Medium cherry coloring when poured. Lots of cherry notes on the nose. Other notes included a spiciness, some raspberry with a hint of pepper. A smooth, mellow pinot that went great with dinner (veal steak). Started to fade towards the end.
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This bottle was singing! Darker fruited like the earlier vintages tended to be -- black cherry. There was spiciness and black tea on the finish. Somewhat dense given it's 15 years old. This bottle had plenty of life left. Nice nose and long finish.
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Nice accompaniment to prime rib. Not going to get any better. it's pleasant, but not the best SS I have had/ I think I may have held on to it too long.
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this bottle was shared by john Zaccone at a central jersey CT offline dinner held at ursino in union, n.j. the wine seemed to be slightly tired but still offered drinking pleasure. nice dark cherry fruit with some remaining acidity. this was my introduction to pino from st. rita hills. i have gone on to enjoy more recent vintages of sea smoke as well as various wines from other st. rita hills producers.
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90's Cali Cab and the Kitchen Sink (Ursino in Union, NJ): This was just in a perfect place. Decanted prob for 30-45 minutes before pouring. Great cheery flavor, a bit of woodland spice. Very nice and soft. With some time got a bit more of the mineral flavor and cinnamon. It's a bigger pinot - stood up against some of the 90's cabs we were also serving with dinner in terms of body and mouthful.
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This was just beautiful. I'd challenge anyone, even if their tastes ran towards different styles, grapes or regions, to look me in the eye and tell me that wasn't a truly delicious wine.
And I guess I'm not alone -- of the 25 most recent tasting notes for this wine, spanning back about four years, the two lowest scores were 91 points, and the only two of the 25 who didn't enter a score both gave the wine positive reviews.
The fruit is ample, but not excessive or overly sweet at this point, veering towards purple berries. The fruit is balanced by a tremendous amount of clove, cinnamon and other Christmas spices, and then medium acids to send the lucky taster off onto a long finish.
I remember from many years back that this was always a terrific wine, and it certainly has not diminished any. Has it changed a great deal? I'm not sure. I think the difference is probably that the fruit is slightly receded into better balance with the spices, and age has given the nose a hint of funk and earth, but it has probably mostly cruised along it its own way. It certainly is in no danger of dropping off in the coming several years, but I'm not sure if it has a substantially different page to turn. It's just as well if it doesn't, as it's a serious treat to drink as it is.
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14.3%. A hedonist's wine. Opulent central coast pinot, no one would ever mistake this for french. Seems to have aged well. Good for another 5 years I would think.
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This bottle was drinking really well the other night. Just pounded the bottle, didn't take any notes...but do recall it aging very well, and in a really nice place with the 10yrs of age on it. Fresh and alive wild berry fruit, dried florals, sandalwood spice, cigar box, leather....still tart fruit, nice cream and earth....pretty youthful, yet with aged complexities. Tasty! Wish I had more....
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Head to head vertical against the ’02 Southing (93 pts). Decanted 2 hours, consumed over 4 hours. No hard edges here; this is about as soft, round, and full bodied as you get, and with perfect acidic balance. A little less concentration on the nose compared to the ’02, so 92 pts vs. the more intense ’02. Still a fantastic bottle of juice; one that should probably be consumed on its own vs. with food. Peeking right now and maybe will start to see a slow decline going forward. Drink now.
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This was an amazing bottle at the end of this vintage string of Southing 2003 vintage. It was still fresh and aromatic and presented good acidity. This surprised me at how delicious this was and fully integrated and structured. Silky smooth with rich flavors now seamless in the entire package. Some spice and nice finish. Since Chris was not drinking had the rest of the bottle 24-48 hours after opening. Showing signs of aging here- more rusty brink in color and freshness had departed. Still a beautiful wine.
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Opened w 60 min air in bottle. Rich dark ruby color, only slightly lighter on the rim. Nose of cherry, cherry and spice with mineral notes - almost earthy. Big and rich on the palate but still very smooth, almost silky; moderate finish. Cherry with smokey-pepper notes, minerals & earth. Very nice bottle and a perfect match for the evenings duck confit.
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Wow! This wine was the hit of the evening at the Ruck's Halloween festivities. It has come together perfectly with everything integrated and yet still presenting the fresh fruit flavors of black cherry and raspberry. The fruit, a bit of spice and perfect acidity all align to demonstrat a perfectly structured and balance Pinot Noir. Combines a nice level of richness with incredible finesse and delivers a lasting finish and impression.
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Ruby red, a bit hot on open, smoothed out over about 45 minutes of decant. Cherry, spice and a campground after rain - forest and smoke, while velvety in the mouth. That loveliness aside, short finish holds this back from being truly special.
Drinking perfectly now - the fruit, spice and acidity are all in place with a soft, velvety feel - straddles the fine line between richness and finesse that makes this wine so impressive
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Decanted 1 hour. Ruby red. Dusty cherries, spice, forest floor and smoke. Sweet medium intensity fruit on entry, spice notes and round feel build through midpalate where firm tannins and good acidity balance things out. Medium-low complexity as spice highlights the fruit nicely and a tad of elegance/finesse. Short but pleasant length.
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Drank on Christmas Eve with family. Still drinking well and tasting fresh at this point. A fairly plush and forward style although not overblown by any means. Rich plum and dark berry notes. Rich texture. Some well integrated spice notes.
