Enjoyed this bottle better - actually hung out quite well with the pot roast and potatoes. This is cinnamon and cherry to the max with a little earthiness thrown in there. I still was actually getting a candy apple type of note. This is a really good pinot, and at its QPR I should probably be rating this one a 90 or 91. This is my last bottle of this vintage...wanting to see how the 2010's shape up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There is something about Pinot Noir from Southern California. No one is going to confuse these Pinot's for European, but they do share one important characteristic; the fruit and non fruit flavor profile is about half and half. Typical Pinot color, you can easily see both fingers. The nose is not giving a lot, at first, but swirling brings brown spice, maybe cinnamon and cardamon, molasses, vanilla, leather, earth, and light black cherry. The palate is surprisingly vibrant, active, and alive. The red and black fruit dances across the palate, with much respect to things that are not fruit, or come from herbs and spices. Zesty. pinpoint acidity. Noticeable, prevalent, but integrated and enhancing oak program. Soft, but assertive. Leather, earth, vanilla, and black cherry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Wine is ready. OK so I gave this an 86 but now it's an 88. Light pink stain on the cork. Waft out of the bottle revealed not much going on. The pour into the glass was light, airy almost. The nose in the glass was very light with cherries and a church wine nose. Some candy apple on the palate, with red cherry, quite a bit acidic on the tongue which mellowed nicely with a shrimp/spinach/jalapeno fettuccine dish. The wine was the perfect complement to this dish. Although I can say that I have had way better pinot noir, this one was amazing with this dish. The spice came out of SOMEWHERE as the wine opened, and that level of spice was oh-holy-wow with the jalapeno fettuccine. Alcohol heat remained throughout, which was actually nice to have without food as pinots can sometimes be a little flat and uninspiring. This one was rather unidimensional from a fruit approach. Didn't get much oak barrel, just about zero tannin. Very well balanced, easy drinking pinot. Definitely better than some of the others from Santa Barbara but probably could use another year. Through 2013 and that's probably it for longevity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark cherry nose. Musty at first. Very smooth. No after taste. After taste is on the outside of the tongue. Very easy to drink. We would buy more of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Textbook Pinot nose of cedar and spice. With food it seemed rather nice but on its own it revealed an off-putting amount of alcohol heat. Ripe black cherry fruit is deep and rich. Powerful acidity is unfortunately subsumed by the high alcohol. Some odd petrol notes. Not balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full fruit flavors with bing cherries, raspberry, and toasted oak. Better after some time. Tannins mellow nicely and secondary earth and cinnamon flavors shine through. Good value at $25. Cellar it. Drink in 2013-14.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Strong Pinot noir spice on the nose and palate. Good red fruit on the palate. Generally I would say average but no flaws. High acidity. decent drinker. 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/14/2015 - gabird wrote:
Jetta B-D
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2014 - gabird wrote:
F III
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2013 - KVM wrote: 84 Points
Med dark red. Candy pinot nose and vanilla. Is thick and sweetish in the mouth. Finishes tartly and with a lot of vanilla. Cloying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2013 - dwaynelm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light in color but solid varietal character. Cherry, spice, black pepper, and smoke. This is what I imagine and appreciate from a SBC PN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2013 - domco wrote: 89 Points
At Duo. Very good QPR, well balanced, good food wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2012 - mflesh wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed this bottle better - actually hung out quite well with the pot roast and potatoes. This is cinnamon and cherry to the max with a little earthiness thrown in there. I still was actually getting a candy apple type of note. This is a really good pinot, and at its QPR I should probably be rating this one a 90 or 91. This is my last bottle of this vintage...wanting to see how the 2010's shape up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 89 Points
There is something about Pinot Noir from Southern California. No one is going to confuse these Pinot's for European, but they do share one important characteristic; the fruit and non fruit flavor profile is about half and half. Typical Pinot color, you can easily see both fingers. The nose is not giving a lot, at first, but swirling brings brown spice, maybe cinnamon and cardamon, molasses, vanilla, leather, earth, and light black cherry. The palate is surprisingly vibrant, active, and alive. The red and black fruit dances across the palate, with much respect to things that are not fruit, or come from herbs and spices. Zesty. pinpoint acidity. Noticeable, prevalent, but integrated and enhancing oak program. Soft, but assertive. Leather, earth, vanilla, and black cherry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2012 - nkredich wrote: 86 Points
Not bad, decent fruit. Not spectacular but solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2012 - grantsky wrote: 88 Points
Classic pinot nose; black cherry, brown spice. Slight brightness to the palate, with some alcohol heat. Medium finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2012 - mflesh wrote: 88 Points
Pop and pour. Wine is ready. OK so I gave this an 86 but now it's an 88. Light pink stain on the cork. Waft out of the bottle revealed not much going on. The pour into the glass was light, airy almost. The nose in the glass was very light with cherries and a church wine nose. Some candy apple on the palate, with red cherry, quite a bit acidic on the tongue which mellowed nicely with a shrimp/spinach/jalapeno fettuccine dish. The wine was the perfect complement to this dish. Although I can say that I have had way better pinot noir, this one was amazing with this dish. The spice came out of SOMEWHERE as the wine opened, and that level of spice was oh-holy-wow with the jalapeno fettuccine. Alcohol heat remained throughout, which was actually nice to have without food as pinots can sometimes be a little flat and uninspiring. This one was rather unidimensional from a fruit approach. Didn't get much oak barrel, just about zero tannin. Very well balanced, easy drinking pinot. Definitely better than some of the others from Santa Barbara but probably could use another year. Through 2013 and that's probably it for longevity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2012 - Sour Grapes wrote: 85 Points
Light and balanced. Easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2012 - Nanums wrote:
Dark cherry nose. Musty at first. Very smooth. No after taste. After taste is on the outside of the tongue. Very easy to drink. We would buy more of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2012 - valecnik wrote: 84 Points
Textbook Pinot nose of cedar and spice. With food it seemed rather nice but on its own it revealed an off-putting amount of alcohol heat. Ripe black cherry fruit is deep and rich. Powerful acidity is unfortunately subsumed by the high alcohol. Some odd petrol notes. Not balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2012 - MillenialWineGuy wrote: 89 Points
Full fruit flavors with bing cherries, raspberry, and toasted oak. Better after some time. Tannins mellow nicely and secondary earth and cinnamon flavors shine through. Good value at $25. Cellar it. Drink in 2013-14.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2011 - Fateful Destiny wrote: 90 Points
Strong Pinot noir spice on the nose and palate. Good red fruit on the palate. Generally I would say average but no flaws. High acidity. decent drinker. 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment