September 5, 2023 - Had to try this wine as we are huge fans of the Pisoni's Pinot Noir. It was surprisingly good - just not Pisoni (but who is?).
PnP, but better after 10 minutes of air. Clean medium violet in the glass. Dark red fruits and some earth on the nose. These carry over to the medium bodied palate along with a solid dose of spice and fresh but balancing acidity. Not as extracted as Pisoni, but still a relative value at under $20. Not sure about much further aging, nor about how this wine showed a year or two ago...
November 20, 2022 - Excellend Pinot! Definitely purchase again!
June 25, 2022 - Seems like 4-5 years is the sweet drinkable spot for this wine, year after year. 100% varietally correct, so much a Monterey County Pinot and such an affordable price. Peppery and neither robust or timid.
One of our favorites year after year. Wish Costco carried it.
January 30, 2021 - Peppery
December 10, 2020 - Well made for its style, but then again... not my style. Dense, full bodied, extracted with dark cherry overlying the strawberry and raspberry flavors, with a pleasant woody note in the background. Hard to describe. Again. Good for what it wants to be (hence the 89 point score).
I had about 5 percent of the bottle after getting home. The rest had been consumed by guests invited over to have dinner who were gone before I arrived home. The half full bottle of pinot sitting on the counter from last night was left alone.
Vvv
October 29, 2020 - Cola, tea, plum and cedar in the nose
Soft palate, plenty of sweet juicy fruit, tar
Perhaps a little lacking in acidity
Fairly long finish
October 3, 2020 - Classic Santa Lucia Highlands flavors. Truely speaks of its source. Tart with complex fruit and a meaty acid exit it is not Burgundy is is SLH.
August 5, 2020 - The best part of a dinner out last night, the food was forgettable but this wine was quite nice and the most reasonably priced on the list. It had the SLH flavors I love, good weight, balanced acid and supple structure. The alcohol at 14.5% was a bit high but there was no heat apparent. This will age nicely. I am sure they got it on a deal, but I am going reach out and find out how deep that bargain was, half a case would be nice.
July 1, 2020 - Found on my local grocery store's clearance rack (!). Plummy, rawhide/leather nose with hints of spice and leather. Earth on the tongue with a very nice and meaty mouthfeel. Love the finish. Wish my grocery store had more left when I ran into these.
May 3, 2020 - Nice and fruity, no salt.