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Bigger, richer and more intense than the botella, yet not overextracted and all the elements remain in balance - dark fruit, cinnamon, spice, whiff of cola with a wonderful velvety, gentle texture and inviting warmth to it - wonderfully powerful and tender at the same time
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True ruby – lightens at rim. Intense and powerful nose. Oak smoke, fruit and alcohol define this wine. Big, with good flavor intensity but seems to lack focus. Trying to hard and ending up somewhat generic. That said, a big mouthful of wine. (87)
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I was happy to find an '03 Calipinot still holding up. Dark cherry red with red/black fruits on the nose and the tongue. True to the house style, nice.
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My Birthday (Palate Food + Wine): The best Southing I've ever had. Proof to me that I need to have more patience with later vintages. Gorgeous cherry and spice nose, but with a poise that this wine never showed in its younger days. Velvety mouthfeel, lingering finish, fully mature, I think, but I wish I had more. Drink or hold.
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Really singing now. Nose of black cherry, with hints of smoke, cola, and graphite. Palate features waves of black cherry and raspberry, with notes of spicy cola (Dr. Pepper?) and licorice. Well balanced with great acidity. Long finish. A touch of heat on the finish is the only detracting note, but that's just a quibble.
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Violet aromas on the nose and dark ruby color. Cherry and raspberry flavors dominate, with a full-bodied and velvety feel on the palate. Terrific pinot!
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Rich ruby in color. Black cherries and blueberries with dusty violet notes. Very delicious and well structured. Enjoyed this lovely wine with good friends.
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Dark garnet in color. Violets and blueberries on the nose. Elegant with excellent balance. Kept the night off on the right foot with a second bottle of this.. Just a delicious wine that everyone enjoyed.
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Chris took as a hostess gift to HS friends but brought it back home since they would not enjoy it. We then opened this with Mitchell, Teresa, Erin and Will. Nice start to the evening. Beautiful color, rich and great mouthfeel. Dark garnet in color. Wild blueberries , black cherry and violets on the nose. Ample body and ripe tannins. Probably one of my favorite Sea Smoke's.
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A nice deep red coloring accompanied by a nose of red fruit. Not overpowering, but lots of fruit and stuffing. The tannins have mostly faded providing a smooth glass of wine.
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A stunner. We decanted this for 2-3 hours before going in. Super jammy, with black fruits, cola, and a hint of spice. Drinking great right now. This one was the winner at Thanksgiving this year!
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comes across as cooler climate - not sure if that's the case or not. great earthy nose that is distinctly pinot, but not overtly fruity. The palate is spicy and rich without being over the top. Wonderful mouthwatering acidity that keeps you coming back.
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OC Breakfast And Pinot Offline (The Murray's): Bag #18--Even at this stage, shows some oak shadings on the nose, with blackberry, kiwi, some apple. A big wine says my notes, almost barrel sample like in tone, whihc surprised me given the age of the wine. As much as I feel odd saying it, needs more time to shed some fat?
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Fruit forward with dark fruits, cherry, cola, and spice. The tannins are soft and the mouthfeel is delicious and well balanced. Very nice, but not outstanding.
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Very similar to the previous note. This was a delicious and easy drinking wine, but without the complexity or nuances you would hope for in a $49 bottle of wine. This had more Pinot character than I remember, yet went very well with a grilled steak. Large scaled but balanced with nice acidity.
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Sweet, lush nose of black cherry, mushroom, some coffee, orange pekoe, liquorice, spices. Rich and lively palate with lush tannins and long finish. Would never be confused with Burgundy, but when it's this good, who cares? (And I love Burgundy)
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Decanted for 2 hours. Nice dark cherry colour, showing only a tinge of brick on the rim. Lots of blackcherry fruit on the nose - very primary. Hints of blackcurrants, herbs and mushrooms but generally not that complex. Palate is similar, lovely sweet red and black cherry fruit, dry with some acidity but little tannins. Delicious to drink but not complex in flavour.
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Dark ruby. Medium to full-bodied. Black cherry predominates. Went well with filet. Brought in to nice steak restaurant, but served out of second-rate glass. Was with other couple who are not wine lovers, felt too pretentious to ask for nice glass.
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One of the more exotic California Pinots I've had with an incredible mineral structure supporting lovely cherry cola fruit. The Central Coast Pinot field is getting crowded but Sea Smoke continues to do it right. My experience aging Pinot is limited, but I'd say this one is going to improve even more. Decant 2+ hours now.
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Nice Southing from Sea Smoke. I think wine is in its prime and we should enjoy it within the year. After a couple of more fruit forward Pinots, this came across as structured and well balanced. Nice fruit flavors well integrated in th wine. Wild blueberries and black cherries, with violets and a bit of dustiness. Would still benefit from a bit of decanting before consuming.
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Dark ruby color. Big and robust cherry, spice, and licorice flavors. Still it is smooth and finishes well. Liked it better than the 2004. Drinking well now but I'm in no hurry to drink my other bottle
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Drank this over two nights. First night, undecanted, very nice, a little closed, good fruit, great nose (someone else said cherry cola). Second night, corked for 24 hours, opened up, fruit all over the place, tons of berries.
