Man, I miss these wines. I've always loved RO fruit, and the Loring may have been the first producer I tasted making Pinot from that vineyard.
This was so tasty with beef Bourgogne over rice. Spicy red fruit, some cola, maybe, who knows?, but it was so interesting and tasty and even sexy. I almost wished I wasn't sharing it, but everyone else really enjoyed it too.
Age your Lorings at least 9 years!
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Decanted for an hour and then finished over the course of 3 hours. Excellent wine. Beginning to show the signs of age at the initial decant with a slight brownish cast to the otherwise translucent but dark red color. The nose had a bit of funk upon decanting, but it blew off before we drank it with dinner. Flavor is no longer "In Your Face" Cali pinot. It is more of a subdued dark and brooding cherry, rather than a bright sweet cherry. My wife, who knew it was a pinot but nothing else, guessed California because she detected the cola flavor, but I thought is was well subdued and barely noticeable. The finish on this wine is very long. The balance on this wine has improved in the past 5 years. It still shows some alcohol heat on the back of the palate, but overall a very positive wine experience. I do not know if the screw cap rather than cork explains the aging, but I suspect not.
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It was a Mad Men night with martinis and Old Fashions flowing over the bar of legalized enablement. At another hour on a clearer day, the conversation might have been described as that made by pretentious drunks, but at this hour, on this day, mixologist philosophers leaned in to renew the embers of the fire of what makes a martini. The discussion turned to the sweet gin of Old Tom and vermouths of the 19th century. And while the clock may have stopped on that street, for a suburban housewife, the hour wore like a thin shawl in the chill of January; and with it, a cold contempt set in.
With amends to be made against the tide of a tapping foot and a face of cold granite, a stop by the cellar before even considering an ascent to the kitchen appeared to be the only key to fit the door. But any wine would not do. Digging in the cellar until it hurt, he pulled his final bottle of the ‘04 Rancho Onitveros. With the bottle’s top off and the first glass sliding across the reflectively stoney counter to the very edge of her statuesque hand, he cut his eyes from the glass to hers as if to say, “Redemption can only be received if first given.”
Her eyes softened with the expansive bouquet of earth, black cherries, teaberry, cloves and perhaps even some asian 5 spice. Warm expression ebbed ever so slightly through her face with every note of the profile’s exactness etching the markers from the bouquet. Balanced, elegant and inviting in a way edges out any room for hard feelings. Thanks, Brian; you’ve made it possible to anticipate yet another anniversary. Some slight sediment is thrown. 15.1% alc. With broiled salmon in chipotle chili glaze . 03.11.10. Highly Recommended.
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I was disappointed to find less finesse and more candy than the last time. Wife wouldn't drink because it was over the top. So after a couple of glasses I froze the remainder. Upon thawing, I found a much more subdued wine. Even my wife liked it! Lots of fruit, some bark, no bite. Elegant, silky finish.
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If a wine could be any different from its sibling, then this shows how far that difference can be. As disappointing as the ‘03 was the night before, this ‘04 satisfies. The nose oozes lavender, herbs provence, blueberry (but in a good way), smoke, cloves and just a touch of teaberry. The fruit may lead, but this is no fruit bomb as the fruit is checked with acidity, which in turn holds firm with the tannins and alcohol. This is truly at peak. No apparent sediment. 14.4% alc. With rosemary skewered Ahi tuna; an incredible match. A true compliment to the food. Highly Recommended.
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Wonderful slightly funky nose of dark berry, earth, mushrooms and spice. Garnet and tea colored and more toward the red berry side of the flavor spectrum, with some plum and spice mixed in. Light to medium weight and with an almost elegant mouthfeel. Not like prior bottles which were medium bodied with fruit-forward, dark cherry/berry flavors and a slightly citrusy finish. This bottle was showing some age -- and was more complex, balanced and mellow than I had experienced previously. Now tasting more like a burgundy than a California pinot.
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Tree bark, mushrooms, earth upon initially opening. After a couple of hours - bar-b-qued ribs wrapped in fatty bacon. Nice, bold, fruit-laddened pinot.
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Lighter red in color and a flavor profile more toward the red-fruit end of the spectrum: both unexpected for the vintage, but I attribute that to the vineyard. Rancho Ontiveros is always--at least from the '01 vintage on--one of my favorite Lorings. This bottling is nicely tart and fruitful (red cherry, strawberry and raspberry) with some oak still lingering on the nose and on the palate and with a little dust on the finish.
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Hasn't changed much over the past year. A little more earth and funk on the nose, and the fruit is slightly diminished compared to previous bottles. Seems like it's time to drink up ...
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Very earthy nose with floral notes. Black cherry flavors with slight astringency, or is it citrus? - either way, I think it detracts from the dominant fruit and earth flavors. Medium to full-bodied for a pinot with soft tannins. Ready to drink now.
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Dark ruby color with dark berry, spice and earthy nose. Good grip but slightly astringent. Complex flavors of dark berry, dark cherry, plum, spice and cola. Slightly earthy. Has some green-ness (pine & citrus?) on the finish which detracts from the rich fruit flavors. Interesting and enjoyable, but the finish detracts from the overall impression.
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Big black cherry, towards the syrup end in terms of texture, but it works aight for me. Also, a vanilla bean essence weaves its way through the berry flavor. Typical funk also present. It all works.
Cleaning up my earlier impressions after 24 hours of air, I'd call this fruit to be in the strawberry vein: same weight and texture, just not the black edged kind I felt last night. Still has the smoky/funky feel, note of pine, almost reminds me a bit of Rosella's. Nice stuff but bigger boned so pair accordingly.
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Third bottle this year and this was drinking well from the start. Good color, nice nose of strawberry and cherry. Balanced finish. Will consume the last bottle in the next few months.
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Very "devloped" garnet color that was amber on the edge. Beautiful on the nose with cinnamon, nutmeg, raspberry and earth coming through loud and clear. Fruit was very present but not candied. Good acid, which promoted a nice long finish. I liked the "earthy" presence. Well done.
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Beautiful clear dark red color. Dark cherry flavors dominate with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and earth. Thick mouth feel with lingering finish. This is a big wine that is somewhat overdone.
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A rather dark garnet color and a strong pinot funky nose on opening and decanting...it took a little time but this eventually blew off showing some smokey and earthy components backed by dark cherry and ripe red berries. First bottle opened so no previous point of reference...seemed resolved and very approachable with a definate personality on the medium to strong fruit grip...layers of texture highlighted by a sense of sourness (in a good way) that gave a nice balance to the fruit. Held up easily over several hours, and went well with food.
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The 2004 Lorings are showing very well now. This was my last and best bottle of Rancho. Sweet dark fruit up front (black cherry, plum and pomengranates) with baking spice and nutmeg.
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Getting more spice and less funk this year. Leans towards black fruit and cola, but red fruits/berries are present. This is a nice wine, but lacks structure and complexity for me.
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Pinot funk on the nose. Cherry and raspberry on the palate. Smooth velvet. The finish is just a tad short with more sweet syrup and not enough acidity to stand up to the sweetness.
Revisit on second night:
Wow, what a difference. The wine rounded out and the sweet syrup was gone. Terrific finish to an enjoyable Pinot!
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Lighter bodied than the Clos Pepe; not nearly as opaque and more the color of cranberry juice. Yet the flavors have the signature intensity of Brian’s that make this a lovely, attractive wine that paired very well with the meal. Teaberry, cola and cherry with maybe a 5 spice finish. This is still my fav. vineyard from Brian’s inventory. Not an ounce of sediment. 15.1% alc. With duck and cranberry sauce. Christmas 2007. Highly Recommended.
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Note is a little late, I could not recall if we had the RO or the This wine has been good to us the last 3 times we tried it. It used to be a softer wine that was waiting for it's aging to really show its stuff. Wow what a change. This bottling has evolved into a very integrated wine. The wine hits you with a slight funky smell, but it is overcome by lush fruit in the front, primarily strawberries, but then it hits light fruits and lots of sweet grapes, light fruits i mean maybe a kiwi or something citrusy and then the wine closes with giant berries, blueberries and blackberries to me. We really liked it and are looking forward to trying the other 04's we have this winter.
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First I regretted taking it to friends with bad stems because I got nothing on the nose....after an hour or so, I really regretted my decision because of what did come through despite the stems! I think this is in a really good place right now. Will try another very soon.
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Deep smokey spice...still reefer-funk, sweet ripe boysenberry, grilled cherries and plums. Smoother now, rounding out very nicely. LOVE to clove, tobacco spice...smokey wood, pine straw flavors. I think this wine is the most exotic, and "dark" wine I think I've had from Loring? WAY WAY different then younger Vintages of Ontiveros. This Vineyard started out light and feminine...now its a monster! How did that happen? Great wine!
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Day after Father's Day - vacation day - bike ride in Sandy Hook with Jill and then BBQ at home - Mahi and pancetta wrapped chicken thighs. Wonderful bottle, dark fruits, rich and warm - enjoyed by all (including a sip by JRV).
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As a backdrop, I love my Loring. Twisted and poured into the big Reidel Burgundy stems, and let sit for a half hour at cellar temp.
There is a lot to contemplate in this wine relative to other Lorings from 2004, which generally offered more no nonsense fruit and riper Pinot flavors. The Rancho has a big nose of non-fruit Pinot funkiness including soil, game and a touch of leather. On the palate, these notes were persistent and augmented by slightly tart cherry fruit, spice and vanilla cola. Well-balanced with tons of structure and strong minerality on the finish.
Not what I would consider a "crowd-pleaser" for the casual wine drinker but should prove to be very satisfying for wine geeks and Pinotphiles.
I recorked about 1/3 of the bottle and am fairly confident that it will rate several points higher tonight and give up more fruit.
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Took this bottle over to David's and Debbie's for an impromtu Sunday evening dinner. They have a beautiful house in Deerfield and the wine was a perfect pairing for the BBQ Chicken, salads and potatoes. The wine really shined with smooth, round flavor and luscious fruit and a wonderful bouquet.
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Similar impressions to most of the notes on this wine. Nice mild game, fruit and earth nose. Rather fruit forward, but it's kept in check by a flash of acids. Updates from 2nd and now 3rd day: The wine is taking on a much sweeter front and mid palatte impression. Still carries a lot of the funky nose, and big fruity attack. Not sure I would rush out to buy this again, but enjoyable Pinot all the same.
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Twist and pour, starts off with a funky, barnyard, smoky nose, with mainly a mid-palate emphasis. As the wine warms up towards about 70, picks up more weight and finishes better.
At 24 hours, you get the cranberry, earth, gamy/smoky feel that this wine brings. As the temp of the wine comes to room, the vintage seems to show more, as the fruit gets a little thicker and more present as ripe. What I like about this bottling is the RO terroir that seems to show through Brian's rendition, as well as others I have tried. Will probably plz both camps of pinot drinkers, too.
