Previously reviewed, I can only say I regret this was my last bottle of this Santa Maria Valley charmer. It was a beautiful rendition of a classic full bodied Pinot Noir. Earthy and complex with sour cherry and red berry fruit. Wonderful stuff.
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Really superior Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir. Great depth and complexity. Rich mouthfeel. Cherry, blackberry, raspberry aroma and taste. Finish is smooth and long.
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Screaming value here and simply a fantastic wine. It just gets better with age. Very intriguing nose of earth, vegetables, forrest floor and something like pickle juice. Light bodied with loads of old world character bringing the same notes of earth, vegetables and the aforementioned pickle juice together with restrained cherry fruit. Integrated tannins and a nice silky finish make this a real winner.
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This new world pinot does not cross the line, but with some of its residual sugar, many wouldn't mis-identify it as Bourgogne. Smoked meat juice and squeezed cherries flow graciously with second-tier dried herb flavors. It needs at least an hour to come together. 13.9% alc.
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Enjoyed over 4 hours... ready to go... aromas and flavors seem to be integrating... nuances of smoke, savory dill pickle, herbs, sarsaparilla root, and ripe, red fruit, combine to create an interesting California Pinot... Medium bodied, with driving acidity... medium-plus finish... a good food wine... I enjoyed it with a soy/ginger/garlic/onion/toasted sesame oil/olive oil marinated Albacore Tuna steak... paired nicely. I imagine it will drink well for a few more years, though it is drinking well now, and didn't show dramatic development/change from start to finish; though I would recommend a 2 hour decant. I agree with 2010 Wine Library review. Good juice. Enjoy now.
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Nose: Flowers, floral and a little bit of green vegetal. Taste: Cranberry on the approach. Good minerality. A kind of sour cabbagy note on the mid-palate. Ok finish. Not quite as good as it was when it was young but still pretty tasty.
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Wow, I have really been hitting gold with value wines lately. Red fruit and subtle cola and herb notes on the nose with a med-full body palate that just coats the mouth with fantastic red fruit. Forget the killer price, this wine delivers on all fronts and truly blows away the terribly average Belle Glos Las Alturas I had a couple of months back! Wish I had more.
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Had with & after dinner. Let breathe for 2+ hours. TN is consistent with last time I had this, yet picked up notes of pomegranate on this bottle. Last of the batch, wish I had more.
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Pop and pour. Similar to previous notes although the strawberry continues to become more and more prominent. It is also more lighter with not as much depth. Sorry it is my last bottle.
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This wine is getting better. its been almost a year since my first and it is definitely improving year over year. Had with garlic herb pork loin.. delicious together.
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My third bottle from a case purchased in 2010. It seems to be getting better. Again , this is pure elegance, silk, cherries and cranberries, forest floor, earth, black pepper, and a very long lingering finish. Alta Maria has hit out of the park on this wine. Fantastic QPR.
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PnP. Right out of the bottle this screams California. Crazy good for $20. Possibly the best QPR in California PN. Wish I had more. Started to fade a little after 90 minutes so don't decant.
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Very nice Cali Pinot. Aromas of cherries and cola, which on the second night and long decanting brings out more musty elements, with addition of white pepper and clove. LIghter style, smooth, initial feeling was of a nice pinot with slightly more sweetness and cola than my preference but this added some more complexity and silky cherries+must+green with nice hint of bitterness and warmth (from 13.9 alc,) on the second and third night. Fair price for these bottles 89+-90-
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PnV, then let breathe for 30-50 min. Really enjoyed this time around & raising my rating to 91+. Ripe red berry fruit, mineral & sweet spices on the nose. Pure & precise bing cherry, red berry fruit, cherry cola, blood orange, cinammon, nutmeg & minerality on palate. Velvety tannins, bright acidity, medium-bodied & medium, plush finish.
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Popped and poured. Sanguine and ruby that lightens. What a nose! raspberries n' cream, sassafras, salt, incense and hot rocks. Berries flow on the palate, with a little bite and a lot of satin. There's this nouveau brightness on the long finish and pure scrumptiousness. A fine Pinot that seems very Sonoma-like and the ripe elegance is riveting. Drink now - 2015.
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Stunned by this wine. Loads of varietal character on the nose - plenty of funk and strawberry. Very pure fruit, lovely bing cherries, delicious vein of acid. This wine is very, very good for 22 dollars. Very fine tannins round out a much longer than anticipated finish. I'm not sure if this has loads of stuffing for long term drinking, but this wine IS the solution to the 20 dollar Pinot problem. Sonoma character at a Central CA price. Very nice.