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Wow, what a great bottle. Four of us finished this off so fast, I don't really have notes. But it had depth, dark fruit, tobacco/cedar notes, and a good long finish.
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A few Pinots and fish on the grill: The best showing of this wine for me yet, it appears (for my palate) to be in a nice spot right now. Unfortunately, it was my last bottle. A much richer and deeper wine that the Ketcham that accompanied it, the nose showed clove, sandalwood, cinnamon, and a bit of vanilla. Each mouthful was broad and suave with fine length and notes of dark cherries, red and black plums, and gingerbread. Bigger and richer in style, it suited my fancy a bit more than the Ketcham on this evening, although I thought the Ketcham showed brighter and more balanced. The oak treatment was also a little more disjointed, but the power of the fruit and greater nuance made this bottle my favorite of the evening.
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Not quite as vibrant as the 2004 Southing that I had in December. The nose was typical Southing, but the palate seemed muted. A very good wine, but seemed shut down a bit.
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Decanted 2 hours ahead. Darkly extracted. Relatively tight nose of cherry, earth, vanilla. Rich palate with a finish in which tannins stood out. Served next to '03 Siduri SRH which was much brighter and aromatic.
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Not as exciting as the first bottle I had, which I would have put at 93. Clearly Santa Rita Hills profile (heavy cherries, spice), but not quite as bright as before. Decanted for 90 minutes.
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Very bright clean cheery nose, rich, short to medium finish with mild structure. Drank over three hours, certainly better after 1.5 hours. Although a good Southing, I thought other vintages were a bit more structured with more depth. Still enjoyable, but I thought just a tad simple.
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Settled down from a year ago. Still a rich nose, less floral, with tar and cherry notes to go with some earth. Mouthfilling palate of cherry with some oak, spice and a longer finish than I remember. Firm structure with long life ahead.
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The benefit of laying down this wine was so apparent. It emerged out of the bottle with a rich, smooth complexity that invited the drinker to savor every moment. The rich dark fruit reached out of the glass to compel me to adore the boquet and aroma of this lovely wine. I am so thrilled to have seven more bottles to experience. This wine is just starting to show itself as the stellar Pinot it is. Great long finish and an exceptional mouthfeel combined with perfect balance and structure. Need I say more?
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Opened and served over 3 hours, no decanting. This is an outstanding wine. There was deep dark fruit mid palate with notes of cinnamon, other spices, smoke and leather - the complexity grew over time as we picked up other flavors later on. Nice lengthy finish. the aromas jumped out of the glass. This was an experience I can't wait to have again.
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(at Corks – Baltimore) Wow! This wine totally blew me away. While I am a fan of many California Pinots, I had heard how big and over the top this producer’s wine are. This is the first I bottle I have opened from the cellar and while this is no wimpy wine, I found it to be captivating and beautiful. Lovely red fruit flavors held in balance by a solid structure. This finish was a touch short, but that is quibbling. I am having a hard time with the Burgundy versus California pinot debate – they are different for sure (don’t know why this is bad), but why can’t one like both? Another list to stay on….. (18)
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Consumed with dinner at Mullholland Grill with Stephan and Carol. Charcoal cherries. Fine balance, a bit tart at first on the finish then smoothed out over the dinner.Full in the mouth, smooth down the gullet. Very impressive.
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Very dark ruby color. Very expansive nose with notes of cherry and strawberry and oak . Medium body with very fine and drying tannins and deep cherry toned flavors. The finish is quite long and a bit oaky for me. Erica loved it. I kept expecting more personality and energy from the wine.
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CA Cherry-Bomb Bash Dinner at ONE.midtown kitchen (Atlanta, GA): No decant, but opened up nicely after an hour. Good nose of dark cherry with a hint of earth. Dominant flavor of dense, dark cherry with some earth and a nice touch of underbrush. Full mouthfeel, yet soft and very fine tannins throughout with spice increasing on the back of the palate leading to an elegant finish. Can be enjoyed now with 1 - 2 hr’s decant time, but should cellar well for several more years.
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Pinot Noir Dinner (Wino-dome): Typical Central Coast--an iron fist in a velvet glove. Cherry bomb of a wine, but with a fine finish. Nice acid, a bit of drying tannins but not unpleasantly so.
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Definitely a large, extracted California pinot, but with some time in the decanter, earthy elements appear to balance the wine. Drinking nicely right now with about an hour of air time. Will definitely improve with some more age to integrate the oak and fruits.
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Found this to be better balanced than many other big California Pinots, with acidity to match its dark fruit, spice and earthy components. It's still of the "in your face" style, however. I think it will be even beter with some bottle age.
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Well-spiced weighty red fruits and lots of oak. Only medium-body but a deficiency of structure and too much alcohol renders this a bit flabby and a bit overbearing. A fine enough wine, but suffers as the reach exceeds the grasp.
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I really enjoyed this wine. It had a deep, dark nose, and long and lingering finish. It is one of the better Pinots that I have had recently, and I can't wait to continue to enjoy more. Outstanding wine!
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This was an incredible wine. Very full palate with dark cherries and a hint of earth. Fully integrated. This wine should develop nicely over the next few years.
