Ruby color, full bodied with nose of tart berries. This wine has revolved but still seems a bit hot and slightly alcoholic. There is definitely still good fruit despite 13 years of aging, but the finish, while pleasant, isn’t memorable.
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I confess, I am a little surprised at giving this wine such a high rating. For years I have generally despised the over cooked, high alcohol, Coca Cola tinged, in your face C-noir style that many of the leading producers embraced in the early noughts (and some iike Meomi (excuse me while I barf) have continued to this day.....). There seemed to be a general feeling that if BIG was ok then BIGGER was better and EVEN BIGGER was what was called for to show everyone you could do it!! This wine clocks in at 14.7% (for a pinot?!) and is a stereo-typical example of the BIG is good and BIGGER is better philosophy. I dropped my mailing list subscriptions to Kosta Browne and Sea Smoke when I thought they went over the cliff (I know, I know, all you wait list people can write to thank me, lol) and I haven't looked back since. BUT, pulling one of these old bruisers from the cellar makes me want to reach out to Andy Smith and say well "well done". not because it's what you intended to create but what you have left us, perhaps in spite of your original intentions...... (sure sure, you knew it all the time.....) .
This wine has settled into a wonderful dark berry, deep, slightly savory place, with balance, finesse, and flavors that just go on and on. Its almost enough to make me want to renew my mailing list allocation for this winery (not really, in spite of a big NYC "Tasting" extravaganza they hosted a few months back) if only I could figure out who to contact; it use to be I received my "folksy" semi-annual allocation letter from Kerry Murphy and Michael Verlander then Andy started getting some billing and then it was ALL ANDY, and now its from the junior assistant wine relations and hospitality manager and the assistant director of corporate events. Hmmm. Any place that has that many layers means it has that many more layers of $$$$$ to pass along to its customers..... No thanks. I am happy harvesting my cellar and leaving the new stuff to the next generation of "informed" (i.e. more $$ = better wine. NOT) wine purchasers.
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4/12/2022 - redz wrote: 91 Points
Holding up well, nice berry nose, smooth palate.
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12/29/2020 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a magnum for Christmas dinner with mussels and crab. Great bottle of wine. Drink up it can't get much better.
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3/15/2020 - NY Wino wrote: 90 Points
Ruby color, full bodied with nose of tart berries. This wine has revolved but still seems a bit hot and slightly alcoholic. There is definitely still good fruit despite 13 years of aging, but the finish, while pleasant, isn’t memorable.
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7/3/2019 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank with Lou and Kate after dinner. Balanced, smooth, mature, drinking well.
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4/22/2019 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
I confess, I am a little surprised at giving this wine such a high rating. For years I have generally despised the over cooked, high alcohol, Coca Cola tinged, in your face C-noir style that many of the leading producers embraced in the early noughts (and some iike Meomi (excuse me while I barf) have continued to this day.....). There seemed to be a general feeling that if BIG was ok then BIGGER was better and EVEN BIGGER was what was called for to show everyone you could do it!! This wine clocks in at 14.7% (for a pinot?!) and is a stereo-typical example of the BIG is good and BIGGER is better philosophy. I dropped my mailing list subscriptions to Kosta Browne and Sea Smoke when I thought they went over the cliff (I know, I know, all you wait list people can write to thank me, lol) and I haven't looked back since. BUT, pulling one of these old bruisers from the cellar makes me want to reach out to Andy Smith and say well "well done". not because it's what you intended to create but what you have left us, perhaps in spite of your original intentions...... (sure sure, you knew it all the time.....) .
This wine has settled into a wonderful dark berry, deep, slightly savory place, with balance, finesse, and flavors that just go on and on. Its almost enough to make me want to renew my mailing list allocation for this winery (not really, in spite of a big NYC "Tasting" extravaganza they hosted a few months back) if only I could figure out who to contact; it use to be I received my "folksy" semi-annual allocation letter from Kerry Murphy and Michael Verlander then Andy started getting some billing and then it was ALL ANDY, and now its from the junior assistant wine relations and hospitality manager and the assistant director of corporate events. Hmmm. Any place that has that many layers means it has that many more layers of $$$$$ to pass along to its customers..... No thanks. I am happy harvesting my cellar and leaving the new stuff to the next generation of "informed" (i.e. more $$ = better wine. NOT) wine purchasers.
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