2013 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Woodruff Family Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (15) Avg Score: 90.1 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Mtnmd1's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/13/2023 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  My last bottle

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Mtnmd1's profile
  • Report Issue

  1/9/2023 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Youthful in color and clarity. Balanced, light and lithe. Good acidity and finish. A few more years in its primary stage of glory
  Would decant for an hour to start

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Fractalage's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/3/2022 - Fractalage Likes this wine:

  Bought a few bottles of this directly from Bradley on release. I’m really a Syrah nut, but I was convinced to go for this and cellar. If you remember, 2013 was one of those drought years, but the diurnal effects of the Santa Cruz Mountains during the veraison months creates excellent phenolics in grapes that love cooler climates. Bradley knows this well. Galloni speaks of this AVA as one of the best in California for a reason: “"There is no doubt in my mind the Santa Cruz Mountains is the greatest and most overlooked terroir in the United States. Period.” - Antonio Galloni.
  
  This is outstanding Pinot Noir.
  This is better than most of what I've tasted from Premier Cru Burgundy, and it’s from my own back yard.
  
  At 170 cases, this might very well be the last bottle in existence. Ever since Bradley's collection burned down the older stuff has been rarer indeed.
  
  Hibiscus and black tea, with essences of fine cakes and peony. It was elegant and held most interesting flavors and spices in a delicate array of mouth pleasure.
  
  This bottle I pulled out of the cellar over the summer and let stand for 4 months. All the fine sediment had cleared, yet when I decanted, that sediment smoke crept up fast to where only half the bottle could be decanted cleanly. I let the rest sit in the bottle overnight and today, it was a touch cloudy, but still excellent. Even the dregs were a joy to drink.
  
  This wine smacked of a natural wine. It had that excellent natural taste that I get from the cooler climates of Piemonte. No doubt that this could cellar for a few more years as the natural acid was perfectly balanced.
  Simply a fantastic expression of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Fractalage's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/10/2020 - Fractalage Likes this wine:

  Excellent wine.
  This bottle showed no signs of flabbiness like that last.
  It was very Grand Cru Burgundy with a massive nose of beautiful perfume.
  There was a lot of sediment. I let rest for a month from the cellar. The sediment tasted delish though.
  Palate of big cherries and raspberries with energy and balance. Spices and etheric levity that contrasted to a gorgeous core.
  
  Sushi wine!
  Yes, this is a sushi wine.
  I don't really like sushi with red wine, because I love the fine sake, but this pairs really well with sushi.
  
  If I owned a fine sushi restaurant I would get this wine and charge $125.
  Jeez this is really good.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Fractalage's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/18/2020 - Fractalage Likes this wine:

  I like it but it might be on the downside. Much of it's body has settled out as I could only pour 2/3 of the bottle before the sediment showed up.
  I can't pick out wood notes
  It's nose is fantastic with flowers, cherries and a darker lurking musk.
  It's a touch flabby on the palate but still with energy to last. It has a long finish with subtle tars and coatings bits, airy and light.
  
  I’m remembering this wine being bigger and containing more punch.
  I bought direct from winery. Was told to cellar. My bottles have not moved from their 55 degree resting place since 2015.
  
  There is a lot of sediment. It tastes natural. I should have opened two years ago, but it's sitting okay now.
  
  If you have any I would open soon.
  
  Pair with small fowel or sashimi.
  
  As it opens its putting on more weight. Notes of cloves and herbs show up. It's a classic.
  That flabbiness is fading.
  Excellent wine.
  
  5 hours later.
  Nose is still holding lots of flowers and cherries.
  It has not changed much. It’s a real wine, and at 12.6%ABV, I say yum.
  Low alcohol wines rule!
  
  There’s anise, cloves, complex herbs, but definitely on its downside.
  Open and drink asap.
  
  It was probably better 2 years ago.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 15 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.