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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2012 and 2018 (based on 5 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.9 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 58 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by FEMAILER on 9/2/2022 & rated 93 points: Big, rich, cherry bomb of a Pinot. Not everyone’s cup of tea but it worked really well with a grilled strip steak. Napa in its full glory. (210 views) | | | Tasted by Castle Peak on 10/20/2019 & rated 92 points: Rich, ripe and flavorful. (729 views) | | | Tasted by Quarked on 8/20/2019 & rated 93 points: Still drinking fabulously. Dominant notes are cherry and sandalwood, with lingering but integrated tannins. Seemingly light but with solid middle. Great on first night, even better on night #2. (760 views) | | | Tasted by Adventr.us on 11/15/2018 & rated 93 points: I'm reading my previous notes, and I think it's gotten even bigger, bolder, and better. I just really love this style of Pinot. Light on it's feet, yet delivers a serious punch. Yum. I only pulled this from the cellar because I figured it was time, but I really think this one has years left. (937 views) | | | Tasted by Adventr.us on 6/17/2018 & rated 92 points: Absolutely beautiful, especially with our cedar plank sockeye salmon. Wish I had a bunch more. (1143 views) | | | Tasted by Life is good on 11/16/2017 & rated 96 points: This is a big bold pino. Gus Anderson is noted for the french influence and this one is no exception. (1524 views) | | | Tasted by Castle Peak on 1/16/2017 & rated 93 points: One of the better Pinot Noirs I've had this year. Drinking really well. (1692 views) | | | Tasted by Watchster on 7/13/2016 & rated 94 points: Drinking even better than the last bottle - wish I had more... (2113 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 1/23/2015 & rated 93 points: Delicious. Everyone raved about it. (2852 views) | | | Tasted by Quarked on 12/7/2014 & rated 93 points: Lots of sour cherry on the nose and palate, plus a bit of cola. Good acidity. Not a shy pinot, but tannins and wood are there but unobtrusive. Really nice! (2834 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 11/22/2014 & rated 92 points: Another strong showing. Opened two hours and drank with family without food during a late evening rendezvous. (2470 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 10/18/2014 & rated 92 points: One of our Daughters loves PN so we started my birthday celebration with this one. Everyone loved it. Not your typical PN. Very bold. (2212 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 10/12/2014 & rated 92 points: Stands up to much bolder foods than your typical PN. Excellent. (1828 views) | | | Tasted by Watchster on 8/14/2014 & rated 93 points: Nose of cherry, plum, and cola. More tannic than most pinots. Finishes with a peppery spice. Really enjoyed it. (1471 views) | | | Tasted by Adventr.us on 8/8/2014 & rated 92 points: One of the better pinots from amongst those I've opened recently. Bold and tasty, not thin and wimpy. Nicely balanced with deep dark cherries, earth, and even a touch of vanilla. Yum. Just a little heat on the back end or I'd rate it even higher. (1182 views) | | | Tasted by rodsjuice on 7/18/2014 & rated 92 points: Decanted for an hour. This bottle was much different than my first tasting over a year ago. Nose was floral with dark fruits and some spice. Med to full bodied with rich texture. Bold, great integration of fruit, spice, earth. This was a fantastic pinot. Two bottles a year apart, totally different experience. 5,14,16,7=92 (1496 views) | | | Tasted by RobbieC on 4/11/2014 & rated 88 points: Not as balanced this time around. Showing some oak that distracts from the fruit. Still nice. Previous notes still hold-up. (1500 views) | | | Tasted by vinodolphin on 2/14/2014 & rated 92 points: I couldn't resist buying this. I am a total fan of ACV so I wanted some of Todd's Dad's PN. Gus really did a great job on this. Not your typical Pinot. Darker, bolder and much more full bodied. What a treat making me happy that I paid the $30 which by comparison was a good price. Happy to have 5 more! (1568 views) | | | Tasted by Winoluver on 12/28/2013 & rated 92 points: Always buy (1507 views) | | | Tasted by Bruno Brunello on 12/20/2013 & rated 92 points: bright cherry and medium body. great pinot noir (1587 views) | | | Tasted by Castle Peak on 12/19/2013 & rated 93 points: 3 hour open before tasting. This style of PN is more full bodied, yet not over done. Nice balance of fruit, spice, cedar and dry earth. Medium acidity. Flavorful and a dynamic mid-palate, with a nice length finish. (1402 views) | | | Tasted by RobbieC on 12/12/2013 & rated 90 points: Dark and heavy for Pinot Noir. Based on color, my wife guessed Syrah in the glass. Tastes of blackberry, pomegranate, and tart black cherry. Reasonable balance. Drinking well now and I don't get the feeling this will improve with more time. Drink up. (1258 views) | | | Tasted by Halfeel on 10/26/2013 & rated 93 points: Wonderful pronounced berry flavors with a smooth finish. (1448 views) | | | Tasted by SSGibson on 10/20/2013 & rated 93 points: Notes same as last, but I've raised the score a point. Decanted an hour or two before dinner. Had the 2009 and the 2010 side-by-side last night. While they are both exceptional wines (the dinner guests sighed after their first tastes), the 2009 has a complexity that the 2010 misses by just a tad. (1227 views) | | | Tasted by SSGibson on 10/14/2013 & rated 92 points: Decanted and poured. This is a robust Pinot Noir that shows dark fruits, strawberry and rock dust on the nose, and an intriguing blend of dark fruit, strawberry and raspberry on the palate. It is a robust Pinot (14.3% ABV) that has a chewy middle and a long finish. Over time it picked up more jam and a bit of white pepper but still smoothed out as well. It was delightful in all its permutations. I'll certainly buy more if I get the chance and I'm looking forward to seeing what this one does over the next few years. (1211 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Eagles Trace Producer website
By eaglestrace.com
Eagles Trace Vineyards
Conn Valley is located within Napa Valley three miles east of St. Helena. The vineyard consists of 26 acres in nine vineyard blocks planted on gently sloping terrain at the base of Howell Mountain. The Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are planted on a selection of five different rootstocks. The soils are deep gravelly clay loam of the Bale Loam series - the same soils found in the Rutherford Bench.
The Vineyard
The vines are densely planted with as many as 2,640 vines to the acre. The vines are trained on a trellis wire with either a unilateral or bilateral cordon. During the growing season the cane shoots are vertically positioned to give the best sun exposure to the fruit. The rows are planted north to south allowing the morning sun on the east side of the vines and the afternoon sun on the west. We remove leaves on the east side of the vines to allow sun exposure on the fruit in the morning, but remove little or none on the west side so the fruit is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. Lake Hennessey is located just three miles south of the vineyard and each afternoon in the summer a breeze funnels up from the Lake at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. It continues until 7 o'clock in the evening, cooling the vines, allowing the grapes to mature more slowly. We liken it to driving to the beach on a hot summer day in a car without air conditioning. When you arrive and stand on the beach with a breeze blowing off the water, you immediately feel cooled off and rested. All great wines have a sense of place. The French call it terroir - the site, the soil and the climate. Our vineyards indeed give our wines a true sense of place!Pinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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