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Definitely barnyard pinot funkiness on the nose....still there on day 2 for me. Surprisingly light in color. I had a tough time figuring this one out. At first it tasted a little too jammy for my pallate but then a nice streak of acidity came in to balance it all out. On day 2 things really settled and it showed nice red and blue fruit flavors, silky texture, and a short but pleasant finish. Maybe this just needs a little more time in bottle to show its full potential? Not the best QPR but nice bottle of wine.
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I thought it had good balance and defiately not over fruity. I opened it right out of the cellar and it had a slight fizz feal 'till it warmed up a bit. Rubyish in color. Very pinot on the nose and oh so not so syrupy. Actuall I had a nice fresh feel of cola, berrry fruits, straw and cran I guess with some heat. Also maybe some pomegranate with out the tartness. The finish was very suspect untill hour # 2. At that point the fishish was average at best with a nice softness to it. On the whole very enjoyable.
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Dark viotlet red. Promising nose of dark cherries, vanilla, cola, and something earthy and funky (leather, meat, soil). Palate lacked definition and was to me a bit flabby and round, kind of jammy. It did not do so well with food. Came back to it after dinner and it was more pleasing.
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decanted for an hour. nice nose of spice cola and cherry. flavors of the same with cran and straw berry with a twist of vinilla. Soft fell in the mouth with a creamy finish that has some stone mineral thing there. DELISH although not crazy about the mineral thing.
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Decanted for 40 mins. Medium to medium plus nose of leather, soil, and flowers. Medium body, medium intensity on the palate soil, big cranberry and earth notes. Very nice from mid palate to finish with only a touch of heat.
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Funky, but blows off quickly. Medium bodied, bright dark raspberry and strawberry. Goes great with food - tonight chicken and brown rice. Really very good right now, not sure how it would improve.
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Funked-up black cherry, olallieberry, boysenberry fruit...slight acid tingle, spice box, cherry/vanilla cola, dried tobacco. Still in need of some mellowing...a little angular, acidic....but the flavors are fascinating(almost reefer-like ). Would like to check this one out in a couple years!
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Deep dark color with wonderful nose. A bit of funk which opened up to a floral, fruity mid palate and fairly long finish. Definitely not Burgundian. Good, big, American style CA Pinot. Glad I have five more bottles. Two plus years after harvest is about right for the window to open.
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Each bottle just keeps getting better. The depth of the fruit was amazing tonight. Perhaps it was the pairing tonight (grilled filet mignon and grilled salmon), but this was seamless. I don't see how this could improve, but it has with each progressive bottle. I'd be surprised if my remaining bottles lasted through '07.
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Decanted for an hour. Nice flavors/aromas of cherry, spice and cola. The finish is abrupt but may be due to its youth. Tasty though! No barnyard or funk that some have noticed - but IMO that's a good thing.
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Sunday night - at home - flank steak on the grill. Very nice, but not as great as the Clos Pepe we had the night before with the Bakers. More closed and not as fruit forward.
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loved this bottle! twisted off and poured... drinking very nicely without much aeration. extremely aromatic with a tinge of pinot funk, black fruit and earth. crisp acid, nicely integrated tannis, and humongous finish. some peppery undertones, but predominate plum and cherry notes. wish i had more in my cellar!
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Decanted for about an hour. Tight restrained nose, but good flavors of cherry, spice and a hint of chocolate. Nicely balanced; not hot. Drinking nicely now, but should last for a while.
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Drinking really nicely. I don't usually open my LWC's this early, but I was itching for an RO fruit Pinot. Had with grilled Italian sausage, the way LC likes it. Nice acidity, bright red cherry fruit, good balance. Almost refreshing. LC liked it a lot, and she has not been a big fan of LWC in the past. One of the better LWCs I have had.
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Color - light cranberry, clear and transparent in color (5 pts) Nose - upon opening the wine definately had a funky nose, earth, mushroom and rhubarb (13 pts) Taste - cranberry, earth, mushroom and finished with a spicey finish (16 pts) Overall - very enjoyable Loring, light in color but big in flavor, in fact layers of flavors, this wine really started to sing after being open for 2+ hours, the spicey finished turned silky and smooth and lingered for 25+ seconds, no heat or alcohol on the finish. Nice balance whci I did not expect. (8 pts) Total 50+5+13+16+8=92 pts
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Decanted off the sediment for 2 hours. Vibrant clear red core with hues of magenta fading to the rim. Entrancing aromas of cherry, pomegranate, red currant, and earthy funk with hints of flowers and bubblegum. The palate exhibits smooth silky texture along with rich red fruit and spices while remaining remarkably light on its feet due to the superb balance. There is a touch of tannins coming in on the long opulent berry finish. I find that the texture and fruit character of this wine are unmistakably Pinot. I believe this has plenty of life ahead of it but right now it is just brilliant.
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Popped and poured. Medium-bodied wine that is dary medium ruby in color. On the nose, initial funk blew off to reveal cherries, light spice, and a hint of wintergreen. On the palate, dark cherries and red berries wrapped in a well-balanced package and delivering a very long 30+ second finish. A bright citrus acidity completed the show...quite nice. No hint of heat, and drinking in its sweet spot right now. If the nose develops in intensity, this one could gain a point for me.
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this had significant funk right out of the bottle. had lots of fruit but it was like smoked cherry. it lightened up later in the evening, but i didn't hit it in it's sweet spot that is for sure.
should have decanted it and i didn't pay attention to my last notes to wait...(or decant).
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15.1% alc...smoky, verging on gamey, matchstick, flinty on the nose...medium-full body, VERY much like the nose on the palate, smoky, meaty, gamey, subtle char-like notes, then just as you begin to think this is awful Syrah-like - the Pinot character sweeps through on the finish with some cherry/dark strawberry, tart PN nuances, really sweeping in on the finish. Interesting, by far the most complex of my '04's. I didn't get any Carg. This wine is evolving and changing...not sure where it is going...heat never registered unlike past notes I had on this bottling. **** out of *****.