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Gorgeous florals on the nose, particularly rose. Drank way too young, just did a cellar grab'n'run to go with a hastily grilled pork tenderloin. Will need some time, bit tannic now and unsettled, tight. Tart berries on the palate. Nicely acidic and structured, I think this will be good in a couple more years.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Full-bodied wine that is dark ruby in color with a clear rim. On the nose, dusty dark cherries and allspice. On the palate, lightly tart black cherry liqueur, x-mas spices, and vanilla wood. Glycerin-heavy and mouth-filling with fruit, this lovely wine lingers for 20-30 seconds. Excellent balance with a sweet finish...very light touch of heat early that fades over the course of the evening. There has been such controversy over this producer, but I found this wine delicious, and it compared very favorably with some of my recent 2003 CA pinot faves like August West and Kosta Browne. Well done!
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(Wine Cask Futures Tasting, Santa Barbara, CA) This is the Botella with the rough edges shaved off; smoother with better balance, more noticableh acidity and less apparent alcohol. This will take more time to come around than the Botella and will last longer. Best QPR of the trio this year.
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4/13/2024 - vinolovers wrote: 92 Points
Medium cherry coloring when poured. Lots of cherry notes on the nose. Other notes included a spiciness, some raspberry with a hint of pepper. A smooth, mellow pinot that went great with dinner (veal steak). Started to fade towards the end.
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1/24/2018 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle was singing! Darker fruited like the earlier vintages tended to be -- black cherry. There was spiciness and black tea on the finish. Somewhat dense given it's 15 years old. This bottle had plenty of life left. Nice nose and long finish.
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7/13/2017 - Goatmedic wrote:
Drink now or forever hold your pink water
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2/27/2017 - mouton45 wrote:
Nice accompaniment to prime rib. Not going to get any better. it's pleasant, but not the best SS I have had/ I think I may have held on to it too long.
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9/28/2016 - JBVino wrote:
colored water. thin absent of any presence or personality. not sure what it was like young but now not providing much enjoyment.
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1/31/2016 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fruit has faded a bit since last bottle in 2012, but has developed more earthy notes with well balanced structure and finish. Drink up.
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7/13/2015 - Jeffsta Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely. Secondary flavors emerging, years of life left from a cold cellar.
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5/7/2015 - Neecies wrote:
At J & A's. 14.5% alcohol shows the heat, modest fruit with bananas and brandy on the finish. Purchased in Texas--therein lies the problem?
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1/17/2015 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
this bottle was shared by john Zaccone at a central jersey CT offline dinner held at ursino in union, n.j. the wine seemed to be slightly tired but still offered drinking pleasure. nice dark cherry fruit with some remaining acidity. this was my introduction to pino from st. rita hills. i have gone on to enjoy more recent vintages of sea smoke as well as various wines from other st. rita hills producers.
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1/17/2015 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
90's Cali Cab and the Kitchen Sink (Ursino in Union, NJ): This was just in a perfect place. Decanted prob for 30-45 minutes before pouring. Great cheery flavor, a bit of woodland spice. Very nice and soft. With some time got a bit more of the mineral flavor and cinnamon. It's a bigger pinot - stood up against some of the 90's cabs we were also serving with dinner in terms of body and mouthful.
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11/27/2014 - Boskoop2 wrote:
Great great pinot noir 94
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2/21/2014 - Counselor Chris wrote: 94 Points
This was just beautiful. I'd challenge anyone, even if their tastes ran towards different styles, grapes or regions, to look me in the eye and tell me that wasn't a truly delicious wine.
And I guess I'm not alone -- of the 25 most recent tasting notes for this wine, spanning back about four years, the two lowest scores were 91 points, and the only two of the 25 who didn't enter a score both gave the wine positive reviews.
The fruit is ample, but not excessive or overly sweet at this point, veering towards purple berries. The fruit is balanced by a tremendous amount of clove, cinnamon and other Christmas spices, and then medium acids to send the lucky taster off onto a long finish.
I remember from many years back that this was always a terrific wine, and it certainly has not diminished any. Has it changed a great deal? I'm not sure. I think the difference is probably that the fruit is slightly receded into better balance with the spices, and age has given the nose a hint of funk and earth, but it has probably mostly cruised along it its own way. It certainly is in no danger of dropping off in the coming several years, but I'm not sure if it has a substantially different page to turn. It's just as well if it doesn't, as it's a serious treat to drink as it is.
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10/26/2013 - jwebtx wrote:
Popped @ a party so no formal notes. I thought I would just share that this wine is still going strong.
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9/13/2013 - Nico P. wrote:
14.3%. A hedonist's wine. Opulent central coast pinot, no one would ever mistake this for french. Seems to have aged well. Good for another 5 years I would think.
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1/14/2013 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was drinking really well the other night. Just pounded the bottle, didn't take any notes...but do recall it aging very well, and in a really nice place with the 10yrs of age on it. Fresh and alive wild berry fruit, dried florals, sandalwood spice, cigar box, leather....still tart fruit, nice cream and earth....pretty youthful, yet with aged complexities. Tasty! Wish I had more....
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6/10/2012 - pinothoarder wrote: 92 Points
Head to head vertical against the ’02 Southing (93 pts). Decanted 2 hours, consumed over 4 hours. No hard edges here; this is about as soft, round, and full bodied as you get, and with perfect acidic balance. A little less concentration on the nose compared to the ’02, so 92 pts vs. the more intense ’02. Still a fantastic bottle of juice; one that should probably be consumed on its own vs. with food. Peeking right now and maybe will start to see a slow decline going forward. Drink now.
