim of a truckdriver who let his load heat up somewhere. But I haven't had this problem with other wines shipped from California, e.g. from DuMol. I have a feeling that my experience is the same as other tasters who gave this wine a 90 out of respect for the label.
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2/15/2013 - MZak wrote: flawed
Corked!
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1/29/2013 - billyfitness wrote: 90 Points
I'll have to go along with Brian's comments below. I had 2 bottles over the holidays and for the price, expectation, and memories of great Seasmoke, this was disappointing. Fruit has faded, not well integrated, or anything else going on. Makes me glad I cancelled my allocation 2yrs ago. There are so many better Pinots out there for less money, like Foxen, right next door. Others must feel the same since it is available at the local store.
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1/28/2013 - milcopa wrote:
Nice cherry & Kirsch. Soft mouth feel and well rounded with good structure. Very nice indeed. 92pts.
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1/24/2013 - cbkamp Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cherry, strawberry, forest floor, pretty standard Pinot aromas. Red fruit on the palate, nice acidity but quite tart, a little hot on the backend but otherwise good balance. Not as good as the Ten I had last year.
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1/21/2013 - brianngibson wrote: 90 Points
The 6th and last bottle. Consumed them over the course of 6 years, and the best notes were in 2010 and 2011. I think the fruit is starting to fade here, and this is in decline. The fruit is more subdued and the finish seems much shorter. Not much excitement left.
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1/14/2013 - bigdogflow Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank from magnum
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1/13/2013 - curtispomeroy wrote: 89 Points
To my tastes this is a "big wine" with lots of fruit but not much in the way of secondary or tertiary flavors.
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1/10/2013 - kgh wrote: 92 Points
Typical Sea Smoke style, big and rich. Tannins still prominent, and somewhat closed down. Lots of potential, this could be great with more cellar time.
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1/7/2013 - Jack wrote: 92 Points
Same as last note. These are very good.
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1/5/2013 - bcmatthias Likes this wine: 93 Points
So good -- cherry notes, nice balance. Perfect with salmon and lentils.
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1/5/2013 - Tjmayne wrote: 85 Points
I have to concur with Nutty08. The acidity was unbalanced and the wine died on the mid-palate. Will try again this morning after letting it rest over night, but I'm not expecting a lot of improvement on this wine. The 07 Ten is a much better wine.
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1/3/2013 - UofM wrote: 85 Points
Not impressed with this wine, especially at that price point. Lacked almost everything I would expect from a Sea Smoke pinot.
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1/1/2013 - mthompson wrote: 92 Points
This 07 Southing is why I love Sea Smoke-! This seemed like the perfect time to drink the 07 vintage, as the raspberry and cherry flavors were matched nicely with the ideal balance of soft tannins. Actually a creamy, lush feel and no heat after we let it open for about 30 minutes. I wouldn't, however, let much more time go by to drink the 07's. It might be getting close to going past its prime, if you wait too much longer. A very nice bottle last night with Oso Bucco.
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12/28/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 93 Points
This bottle is in a great place now.
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12/28/2012 - Nutty08 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
This is a weird bottle of Cali pinot. Nose shows some super ripe red fruits with raspberry dominating. Palate is an odd mix of ripe red fruits, vibrant acidity (with a cherry pit character), but is somehow watery and unexpressive. Over acidified? Finishes rather quickly, simple and sour. This is a perplexing wine, not especially enjoyable now and I'm not really sure time will help, but hopefully it will gain some weight and become more open. Terrible value given the price.
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12/19/2012 - pjhr wrote: 95 Points
What a transformation since 9 months ago, a classic Sea Smoke! Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, indian spice, and cedar with delicious tannins and acidity on a tasty finish. Two bottles with consistent notes.
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12/11/2012 - Reblin wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully. Smooth, full fruit. Good body, no harsh tannins.
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11/26/2012 - Rollerball wrote: 90 Points
Delicious nose and complexity.
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11/25/2012 - VinoDiver wrote: 91 Points
Found this to be a more feminine wine than the other SS bottles I've had. Not sure if it had something to do with being from a magnum.
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11/23/2012 - Savitch Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours before Thanksgiving dinner. Big red fruits of rasberry, bing cherries, and cassis up front. Contrasted and provided balance with the tobacco, leather, and lively acidity in the mouth and finish. Very new age and bright Pinot. Earthiness not as apparent as other Pinot's from similar regions. The acidity was more apparent than I expected which contributed to its complexity but I think the up-front fruit can't compete much longer. Probably at its prime right now and trending downhill. Still very good though.
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11/22/2012 - Brian1970 wrote: 92 Points
Elegant once the initial heat blew off; great acidity and fruit.
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11/20/2012 - Reblin wrote: 90 Points
Good fruit and nose. Smooth.
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11/20/2012 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Not decanted.
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11/10/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Great Pinot.
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11/10/2012 - psoals wrote: 94 Points
About as a good abottle of Domestic Pinot Noir as I can remember having. I'm not sure if the wine will improve from where it's at now, but it also doesn't seem to be heading down hill.
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10/29/2012 - jnanz wrote:
Good. Very disjointed. Ripe red fruit and acid profile was not integrated with the oak component. Hints of lead and cedar present as well with the oak. Heat on the finish. This was nothing like my previous bottle 18 months ago. I can't tell whether it needs time or has had too much.
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10/26/2012 - Richard123 wrote: 80 Points
Opened this 1+ hrs before, then decanted, then decanted again. It just didn't open. Before and after decanting, there was light notes of red fruit, black fruit and lots of alcohol on the nose. No complexity other than that. It would be an OK $15 wine. I have 1 more bottle, and am not sure whether to drink now to get rid of it, or to cellar it for a few more years and see what happens. I'm thinking the former.
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9/30/2012 - dontime wrote:
Opened 90 minutes prior to consumption. Another excellent bottle - bright cherry cola with smoky herbs. Some secondary complexity with hints of licorice and darker fruit. No getting the bottle variation others have experienced, but not sure on the QPR. If scoring, 91-93.
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9/15/2012 - Liberty wrote: 93 Points
opened 4 hours before pouring. classic sea smoke.
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9/11/2012 - JayAAllen wrote: 84 Points
A little disappointing. A lot of alcohol in the nose to begin. Flavors weren't particularly well integrated. Maybe this Sea Smoke vintage really is as inconsistent as others have said. We'll see ... have several more bottles in the wine cabinet.
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9/4/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 92 Points
Compared to other bottles this seemed youngish. Nose of black cherry, cola, tea, mushroom, cranberry. On the palate, black cherry, sour cherry, rhubarb, spice, earth. Finishes very tart with nice sappiness. Drink or hold, this seems to have some years left.
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8/24/2012 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
Open, but not decanted, for an hour. Tasted over the next 2 hours. Palate was tight but had tart cherry and some spice. Certainly not anything special.
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8/22/2012 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
Juicy, berries, smokey, balanced with just enough restraint. Very nice offering from California's Grand Cru Winery (their words, not mine.....).
I understand all the agida from other frustrated drinkers who pay a lot for this Pinot and expect the base ball bat to the head attack that big name Cali producers are famous for, but perhaps, just perhaps these guys are actually serious about being a true Grand Cru, instead of another Punch you in the face Pinot provider?
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8/18/2012 - atilathehun wrote: 86 Points
I was hoping everyone was wrong, they weren't
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8/11/2012 - bowmanbc wrote: 85 Points
learned from last time and opened an hr before dinner. it was ok but didnt have that wow appeal you'd expect from a pinot at this price level.
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8/11/2012 - mdaniel wrote: 87 Points
Last bottle, and there just isn't anything special about this wine.
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8/10/2012 - jlgnml wrote: 88 Points
Nice nose, pleasant for an outdoor dinner
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8/3/2012 - WineGeneral wrote: 85 Points
I am a Sea Smoke fan, and I am simply not impressed with this bottle. Very muted nose, with a flat and dull palate with very little acidity. Just not a whole lot going on here. Hopefully, it will improve with more air.
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8/3/2012 - KeithSurg wrote: 85 Points
Not a bad bottle, but nothing impressive. Flat and bland, but easy to drink. Dumb phase?
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7/29/2012 - bowmanbc wrote: 85 Points
big let down here. flat, not much on the nose. maybe too long in the cooler, maybe not a wine that should have aged. either way it was a dud until about 2 hrs later when it became a decent pinot, but at that point why bother with it anymore.
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7/14/2012 - bruinboozer wrote: 86 Points
Disappointed. Too much bottle to bottle variation. No longer purchasing sea smoke
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7/10/2012 - jbro wrote: 92 Points
I owe this wine an apology. This bottle tasted like high class pinot. Nose of red fruit, vanilla and some alcohol, which blew off with swirling. Berries, some oak and acidity on the palate with a long finish. The bottle variation is shocking. The last was almost undrinkable and others have had the same experience. This bottle was just fine--kind of why I chased the list and bought what I could. Four left--drink or wait?
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7/9/2012 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 90 Points
was dull and boring. Not much too it or compelx at all. I hope it ages better as I have a few more bottles in the cellar
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7/7/2012 - vinole wrote: 89 Points
DC Offline (Cedar, Washington, DC): A ripe, rich style with dark cherry and blackberry fruit with fairly low acidity that was a little sour and unbalanced on the finish, hurting the overall impression and score.
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7/4/2012 - JOsgood wrote:
Completely disjointed and overly oaky. Nothing at all like the last bottle of this wine that I had. Poor storage perhaps?
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6/30/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote: 89 Points
Needs 3 years to integrate fruit and oak, I am not liking it today but has potential, 89-92.
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6/26/2012 - joet626 wrote: 86 Points
Dull, boring offering. Not much there. Disappointing
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6/7/2012 - jbro wrote: 84 Points
I opened this with some trepidation because the CT reviews have been mixed--for good reason. The nose is less than special--no amount of swirling brings out any fruit to speak of--alcohol predominates. However, on the palate there is a modicum of sweet fruit but still alcohol. I am saving the second half of the bottle until tomorrow in the hope it will improve with time.
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6/1/2012 - bcmatthias wrote: 90 Points
A little hot at the beginning, but opened up nicely. Lots of berries.
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5/27/2012 - spineguy wrote: 90 Points
Crowd pleaser @ party. I like my Sea Smoke older and this bottle still needs a year or two. Agree with another comment "nice but not exciting"
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5/26/2012 - WetRock wrote:
Reeks of Santa Rita Hills. Shows oak on the palate where I noticed none on the nose but not overtly. Just enough to know it's there. Plenty of fruit as well but leaner than previous vintages. Still not shy though. Probably in a good drinking window.
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5/25/2012 - jupiter33 wrote: 92 Points
getting better
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5/19/2012 - MCUBEB wrote: 86 Points
Big fruit with huge oak component. Drank it over three days and tasted best on the first day.
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5/17/2012 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured at BYO. Great food wine. Simple and straightforward, but elegant. QPR not so favorable.
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5/12/2012 - winoj wrote: 92 Points
Rock solid and just amazing after an hour or two.
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5/7/2012 - Squirreljam wrote: 89 Points
Nice nose with berries and some menthol or eucalyptus to add some mystery. Nose came across as alcoholic however, almost like spirits, to where I didn't want to nose deeply into the glass to avoid the burn. On the palate, deep fruit flavors that were marred by a bitter note on the finish. In its favor, not as cloying as some SS, but the finish made me scratch my head. My impression - ok wine, but for me not great value; I haven't purchased for the last couple vintages and I think I'm done with this wine for good.
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4/23/2012 - jetfan wrote: 91 Points
nicely perfumed but would like more complexity
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4/13/2012 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Held off on opening one b/c of notes here on CT. Glad I waited. This was beautiful. A little thin when opened but with a couple hours of air it really opened up and was great.
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3/31/2012 - dontime wrote:
Similar to previous notes. Still a winner in my book. If scoring, low 90's.
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3/28/2012 - mdaniel wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful nose of mixed berries, but the palate wasn't as complex.
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3/18/2012 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Quality pinot, but lacks the excitement of the previous 4 vintages. Perhaps it is still too young.
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3/11/2012 - coreywb Likes this wine: 92 Points
My third bottle of this and almost a year since last one. Well worth the wait. Drinking beautifully right now. Gorgeous color, still wonderful nose of dark fruit (blackberry/blueberry), tannins have mellowed and a very nice finish. Not sure this can get better, but still have a few bottles to go. '07 and '08 area an excellent start for new winemaker here.
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3/11/2012 - MystMrQ wrote: 88 Points
Hints of depth and complexity on the nose and on the initial attack but failed to sustain. Time didn't help over next couple of hours. Hard to tell if the wine was simply closed or if Sea Smoke just missed it with this one. Will try again in 9 mos to a year. A decent to good Pinot, but not what I've come to expect from Sea Smoke.
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2/26/2012 - jeffal66 wrote: 85 Points
What a shame. This wine has fallen apart. This is my second subpar bottle. Bitter, disjointed. If it weren't Sea Smoke and I didn't know better I wouldn't be so bummed.
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2/24/2012 - Reblin wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing, closed down bottle. Very little nose. Smooth but without much fruit.
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2/15/2012 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
Not bad but nothing special.
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2/15/2012 - jfont123 wrote: 89 Points
Had this at dinner at The Park with the wife and mom...
Very good. Needs more time.
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2/14/2012 - stocksandbondage wrote: 92 Points
Great stuff, but probably needs a few more years to really blossom. Reserved scents of raspberry and sandalwood. Well balanced with supporting acidity and ample but refined tannins paired to ripe and juicy flavors of red raspberry and wild cherry. Still very primary, but showing lots of promise. Great mouthfeel.
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2/12/2012 - jupiter33 wrote: 90 Points
Similar to last notes
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2/11/2012 - 2loyal wrote: 86 Points
Another disappointment, from a winery and vintage that I've historically loved. Neither pretty nor big. Did somebody switch the label on me?!? I want the wine the rest of you seem to have gotten here!
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2/10/2012 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Black cherry, graceful, and well structured. In its prime.
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2/5/2012 - bundydavis wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic! Sad to see the last one go.
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1/30/2012 - jayartee wrote: flawed
Corked
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1/28/2012 - dontime wrote:
Very nice. Opened two hours prior to consumption. Nose of cherries and raspberries. Cherry vanilla cola on the palate with enough spice to keep it interesting. Well integrated. Is scoring 91-92.
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1/19/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 91 Points
Nose of sour cherry, black cherry, cola, cranberry, rhubard, spice, black raspberry. On the palate black cherry, black raspberry, pie cherry, rhubarb, cola, spice, vanilla. Nice transition to a sappy tart finish with a bit of grip. Drink over the next few years.
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1/12/2012 - Jmartin wrote:
Drank for K's birthday dinner with take-out from Panache. Definition of consistent quality (for our tastes.) Elegant with enough power to keep things interesting. Beautiful wine.
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1/9/2012 - Terp82 wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful wine. Started dry and medium body and opened to a more earthy drink.
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1/5/2012 - Just Grapes wrote: 88 Points
This Pinot was better than my first SS 07 but I just don't get the hype. Average Pinot Noir, at best, for a price that is double what it should be. I dropped off the list, after I tried my first bottle of 07, and this re-confirmed my stance. I have 3 SS '08 to go through and then I could care less if I ever have this over hyped wine again.
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1/2/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote:
Consistent with previous notes. This bottle showed a little more heat than others.
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1/1/2012 - egg698 wrote: 89 Points
Nice somewhat exotic fruit and nice texture, but a bit oaky and monolithic for the price. Second to last purchase off the list.
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1/1/2012 - BSZach1 wrote: 92 Points
Light cherries, raspberries and strawberries.Love this wine.
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12/30/2011 - jeffal66 wrote: 85 Points
I'm really not having good luck with high ticket Cali bottles over the past couple days. This is hot, disjointed, thin. Lacking fruit, heavy on tannin. Not even close to previous SS glory. Perhaps in a close-down state but more likely an off bottle.
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12/26/2011 - Bob in NC wrote: 92 Points
Sublime.
Our notes are similiar to 5/21/2010 with the fruit given way to slightly more earth tones. One will be rewarded with 2 to 3 more years of bottle time.
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12/23/2011 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Consistent notes
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12/22/2011 - jupiter33 wrote: 90 Points
Nice spice, raspberry, strawberry nose and flavors. Medium to full body and longish finish. Has not developed much complexity but is much more integrated than last year. Certainly not bad but I was hoping for more.
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12/19/2011 - Anthony Lombardi wrote:
Clear, dark garnet. The nose is all spicy red and black fruit. Full bodied and a bit jammy. Raspberry and strawberry preserves. Decent acidity keeps it from going dull, but this is singing one single note and won't be adding more to the repertoire anytime soon. Slightly hot, but expressive and long finish.
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12/13/2011 - GalvezGuy wrote: 92 Points
Nose of black cherry, black raspberry, cranberry, spice, On the palate, black cherry, sour cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, cola, spice. Nice transition to a good finish with tart acidity and fine grained tannins.
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12/6/2011 - StephenE05 wrote:
Not overly enthused with this bottle. The 06 vintage had a lot more to it.
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12/1/2011 - runandshoot wrote: 88 Points
Seems to need a serious decant to coax out the fruit over the oak. Did not enjoy this one nearly as much as the last bottle, mainly because the primary fruits seems to overwhelmed by the oakiness. Saved about half the bottle and let it slow-ox overnight. Second day, the alcohol and oak seemed to be better integrated and cherry flavors intermixed with spices emerged. Definite improvement, but still lacked the secondary nuances I noticed last time.
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11/30/2011 - Vinyljunkee wrote: 92 Points
A true knock out and it proves to me why I continue to be a faithful wine list member, buying each year whatever I can afford (or what my wife allows me to cellar). If you like an elegant, rich but burgundian style wine at a fraction of the price then go for it. I will add that this one is still a bit young but with phenomenal potential.
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11/21/2011 - Jmartin wrote:
Despite the high alcohol levels we didn't really sense any heat or bite. It was smooth, with a lot of soul and fruit.
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11/19/2011 - twelch wrote: 89 Points
Hmm. Not nearly as nice a wine as the bottle enjoyed a little over a year ago. This was missing that really huge spice component on the nose that the previous bottle displayed. The alcohol seems to have shied away however and finished with a touch of a green ending. Just an ok bottle not worth all the hype and tarriff in my book.
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11/14/2011 - Trickyone wrote:
At 14.5% alcohol, this was a real monster. We've had Australian Shiraz at lower levels than this! Knowing this, it was paired with simple grilled beef tenderloin and oven roasted potatoes. It was a typical California bottle: Perfectly made, beautiful package, and almost no soul. Maybe some age will mellow these bottles out, but age won't reduce the alcohol, will it?
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11/13/2011 - cadamson wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with prior note of 8 months ago, but just a bit of green flavor in the finish.
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11/10/2011 - GalvezGuy wrote:
Consistent with previous notes.
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11/7/2011 - BSZach1 wrote: 92 Points
Cherry Creamsicle
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11/6/2011 - dontime wrote:
Opened approximately 45 minutes prior to consumption. Fragrant nose of cherries and flowers. Smells wonderful. More cherries on the palate with smoky oak, spice and raspberries. Smooth finish that lasts a good while. Aging well and drinking nicely now.
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11/2/2011 - Capybara562 wrote: 90 Points
Medium ruby color, with intense aromas of spices, raspberries and leather. More delicate on the palate, with noticeable oak and a medium-long finish.
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10/29/2011 - khmark7 wrote: 84 Points
Thin and bitter. Tastes like a Bourgogne, only this costs $50. 2nd bottle, with the same results.
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10/23/2011 - vinovin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fell short of the expectations, but showed well at Devine dinner. Nose had nice ripe berry notes, oak, and vanilla. Heavy pinot with silky texture. The oak was prominent all dinner, would have liked to try on day 2 for it to really open up.
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9/29/2011 - 2loyal wrote: 88 Points
Certainly nothing "wrong" with this bottle, but it clearly fell short of my (somewhat lofty, given the price and vintage) expectations.
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9/19/2011 - amgryger wrote:
NY/NJ WLTV Offline (Fonda Del Sol, NYC): Medium intensity ruby color. Slightly served nose with notes of cherry cola, oak and baking spice. Weighty mouthfeel with medium high fine tannin, medium high acid and a medium long finish.
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9/18/2011 - OCgasman wrote:
I opened this to see if this was a bottle I would like to acquire more of. P&P and followed over 24 hrs. Initial pour showed nothing but oak and heat. Did not like this at all on the first night. Gave up after 3 hrs and let it rest. Re-visited on day two. Much, much better. Oak very faint now, fruit to the forefront. Still not much on the nose, but palate of mixed red berries, nice acidity. This is good...but not great. Got this bottle at a great price and would only purchase again at the same great price. Would not buy at release price.
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9/14/2011 - tanglenet wrote:
This was served at an offline on Sunday. Disclosure: I'm still feeling the effects of a nasty summer cold (week 3) which has really impacted my sense of smell and somewhat dulled my sense of taste. Great blackberry fruit with a bit of sweetness, but still showing a restrained, angular finish. This is my second tasting of this this year and I think it is going through a dumb phase. Note to self: wait another year before popping a bottle. Good+ right now.
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9/10/2011 - williamswhine wrote: 93 Points
Nice pinot-- may still be a little early to pop. Medium bodied with a light strawberry-raspberry nose. Drinks well from start to finish-- smooth.
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9/10/2011 - Neuman wrote: 92 Points
Tasted with the '08. This was preferred by most
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8/26/2011 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
From magnum. Ripe, but fairly restrained for a SS. Aging gracefully- Cali PN is underrated in its ability to develop complexity with time.
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8/21/2011 - mmcdds wrote: 90 Points
This is a full bodied California Pinot Noir. Dark fruit, earthy undertones and floral notes with a fairly aggressive midpalate of cassis. Soft tannins and white pepper on the med finish. I always like Sea Smoke, but today I found the floral aromas and flavors to almost be off-putting. However, I still enjoyed this bottle of wine very much.
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8/13/2011 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Did not need much air time, but then again it did not show as well as I remember of other vintages. Big and muscular, definitely the free weight (gym rats with get the reference) style of Pinot. Blackberry fruit with a bit of sweetness, but still showing a restrained, angular abd somewhat short finish. Good.
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8/13/2011 - JOsgood wrote: 93 Points
This was absolutely dynamite. Huge, soaring nose. Big on the palate but perfectly balanced. Great fruit and a crunchy, earthy pinot funk on the palate. Finishes with a velvety texture. WOTN.
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8/13/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Guy's 60th at 32 East in magnum. Raspberry, cranberry and sweet pomegranate. Medium body and fun to drink. I am not sure if this is a long term ager and may drink these up in the next few years.
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8/5/2011 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Cannot believe it has already been a year since I have opened one of these. Really maturing nicely. The sour cherry fruit has mellowed out and really just leaves beautiful cherry and smoke on the palate that makes you want to pour another glass. Two left, but how long to wait to finish them off? This is drinking well right now.
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7/29/2011 - jhannah27 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour prior to drinking. Such an amazing texture to this wine. The alcohol troubles I noticed a few years ago are long gone as the balance here is now just about perfect. Fruit is maturing, but still quite fresh with some cherry cola and smoke out of the finish. Really excellent stuff that should continue to get better.
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7/26/2011 - Rob MacKay wrote:
Decanted through a Vinturi and let rest for 1 hour. Probably the best showing for this wine so far. Same profile as before with maybe an added cola note in there as well. Great bottle.
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7/17/2011 - kennyg wrote: 89 Points
Sour cherry, good acidity and moderately long finish. Tannins still a bit drying. Decanting helped a bit, (but mostly all gone by the time it was more approachable) Will not touch again for at least 2 years. I find these Seasmiokes need at least 5 yeras from bottling to maximally. A bit too soon on this one (I hope)
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7/12/2011 - Neuman wrote: 92 Points
last supper. having back surgery tomorrow and decided to drink this with duck.just in case i'm going out very happy
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7/8/2011 - jonwill wrote: 94 Points
Starting to open, wonderfully integrated melody of cherries, cinnamon and cream.
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7/4/2011 - winopops3 wrote: 90 Points
Very solid Pinot with nice fruit and cola notes. Very enjoyable and well made, but no sense of place or distinctiveness.
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7/3/2011 - bundydavis wrote: 93 Points
Needed an hour to open up. Fantastic pinot with great structure and fruit.
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7/2/2011 - elefkowitz wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic PN. My first Sea Smoke and it did not dissappoint. Happy to know I have a few laying down - will come back in a year to see how it evolves.
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7/1/2011 - bruce61 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully. Decanted in a restaurant. Full flavored with plenty of cherry, plum and cola notes; no heat, nice finish.
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6/25/2011 - joefel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted one hour. Similar to the 2006 and much better than the 2005. Beautiful color and nose. Nice balanced wine - good fruit, acidity, and mouthfeel, with a long finish. Kept improving over the next couple of hours. Went perfectly with cedar-planked, Copper River salmon.
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6/24/2011 - MCUBEB wrote: 87 Points
Nose of vanilla and red fruit with hints of violet. Sour cherry, vanilla, minerals and earth on the palate. Finish is medium.
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6/20/2011 - xboomer wrote: 92 Points
Having this excellent Pinot with JB and Silvia
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6/17/2011 - pmccullough17 wrote: 93 Points
Ripe fruit, little tannin, perfectly balanced. Firm mouthfeel, nice finish, smooth, cassis, tobacco.
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5/30/2011 - Terp82 wrote: 91 Points
Nice balance but could use a little more time. Medium body with spice and a hint of cherry.
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5/13/2011 - smorris291 wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with the last bottle, perhaps even slightly better with the addl age. Definitely CA Pinot, but not too much of anything. Delicious.
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5/12/2011 - rhit wrote:
Intensity and, for the most part, balance were the story here. Not particularly noteworthy in terms of flavor and expression, but extremely well-made for its style. Was drinking great on the second day, too.
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5/4/2011 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Very well polished pinot noir with a nose of Black Cherry Liquer, Plums, Ripe Strawberry and Vanillin. Palate is silky, with nice middle weight that is backed up with deeply concetrated fruit. Oak does show a bit heavy in the midpalate. Finish is well polished with a touch of heat here and there but dark red fruits abound and a nice asian spice character shows up. Pinot in a very new world style that is not for everyone.
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4/28/2011 - stocksandbondage wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Wish I remembered it, but we opened it at the end of the night after many others.
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4/24/2011 - sammy wrote: 89 Points
This was a very good Pinot Noir, however I was let down in relation to the reputation this winemaker has. There are many better Pinots at a lower cost.
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4/24/2011 - MJMorris55 wrote:
Bright red with a nose of cedar, spice, cherries, decanted for an hour. Nicely knit Southing with typical cola, red fruit profile. Enjoyable but still a little young.
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4/22/2011 - pkbackman wrote: 91 Points
Big, over-the-top Pinot. But absolutely delicious.
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4/22/2011 - coreywb Likes this wine: 92 Points
I got my shipment of Sea Smoke 2007 about 18 months ago. The first bottle I tasted was interesting but needed more time. Opened the second bottle last night and it was awesome. Many people have criticized this vintage perhaps due in part to the change in winemakers. I believe the criticism is unjustified. There was beautiful dark fruit, complexity and wow what a finish. For me this vintage has exceeded both my 2006 and 2005 Southings. The 2004 is still my favorite but all of them are first rate pinots. Can't wait for my next bottle.
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4/20/2011 - bajayngo wrote:
this was KB light through and through. Kirsch, pepper, cola, anise and red fruits. Nothing stood out at all and was very pedestrian.
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4/16/2011 - rdunn wrote: 89 Points
It has potential, but needs more bottle age. Even w/ two hours of decanting, and drinking over two more, it was too tight to really enjoy. The combination of relatively high acidity and a sour cherry streak overwhelm the rest of the fruit profile. Decanting longer *might* bring things into balance, but I suspect it would still be overly bright on the palate.
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4/3/2011 - FPNova wrote: 91 Points
Bright red color. Cherry, spring flowers & raspberry aroma. A mouth full of cherry, raspberry, & smokey spices on the palate with crisp acidity & a slightly tart hint of cinnamon near the end of a long finish.
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4/3/2011 - sbfireman wrote: 88 Points
Young in the glass - still learning to dance. Some good moves and you can see the potential is there, just not yet
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4/1/2011 - wine maestro wrote: 91 Points
Striking Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir that looks as good in the glass as it tastes in the
mouth. Focused blackcherry abounds, with hints of smoke and wild berry, layered
with coffee. A youngster, but radiant and shows a great deal of promise. Medium
weight, with enticing color and floral nose. A waxy edge developed in the second
day which did subtract for this wine. Detailed, long finish revealing dark chocolate
and spice. Drink now through 2014. Lisa's 50th birthday - Newbury Park.