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Decanted for an hour and served slightly chilled. This had the delicious factor. Expressive nose of strawberry, cherry, spice and a little cherry cola. Very true to the Santa Maria terrior. Wonderful balance, medium length finish. Great with or without food. Fantastic QPR at $20.
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A great qpr, perhaps one of the best pinot qprs out there. But found the fruit, especially after a long decant, a bit jammy this time. Doesn't leave a lot to the imagination, but undeniable strong pinot profile.
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I'm going to go with WE and give this a 93. This wine rips and is a tremendous value. Elegant, silky mouthfeel and flavors of raspberries and sour cherries with some pepper on the finish. Highly recommended. I think this may be the first wine that I go out and purchase a full case. That is how much I loved it.
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For the money a nice Pinot from CA that is not a tutti fruti oak bomb!
Color: Medium to lighter Burgundy red with purple tones.
Nose: Strawberry rhubarb, peppery, leafy green herbal notes, some cherry persists.
Palate: The red fruits fan out on the palate nicely with an earthy, leafy wild cherry, silky tannins and decent acidity maintain a soft frame on the fruit and herbal green notes. But when I say herbal more in a Burgundy way as opposed to a bad under-ripe way.
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(13.9%) Inviting nose of floral and cherries aromas. Translucent ruby/purple in the glass with light brick orange on the edges. Bright, juicy cherry flavors (with fainter strawberry and raspberry) greet you on entry. The mouthfeel is silky smooth and enveloping. You get a touch of sandalwood and mineral on the mid palate before a nice earthy, black pepper spice and warm tobacco notes ride out the finish (with just a touch of sediment on the last pour). Both bold and subtle. Not quite heavy or light. Some may find it thin but I would counter it is medium bodied and polished. Almost a new style, not big and not necessarily elegant (more in a back handed way) but very focused flavors throughout. And even better yet it is definitely pure Pinot! A great (and nice, easy) drinker! At $25 this is pricey but as good as many Pinot’s I’ve had that cost substantially more…
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Consumed over the course of 3 hours. Aerated initially. started out nice, yet a bit tight. Evolved wonderfully over 3 hrs. Absolutely delicious, especially if cherry with a hint of strawberry is your thing. For the money a great value pinot. Definitely becoming a "go to" wine.
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Beautiful bright red cherry and spices. It could be considered a little thin, but the silky tannins make this an unbelievable mouth feel and it has a medium finish. Excellent QPR
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Phenomenal bottle. I must must must pick up some more. Cherry juice and pepper and metallic minerality on the nose. Waft of strawberries. Took over the kitchen as I was cooking eggplant parmesan. The tastes are so layered and the finish so long. Tart and red fruit, gets darker. My gf said "It tastes like BEEF!!!" Wonderful wonderful tasty bottle. Not too heavy and just tasty. Super excited to pair with food. Highly recommend.
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Decant Time - 30 min The nose is a great combination of distinct, yet complex aromatics that include ripe black cherries and raspberries overlying smoke and tobacco. The palate opens with explosive and full, yet pure and under control red fruits. It then flows into a weighty midpalate of spice, black pepper, and cedar. The wine finishes long with elements of soil and vibrant acidity. The structure of this wine is fantastic, with a seamless mouth feel. Overall this is great value, silky smooth pinot that exhibits good balance between pure, ripe fruit and its other complicating flavors. This is one to seek out for sure.
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pretty nose -- sour cherry and earthy notes. love how this wine is true to the varietal. does not try to overpower with big, lush fruit. cherry, rasberry, and minerality across the palate. would rate higher if it had more of a finish. that could have been due to pop and pour... at 20 bucks, it's a helluva nice wine.
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Another great bottle. At cellar temp, this actually came across as just ever so slightly underfruited (to me). When it warmed up a bit it had great balance and was a wonderful blend of red fruits, earth and spice. Was able to please a burgundy loving friend and our non burgundy loving wives alike. No small feat!
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Popped and poured, consumed over ~2h. Dark clear ruby. Great nose of pure blackberry and rasberry fuit with some hints of oak and spice. Medium bodied, the flavor follows through with clean pure fruit and nice mouthfeel. Overall a good value and I would drink again, but lacking in any complexity beyond the fruit. Very little evolution over the 2+ hrs we folowed it.
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Delicious, fresh wine. Good fruit, earth, spice, cherry. Best with our pasta with chicken and asiago sausage-- a perfect pairing. Great QPR at $23/bottle.