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Once again, a reminder that these wines need decanting, at least within the first couple years of release. Initially this was tight and had very bright flavors, being a bit unbalanced and showing sharp acidity. However, after an hour it became a sultry, sexy wine, with darker fruit flavors, black cherry, and a hint of soy. Finish was quite long, and the fairly high alcohol just barely registered. Note to self: hang on to these for a few years to see what happens.
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($40) Smokey, slightly roasted coffee nose. Tangy, sweet raspberry-cherry-strawberry melange on the attack. Earthy towards the finish with tangy lift. Large scaled, rather in-your-face Pinot noir. Maybe a nuance of saline on the nose? Pretty good. Not an easy wine.
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Spicy nose of cherries and orange zest. Soft palate of cherry cola, nutmeg, and potpourri spice. Began falling apart after 20-30 minutes of air, turning disjointed, acidic, and searingly hot (almost whiskey-like) on the finish. 90 points upon opening, barely drinkable (70 points) thereafter.
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with grilled Italian sausages at bbq with Barbara..nicely spicy, elegant and svelte. Lovely tart, tangy bing cherry... very nice.. Love the RO fruit... 3.5+
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Popped at home with Casey and Audi. C and I agreed- funk and alchohol over powered the fruit. Jenn and Aud had high praise. Not what I expected. Now I know what barnyard means. Will keep the other bottle for 2+ years.
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Upon opening, the wine was a bit hot, but had enjoyable strong Pinot nose characteristics: barnyard, funk, mushroom, earth, etc. After 1.5 hrs. the wine mellows and becomes more interesting. Pretty to drink right out of the bottle with familiar french oak influence on the palate (cherrysickle if you will). The palate is interesting with tart cherry, funk, almost a sweetness, nutmeg, and maybe brown suger, maybe a little baking spice from the oak too. In color, the wine is marbled dark red to an almost brown/purple. Except for the alchohol at first, the wine is balanced and nice to drink. Lacks a little backside complexity and strong tannins, but I don't think that's what the winemaker was shooting for.
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Not decanted. Dark cherry red color not as "syrupy" body as the 03. Nose of dark cherry, cola, some funk, coffee and pepper. The fruit (strawberry and blackberry) was well integrated with a bit of heat on the finish. When I looked at the bottle - 15.1% alcohol, Wowsa! That's why I was wobbling..... Drank over two days with consistent notes. Another wonderful Loring! Well done, Brian!
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Drank with my Dad and Step-mother on Sunday afternoon before dinner...Very enjoyable deep dark flavors, although still smooth and easy to drink. Nice wine!
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This wine is a great example of how the whole can actually exceed the sum of the parts. While the scoring breakdown for me ended up around 88-89 pts...this was a wine that gave me far more enjoyment than some wines that I've scored in the 92-94 range. After an hour in the decanter, this was a very easy drinking pinot. This is my second favorite of Brian's offerings (after the Keefer Ranch). Nose of strawberry and a little nutmeg or brown sugar. Tannins really loosened up with some time in the decanter. Medium finish. Very, very nice.
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1st night was syrupy, hot and out of whack, cloying and made me thirsty for water, 2nd night much much better, 3rd night best by far and actually very tasty. This was what i was hoping for the first night. color had lightened up some as well. i will wait on my remaining Loring ROs.
Ended up with asian spice and red fruit.
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Wonderful Pinot funk nose right out of the bottle. Lots of tart cherries and leather and earth on the palate. Medium body with a decent finish and nice balance.
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The Blind Drunks monthly tasting ("The Garage"): Taken to March Blind Drunks tasting, the theme was garage wines. Served double-blind to the group, I picked this bottle out as one of mine. Again, well-received by the group. Soft earthy notes, followed by big fruit and tannins on the palate. The future bodes well for this wine. I have yet to be be disappointed by a LWC Pinot.
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15.1% alc...Ohhhh Brian, what have you done with the alcohol?...but, upon further inspection, the alcohol doesn't show its ugly head...lighter in color than I expected, intense ruby...TREMEDOUS NOSE, really expressive, leather, barnyard, mushrooms, yet showing that spicy, sharp Pinot-ness as well - one of the most complex aroma notes I have had on a Loring wine...alcohol shows on the mouthfeel, but not as heat, rather as texture (?), medium-full, long, rich, showing oak and ripe fruit. Really approachable upon opening, but I'll be interested in seeing where this goes. **** out of *****.
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Another Friday night Pinot tasting extravaganza with Mark Rucks and Chris. This was a beauty from Brian Loring. I love the way this man makes Pinot. Notes of caramel and fruit forward and a velvet mouthfeel make this a winner. Really an unbelievable wine for a 2004 release. Interesting to see what a bit more time in the bottle would do, that is if I can what any time at all before opening the remaining one.
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Thursday, March 09, 2006 Sold to Mark Dorton Thursday, March 09, 2006 I get it; I think I finally get it. I get the connection between this wine and its predecessors back to 2001. I taste a relationship between those wines in the fruit, in the nose. The connection is becoming clear. An big, round, full bouquet that once it grips you, won’t let go. Scents of cherry, cola, cinnamon, earth, cloves, currants, brown sugar and vanilla. The transition from bouquet to palate is almost seamless. Everything on the nose clearly and distinctly presents on the palate. A complex wine with sweet fruit on the attack that transitions into deep, evolving flavors. It delivers a long and elegant finish. The elegance of the wine relates back to the ‘01 and its Burgundian quality. This reflects that old world elegance yet stays true to its new world terroir. 15.1% alc. With tenderloins of pork marinaded in balsamic vinegar and served with a cranberry-bourbon sauce. Recommended highly.
