October 20, 2022 - Well 10 of us from the office did a 5K walk for cancer that was sponsored by Chubb Insurance Company. After the walk we all went to a local byob for lunch. This was one of the bottles I brought. The nose was all fruit, the palate was red plums, dark cherry, sweet tobacco and a touch of cinnamon leading to a smooth finish of moderate length.
October 28, 2019 - Clear, pale garnet - brick color with significant rim browning. Prune, pomegranate, black plum. Low acids, very low tannins. dark chocolate. short balance finish. Maybe held too long?
July 28, 2018 - Better than the bottle I had a year ago or so. This was slightly translucent medium to dark ruby crimson with a crimson pink rim. The nose seemed quite savory and lightly floral with lots of red fruit like strawberry, cherry and pomegranate. The palate had a bit more perceived structure and vibrancy with medium+ acidity and rather supple tannin. The flavors reflected the nose with the addition of some herbal notes on the moderately long finish. Needed about an hour in the decanter to open up but was even better with some additional time in the glass. I am not the biggest fan of Talbott Pinot (in contrast to the chards of the past several decades) but his was quite good with a pan seared steak and some scalloped potatoes.
June 2, 2018 - We let this breathe for HOURS and that did the trick, needs lots of air at this stage, otherwise you'll be disappointed. Very much bing cherry, oak, earth with a very slight touch of menthol or camphor. This is the essence of Monterey County Pinot, which we prefer to over-priced Oregon...Russian River Valley Pinots we also like, but prefer Monterey and Talbott makes great Pinots and Chardonnays at all price ranges....they all are good. Drink this one in 2018 (would be great for Thanksgiving) or 2019.
August 26, 2017 - Translucent but dark garnet color, after 4 days in Oregon tasting Pinot that is bright with acidity, this seems to lack what I love in Pinot...aromatics, acid backbone for agability and intense complex flavor with the possibility for secondary development. The nose is a bit nondescript with red and black berry aromas and little else interesting. It seems lacking in tannin and acidity (especially compared to Oregon Pinots) and tastes very modern, fruit forward and pretty one dimensional. I love Talbott's chards which I find age very well but have always been rather disappointed with their pinot's. MY guess is the vineyards are just too warm to make a long lived Burgundian-style Pinot Noir.
June 21, 2017 - Bit tawny in color. Berry, cherry and a little pepper. drinks better when a little open.
December 11, 2016 - Barnyard scent at the start, mellowing away to funky mushrooms. On the palate, baking spices, plums, cranberry
November 24, 2016 - Nice bright red fruit balanced with a little spice. Better after 3-4 hrs open.
September 18, 2016 - A full bodied Pinot. Light and fluffy like butter. Drink this bad boy and enjoy its flavor. It's time to drink.
March 27, 2016 - Very very good. A nice step up in taste from the Talbott "Logan" Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, but only about $8 in price, this packs a lot of pinot pleasure into the bottle for sub $30 (glad to find it reasonably close by at gwine.com's retail store). Gorgeous on the nose, with ripe raspberry/strawberry. Does not show like a classic pinot on the front end (a bit less defined), but turns into a classic pinot mid-palette and finishes like a champ. This is one of those pinots you can linger on and enjoy every sip, which isn't a given at this price point. Definitely a re-buy.