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2/12/2012 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
Continues to drink beautifully! Paired well with tapas at Meson Sabika.
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4/8/2011 - S. Lorin wrote: 94 Points
aging beautifully with sweet cherries, plums and spice in an elegant frame and a lingering finish - 2003 was a magical year for SS
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3/10/2011 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
This was an amazing bottle at the end of this vintage string of Southing 2003 vintage. It was still fresh and aromatic and presented good acidity. This surprised me at how delicious this was and fully integrated and structured. Silky smooth with rich flavors now seamless in the entire package. Some spice and nice finish. Since Chris was not drinking had the rest of the bottle 24-48 hours after opening. Showing signs of aging here- more rusty brink in color and freshness had departed. Still a beautiful wine.
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2/18/2011 - cjsavino wrote: 93 Points
Opened and allowed to sit for 2 hours. Silky, smooth, deep with flavor, wild blueberrys, a beautiful wine.
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12/30/2010 - no leashes wrote: 92 Points
For eve of eve dinner at Bonsoiree. Excellent choice paired with the lamb loin and oxtail entree.
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12/28/2010 - CMz wrote: 92 Points
Opened w 60 min air in bottle. Rich dark ruby color, only slightly lighter on the rim. Nose of cherry, cherry and spice with mineral notes - almost earthy. Big and rich on the palate but still very smooth, almost silky; moderate finish. Cherry with smokey-pepper notes, minerals & earth. Very nice bottle and a perfect match for the evenings duck confit.
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10/30/2010 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
Wow! This wine was the hit of the evening at the Ruck's Halloween festivities. It has come together perfectly with everything integrated and yet still presenting the fresh fruit flavors of black cherry and raspberry. The fruit, a bit of spice and perfect acidity all align to demonstrat a perfectly structured and balance Pinot Noir. Combines a nice level of richness with incredible finesse and delivers a lasting finish and impression.
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10/26/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
Still young...needs 1 hour to really open. spice smoke seawater and kiwi. Nice complexity and barely reminiscent of a CA Pinot!
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8/17/2010 - ianinvirginia wrote: 91 Points
Ruby red, a bit hot on open, smoothed out over about 45 minutes of decant. Cherry, spice and a campground after rain - forest and smoke, while velvety in the mouth. That loveliness aside, short finish holds this back from being truly special.
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2/14/2010 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Great bottle. My last one. The wine is so well balanced. Still has the black cherry and raspberry notes. Wonderful finish.
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2/13/2010 - S. Lorin wrote: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly now - the fruit, spice and acidity are all in place with a soft, velvety feel - straddles the fine line between richness and finesse that makes this wine so impressive
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12/28/2009 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Ruby red. Dusty cherries, spice, forest floor and smoke. Sweet medium intensity fruit on entry, spice notes and round feel build through midpalate where firm tannins and good acidity balance things out. Medium-low complexity as spice highlights the fruit nicely and a tad of elegance/finesse. Short but pleasant length.
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12/24/2009 - haonusa wrote: 91 Points
Drank on Christmas Eve with family. Still drinking well and tasting fresh at this point. A fairly plush and forward style although not overblown by any means. Rich plum and dark berry notes. Rich texture. Some well integrated spice notes.
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11/26/2009 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
With Thanksgiving dinner, a great pairing. Sweet red cherry, earth, smoke, pepper on the finish, great balance and structure. Delicious.
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11/25/2009 - Mlyles wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic! Cherries and berry nose. Very fruit forward Pinot. Clear and very precise- very round flavor and mouthfeel Excellent!
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10/9/2009 - yovinny wrote: 94 Points
Great pinot. Classic and well balanced. This is singing now. What a treat.
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9/6/2009 - S. Lorin wrote: 94 Points
Bigger, richer and more intense than the botella, yet not overextracted and all the elements remain in balance - dark fruit, cinnamon, spice, whiff of cola with a wonderful velvety, gentle texture and inviting warmth to it - wonderfully powerful and tender at the same time
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8/27/2009 - dbkitc wrote: 87 Points
True ruby – lightens at rim. Intense and powerful nose. Oak smoke, fruit and alcohol define this wine. Big, with good flavor intensity but seems to lack focus. Trying to hard and ending up somewhat generic. That said, a big mouthful of wine. (87)
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7/20/2009 - Rangstrom wrote: 90 Points
I was happy to find an '03 Calipinot still holding up. Dark cherry red with red/black fruits on the nose and the tongue. True to the house style, nice.
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7/17/2009 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
Fresh bright fruit - delicious.
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7/3/2009 - ebrumby wrote: 92 Points
An outstanding bottle of wine. This was my last bottle of 2003 and I am sorry to see it go.
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6/1/2009 - MLwine wrote: 91 Points
Tannins have fully resolved. Smooth, rich, and fruity pinot noir with lots of cherry.
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4/11/2009 - ruddy wrote: 96 Points
My Birthday (Palate Food + Wine): The best Southing I've ever had. Proof to me that I need to have more patience with later vintages. Gorgeous cherry and spice nose, but with a poise that this wine never showed in its younger days. Velvety mouthfeel, lingering finish, fully mature, I think, but I wish I had more. Drink or hold.