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($42) 15.1% alcohol. Earthy nose with overtones of metal, meat, and wood. Further sniffing reveals coffee and smoke. Earthy sweet palate of black cherry fruit. Slightly warm in the finish. Tangy. Rich and powerful in structure. Pretty good, but not quite was I was in the mood for on this Friday evening.
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7/12/2018 - NathanT wrote: 92 Points
Excellent! Perfectly aged. Sweet soft fruit with an amazing nose.
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11/1/2013 - Colima74 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Man, I miss these wines. I've always loved RO fruit, and the Loring may have been the first producer I tasted making Pinot from that vineyard.
This was so tasty with beef Bourgogne over rice. Spicy red fruit, some cola, maybe, who knows?, but it was so interesting and tasty and even sexy. I almost wished I wasn't sharing it, but everyone else really enjoyed it too.
Age your Lorings at least 9 years!
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6/23/2012 - Jay Hack wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour and then finished over the course of 3 hours. Excellent wine. Beginning to show the signs of age at the initial decant with a slight brownish cast to the otherwise translucent but dark red color. The nose had a bit of funk upon decanting, but it blew off before we drank it with dinner. Flavor is no longer "In Your Face" Cali pinot. It is more of a subdued dark and brooding cherry, rather than a bright sweet cherry. My wife, who knew it was a pinot but nothing else, guessed California because she detected the cola flavor, but I thought is was well subdued and barely noticeable. The finish on this wine is very long. The balance on this wine has improved in the past 5 years. It still shows some alcohol heat on the back of the palate, but overall a very positive wine experience. I do not know if the screw cap rather than cork explains the aging, but I suspect not.
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4/5/2011 - Stumpy wrote:
Over the hill
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2/26/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
David's wine. Sappy good. Not = to 02 DuMol Finn.
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11/25/2010 - Tel007 wrote:
tasty, but not as good as previous bottles. maybe starting to fade?
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3/11/2010 - timewithwine wrote:
It was a Mad Men night with martinis and Old Fashions flowing over the bar of legalized enablement. At another hour on a clearer day, the conversation might have been described as that made by pretentious drunks, but at this hour, on this day, mixologist philosophers leaned in to renew the embers of the fire of what makes a martini. The discussion turned to the sweet gin of Old Tom and vermouths of the 19th century. And while the clock may have stopped on that street, for a suburban housewife, the hour wore like a thin shawl in the chill of January; and with it, a cold contempt set in.
With amends to be made against the tide of a tapping foot and a face of cold granite, a stop by the cellar before even considering an ascent to the kitchen appeared to be the only key to fit the door. But any wine would not do. Digging in the cellar until it hurt, he pulled his final bottle of the ‘04 Rancho Onitveros. With the bottle’s top off and the first glass sliding across the reflectively stoney counter to the very edge of her statuesque hand, he cut his eyes from the glass to hers as if to say, “Redemption can only be received if first given.”
Her eyes softened with the expansive bouquet of earth, black cherries, teaberry, cloves and perhaps even some asian 5 spice. Warm expression ebbed ever so slightly through her face with every note of the profile’s exactness etching the markers from the bouquet. Balanced, elegant and inviting in a way edges out any room for hard feelings. Thanks, Brian; you’ve made it possible to anticipate yet another anniversary. Some slight sediment is thrown. 15.1% alc. With broiled salmon in chipotle chili glaze . 03.11.10. Highly Recommended.
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12/15/2009 - mdscott wrote:
Take to cooking class with Kim.
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12/7/2009 - sbbulldog wrote: 91 Points
I was disappointed to find less finesse and more candy than the last time. Wife wouldn't drink because it was over the top. So after a couple of glasses I froze the remainder. Upon thawing, I found a much more subdued wine. Even my wife liked it! Lots of fruit, some bark, no bite. Elegant, silky finish.
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11/28/2009 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Another delicious 2004 Loring!
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10/30/2009 - timewithwine wrote:
If a wine could be any different from its sibling, then this shows how far that difference can be. As disappointing as the ‘03 was the night before, this ‘04 satisfies. The nose oozes lavender, herbs provence, blueberry (but in a good way), smoke, cloves and just a touch of teaberry. The fruit may lead, but this is no fruit bomb as the fruit is checked with acidity, which in turn holds firm with the tannins and alcohol. This is truly at peak. No apparent sediment. 14.4% alc. With rosemary skewered Ahi tuna; an incredible match. A true compliment to the food. Highly Recommended.
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4/1/2009 - pinotwinelover wrote: 91 Points
Still aging nicely I wouldn't worry about finishing any of the 04s. Drank with Brian Loring and he agreed that all the 04s are still singing.
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2/27/2009 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful slightly funky nose of dark berry, earth, mushrooms and spice. Garnet and tea colored and more toward the red berry side of the flavor spectrum, with some plum and spice mixed in. Light to medium weight and with an almost elegant mouthfeel. Not like prior bottles which were medium bodied with fruit-forward, dark cherry/berry flavors and a slightly citrusy finish. This bottle was showing some age -- and was more complex, balanced and mellow than I had experienced previously. Now tasting more like a burgundy than a California pinot.
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2/15/2009 - raydawgone wrote: 91 Points
Tree bark, mushrooms, earth upon initially opening. After a couple of hours - bar-b-qued ribs wrapped in fatty bacon. Nice, bold, fruit-laddened pinot.