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Excellent Pinot with a great qpr. Medium ruby color, smoky nose with black pepper and red fruits. Silky, smooth on the palate with more red berries, and smooth through the finish with spicy cracked red pepper coming in later.
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Pop and pour. Very interesting Pinot. Lots of strawberry and red fruit on the nose. The palate screams wow!!! Cherry with lots of spice. I agree that it is light but with great body and complexity. It has a nice finish. Ordered more half way through the bottle. Great QPR.
Decent amount of sediment in the last glass.
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91+, Freshness and acidity dominates this wine. Very Light bodied, refined, minerality, cloudy mushroom, cherry fruits, needs 45+ minutes air to integrate. Closer to burgundy to any other Californian Pinot I've drank.
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Wow! Delicious bottle of pinot. Round and full of cherry, spice, and a bit of resin. Finishes with nice acidity which keeps it from being overly ripe. good good good.
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Post-Xmas Dinner with Ann, Sue, John & Rex in VA: What a nice, house pinot noir. Best with the roast leg of lamb, infused with minced garlic and with a spice rub. Also very good with other food. Good QPR at $23/bottle.
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Big nose of ripe cherries, baking spices, faint earth, and smoke. Velvety on the palate with pure cherries, some raspberries, and subtle oak. Pretty full bodied, juicy, with a 25 second pure silk finish. Outstanding at $21.
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Super smooth drinking.... Earthy barnyard smell. Nice balance of fruit and earth. Definitely a pickle like component here. Awesome food wine. Really nice mix of old and new world components. more old world than new.
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Wet Wool, floral and Forest floor nose. Mineral, Oak, and spicy Cherry flavors. I don't know much about Santa Maria Valley bit this has similarities to Burgundy, Carneros and Willamette. One of my top five $20ish Pinots.
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This should have come with a warning sticker: "Alert: glycerine will not subside for 2+ days." I really found its slick texture a bit unpleasant. By day three, though, it settled down and became a juicy, fruit-forward pinot with spice and peat notes. It's not anything I find particularly interesting or rewarding but that's just my personal taste; it's a perfectly solid wine.
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Recent Wine Library Value Wine; 10/30/2010-11/2/2010 (67th Floor): This has a great balance. The nose is extremely inviting with high quality cherry and raspberry fruit, with spicy french oak, and a good dose of savory earth and damp soil tones. Fully delivers in the mouth with bright fruit, vibrant acidity, and strong, albeit clearly delineated oak nuance. This is outstanding, but needs a solid two-hour decant to show its mettle.
Drink now. 90 -JRS
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The '08 exhibits wonderful aromatics of black cherry cola and strawberry with anise and spice. On the lighter side in color but Full-bodied and complex, this is vibrant, focused, intense and persistent. Ultra Silky tannins lead the way to the gorgeous finish.
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PnP. Nice dark color but still pinot like. Huge sweet black cherry aromas leap from the glass. Total black cherry juice with nice balancing cherry skin bitterness (a good thing) with a touch of cranberry. Lots of secondary flavors of herbs, tobacco, black tea and earth. Great balance. Love it!
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Alta Maria has a QPR home run on their hands! This is a classy Pinot that we had a tough time pinning down as it evolved in the glass. The nose is earth, dark berries and ripe cherry, with a touch of smoke.
On the palate there is no doubting that this is one classy Cali Pinot. Be careful here because it's not at all over-the-top in its flavors. No, in fact this is where this wine begins to pull away from the other players by serving up a beautifully integrated concoction of ripe cherry, raspberry, and earth backed by subtle acidity.
Overall, a highly satisfying bottle of Pinot that for the price is unbeatable. Grab it if you can find it!
http://fearnowine.com
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Concentrated, very ripe fruit on the nose; good structure, balance, good lively fruity flavors with a vibrant finish. Excellent and despite what I wrote, not a fruit bomb, but rather beautiful and pure fruit notes.
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Nose: Big nose, herbs, stemmy, rhubarb, some smoke. Taste: Tart acid with some minerality on the approach transitioning to a little bit of bitter red fruit and something else (cola nut?). Long (20-25 sec finish). One of the best QPR pinots I've had, I really like this a lot.
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A very interesting Pinot, but still far too young in my opinion. Disjointed and sour upon opening, it came together after six hours or so (spent mostly in the fridge after we closed up shop for the evening). A very interesting and powerful smoky nose - a little gaminess, some oak, just a little red fruit hiding in the background, and (possibly through the power of suggestion via WLTV) some sauerkraut or pickle juice. On the palate, Californian red fruits and Burgundian earth. The midpalate has a little more of that sour pickle juice component, but not nearly as much as it did immediately after opening. Solid acidity in the background and great minerality on the finish. Tannins are clearly present but silky, and the mouthfeel is full and smooth, but not mind-blowing. It's an interesting blend of styles, but desperately needs more time.
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nose = smokey, slight leather, black fruit, mushroom, root beer, strawberry pie
palate = black and red raspberries, candied rhubarb, dusty earth notes, smoked mushrooms, balance was very good, a CA pinot but not a fruit bomb, has complexity, has secondary flavors unlike the berry and cola only flavors of typical CA pinot. good acidity, but not tart, alcohol was not aparent, good finish and harmonious wine. would buy again for sure at $23, one of the best CA pinot QPR's that I have had this year.Vaynerchuck got this one right (for once :) )
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1/16/2016 - Luvtexwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Previously reviewed, I can only say I regret this was my last bottle of this Santa Maria Valley charmer. It was a beautiful rendition of a classic full bodied Pinot Noir. Earthy and complex with sour cherry and red berry fruit. Wonderful stuff.
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2/12/2015 - BGK810 wrote: 88 Points
Much better in its glorious youth!
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1/4/2015 - JJ-Jacobs wrote:
AJ said - type of Pino I don't like.
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6/20/2014 - wineguy58 wrote: 91 Points
Black cherry, cola, earth, and spice. Good balance
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1/29/2014 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
cellar clean-up. These were delicious -- so much so, that we didn't take them out of inventory when we drank them -- and now they are gone
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11/27/2013 - dke wrote: 88 Points
Cherries, cola, hints of sweetness and some earthiness. Good, but not very exciting compared to how this tasted several years ago. 87-88
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7/5/2013 - BSZach1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice spiciness, earthiness, and cherry aroma. Long finish. Aged 5 years very nicely. Excellent buy.
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5/31/2013 - Luvtexwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really superior Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir. Great depth and complexity. Rich mouthfeel. Cherry, blackberry, raspberry aroma and taste. Finish is smooth and long.
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5/29/2013 - SCMeyer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Screaming value here and simply a fantastic wine. It just gets better with age. Very intriguing nose of earth, vegetables, forrest floor and something like pickle juice. Light bodied with loads of old world character bringing the same notes of earth, vegetables and the aforementioned pickle juice together with restrained cherry fruit. Integrated tannins and a nice silky finish make this a real winner.
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12/3/2012 - Number51 wrote: 90 Points
Still performing well.
Another great thing about this wine is that it's got very little bottle variation.
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10/7/2012 - Number51 wrote:
Nice California pinot that retains its origin with cola and a little syrup but manages to be complex and earthy.
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10/6/2012 - Djhoffman wrote: 93 Points
very bright and fine. great fruit, wonderful pinot
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8/25/2012 - Number51 wrote: 90 Points
This new world pinot does not cross the line, but with some of its residual sugar, many wouldn't mis-identify it as Bourgogne.
Smoked meat juice and squeezed cherries flow graciously with second-tier dried herb flavors.
It needs at least an hour to come together. 13.9% alc.
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7/8/2012 - Personal Opinion wrote:
Enjoyed over 4 hours... ready to go... aromas and flavors seem to be integrating... nuances of smoke, savory dill pickle, herbs, sarsaparilla root, and ripe, red fruit, combine to create an interesting California Pinot... Medium bodied, with driving acidity... medium-plus finish... a good food wine... I enjoyed it with a soy/ginger/garlic/onion/toasted sesame oil/olive oil marinated Albacore Tuna steak... paired nicely. I imagine it will drink well for a few more years, though it is drinking well now, and didn't show dramatic development/change from start to finish; though I would recommend a 2 hour decant. I agree with 2010 Wine Library review. Good juice. Enjoy now.
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7/4/2012 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 90 Points
This vintage has not disappointed. Amazing attack both on the nose and palate.
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6/1/2012 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 90 Points
An exquisite modern pinot. Cherry coke, minerals and vegetals both in nose and palate. Good weight and decent finish.
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3/25/2012 - oog wrote:
Consistent with my last note.
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3/5/2012 - BGK810 wrote: 91 Points
Not complex, just flat out delicious. Drink now.
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2/4/2012 - oog wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Flowers, floral and a little bit of green vegetal. Taste: Cranberry on the approach. Good minerality. A kind of sour cabbagy note on the mid-palate. Ok finish. Not quite as good as it was when it was young but still pretty tasty.