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3/28/2011 - Vinsant wrote:
Decanted for three hours in the cellar and tasted over two hours. Decent nose of red fruit and spice. Cali red fruit candy, Cola, and oak on the palate. Heat creaps up on the finish. Short finish. Not very interesting and flat.
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3/27/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Nice nose of cherries and cola. The palate is full bodied with creaminess to it. Ripe cherries but tight and holding back. Solid acidity and long finish with some tannins. Like it but will like it better in a few years.
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3/26/2011 - cadamson wrote: 89 Points
Pretty similar to my note from a few months ago. Well made wine and enjoyable. Not sure why, but there just seems to be an element of 'manufactured wine" about this that does not help its case.
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3/25/2011 - aroby wrote: 92 Points
Beautifully balanced, strong but not overpowering fruit. Nice acidity. Did not take any notes, just enjoyed the wine.
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3/21/2011 - mmcdds wrote: 92 Points
Pretty nose of cherry cola, dark fruit and some earthy, brambly undertones. This is a med to full bodied PN with the dark fruit dominating on the palate. Some leather, damp earthy notes and dusty tannins on the 40 second finish. Today this had a more Burgundian flare than Sea Smoke usually has for me. Double decanted and needed several hours to open.
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3/19/2011 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Currently at the 1.5 hour mark. Still tight with tart red cherry fruit. Ends with a dry and spicy abd ever so slightly sweet blackberry finish. Good. Will put a cork in and finish it off tomorrow.
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3/15/2011 - GalvezGuy wrote: 91 Points
Checking in to see where this wine is going. Basically unchanged from last tasting almost a year ago. Nose of black cherry, red raspberry, cranberry, spice, On the palate, black cherry, pie cherry, rhubarg spice. Finished with tart acidity and fine grained tannins. Needs some more time to develop that sappy mid-palate that I love in good Pinot. Check in again in one year.
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3/11/2011 - Grape Stuff wrote: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Sorry, no formal notes but a very tasty Pinot. Great cola, spice and cherry notes. Definitely new world, but not OTT new. Outstanding.
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3/6/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 93 Points
Menthol and some mint on the nose with nice minerality. Still very young. Guess was Central Coast. Fruit is muted but balance. Cherry flavors but a bit tart/sour. Opened up as night went on and I raised my rating from 89 to 93. Lesson - decant this one for a few hours or wait a few more years.
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3/5/2011 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 91 Points
Probably still a bit young. Took to a party with Chris and therefore had no opportunity to decant. It was a bit austere at first but started to show its stuff- unfortunately gone prior to reaching the best drinking point. Bright red cherry, some herbs and minerals lurking underneath. Silky mouthfeel and oak undertones. I will definitely hold my remaining bottle an additional year or two or at least decant longer if I can't keep my hands off it.
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3/5/2011 - GibsonHyde wrote: 96 Points
Still all the wonderful Pinot notes, the fruit the spice the barnyard nose. Wonderful.
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2/13/2011 - jnanz wrote: 91 Points
Outstanding bottle of Pinot. Decanted for 2 hours. Had alongside the 2008. The aromas of cherry and blackberry jumped from the decanter. A masculine wine with velvety tannin and big flavors. Reflected the vintage (2007). Big fruit on the palate: dark cherry and blackberry with herbs, anise and cola notes. Nice balance. Needs time but really enjoyed this.
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2/12/2011 - Solombra wrote: 94 Points
94-95 pts. I don't understand the severity of the scores on this wine. It was really a beautiful bottle. Color was really nice and had the brightness of wine still on its youthful side. We decanted for an hour and a half and enjoyed over two. It just kept getting better and in the future will decant at least two. Aromatics were subtle but had notes of raspberry and cherry, a breadlike yeastiness that I find very warm and pleasant, and a touch of pepper. On the palate I found everything harmonious from restrained fruitiness to earth and spice, the slightest bit of cola. I found it well balanced. Had with duck confit, cauliflower soup with white truffle oil, garlic whipped potatoes and portobello mushrooms a la Julia Child. Would definitely go back for this.
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1/29/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 87 Points
Drank in magnum. Way to young. Let the others rest for a few years. Fruit was powerful and big. Overwhelmed the palate.
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1/24/2011 - JoeDwine wrote: 93 Points
Really Nice oak a little strong still
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1/21/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Great wine. Extreme purity. Spice driven. Briar, big fruit. Tight and super young. Set down for 5-7 years.
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1/19/2011 - Gargamel wrote: 89 Points
To me, it is clear that the 07 vintage represents a stylistic change by the new winemaker. The acidity on these is so high that I wonder if is was not put through malo. Decanted for 5 hours, returned to bottle for 2 more and it never came close to opening up. Had a bit of raspberry and cherry on the palate. I'm guessing that many will disagree with me, but as of the 09 vintage I am done. Someone else can have my "c2" spot on the list :-)
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1/9/2011 - yonster24 wrote:
Second time I've had this in just over a week. Almost the same exact notes as before. Oaky at first, but left in the decanter and when I returned it was just wonderful. Got pretty much the same thing I did on 12/31, although this time there was a great cranberry element to the taste. Other than that both bottles were very similar.
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1/8/2011 - dfresh wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours upon advice from other CT notes. Great decision. Upon opening up for this long, it went from very average to above average, especially in the nose which shows warm brown sugar, raspberries, and strawberry pie. Mouthfeel is round and chewy for a pinot. A little grippy which I now understand other notes seeking a few more bottle years. A little tart too, not sweet at all on pallet. The finish is 30 seconds plus. This is my 6th and by far best showing of this wine.
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12/31/2010 - grafstrb wrote: 91 Points
– decanted immediately before tasting –
– tasted non-blind over a couple hours –
NOSE: initially, this was a bit alcoholic and nothing-but-oak on the Nose ---- I left it alone in the decanter, and came back to it an hour or hour and a half later. This wine seriously turned a corner for the better in that decanter: when I came back to it 60 - 90 minutes after decanting, lots (but not all) of the oak had fallen to the background, and a pleasantly seductive cranberry and cherry wash had forced its way to the forefront; some more time in the glass brought more ripe red berry aromas and spice.
BODY: raspberry color of medium depth; clear; medium bodied.
TASTE: initially, good acidity, but nothing but oak flavors showing ---- when I came back to it, the oak was less prominent, allowing the ripe red berry flavors through; palate is full; well-balanced between acid and tannin; ripe, and carries its alcohol well. Overall, this was a wine of two faces: upon opening, it was an oak monster; after aerating in decanter, it was much better. Needs more time in the cellar; hold ‘till 2013.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91
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12/31/2010 - yonster24 wrote:
Well...this turned out to be a fantastic bottle of wine. Grafstrb brought this over for NYE and when we first had it, we both got mostly Oak, although he seemed to get more of it than I did. Left it in the decanter for a while and came back to it. Wow, what a difference. Black Cherries, raspberries and some cedar on the nose. Medium bodied, juicy wine with the black cherries absolutely shining on the palate with an underlying bit of mocha (oak.) Finish was long and beautiful with everything in balance. I can't wait to see what this tastes like a few years down the road.