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3/24/2009 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful Pinot. Black cherry and raspberry notes continue to dominate. This wine has pulled together and is drinking so beautifully now.
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3/20/2009 - JOJ wrote: 93 Points
Really singing now. Nose of black cherry, with hints of smoke, cola, and graphite. Palate features waves of black cherry and raspberry, with notes of spicy cola (Dr. Pepper?) and licorice. Well balanced with great acidity. Long finish. A touch of heat on the finish is the only detracting note, but that's just a quibble.
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3/7/2009 - kgh wrote: 93 Points
Violet aromas on the nose and dark ruby color. Cherry and raspberry flavors dominate, with a full-bodied and velvety feel on the palate. Terrific pinot!
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2/4/2009 - pepeelvis wrote:
good straightfoward cali pinot. I don't think this will develop much more. Ready to drink!
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1/24/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
Rich ruby in color. Black cherries and blueberries with dusty violet notes. Very delicious and well structured. Enjoyed this lovely wine with good friends.
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1/17/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
Dark garnet in color. Violets and blueberries on the nose. Elegant with excellent balance. Kept the night off on the right foot with a second bottle of this.. Just a delicious wine that everyone enjoyed.
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1/9/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
Chris took as a hostess gift to HS friends but brought it back home since they would not enjoy it. We then opened this with Mitchell, Teresa, Erin and Will. Nice start to the evening. Beautiful color, rich and great mouthfeel. Dark garnet in color. Wild blueberries , black cherry and violets on the nose. Ample body and ripe tannins. Probably one of my favorite Sea Smoke's.
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12/26/2008 - vicklee wrote: 88 Points
very very good pinot that has a hint of "smoke"
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12/20/2008 - pjhr wrote: 96 Points
WOTN! This has developed into an extraordinary wine. One of the best pinot's I've ever had!
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11/27/2008 - vinolovers wrote: 92 Points
A nice deep red coloring accompanied by a nose of red fruit. Not overpowering, but lots of fruit and stuffing. The tannins have mostly faded providing a smooth glass of wine.
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11/27/2008 - B&T wrote: 93 Points
A stunner. We decanted this for 2-3 hours before going in. Super jammy, with black fruits, cola, and a hint of spice. Drinking great right now. This one was the winner at Thanksgiving this year!
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11/13/2008 - mappleton wrote:
comes across as cooler climate - not sure if that's the case or not. great earthy nose that is distinctly pinot, but not overtly fruity. The palate is spicy and rich without being over the top. Wonderful mouthwatering acidity that keeps you coming back.
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9/26/2008 - SeaSmoke wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully. Still fruit forward with nice tannins.
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9/20/2008 - simba-mk@cox.net wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Drinking soooooo nicely now.
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7/27/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OC Breakfast And Pinot Offline (The Murray's): Bag #18--Even at this stage, shows some oak shadings on the nose, with blackberry, kiwi, some apple. A big wine says my notes, almost barrel sample like in tone, whihc surprised me given the age of the wine. As much as I feel odd saying it, needs more time to shed some fat?
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7/21/2008 - matthen wrote: 90 Points
Fruit forward with dark fruits, cherry, cola, and spice. The tannins are soft and the mouthfeel is delicious and well balanced. Very nice, but not outstanding.
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7/14/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 89 Points
Very similar to the previous note. This was a delicious and easy drinking wine, but without the complexity or nuances you would hope for in a $49 bottle of wine. This had more Pinot character than I remember, yet went very well with a grilled steak. Large scaled but balanced with nice acidity.
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6/12/2008 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Sweet, lush nose of black cherry, mushroom, some coffee, orange pekoe, liquorice, spices. Rich and lively palate with lush tannins and long finish. Would never be confused with Burgundy, but when it's this good, who cares? (And I love Burgundy)
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3/29/2008 - SeaSmoke wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Outstanding with lots of fruit. Cherries and some spice.
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2/22/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 89 Points
A little too oaky
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12/25/2007 - thebonnydooner wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Nice dark cherry colour, showing only a tinge of brick on the rim. Lots of blackcherry fruit on the nose - very primary. Hints of blackcurrants, herbs and mushrooms but generally not that complex. Palate is similar, lovely sweet red and black cherry fruit, dry with some acidity but little tannins. Delicious to drink but not complex in flavour.
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11/26/2007 - dionysis wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding as always -- tons of rich, berry fruit. Enjoyed before and during first part of Thanksgiving dinner -- great starter to a great meal!
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11/2/2007 - leadpencil wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby. Medium to full-bodied. Black cherry predominates. Went well with filet. Brought in to nice steak restaurant, but served out of second-rate glass. Was with other couple who are not wine lovers, felt too pretentious to ask for nice glass.
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10/23/2007 - babnik wrote:
One of the more exotic California Pinots I've had with an incredible mineral structure supporting lovely cherry cola fruit. The Central Coast Pinot field is getting crowded but Sea Smoke continues to do it right. My experience aging Pinot is limited, but I'd say this one is going to improve even more. Decant 2+ hours now.
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10/13/2007 - wineguysf wrote: 94 Points
Always good. Drank with Chicken Soupe... home made. Complimented the comfort homey flavors very nicely.
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9/23/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours.