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1/5/2012 - junglejuice wrote: 91 Points
Wow, I have really been hitting gold with value wines lately. Red fruit and subtle cola and herb notes on the nose with a med-full body palate that just coats the mouth with fantastic red fruit. Forget the killer price, this wine delivers on all fronts and truly blows away the terribly average Belle Glos Las Alturas I had a couple of months back! Wish I had more.
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12/31/2011 - rhanke wrote: 89 Points
nice light pinot.
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12/3/2011 - SanFranSoxFan04 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still a winner, rich perfumed fruit, spicy leather character. Ever evolving. The mouth feel has improved too, not as thick and syrupy as before.
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12/2/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 92 Points
Had with & after dinner. Let breathe for 2+ hours. TN is consistent with last time I had this, yet picked up notes of pomegranate on this bottle. Last of the batch, wish I had more.
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11/30/2011 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Similar to previous notes although the strawberry continues to become more and more prominent. It is also more lighter with not as much depth. Sorry it is my last bottle.
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11/27/2011 - jmmrad wrote: 89 Points
Nice fruity accompaniment to Thanksgiving turkey with stuffing.
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11/20/2011 - rhanke wrote: 88 Points
good light Pinot. color light, fruit mild. enjoyed
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11/3/2011 - NJ BIG CHRIS wrote: 92 Points
This wine is getting better. its been almost a year since my first and it is definitely improving year over year. Had with garlic herb pork loin.. delicious together.
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10/22/2011 - flgman wrote: 91 Points
My third bottle from a case purchased in 2010. It seems to be getting better. Again , this is pure elegance, silk, cherries and cranberries, forest floor, earth, black pepper, and a very long lingering finish. Alta Maria has hit out of the park on this wine. Fantastic QPR.
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10/18/2011 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Right out of the bottle this screams California. Crazy good for $20. Possibly the best QPR in California PN. Wish I had more. Started to fade a little after 90 minutes so don't decant.
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9/11/2011 - gromi wrote: 92 Points
very nice
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9/6/2011 - JAZZYJEZZY wrote: 91 Points
Good as always. Husband likes this wine lots, me pretty good. Shared with friends and they enjoyed this wine. getting ready to order some 2009.
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8/20/2011 - dke wrote: 89 Points
Very nice Cali Pinot. Aromas of cherries and cola, which on the second night and long decanting brings out more musty elements, with addition of white pepper and clove. LIghter style, smooth, initial feeling was of a nice pinot with slightly more sweetness and cola than my preference but this added some more complexity and silky cherries+must+green with nice hint of bitterness and warmth (from 13.9 alc,) on the second and third night. Fair price for these bottles 89+-90-
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8/14/2011 - flgman wrote: 89 Points
Continues to deliver. Silky and just ever so slightly on the light side.
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8/12/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 92 Points
PnV, then let breathe for 30-50 min. Really enjoyed this time around & raising my rating to 91+. Ripe red berry fruit, mineral & sweet spices on the nose. Pure & precise bing cherry, red berry fruit, cherry cola, blood orange, cinammon, nutmeg & minerality on palate. Velvety tannins, bright acidity, medium-bodied & medium, plush finish.
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8/10/2011 - df1962 wrote: 90 Points
PnV. Similar to previous note but a bit ore muted overal in all aspectsl. Time to drink up.
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7/22/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Sanguine and ruby that lightens. What a nose! raspberries n' cream, sassafras, salt, incense and hot rocks. Berries flow on the palate, with a little bite and a lot of satin. There's this nouveau brightness on the long finish and pure scrumptiousness. A fine Pinot that seems very Sonoma-like and the ripe elegance is riveting. Drink now - 2015.
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5/17/2011 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and drank immediately. Very similar to previous note although much more strawberry on the palate. Great QPR.
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5/17/2011 - Varus wrote: 91 Points
2nd bottle and drank as well as the first. Held up beautifully over two days.
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5/4/2011 - Varus wrote: 91 Points
Stunned by this wine. Loads of varietal character on the nose - plenty of funk and strawberry. Very pure fruit, lovely bing cherries, delicious vein of acid. This wine is very, very good for 22 dollars. Very fine tannins round out a much longer than anticipated finish. I'm not sure if this has loads of stuffing for long term drinking, but this wine IS the solution to the 20 dollar Pinot problem. Sonoma character at a Central CA price. Very nice.
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4/25/2011 - Sniffy-Sniff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour and served slightly chilled. This had the delicious factor. Expressive nose of strawberry, cherry, spice and a little cherry cola. Very true to the Santa Maria terrior. Wonderful balance, medium length finish. Great with or without food. Fantastic QPR at $20.