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2/6/2009 - Rangstrom wrote: 89 Points
Lighter red in color and a flavor profile more toward the red-fruit end of the spectrum: both unexpected for the vintage, but I attribute that to the vineyard. Rancho Ontiveros is always--at least from the '01 vintage on--one of my favorite Lorings. This bottling is nicely tart and fruitful (red cherry, strawberry and raspberry) with some oak still lingering on the nose and on the palate and with a little dust on the finish.
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2/4/2009 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
One of my favorite Lorings with a burgundian dustiness that adds complexity.
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1/30/2009 - scottj wrote: 88 Points
Hasn't changed much over the past year. A little more earth and funk on the nose, and the fruit is slightly diminished compared to previous bottles. Seems like it's time to drink up ...
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12/27/2008 - BonnieM wrote:
Opened during the Christmas holidays. Very enjoyable, similiar to previous experience.
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12/6/2008 - rickspicks wrote: 88 Points
Very earthy nose with floral notes. Black cherry flavors with slight astringency, or is it citrus? - either way, I think it detracts from the dominant fruit and earth flavors. Medium to full-bodied for a pinot with soft tannins. Ready to drink now.
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11/8/2008 - rickspicks wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby color with dark berry, spice and earthy nose. Good grip but slightly astringent. Complex flavors of dark berry, dark cherry, plum, spice and cola. Slightly earthy. Has some green-ness (pine & citrus?) on the finish which detracts from the rich fruit flavors. Interesting and enjoyable, but the finish detracts from the overall impression.
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11/1/2008 - BonnieM wrote:
Big funky nose, which I love, and lots of dark fruit. not a shy wine.
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9/30/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Big black cherry, towards the syrup end in terms of texture, but it works aight for me. Also, a vanilla bean essence weaves its way through the berry flavor. Typical funk also present. It all works.
Cleaning up my earlier impressions after 24 hours of air, I'd call this fruit to be in the strawberry vein: same weight and texture, just not the black edged kind I felt last night. Still has the smoky/funky feel, note of pine, almost reminds me a bit of Rosella's. Nice stuff but bigger boned so pair accordingly.
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9/5/2008 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Third bottle this year and this was drinking well from the start. Good color, nice nose of strawberry and cherry. Balanced finish. Will consume the last bottle in the next few months.
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7/20/2008 - CBurbank wrote: 91 Points
Very "devloped" garnet color that was amber on the edge. Beautiful on the nose with cinnamon, nutmeg, raspberry and earth coming through loud and clear. Fruit was very present but not candied. Good acid, which promoted a nice long finish. I liked the "earthy" presence. Well done.
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6/19/2008 - davidspieker wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful clear dark red color. Dark cherry flavors dominate with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and earth. Thick mouth feel with lingering finish. This is a big wine that is somewhat overdone.
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5/5/2008 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Similar notes as last bottle. This may be my favorite Loring ever. This is still hitting on all cylinders.
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4/11/2008 - Tejano wrote:
A rather dark garnet color and a strong pinot funky nose on opening and decanting...it took a little time but this eventually blew off showing some smokey and earthy components backed by dark cherry and ripe red berries. First bottle opened so no previous point of reference...seemed resolved and very approachable with a definate personality on the medium to strong fruit grip...layers of texture highlighted by a sense of sourness (in a good way) that gave a nice balance to the fruit. Held up easily over several hours, and went well with food.
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4/6/2008 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
As tasty as ever! Delicious smoky oak and earthy aromas with rich dark cherry and plum flavors framed with spice and earthy notes. Long tasty finish.
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3/29/2008 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Funky and enjoyable. Raspberry and cherry on the palate. Improved on day two. Love the screw cap!
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3/29/2008 - MJTed wrote: 92 Points
The 2004 Lorings are showing very well now. This was my last and best bottle of Rancho. Sweet dark fruit up front (black cherry, plum and pomengranates) with baking spice and nutmeg.
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3/21/2008 - dmitchell4 wrote: 90 Points
A little initial funk on the nose, gives way to typical refined Pinot. Ready to drink now. Well integrated and balanced. Medium body.
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3/6/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 88 Points
liquid cherry jello on the finish/ mildly candied. earth and spice. no heat and only mild alcohol. a pleasant wine of average distinction.
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3/6/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 87 Points
Dried cherry nose. Black cherry, raspberry, earth, limestone and caramel. Mature fruit. A touch acidic. Smooth fruity finish.
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2/2/2008 - aes0300 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice with some air. Heat up front with lots of red fruits and soil.
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2/1/2008 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
As delicious with similar notes to previous bottle.
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1/29/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 87 Points
Getting more spice and less funk this year. Leans towards black fruit and cola, but red fruits/berries are present. This is a nice wine, but lacks structure and complexity for me.
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1/23/2008 - mangell wrote: 89 Points
A year later, and the funk is almost gone! Alcohol is still on the front, however the fruit is coming in to its own. +3 points.
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1/10/2008 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Pinot funk on the nose. Cherry and raspberry on the palate. Smooth velvet. The finish is just a tad short with more sweet syrup and not enough acidity to stand up to the sweetness.
Revisit on second night:
Wow, what a difference. The wine rounded out and the sweet syrup was gone. Terrific finish to an enjoyable Pinot!
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12/25/2007 - timewithwine wrote:
Lighter bodied than the Clos Pepe; not nearly as opaque and more the color of cranberry juice. Yet the flavors have the signature intensity of Brian’s that make this a lovely, attractive wine that paired very well with the meal. Teaberry, cola and cherry with maybe a 5 spice finish. This is still my fav. vineyard from Brian’s inventory. Not an ounce of sediment. 15.1% alc. With duck and cranberry sauce. Christmas 2007. Highly Recommended.
