Community Tasting Note

• Renegade Likes this wine: 92 points

  February 16, 2013 - This is an interesting Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards. It is 70% 1978 vintage Pinot Noir from Rider Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and 30% 1979 vintage Pinot Noir from Sleepy Hollow Vineyards in Monterey.
  
  Even by today's standards, 14.6% alcohol would be on the high side for a Pinot Noir, and back on those days, the 14.6% alcohol this wine has must have been considered extremely high. The people who poured this wine mentioned it was stored in less than ideal conditions to say the least.
  
  The wine is losing its brick red color and giving way to a brown-orange color. When first opened, almost everyone was about to give up on it. I've had some very old California wines in the past and felt it best to wait this one out a little while. When it was first opened, it was mostly, earth, mushrooms, forest floor and hints of currants in the nose. The flavors were earthy, and with currants. After 8 hours in a decanter, this wine completely changed to almost everyones surprise. It gave off aromas of cassis, raspberries, mineral, earthy aromas and slight floral aromas. It tasted of cassis, raspberries, mineral and earth. The currant aroma and flavor would come and go at times. Had this wine been stored in ideal conditions, it probably would have held up even better and had a chance at seeing 50 years old. However, with this wine, given this bottles history, drink it now. It truly is amazing how this wine aged and never gave up. All the more proof that if California vintners want to make long term aging wines, they can easily do it.

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