Scherrer Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Scherrer Winery
Tasted Monday, March 30, 2015 by honest bob with 408 views
Introduction
What a pleasure to return to Fred Scherrer's winery near Sebastapol to taste his superb wines again. Mr. Scherrer remains courteous but intensely focused, and spoke - as ever - with authority and genuine passion about the individual wines and the decisions he made in crafting them. Nothing is done for show here, absolutely nothing. It's all about the quality of the wine in the bottle, a quality which might be described by that hackneyed word "authenticity", the French might argue "terroir", and the individuality of each vintage. Interestingly, some of my favourite Scherrer wines in the past have been from "poor" years. That may be a reflection of my Old World taste for less opulent and less alcoholic wines, but it is certainly an indication of his mastery of vinification.
2011 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
P+P from 75cl at winery. Silky smooth entry, star fruit and lively acidity on the mid-palate, acidic crescendo towards the long finish. 14,5% alc., but relatively lithe and light compared to other vintages of Helfer I have tried. Ready, but no hurry. 91-92P
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2012 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
P+P from 75cl at winery. Rich, lower acidity than the 2011; unctuous glycerine on the mid-palate. A bit closed today, with a heavy, monolithic texture; the oak will surely integrate soon. Sexy retronasal incense note towards the finish. 14,5% alc. Needs 2-3 years? 90-92P(?)
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2012 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
P+P from 75cl at winery. Light, even slender for a Zin, this very elegant red has fantastic bright spicy fruit and luxuriously smooth-grained tannins. 14,5% alc. in perfect balance. 91-92P
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2011 Scherrer Winery Pinot Noir Sonoma County 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
P+P from 75cl at winery. Pungent rich cherry scent jumps out of the glass; subtle, surpringly insubstantial entry —perhaps due to the modest 13,3% alc. A hint of cherry Coke on the mid-palate. Dryish finish with more tannins than expected. 87-88P(?)
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2012 Scherrer Winery Pinot Noir Sonoma County 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
P+P from 75cl at winery. Still closed,, this has wonderful dark fruit in good balance with bright acidity. 14,5% alc. well carried. Drink 2016-2020 (if I can keep my hands off it that long). 91P
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2010 Scherrer Winery Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
P+P from 75cl at winery. Super-dark black cherry scent and entry, still quite undeveloped on the mid-palate (hot 14,5% alc. still not quite balanced out by the other components); the thrilling acidic crescendo to the long, tingling finish indicates fine potential for a decade to come. Hold. 91-92P
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2008 Scherrer Winery Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard Sonoma Coast 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
P+P from 75cl at winery. Intensely spicy, dark-red fruit scent; muscular but lithe palate, with sweetness and acidity in tense, thrilling balance. 14,2% alc. Ready, good for at least another 5 years. 92-93P
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