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9/2/2007 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
Nice Southing from Sea Smoke. I think wine is in its prime and we should enjoy it within the year. After a couple of more fruit forward Pinots, this came across as structured and well balanced. Nice fruit flavors well integrated in th wine. Wild blueberries and black cherries, with violets and a bit of dustiness. Would still benefit from a bit of decanting before consuming.
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8/26/2007 - Chilicat wrote: 91 Points
Very unobtrusive acid, nice tannins. Loads of dark berries. Opened up to a spicey/peppery nose and finish. Great bottle.
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8/24/2007 - MJHDC wrote:
Dark ruby color. Big and robust cherry, spice, and licorice flavors. Still it is smooth and finishes well. Liked it better than the 2004. Drinking well now but I'm in no hurry to drink my other bottle
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7/20/2007 - slogan wrote: 90 Points
Drank this over two nights. First night, undecanted, very nice, a little closed, good fruit, great nose (someone else said cherry cola). Second night, corked for 24 hours, opened up, fruit all over the place, tons of berries.
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7/14/2007 - leadpencil wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby red. Medium-Full bodied. Cherry syrup with cola and pine undertones. Evolved well over a few hours with decanting. Recommend 30min decant.
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7/8/2007 - odu83 wrote: 92 Points
Haunting complexity - cherry fruit and well balanced tannins. This wine is drinking beautifully.
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7/7/2007 - Lrucker wrote: 94 Points
Excellent wine. more subtle than I expected.
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7/1/2007 - blgros wrote: 93 Points
Wow, what a great bottle. Four of us finished this off so fast, I don't really have notes. But it had depth, dark fruit, tobacco/cedar notes, and a good long finish.
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7/1/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
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5/30/2007 - pepeelvis wrote:
wonderful meeting of burgundy and cali pinot. drinking very well now but certainly has pleny of life.
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5/17/2007 - Zabo wrote: 94 Points
Deep ruby color. Rich and silky with tastes of cherries and earth. Excellent.
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5/12/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline. Quick notes: huge nose of smoke, beef and spice. Mouthfilling fruit wtih a spicy finish. Good.
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4/21/2007 - Moorese wrote: 93 Points
A few Pinots and fish on the grill: The best showing of this wine for me yet, it appears (for my palate) to be in a nice spot right now. Unfortunately, it was my last bottle. A much richer and deeper wine that the Ketcham that accompanied it, the nose showed clove, sandalwood, cinnamon, and a bit of vanilla. Each mouthful was broad and suave with fine length and notes of dark cherries, red and black plums, and gingerbread. Bigger and richer in style, it suited my fancy a bit more than the Ketcham on this evening, although I thought the Ketcham showed brighter and more balanced. The oak treatment was also a little more disjointed, but the power of the fruit and greater nuance made this bottle my favorite of the evening.
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4/19/2007 - Cow Town wrote: 91 Points
Not quite as vibrant as the 2004 Southing that I had in December. The nose was typical Southing, but the palate seemed muted. A very good wine, but seemed shut down a bit.
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1/29/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours ahead. Darkly extracted. Relatively tight nose of cherry, earth, vanilla. Rich palate with a finish in which tannins stood out. Served next to '03 Siduri SRH which was much brighter and aromatic.
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1/16/2007 - DukeDrew wrote: 91 Points
Not as exciting as the first bottle I had, which I would have put at 93. Clearly Santa Rita Hills profile (heavy cherries, spice), but not quite as bright as before. Decanted for 90 minutes.
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1/13/2007 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
WOW! Another delicious Sea Smoke. Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, earth, and oak with soft tannins on a long finish.
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12/26/2006 - kleinahoe wrote: 93 Points
YOWSA! Now that's a pinot -- balanced/fruity/a little smoky.
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12/26/2006 - Mark wrote: 90 Points
Very bright clean cheery nose, rich, short to medium finish with mild structure. Drank over three hours, certainly better after 1.5 hours. Although a good Southing, I thought other vintages were a bit more structured with more depth. Still enjoyable, but I thought just a tad simple.
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10/25/2006 - Squirreljam wrote:
Settled down from a year ago. Still a rich nose, less floral, with tar and cherry notes to go with some earth. Mouthfilling palate of cherry with some oak, spice and a longer finish than I remember. Firm structure with long life ahead.
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10/6/2006 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 94 Points
The benefit of laying down this wine was so apparent. It emerged out of the bottle with a rich, smooth complexity that invited the drinker to savor every moment. The rich dark fruit reached out of the glass to compel me to adore the boquet and aroma of this lovely wine. I am so thrilled to have seven more bottles to experience. This wine is just starting to show itself as the stellar Pinot it is. Great long finish and an exceptional mouthfeel combined with perfect balance and structure. Need I say more?
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9/21/2006 - agnorger wrote: 94 Points
Opened and served over 3 hours, no decanting. This is an outstanding wine. There was deep dark fruit mid palate with notes of cinnamon, other spices, smoke and leather - the complexity grew over time as we picked up other flavors later on. Nice lengthy finish. the aromas jumped out of the glass. This was an experience I can't wait to have again.