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11/22/2007 - scottj wrote: 89 Points
Red fruit and a slight funk in the nose. Medium, almost light, bodied, with great flavors of cherry, plum and earth. Drinking very nicely now.
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10/27/2007 - KevinP wrote:
Drinking well. I really like the earthy feel of this.
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9/14/2007 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
Note is a little late, I could not recall if we had the RO or the This wine has been good to us the last 3 times we tried it. It used to be a softer wine that was waiting for it's aging to really show its stuff. Wow what a change. This bottling has evolved into a very integrated wine. The wine hits you with a slight funky smell, but it is overcome by lush fruit in the front, primarily strawberries, but then it hits light fruits and lots of sweet grapes, light fruits i mean maybe a kiwi or something citrusy and then the wine closes with giant berries, blueberries and blackberries to me. We really liked it and are looking forward to trying the other 04's we have this winter.
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9/9/2007 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Delicious smoky oak and earthy aromas with rich dark cherry and plum flavors framed with spice and earthy notes. Long tasty finish.
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8/22/2007 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($45) 15.1% ABV. Decent Pinot which starts with a smoky earth nose but shows nice tangy red fruit on the palate.
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7/29/2007 - KevinP wrote:
First I regretted taking it to friends with bad stems because I got nothing on the nose....after an hour or so, I really regretted my decision because of what did come through despite the stems! I think this is in a really good place right now. Will try another very soon.
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7/8/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 94 Points
Deep smokey spice...still reefer-funk, sweet ripe boysenberry, grilled cherries and plums. Smoother now, rounding out very nicely. LOVE to clove, tobacco spice...smokey wood, pine straw flavors. I think this wine is the most exotic, and "dark" wine I think I've had from Loring? WAY WAY different then younger Vintages of Ontiveros. This Vineyard started out light and feminine...now its a monster! How did that happen? Great wine!
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7/2/2007 - WinePeli wrote: 90 Points
Quite pleasant. I enjoyed the woods floor nose. Cranberries are very present. This wine has depth and shows well even given its excellent vintage.
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6/22/2007 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Has come together beautifully since the last bottle. Don't appreciate any heat on the finish of this bottle.
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6/18/2007 - eastover wrote:
Day after Father's Day - vacation day - bike ride in Sandy Hook with Jill and then BBQ at home - Mahi and pancetta wrapped chicken thighs. Wonderful bottle, dark fruits, rich and warm - enjoyed by all (including a sip by JRV).
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5/3/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 85 Points
Spicy nose. Full-bodied. Hot. Fruit is good but can't stand up to the heat.
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5/2/2007 - MJTed wrote: 91 Points
As a backdrop, I love my Loring. Twisted and poured into the big Reidel Burgundy stems, and let sit for a half hour at cellar temp.
There is a lot to contemplate in this wine relative to other Lorings from 2004, which generally offered more no nonsense fruit and riper Pinot flavors. The Rancho has a big nose of non-fruit Pinot funkiness including soil, game and a touch of leather. On the palate, these notes were persistent and augmented by slightly tart cherry fruit, spice and vanilla cola. Well-balanced with tons of structure and strong minerality on the finish.
Not what I would consider a "crowd-pleaser" for the casual wine drinker but should prove to be very satisfying for wine geeks and Pinotphiles.
I recorked about 1/3 of the bottle and am fairly confident that it will rate several points higher tonight and give up more fruit.
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4/15/2007 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 92 Points
Took this bottle over to David's and Debbie's for an impromtu Sunday evening dinner. They have a beautiful house in Deerfield and the wine was a perfect pairing for the BBQ Chicken, salads and potatoes. The wine really shined with smooth, round flavor and luscious fruit and a wonderful bouquet.
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4/15/2007 - incident wrote: 89 Points
Similar impressions to most of the notes on this wine. Nice mild game, fruit and earth nose. Rather fruit forward, but it's kept in check by a flash of acids. Updates from 2nd and now 3rd day: The wine is taking on a much sweeter front and mid palatte impression. Still carries a lot of the funky nose, and big fruity attack. Not sure I would rush out to buy this again, but enjoyable Pinot all the same.
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4/14/2007 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Twist and pour, starts off with a funky, barnyard, smoky nose, with mainly a mid-palate emphasis. As the wine warms up towards about 70, picks up more weight and finishes better.
At 24 hours, you get the cranberry, earth, gamy/smoky feel that this wine brings. As the temp of the wine comes to room, the vintage seems to show more, as the fruit gets a little thicker and more present as ripe. What I like about this bottling is the RO terroir that seems to show through Brian's rendition, as well as others I have tried. Will probably plz both camps of pinot drinkers, too.
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3/15/2007 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
Great.
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2/21/2007 - frqntflyr wrote: 90 Points
Definitely barnyard pinot funkiness on the nose....still there on day 2 for me. Surprisingly light in color. I had a tough time figuring this one out. At first it tasted a little too jammy for my pallate but then a nice streak of acidity came in to balance it all out. On day 2 things really settled and it showed nice red and blue fruit flavors, silky texture, and a short but pleasant finish. Maybe this just needs a little more time in bottle to show its full potential? Not the best QPR but nice bottle of wine.