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4/18/2011 - Number51 wrote: 91 Points
Savory wine. Really good.
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4/11/2011 - dlstrauss wrote: 90 Points
A great qpr, perhaps one of the best pinot qprs out there. But found the fruit, especially after a long decant, a bit jammy this time. Doesn't leave a lot to the imagination, but undeniable strong pinot profile.
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4/8/2011 - mbidder954 wrote: 93 Points
I'm going to go with WE and give this a 93. This wine rips and is a tremendous value. Elegant, silky mouthfeel and flavors of raspberries and sour cherries with some pepper on the finish. Highly recommended. I think this may be the first wine that I go out and purchase a full case. That is how much I loved it.
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3/21/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 91 Points
For the money a nice Pinot from CA that is not a tutti fruti oak bomb!
Color: Medium to lighter Burgundy red with purple tones.
Nose: Strawberry rhubarb, peppery, leafy green herbal notes, some cherry persists.
Palate: The red fruits fan out on the palate nicely with an earthy, leafy wild cherry, silky tannins and decent acidity maintain a soft frame on the fruit and herbal green notes. But when I say herbal more in a Burgundy way as opposed to a bad under-ripe way.
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3/20/2011 - jpasmore wrote: 90 Points
Really pretty good especially for the price. A little young -- definitely benefits from decanting.
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3/17/2011 - Jason Rzutkiewicz Likes this wine: 92 Points
(13.9%) Inviting nose of floral and cherries aromas. Translucent ruby/purple in the glass with light brick orange on the edges. Bright, juicy cherry flavors (with fainter strawberry and raspberry) greet you on entry. The mouthfeel is silky smooth and enveloping. You get a touch of sandalwood and mineral on the mid palate before a nice earthy, black pepper spice and warm tobacco notes ride out the finish (with just a touch of sediment on the last pour). Both bold and subtle. Not quite heavy or light. Some may find it thin but I would counter it is medium bodied and polished. Almost a new style, not big and not necessarily elegant (more in a back handed way) but very focused flavors throughout. And even better yet it is definitely pure Pinot! A great (and nice, easy) drinker! At $25 this is pricey but as good as many Pinot’s I’ve had that cost substantially more…
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3/13/2011 - NJ BIG CHRIS wrote: 91 Points
Definitely an interesting dill component on this wine. vibrant acid and cherry flavors.
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3/9/2011 - bruinesq84 wrote: 92 Points
Consumed over the course of 3 hours. Aerated initially. started out nice, yet a bit tight. Evolved wonderfully over 3 hrs. Absolutely delicious, especially if cherry with a hint of strawberry is your thing. For the money a great value pinot. Definitely becoming a "go to" wine.
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3/5/2011 - WineTime10 wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful bright red cherry and spices. It could be considered a little thin, but the silky tannins make this an unbelievable mouth feel and it has a medium finish. Excellent QPR
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3/1/2011 - Tuffdawg wrote: 92 Points
As good as ever. Same as previous notes.
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2/27/2011 - Mugwump wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding value. Great balance with bright cherry and raspberry fruit. Nice finish with some minerality
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2/25/2011 - eddieshindig wrote: 93 Points
Phenomenal bottle. I must must must pick up some more. Cherry juice and pepper and metallic minerality on the nose. Waft of strawberries. Took over the kitchen as I was cooking eggplant parmesan. The tastes are so layered and the finish so long. Tart and red fruit, gets darker. My gf said "It tastes like BEEF!!!" Wonderful wonderful tasty bottle. Not too heavy and just tasty. Super excited to pair with food. Highly recommend.
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2/21/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 90 Points
Had this over three nights w/dinner. Accidently lost my tasting notes when I overwrote PC file, but do recall enjoying it.
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2/15/2011 - Rob and Meg wrote: 91 Points
Decant Time - 30 min
The nose is a great combination of distinct, yet complex aromatics that include ripe black cherries and raspberries overlying smoke and tobacco. The palate opens with explosive and full, yet pure and under control red fruits. It then flows into a weighty midpalate of spice, black pepper, and cedar. The wine finishes long with elements of soil and vibrant acidity. The structure of this wine is fantastic, with a seamless mouth feel. Overall this is great value, silky smooth pinot that exhibits good balance between pure, ripe fruit and its other complicating flavors. This is one to seek out for sure.
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2/15/2011 - dlstrauss wrote: 91 Points
Lives up to the hype. Great QPR.
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2/10/2011 - flgman wrote: 90 Points
Pure and silky medium body Pinot with a finish that lingers. Beautiful. Very good QPR.