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12/31/2010 - jrglm Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice offering from Seasmoke. Bright red fruit and terroir on the nose. Strawberries or maybe raspberries and earth on the palate. Some really tasty juice.
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12/28/2010 - JayAAllen wrote: 90 Points
Another strong showing from Sea Smoke, though not as popular as either the DuMOL or Rochioli Pinot Noirs opened for the same party. Black fruit on the nose and the palate. Decanted, but drank right away. Might want to see how the wine develops with a bit more decanting time.
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12/26/2010 - cadamson wrote: 90 Points
This was a pleasant surprise, better than most Sea Smoke's I have had in the last couple years. Nice nose and palate of red fruits, some floral components and spices. Young, but pretty well balanced. Enjoyable to sip on with company.
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12/22/2010 - dontime wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Beautiful floral nose with red fruit and rose. On the palate sour cherries, mineral and flowers. A tad bit hot at first, but balalnced up nicely. Looking forward to my next bottle.
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12/17/2010 - coreywb wrote: 90 Points
Sea Smoke is what got me started on Pinot Noir. Have had every vintage since '04. Seems like the new winemaker maybe changed the style a bit. In any event, this Pinot needs more time. Have enough bottles to try one every 6 months or so and see how it evolves.
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11/26/2010 - jupiter33 wrote: 91 Points
Aired for 6 hours. Tannins and oak still very present. Nice red fruit but still too young. Will try again next year.
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11/25/2010 - carlsport wrote: 92 Points
As good as advertised. A pleasant nose and beautiful pale red in the glass. Lots of sweet fruit on the palette. Extremely smooth and a long and tasty finish. Did not disappoint.
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11/20/2010 - AWei wrote: 90 Points
Way too early to have popped this. Muted fruit, nice acid. Will wait 2 years at least before opening another.
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11/6/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 91 Points
Both complex and elegant with dried and fresh flowers on the nose with blueberiies and a hint of guava. Voluptuous mouthfeel and very fine tannins on the palate with cherry cola and red raspberry. Could benefit from some additional time to fully come together but the 40 minute decant provided the full perspective of what this bottle held. Seamless and wonderful delivery.
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10/18/2010 - mmcdds wrote: 92 Points
Nose of caramel, black cherry and some subtle herbal notes. Soft, feminine flavors of cherry cola, red rasberry, a hint of licorice and abit of white pepper. This was fairly closed on opening but open dramatically after about 2 hours in the decanter.
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10/17/2010 - sbfireman wrote: 94 Points
As always, a consistent winner. Smooth from the gate.
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10/9/2010 - AWei wrote: 91 Points
Tight as nails for the first hour. Opened up wonderfully after. Won't touch another for at least 1-2 years.
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10/3/2010 - Capybara562 wrote: 91 Points
This held up well over the course of a leisurely dinner (probably 2 hours), and is still young. Very well-balanced and flavorful without being a proverbial "fruit bomb".
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9/29/2010 - bundydavis wrote: 93 Points
Better than the last time I had this wine. Still need a couple more years, but is drinking well now. Would love to see how it improves with a few more years in the bottle.
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9/24/2010 - Deadhead wrote: 93 Points
I was allowed to have the leftovers from my wife's book club. I can't believe these women didn't finish the bottle! Quite enjoyable!
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9/16/2010 - bowmanbc wrote: 86 Points
didnt seem like this was quite on point. was good, but felt like it could use some more time to develop.
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9/3/2010 - smorris291 wrote: 91 Points
My first Sea Smoke. I was initally concerned that this would be an over the top CA Pinot, but found this to be quite balanced. Could have decanted a bit longer, and I agree with other notes that say this could use some more time, but this was delicious.
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8/29/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote:
Another check-in on the 07 Southing. Decanted about 3 hours this time, which isn't really enough to completely open the wine up to it's full potential but it does start to poke through nicely. Pretty much the same as the bottles previously opened and noted on last summer and last fall. Continue to hold if you can. For those reading this note who didn't get the 08s, in my opinion they are far superior to the 07s and 06s.
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8/26/2010 - hanratty21 wrote: 90 Points
A very solid wine. Sour cherry and raspberry flavor. Some slight acidity made me feel like this was a bit young. Delicate and not heavily extracted which was a pleasant surprise. This was my first Sea Smoke and it did not disappoint. I'll probably sit on my other bottle of this for a few more years.
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8/21/2010 - wine rat wrote: 90 Points
Good, but a little too young.
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8/11/2010 - bruce61 wrote: 94 Points
This wine was great. Decanted just a few minutes before drinking and it was everything we expect from a California Pinot. Big fruit, but not overly extracted. Bright cherry and raspberry flavors, some oak, nice long finish. The first taste had a bit of heat that dissipated as the wine opened up. Glad I have five more.
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8/1/2010 - incident wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with prior bottles. Hold.
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7/30/2010 - bundydavis wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful wine. Needs a couple more years to come in its own.
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7/23/2010 - kleinahoe wrote: 90 Points
Expected more oomph. Almost seemed a bit muddled.
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7/23/2010 - EMichels wrote: 93 Points
Pink eraser nose; Nice structure with food; Great nose
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7/21/2010 - twelch wrote: 92 Points
Ok, so now I might be a little disappointed I didn't re-up for my 2008's. This was way better than I was expecting based on what I've seen and read.
Nice nose of bing cherries and a great spice not on the nose. A little bit of unresolved alcohol on the nose and finish but overall drinking really well for a wine that typically needs years in bottle to flesh out a bit. Much better than a recent 05.
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7/16/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Great pinot. Deep ruby color with cherry and spice notes. Still very young.
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7/13/2010 - KMKCMT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great camping wine. Tri Tip and Sea Smoke!
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7/5/2010 - brianofthevine wrote: 89 Points
Tart red fruit, not much of a mid-palate or finish. Surprisingly just ok.
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7/5/2010 - Andrasey wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful!
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7/2/2010 - pkbackman wrote: 89 Points
This was excellent, but...it was a little too "hot" and austere for me to give it a higher score. I really did enjoy it, but I expected it to blow me away but it did not. Will "hold" my remaining 2 bottles.
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6/21/2010 - JOJ wrote: 94 Points
This was opened with a glass poured, and then recorked. Did not get back to it until the third day, when it was absolutely excellent. Nose of flinty black cherry, with flowers, wet rocks, hard candy, and a hint of cola. Palate offers tart cherry and black cherry, with notes of baking spice and minerals. Long finish. Superbly balanced, with no off notes at all. Still very young. Should improve.
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6/19/2010 - tanglenet wrote:
Taken to the Wood Tavern, Oakland. One glass poured the rest decanted over an hour. Initial attack of tart, sharp red cherry with a slightly sour and hot finish. Very tight and un-giving. Very slowly opened during our dinner and the last glass was the best with darker black cherry with round mouthfilling fruit with less heat. Needs 1 - 1 1/2 hours of decanting. Good to Very Good.
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6/18/2010 - Coupe 60 wrote: 90 Points
Came home from a baseball game and Mrs. Coupe had popped this. Actually showed pretty well, dark cherry profile, a lot of fruit and a lot of acidity, still a little tannic..good effort, but would better with some more time I believe.
