January 1, 2024 - Deep ruby color. Black cherries, leather, licorice and hints of floral and earthiness in the nose. Black cherries, raspberries, and plums in the flavor. Well balanced, medium to full bodied, very nice mouthfeel, nice complexity and long finish.
June 3, 2023 - The 2011 Aubert Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard is a testament to Aubert's unparalleled craftsmanship. This exquisite vintage, sourced from the esteemed Ritchie Vineyard, demonstrates the elegance and complexity that has come to define Aubert's winemaking prowess.
Appearance: In the glass, the 2011 Aubert Pinot Noir reveals a translucent ruby hue that glimmers with a delicate brilliance. Its seductive clarity sets the stage for the opulent experience that awaits.
Aroma: The nose captivates with enchanting aromas. Perfumed red roses, violets, and a hint of lavender dance harmoniously, creating an intoxicating bouquet. Bright red berries, including raspberries and red currants, entice the senses, accompanied by subtle notes of earth and forest floor.
Palate: On the palate, this Pinot showcases a masterful balance of power and finesse. Initially silky and velvety, coating the mouth with its luxurious texture. Layers of black cherries, wild strawberries, and crushed cranberries intertwine with precision, infusing the palate with vibrant fruitiness. The wine's backbone is marked by fine-grained tannins, providing structure and support to the luscious fruit core.
Midpalate to Finish: As the wine evolves, a symphony of flavors unfolds on the midpalate. Subtle hints of Asian spices, such as star anise and clove, intermingle with savory elements of black tea and dried herbs. A touch of minerality adds a refined complexity, showcasing the wine's terroir and sense of place. The finish is long and harmonious, leaving a lasting impression of sweet cherries and a gentle whisper of oak.
Conclusion: This Pinot displays a range of aromas and flavors that captivate the senses. Its elegant structure, coupled with its graceful complexity, make it a standout vintage. While already approachable, this wine possesses the potential to evolve and mature beautifully over the years.
December 31, 2021 - Very juicy dark cherries, cloves, cinnamon, mild integrated leather, sweet licorice, plums, violet, rose petals, brown sugar, huge sucrosity and mild cola on the backside dominate a very complex and nuanced nose. This is a massive wine, very intense, but not heavy in the slightest. Very mouth filling on low, mid and high palate. Great minerality throughout. Threw perhaps less than a 1/8 of teaspoon of sediment. Still quite fresh and has many years to go. A good 2-minute double finish with lots of sucrosity, dark mocha, a touch of the sweet licorice and that wonderful cherry, raspberry fruit. No hint of the 15% alcohol in the wine, integrated tannins, beautiful garnet burgundy color. As typical with great wines, this changes on every sip. DECANTED for 22 hours (an absolute MUST- when first opened a touch of old-world funk and mild barnyard flavors). Took 13 hours before it started to show its true self. A wonderful production and piece of art. 98.5 points with an arrow pointing upward!!!!
June 15, 2021 - Beautiful light color. Smooth but still structured. Berries and cherry notes still going strong.
December 15, 2020 - Big with dark fruit and surprising amount of spice. Cola, black cherry & even some licorice. Great wine drinking just fine.
August 26, 2020 - Fantastic for a 2011. Lots of spice and life left in the wine. Almost tastes like a Syrah with the amount of pepper. Truly enjoyable.
July 29, 2020 - Pop and pour. Aromas of cola, dried cherry, beet, cinnamon and herb. Flavors of dried cherry, cola, dried raspberry, currant and touch of earth. Ends with a 30 second finish with dried cherry notes. Surprised this is holding up so well from a panned vintage. Quite good though.
January 17, 2020 - Definitely a ripe, California pinot, but well balanced, and oh so tasty. Lovely dark red fruit, floral tones, and nicely structured.
June 29, 2019 - Greatly exceeded my expectations with its delicate, layered balance. Beautiful burgundy color. Fascinating nose, combining flower petals, ripe berries and a hint of tobacco smoke. Strawberry up front on the palate. A hint of smokiness mid palate. Medium bodied with a medium finish. It feels like this is at peak and unlikely to improve but will last at least three more years. A delicious bottle.
June 25, 2019 - Excellent well rounded Ca Pinot. At peak but not past at all.