2010 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Brown Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 90.8 points

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  8/18/2023 - Delund Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Saw this on Winebid, and had good thoughts about one of my favorite customers from my days running a wine bar. He was a regular who loved this wine, particularly (I believe) the '06, and I bought the bottle to toast to his memory. (RIP Mike). Like him, I always appreciated Saintsbury single vineyard wines more than the critics (and he also owned several bars so we were probably the 2 largest purchasers of this wine on the east coast back then), so I can acknowledge that my score and opinion of this wine may be on the higher side. I've easily had 100 glasses from various vintages of this wine when it was young, and I did want to see how it aged. 90 minute decant, served at 55 F. Appears that this wine was stored perfectly. Cork in great condition. Wine still has a ruby cast to the garnet color. No bricking. Started off by drinking it on the patio, and the fruit flies came a running for it, a problem, living high up in the hills, I've only had with a few Napa cabs and classified growth Bordeaux's until now. Very bold complex aromatic nose of red fruits, pleasant earthy funk, earl grey tea, espresso and a bit of vanilla. Silky smooth wine, lively acidity, well-integrated oak and alcohol, medium-bodied. Rich sweet black cherry and ethereal raspberry fruit on the palate, with notes of savory strawberry, pine forest floor, spicy oak and rhubarb. Long, long lingering raspberry finish. May be at its peak, but just an amazing wine with some time left. Brought to mind several of my favorite premier cru Burgundies I've had at 10-15 years of age. Not DRC, but I live within a budget... Wish that more Cali Pinots aged like this.

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  12/23/2019 - HDash Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Reddish brown in the glass with medium legs. Plum and prune on the nose carries into the mouth with hints of mushroom, earth and vanilla. The finish is medium. One could mistake this wine for a classic grand cru French burgundy. Previous notes suggested that this wine would not age well beyond 2017. I disagree.

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  9/24/2017 - smphelps wrote: 87 Points

  Was a bit better than average on day one, but really fell to flat on two day. Juice at this price point should be better in general, but I think a 7 year old pinot from Carneros is pushing the time boundary.

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  3/12/2017 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points

  Opened yesterday. This is just fine, good quality, but not memorable either aromatically or on the palate. Tea leaves, cranberry, and dark chocolate.

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  9/16/2016 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points

  Crimson ruby. Mushroom, moss, black cherry, and clove aromas. Very aromatic. Deep lingering bold flavors. Medium long with a drying finish.

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