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6/14/2010 - NY Wino wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby color, nose of ripe red fruit and alcohol. The wine has big fruit up front with a lot of acidity. Still quite tannic and a somewhat sharp finish. A bit of alcohol as well. Good now but likely needs another 2-3 years to settle down a bit.
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6/13/2010 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich, smooth caramelized red fruits and cherry notes without being overly sweet.
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6/13/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 26: WIML92+
Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stones, florals, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and a hint of bitters. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Hold. Not ready yet.
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5/29/2010 - soyhead wrote: 84 Points
Tasted blind. Nose - cherry, strawberry
Mouth - good red fruit, but a touch bitter, and strikes me perhaps as being overextracted.
Poor QPR
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5/21/2010 - Bob in NC wrote: 92 Points
While this needs more time in the bottle to fully blossom, it's potential shines though. The red cherry fruit is played perfectly - not overly sweet nor subdued that leads to cinnamon spice mid, hints of earth and fine tannins that give this wine a wonderful soft velvety mouth feel. Suggest this wine be held for 2 to 3 years to allow the earthy tones to develop and tannins subdue slightly.
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5/16/2010 - pagejshawjr wrote: 94 Points
Bottle was drinkable from the time is was opened. Full of Cherry and cola. Smooth from start to the very finish. Velvety and lush for a Santa Rita Hills Pinot. Very nice wine.
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5/14/2010 - Deb293 wrote: 90 Points
Good wine with lots of fruit but still very tannic at this stage. A bit heavy handed, so don't go looking for elegance here. Seems less stewed than the '06.
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5/10/2010 - sossher Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 15 minutes and enjoyed for Mother's Day. Great!
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4/29/2010 - guido23 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This was fuller than I expected for a pinot; it was very pleasant and easy to drink.
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4/27/2010 - kanab ram wrote:
Opened several hours before consuming. Dark, thick, and very polished. Finish was extraordinary. Notes were more earthy than most wines from this region. Don't be afraid to let this decant more than usually as I believe it really benefited from the additional time.
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4/25/2010 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Opened up to air about an hour to hour and a half, but not decanted. Drank over the next 2 - 3 hours. Black cherry, blackberry, boysenberry. A little sour cherry and toasted oak on the palate. Tannins are noticeable, but not too gritty. Medium length finish. Seems to be improving compared to the first bottle 3 months ago. Still something a little odd in the sourness on the palate.
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4/24/2010 - Dave and Mo Cellar wrote: 92 Points
Took a while to open up. Didn't decant, but the last part of the bottle was much better than the first. will decant the remaining bottles I have. should get better with time.
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4/19/2010 - JohnnyBark wrote: 94 Points
This had great shoulders for a Cali pinot. Huge bing cherry and Marion berry flavors. Should be quite nice in a couple years.
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4/15/2010 - Sir Lloyd wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. Soft cherries. Opened up quickly.
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4/10/2010 - ekirby wrote: 88 Points
What's the big deal? Muted disparate flavors, some typical of Pinot, others more a bit like cabernet. OK nose, minimal presence on palette. Balance between fruit, tannins and acicity was good.
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4/6/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. This was my first '07 SS. A much lighter-bodied effort from this producer- this for better or worse lacks a lot of the oak, sweetness, and extraction that they are known for. This definitely improved in the glass over time, and was a big hit with our tasting group. I am curious whether SS will continue this stylistic change- I like it- but this may not appeal to fans of "full throttle" PN.
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4/4/2010 - la_bacchus wrote: 87 Points
7 oenophiles tasted it and just thought eh. and it was clear that the bottle was not corked.
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3/29/2010 - g-man wrote: flawed
CORKED!
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3/29/2010 - GalvezGuy wrote: 92 Points
Decided to check in with this to see where it is. Popped and poured. Nose of black cherry, red raspberry, cranberry, spice, On the palate, black cherry, pie cherry, spice, cinnamon. Finished with laser acidity and fine grained tannins with nice grip. This will be a winner. Drink or hold. This has a good life in front of it. Oustanding. OK Value.
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3/23/2010 - hemanwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A nose of spice and pepper which follows through on the palate. It has a nice long finish of ripe fruit.
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3/14/2010 - GOL wrote:
Definitely needs time
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3/10/2010 - Shorepower wrote:
Bra rött vin. Struktur, ganska hög alkoholhalt men frukten kommer igenom. Ingen fruktbomb dock som en del viner från nya världen tyvärr är.
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3/4/2010 - eSchrag wrote: 92 Points
A more Burgundian offfering from Sea Smoke. No where near as much oak or richness as previous vintages. Has vibrant red berry fruit on top of a solid mineral backbone with a fair bit of acidity. Light on tannins that will allow for early drinking, but will certainly improve with age given the acidity. Enjoy!!!
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3/4/2010 - scelliott99 wrote: 92 Points
Drinks better young than previous vintages. As expected, not super complex but bright cherry and spice, floral nose with cherry and spice box. plenty of acid makes me excited for what this wine will.show in years to come
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2/14/2010 - Kmonkey wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Still very tightly wound. Loads of sour cherry though. A little one dimensional at this point, yet seems to have great potential. Will wait at least a year before opening another.
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2/13/2010 - brigcampbell wrote: 91 Points
Bright tart cherry nose and with a little spice. Still young obviously but lacking complexity at this point.
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2/11/2010 - Mlyles wrote: 93 Points
Damn I knew I should have waited...But am excited about this one-Royal Purple in glass. Cinnamon cardamom, acidity (should make this a keeper)
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2/6/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Open for four hours in the bottle. A seriously youthful though still accessible bottling.
Classic culty California Pinot Noir nose of creamy cranberries, light cherries, curry spice and peat moss.
Palate is full bodied showing more bright berries, white pepper and light earth.
Finish is in harmony with nice acidity but not showing the overly flamboyant style of past vintages.
In five years this will round out and show even better.
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2/2/2010 - JohnnyBark wrote: 92 Points
Sweet tarragon, mint, black pepper nose.
Not a lot on the front, big on the middle and large and tannic on the back with sour cherry with vanilla raspberry undertones. Really a wine I look forward to having in a couple more years when the rough edges smooth out.
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1/28/2010 - mmurry wrote: 91 Points
The nose had cherry and spice, some mushroom, and a little rose petal at the end. The palate had a load of sour cherry and forest floor. There was also some pepper, and it finished with some very good floral notes.
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1/17/2010 - brianngibson wrote: 90 Points
Black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, and a hint of white pepper/cedar. A little thin compared to prior vintages.
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1/16/2010 - ELH wrote: 92 Points
Lively red berry fruit. Medium body. Light tannins. Light finish. Elegant.
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1/15/2010 - Deadhead wrote: 93 Points
Damn good juice! Big and bold! Quite approachable.
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1/9/2010 - Magnolian wrote: 91 Points
$130 on the wine list at SeaStar Lake Union. (If retail is ~50, this was clearly a bit of a shaft.) Decanted for maybe 20 minutes, definitely needed more air, as it kept improving over the 60-90 minutes we drank it. Medium body, laser-beam strong red fruit flavors, very nicely balanced.
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1/1/2010 - the godfather wrote: 89 Points
Not bad
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1/1/2010 - KDutti wrote: 93 Points
Pop and poured over first course at Noir's on New Year's Eve.
