2013 Cambria Pinot Noir Clone 667 Barbara's

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91 points

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  1/29/2021 - NoahCap wrote:

  A bit of a paradox. Part of me really likes it, part of me is left unsure...
  
  This is a New World Pinot Noir for sure with voluptuous fruit in the foreground and a sizable portion of oak rounding it out. This wine is about sun, warmth, exuberance, convertibles, bikinis, and The Beach Boys. It is big at 14.5% alcohol, again in keeping with the New World identity. Ever seen a French Pinot at that alcoholic strength? No way!
  
  I typically am not a huge fan of overblown Pinots- in fact, the only reason I bought this bottle was bc it had a huge discount at my local shop. But somehow, the flavor profile manages to stay on the cool(er) climate end of the spectrum with red fruit, cranberry, fresh raspberry, and possesses reasonably high acid and a wonderful lift. Despite the huge alcohol, the wine is light on its feet, manages to not be over extracted, or bogged down by oak.
  
  And this is the paradox of this bottle: simultaneously fruit dominated, high alcohol, oaky, in many ways thoroughly sunny California, while also maintaining lightness, red fruit character, and transparency. I usually prefer this type of fruit profile, which makes the wine enjoyable, but also unusual; like that time I had hot sauce flavored jelly beans. I like hot sauce and I like jelly beans- do I like them fused into a single thing? Maybe? My guess is that it is achieved with relatively conservative wine making, with a gentle pressing and light on the extract, but with grapes of an unusually high physiological ripeness- the kind that can be achieved in the Santa Maria Valley. But what do I know? I'm not a winemaker.
  
  This wine is a real odd (and kind of enjoyable) duck.

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  6/29/2019 - tonepad Likes this wine: 90 Points

  This one is at its peak so drink it if you got it. I've always found the Cambria Barbara a bit tight and stingy in it's character and flavors. Everything Pinot is there but somehow muted. Got one more left in the cellar so we'll see how that goes.

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  4/29/2019 - agbanker wrote: 86 Points

  Ruby colored with a light hint of brick around the edge. Aromas of cherry, leather, blackberry and earth. Tastes of black raspberry, plum, a hint of black pepper, a hint of bacon and a little licorice. Medium bodied with some soft tannins on a mid aftertaste of 30 seconds. Low acid. Still has a 2-4 years of life. Drank with a roasted herbed chicken and it was okay. I wouldn't call it a great pairing.

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  9/24/2017 - JMFWC Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Cherry and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Very balanced palate with pepper and bright red fruit and a late tobacco palate. Finish is long but very pronounced tannins hint at a much longer life.

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  8/21/2016 - brianeasley wrote: 95 Points

  very good pinot

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