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8/24/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
(at Corks – Baltimore) Wow! This wine totally blew me away. While I am a fan of many California Pinots, I had heard how big and over the top this producer’s wine are. This is the first I bottle I have opened from the cellar and while this is no wimpy wine, I found it to be captivating and beautiful. Lovely red fruit flavors held in balance by a solid structure. This finish was a touch short, but that is quibbling. I am having a hard time with the Burgundy versus California pinot debate – they are different for sure (don’t know why this is bad), but why can’t one like both? Another list to stay on….. (18)
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8/17/2006 - sbwino wrote: 89 Points
Medium body, fairly young bing cherry with tobbaco in the background. Doesnt live up to the hype.
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8/12/2006 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Moe’s: Fantastic balance, powerful, grt mineral, earth, frt mix. Long fin. the “just right” of the 3 little pigs.
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6/21/2006 - evanbaines wrote: 93 Points
Superb, balanced, rich, and with finesse to spare. A very refined new world pinot.
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6/17/2006 - mfkidd wrote: 92 Points
Consumed with dinner at Mullholland Grill with Stephan and Carol. Charcoal cherries. Fine balance, a bit tart at first on the finish then smoothed out over the dinner.Full in the mouth, smooth down the gullet. Very impressive.
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6/6/2006 - elliott.h.farber@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Very dark ruby color. Very expansive nose with notes of cherry and strawberry and oak . Medium body with very fine and drying tannins and deep cherry toned flavors. The finish is quite long and a bit oaky for me. Erica loved it. I kept expecting more personality and energy from the wine.
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5/17/2006 - GreenDrazi wrote: 92 Points
CA Cherry-Bomb Bash Dinner at ONE.midtown kitchen (Atlanta, GA): No decant, but opened up nicely after an hour. Good nose of dark cherry with a hint of earth. Dominant flavor of dense, dark cherry with some earth and a nice touch of underbrush. Full mouthfeel, yet soft and very fine tannins throughout with spice increasing on the back of the palate leading to an elegant finish. Can be enjoyed now with 1 - 2 hr’s decant time, but should cellar well for several more years.
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5/6/2006 - ruddy wrote: 92 Points
Pinot Noir Dinner (Wino-dome): Typical Central Coast--an iron fist in a velvet glove. Cherry bomb of a wine, but with a fine finish. Nice acid, a bit of drying tannins but not unpleasantly so.
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3/30/2006 - keithstg wrote: 93 Points
Definitely a large, extracted California pinot, but with some time in the decanter, earthy elements appear to balance the wine. Drinking nicely right now with about an hour of air time. Will definitely improve with some more age to integrate the oak and fruits.
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3/8/2006 - Chasse wrote: 92 Points
Found this to be better balanced than many other big California Pinots, with acidity to match its dark fruit, spice and earthy components. It's still of the "in your face" style, however. I think it will be even beter with some bottle age.
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3/4/2006 - psmith wrote: 86 Points
Well-spiced weighty red fruits and lots of oak. Only medium-body but a deficiency of structure and too much alcohol renders this a bit flabby and a bit overbearing. A fine enough wine, but suffers as the reach exceeds the grasp.
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1/23/2006 - jebbeling wrote: 94 Points
I really enjoyed this wine. It had a deep, dark nose, and long and lingering finish. It is one of the better Pinots that I have had recently, and I can't wait to continue to enjoy more. Outstanding wine!
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1/14/2006 - Hoya Vinophile wrote: 94 Points
This was an incredible wine. Very full palate with dark cherries and a hint of earth. Fully integrated. This wine should develop nicely over the next few years.
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1/6/2006 - 97mjr wrote: 89 Points
[Hush] Dark cherry, licorice, high acidity. Some rough edges. Compared unfavorably with the Botella.
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12/30/2005 - compugeek007 wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful currant, cassis and stonefruit nose. Still a little too much heat. Opens us after an hour. Still to young.
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12/22/2005 - compugeek007 wrote: 92 Points
Balanced Fruit with good tannin, leather, smoke. Likely one of the best from the central coast.
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12/10/2005 - Squirreljam wrote: 90 Points
Gorgeous florals on the nose, particularly rose. Drank way too young, just did a cellar grab'n'run to go with a hastily grilled pork tenderloin. Will need some time, bit tannic now and unsettled, tight. Tart berries on the palate. Nicely acidic and structured, I think this will be good in a couple more years.
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11/24/2005 - DFC wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Full-bodied wine that is dark ruby in color with a clear rim. On the nose, dusty dark cherries and allspice. On the palate, lightly tart black cherry liqueur, x-mas spices, and vanilla wood. Glycerin-heavy and mouth-filling with fruit, this lovely wine lingers for 20-30 seconds. Excellent balance with a sweet finish...very light touch of heat early that fades over the course of the evening. There has been such controversy over this producer, but I found this wine delicious, and it compared very favorably with some of my recent 2003 CA pinot faves like August West and Kosta Browne. Well done!
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10/18/2005 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry and blueberry fruit with subtle earth. Well rounded, nice finish.
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9/11/2005 - trucrime wrote: 92 Points
tasted better the second day!
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3/19/2005 - PaulH wrote:
(Wine Cask Futures Tasting, Santa Barbara, CA) This is the Botella with the rough edges shaved off; smoother with better balance, more noticableh acidity and less apparent alcohol. This will take more time to come around than the Botella and will last longer. Best QPR of the trio this year.
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11/4/2004 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
Barrel sample
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