First impression on tasting was the purity of the fruit - red berries. A more austere version than the Ten - just depends on your preference as which you may prefer. It does not have the depth or the spices associated w/ the Ten. Found the wine to be very well balanced.
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12/27/2009 - sammy wrote: 92 Points
Nice nose with a hint of some spicy aroma I can't put my finger on. Taste has nice fruit flavor and smooth overall.
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12/27/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Much softer style than previous vintages. Very low acidity. Nice balance of fruit from start to finish with cherry and rasberry. Light finish.
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12/21/2009 - swp3 wrote: flawed
Undrinkable. No clues in its appearance but the nose of prune, latex paint and burnt rubber leaves little doubt. Hopefully not a widespread problem. Will try another one in a few weeks.
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12/16/2009 - rdsboca wrote: 88 Points
friend popped one of these for me tonight. Color was young pinot, dark ruby red. Nose of cranberry, rasberry, strawberry and slightly sour cherries. Same fruit notes as the nose, with a bit of a greenish quality that I hop will integrate with time. Nice solid finish with relatively round tannins. I think that this will be a youngish drink-em up, within 5 years. Will let my bottles rest for a year and re-address.
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12/12/2009 - drwine2001 wrote:
Light ruby. Some real aromatic breadth here. Good fruit, significant finesse and airiness, and excellent acidity. Good wine.
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12/6/2009 - markjahnke wrote:
Purchased off of restaurant wine list at $59 and triple splash decanted by the sommelier, and left to decant for 2 hours while we enjoyed a Rivers-Marie Old Vines Summa Vineyard pinot. First and foremost, before anyone can complain about the '07 Sea Smoke, you have to know that these wines require some bottle/cellar time before they truly start to show their stuff. I have said it once, and I'll say it again, we're just finishing '04's from our cellar that I drinking fabulously right now, but even those will hold up another 5 plus years. Haven't even gotten around to thinking about popping '05's yet, let alone 06's and '07's. I think the 07's will come around sometime around '15 at the earliest to my tastes, but that is me, and I like them with some age on them. From the decanter to glass, great color, with a ton of cherry, strawberry, cola, butterscotch, some baking spice, and Santa Rita Hills soil on the nose. There is something so distinct about SRH pinot to me, but I can't quite put my finger on it. On the palate, plenty of dark fruits: black cherry, blackberry, and maybe a hint of blueberry. Still some acidity and tannin as the 2 hour decant wasn't long enough, leaving a little heat on the finish, but really, what can you possibly expect? Anyone who knows Sea Smoke knows to hold these, unless you were allocated a few and don't mind the infantcide. At this price off a restaurant list, I'd order it again in a heartbeat so that my cellar stash is safe. No rating now as this shows nowhere near it's potential, that I am guessing will be 91-93 with some bottle time. Cheers!
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12/6/2009 - lafon_rochet wrote: 86 Points
Had this one at the Epic Roasthouse in SF. Very strong vegetal notes on the notes and some wild cherry. Surprisingly thin and lean on the palate. This bottle was not corked, but must have been flawed in some way. It did tend to blow off a bit with air, but still very disappointing.
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12/5/2009 - Sir Lloyd wrote: 93 Points
Good juice. Popped and poured. Very good at this point. Got better as the night went on. Every sip was smooth. Cherry cola and ripe berries. Nose is pretty - not overbearing. Very approachable bottle of pinot noir. Sea Smoke has done it again.
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11/28/2009 - soyhead wrote: 89 Points
nose- light smoke. mouth - delicious red fruit, tasted side by side other pinots blinded, i found it a touch bitter on the finish which i attributed to slight over extraction. Dry tannins and good minearality. Possibly will do well with bottle age.
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11/26/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Showing better balance than I expected. Fruit wasn't fleshy, overly ripe and huge actually coming off as on the leaner side. Identifiable as Santa Rita Hills on the nose showing a similar note to Sonoma Coast Pinots. Somewhat tight over all but promising.
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11/25/2009 - trucrime wrote: 91 Points
This is still really young but the bright cherry, nutmeg and tobacco smoke will integrate and mellow over time. I say, don't touch the other bottles again until late 2011.
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11/23/2009 - jonwill wrote: 92 Points
Tart cherries through and through. Was initially so tight it practically had no taste - consistent with others opinions, lay this one down for a minimum of a year before drinking and be sure to decant. Beautiful Pinot!
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11/22/2009 - xboomer wrote: 91 Points
Drank two bottles at Leconda Portifino at $89.00 per bottle. Really GOOD!
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11/18/2009 - incident wrote: 92 Points
Clear, deep ruby red. Clean aromas of cherry, vanilla, some black fruits. Medium acidity, soft tannins, medium finish. Flavors match aromas with tart cherry and earthy herbal finish. Hold for 2-3 years. Very nice with room to improve once things come together.
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11/10/2009 - winoj wrote: 96 Points
This bottle was absolutely exceptional. Words can't describe it. If you see it, buy it.
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11/6/2009 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 24 hours this time and that seems to have nicely unlocked this beast. Shows nice big cherry scents with some spicy oak. Flavors have really melded together well on the palate and the overall texture has taken on an elegant smoothness that I wasn't expecting. Medium to full bodied with voluptuous fruit flavors and a great finish. Certainly lives up to the potential I was expecting from my previous note but also tells me that if you want to pop and pour this baby, wait for about 5 or 6 years.
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11/4/2009 - jhannah27 wrote: 92 Points
This is the second time that I have had this wine, and yes, I am killing babies here, but of all of the Sea Smoke that I have had, this is by far the vintage most in need of a long aging period. Once you can get past the imbalance with the 14.5% ABV, and the pretty intense candied fruits, there are some amazing flavors of dusty and damp earth, deep dark berries, all spice and mint. I am thinking that this wine will be absolutely dynamite in about 10 years when the glycerine and alcohol integrate. For me, this is unfortunate because I typically enjoy Sea Smoke in the short term, but these will have to be hidden away. This just won't show well without some serious bottle time, IMO.
Day 2 - It has certainly softened and and smoothed out. Completely silky smooth texture. Similar flavor profile as yesterday with the sweet spices, damp earth, black berries and black cherries. I am still struggling with the alcohol balance here. I sure hope this dies down with time or this will be a bit of a disappointment from a producer that I love in what was said to be a great vintage for Central CA pinot. 92 for it's potential, but fingers are crossed.
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10/18/2009 - chad1616 wrote:
Wont rate this as we had this way to young. At this point not very impressive.
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9/4/2009 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
I just had to get a sneak peak at the 07 Southing to see what we have in store for the future. Decanted this for about 4 hours. This doesn't appear to be quite as "big" as the previous vintages I've had in the past. The label shows only 0.2% less alcohol compared to the 06 and 05, which both list 14.7%. Shows nice black cherries on the palate, but is a little tannic and backwards. Extremely young and primary right now but there is really a lot going on and I think that given enough time, this will really become something quite nice. 92 based on potential.
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7/28/2009 - MarkLA wrote:
Opened w/o decanting. Compared to 2004-2006, perhaps the most backward, ungiving Southing I've ever had at this early age. Most enjoyable on the 2nd day, when the aromas and concentrated flavors seemed to come together. It'll be a good one, but it needs time to integrate.
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