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1/30/2011 - signotim wrote: 90 Points
pretty nose -- sour cherry and earthy notes. love how this wine is true to the varietal. does not try to overpower with big, lush fruit. cherry, rasberry, and minerality across the palate. would rate higher if it had more of a finish. that could have been due to pop and pour... at 20 bucks, it's a helluva nice wine.
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1/30/2011 - suthersm wrote: 90 Points
Another great bottle. At cellar temp, this actually came across as just ever so slightly underfruited (to me). When it warmed up a bit it had great balance and was a wonderful blend of red fruits, earth and spice. Was able to please a burgundy loving friend and our non burgundy loving wives alike. No small feat!
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1/29/2011 - Tuffdawg wrote: 92 Points
Same as prior note. Fantastic.
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1/25/2011 - Foster wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over ~2h. Dark clear ruby. Great nose of pure blackberry and rasberry fuit with some hints of oak and spice. Medium bodied, the flavor follows through with clean pure fruit and nice mouthfeel. Overall a good value and I would drink again, but lacking in any complexity beyond the fruit. Very little evolution over the 2+ hrs we folowed it.
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1/22/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Still a delicious pinot noir. Good fruit, earth, spice, cherry. We had with roast rack of lamb. With ATV (Nasty), Jen and me in Princeton, NJ
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1/8/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Delicious, fresh wine. Good fruit, earth, spice, cherry. Best with our pasta with chicken and asiago sausage-- a perfect pairing.
Great QPR at $23/bottle.
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1/2/2011 - Jmosser wrote: 94 Points
Excellent Pinot with a great qpr. Medium ruby color, smoky nose with black pepper and red fruits. Silky, smooth on the palate with more red berries, and smooth through the finish with spicy cracked red pepper coming in later.
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12/31/2010 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Very interesting Pinot. Lots of strawberry and red fruit on the nose. The palate screams wow!!! Cherry with lots of spice. I agree that it is light but with great body and complexity. It has a nice finish. Ordered more half way through the bottle. Great QPR.
Decent amount of sediment in the last glass.
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12/30/2010 - LelouchViBritannia wrote: 91 Points
91+, Freshness and acidity dominates this wine. Very Light bodied, refined, minerality, cloudy mushroom, cherry fruits, needs 45+ minutes air to integrate. Closer to burgundy to any other Californian Pinot I've drank.
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12/29/2010 - suthersm wrote: 90 Points
Wow! Delicious bottle of pinot. Round and full of cherry, spice, and a bit of resin. Finishes with nice acidity which keeps it from being overly ripe. good good good.
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12/27/2010 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Post-Xmas Dinner with Ann, Sue, John & Rex in VA: What a nice, house pinot noir. Best with the roast leg of lamb, infused with minced garlic and with a spice rub.
Also very good with other food. Good QPR at $23/bottle.
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12/27/2010 - fstopgunslinger wrote: 91 Points
Despite an apparent lack of weight and color, this wine was deceivingly lush on the mouth with grown-up cherry, strawberry piled onto modest tannins.
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12/24/2010 - Tuffdawg wrote: 92 Points
Big nose of ripe cherries, baking spices, faint earth, and smoke. Velvety on the palate with pure cherries, some raspberries, and subtle oak. Pretty full bodied, juicy, with a 25 second pure silk finish. Outstanding at $21.
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12/23/2010 - NJ BIG CHRIS wrote: 92 Points
Super smooth drinking.... Earthy barnyard smell. Nice balance of fruit and earth. Definitely a pickle like component here. Awesome food wine. Really nice mix of old and new world components. more old world than new.
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12/18/2010 - SanFranSoxFan04 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wet Wool, floral and Forest floor nose. Mineral, Oak, and spicy Cherry flavors. I don't know much about Santa Maria Valley bit this has similarities to Burgundy, Carneros and Willamette.
One of my top five $20ish Pinots.
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12/15/2010 - Wicker Parker wrote:
This should have come with a warning sticker: "Alert: glycerine will not subside for 2+ days." I really found its slick texture a bit unpleasant. By day three, though, it settled down and became a juicy, fruit-forward pinot with spice and peat notes. It's not anything I find particularly interesting or rewarding but that's just my personal taste; it's a perfectly solid wine.
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12/9/2010 - Jpmancin wrote: 93 Points
Very good
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12/9/2010 - Jpmancin wrote: 94 Points
Very good
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12/4/2010 - DC_EO wrote: 89 Points
Bright and floral with an oakiness on the back palette. A well made wine, but too floral for my taste.
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11/28/2010 - angryphoton wrote: 91 Points
Same notes as before, this time seemed a tad more darker than before.
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11/7/2010 - WineScoundrel wrote: 92 Points
Singin' right outta the gate. Bright and focussed red fruit, earth, spices. Good acidity and structure. Boils down to thee words...Q. P. R.
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11/2/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote: 90 Points
Recent Wine Library Value Wine; 10/30/2010-11/2/2010 (67th Floor): This has a great balance. The nose is extremely inviting with high quality cherry and raspberry fruit, with spicy french oak, and a good dose of savory earth and damp soil tones. Fully delivers in the mouth with bright fruit, vibrant acidity, and strong, albeit clearly delineated oak nuance. This is outstanding, but needs a solid two-hour decant to show its mettle.
Drink now. 90 -JRS
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10/31/2010 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 92 Points
The '08 exhibits wonderful aromatics of black cherry cola and strawberry with anise and spice. On the lighter side in color but Full-bodied and complex, this is vibrant, focused, intense and persistent. Ultra Silky tannins lead the way to the gorgeous finish.
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10/26/2010 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Nice dark color but still pinot like. Huge sweet black cherry aromas leap from the glass. Total black cherry juice with nice balancing cherry skin bitterness (a good thing) with a touch of cranberry. Lots of secondary flavors of herbs, tobacco, black tea and earth. Great balance. Love it!
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10/22/2010 - smokeshowing Likes this wine: 90 Points
Alta Maria has a QPR home run on their hands! This is a classy Pinot that we had a tough time pinning down as it evolved in the glass. The nose is earth, dark berries and ripe cherry, with a touch of smoke.
On the palate there is no doubting that this is one classy Cali Pinot. Be careful here because it's not at all over-the-top in its flavors. No, in fact this is where this wine begins to pull away from the other players by serving up a beautifully integrated concoction of ripe cherry, raspberry, and earth backed by subtle acidity.
Overall, a highly satisfying bottle of Pinot that for the price is unbeatable. Grab it if you can find it!
http://fearnowine.com
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10/19/2010 - vegasoenophile wrote: 97 Points
Fantastic pinot noir! Well structured, complex and full of flavor that lingers a while. Impressive.
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10/16/2010 - angryphoton wrote: 91 Points
same as previous notes, great QPR
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10/6/2010 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Concentrated, very ripe fruit on the nose; good structure, balance, good lively fruity flavors with a vibrant finish. Excellent and despite what I wrote, not a fruit bomb, but rather beautiful and pure fruit notes.
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10/1/2010 - oog wrote: 92 Points
Nose: Big nose, herbs, stemmy, rhubarb, some smoke. Taste: Tart acid with some minerality on the approach transitioning to a little bit of bitter red fruit and something else (cola nut?). Long (20-25 sec finish). One of the best QPR pinots I've had, I really like this a lot.
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9/25/2010 - burns0827 wrote: 93 Points
smoke
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9/24/2010 - jsimmons wrote: 86 Points
A very interesting Pinot, but still far too young in my opinion. Disjointed and sour upon opening, it came together after six hours or so (spent mostly in the fridge after we closed up shop for the evening). A very interesting and powerful smoky nose - a little gaminess, some oak, just a little red fruit hiding in the background, and (possibly through the power of suggestion via WLTV) some sauerkraut or pickle juice. On the palate, Californian red fruits and Burgundian earth. The midpalate has a little more of that sour pickle juice component, but not nearly as much as it did immediately after opening. Solid acidity in the background and great minerality on the finish. Tannins are clearly present but silky, and the mouthfeel is full and smooth, but not mind-blowing. It's an interesting blend of styles, but desperately needs more time.
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9/24/2010 - oog wrote: 93 Points
No detailed notes as I could not record my thoughts, but this was fantastic...
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9/21/2010 - Itriolo wrote:
Round and full without being overripe, food-friendly acidity, nice complexity for a young California pinot. Great QPR.
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9/18/2010 - angryphoton wrote: 92 Points
nose = smokey, slight leather, black fruit, mushroom, root beer, strawberry pie
palate = black and red raspberries, candied rhubarb, dusty earth notes, smoked mushrooms, balance was very good, a CA pinot but not a fruit bomb, has complexity, has secondary flavors unlike the berry and cola only flavors of typical CA pinot. good acidity, but not tart, alcohol was not aparent, good finish and harmonious wine. would buy again for sure at $23, one of the best CA pinot QPR's that I have had this year.Vaynerchuck got this one right (for once :) )
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