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2/9/2007 - charbo wrote:
I thought it had good balance and defiately not over fruity. I opened it right out of the cellar and it had a slight fizz feal 'till it warmed up a bit. Rubyish in color. Very pinot on the nose and oh so not so syrupy. Actuall I had a nice fresh feel of cola, berrry fruits, straw and cran I guess with some heat. Also maybe some pomegranate with out the tartness. The finish was very suspect untill hour # 2. At that point the fishish was average at best with a nice softness to it. On the whole very enjoyable.
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2/3/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 87 Points
Dark viotlet red. Promising nose of dark cherries, vanilla, cola, and something earthy and funky (leather, meat, soil). Palate lacked definition and was to me a bit flabby and round, kind of jammy. It did not do so well with food. Came back to it after dinner and it was more pleasing.
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2/2/2007 - Saint Stephen wrote: 86 Points
Probably my least favorite bottle of LPN I've ever had (admittedly somewhat small sample). Didn't give up the goods like I'm used to.
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1/26/2007 - charbo wrote:
decanted for an hour. nice nose of spice cola and cherry. flavors of the same with cran and straw berry with a twist of vinilla. Soft fell in the mouth with a creamy finish that has some stone mineral thing there. DELISH although not crazy about the mineral thing.
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12/26/2006 - aes0300 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 40 mins. Medium to medium plus nose of leather, soil, and flowers. Medium body, medium intensity on the palate soil, big cranberry and earth notes. Very nice from mid palate to finish with only a touch of heat.
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12/24/2006 - NeuroDoc wrote: 91 Points
Funky, but blows off quickly. Medium bodied, bright dark raspberry and strawberry. Goes great with food - tonight chicken and brown rice. Really very good right now, not sure how it would improve.
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12/22/2006 - Mrbuzz wrote: 93 Points
Funked-up black cherry, olallieberry, boysenberry fruit...slight acid tingle, spice box, cherry/vanilla cola, dried tobacco. Still in need of some mellowing...a little angular, acidic....but the flavors are fascinating(almost reefer-like ). Would like to check this one out in a couple years!
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12/19/2006 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Deep dark color with wonderful nose. A bit of funk which opened up to a floral, fruity mid palate and fairly long finish. Definitely not Burgundian. Good, big, American style CA Pinot. Glad I have five more bottles. Two plus years after harvest is about right for the window to open.
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12/18/2006 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Each bottle just keeps getting better. The depth of the fruit was amazing tonight. Perhaps it was the pairing tonight (grilled filet mignon and grilled salmon), but this was seamless. I don't see how this could improve, but it has with each progressive bottle. I'd be surprised if my remaining bottles lasted through '07.
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12/4/2006 - spacewrangler wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for an hour. Nice flavors/aromas of cherry, spice and cola. The finish is abrupt but may be due to its youth. Tasty though! No barnyard or funk that some have noticed - but IMO that's a good thing.
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11/5/2006 - eastover wrote:
Sunday night - at home - flank steak on the grill. Very nice, but not as great as the Clos Pepe we had the night before with the Bakers. More closed and not as fruit forward.
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10/31/2006 - rjoyer wrote:
terrific barnyard stink on the nose...spicy. Great flavors, but a little hot on the finish for me.
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10/25/2006 - jwjon1 wrote: 92 Points
loved this bottle! twisted off and poured... drinking very nicely without much aeration. extremely aromatic with a tinge of pinot funk, black fruit and earth. crisp acid, nicely integrated tannis, and humongous finish. some peppery undertones, but predominate plum and cherry notes. wish i had more in my cellar!
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10/22/2006 - scottj wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Tight restrained nose, but good flavors of cherry, spice and a hint of chocolate. Nicely balanced; not hot. Drinking nicely now, but should last for a while.
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10/3/2006 - Colima74 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking really nicely. I don't usually open my LWC's this early, but I was itching for an RO fruit Pinot. Had with grilled Italian sausage, the way LC likes it. Nice acidity, bright red cherry fruit, good balance. Almost refreshing. LC liked it a lot, and she has not been a big fan of LWC in the past. One of the better LWCs I have had.
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8/25/2006 - ScottS wrote: 92 Points
Color - light cranberry, clear and transparent in color (5 pts)
Nose - upon opening the wine definately had a funky nose, earth, mushroom and rhubarb (13 pts)
Taste - cranberry, earth, mushroom and finished with a spicey finish (16 pts)
Overall - very enjoyable Loring, light in color but big in flavor, in fact layers of flavors, this wine really started to sing after being open for 2+ hours, the spicey finished turned silky and smooth and lingered for 25+ seconds, no heat or alcohol on the finish. Nice balance whci I did not expect. (8 pts)
Total 50+5+13+16+8=92 pts
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8/17/2006 - Badfish wrote: 92 Points
Decanted off the sediment for 2 hours. Vibrant clear red core with hues of magenta fading to the rim. Entrancing aromas of cherry, pomegranate, red currant, and earthy funk with hints of flowers and bubblegum. The palate exhibits smooth silky texture along with rich red fruit and spices while remaining remarkably light on its feet due to the superb balance. There is a touch of tannins coming in on the long opulent berry finish. I find that the texture and fruit character of this wine are unmistakably Pinot. I believe this has plenty of life ahead of it but right now it is just brilliant.
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8/4/2006 - DFC wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Medium-bodied wine that is dary medium ruby in color. On the nose, initial funk blew off to reveal cherries, light spice, and a hint of wintergreen. On the palate, dark cherries and red berries wrapped in a well-balanced package and delivering a very long 30+ second finish. A bright citrus acidity completed the show...quite nice. No hint of heat, and drinking in its sweet spot right now. If the nose develops in intensity, this one could gain a point for me.
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7/26/2006 - AlexRed wrote: 89 Points
this had significant funk right out of the bottle.
had lots of fruit but it was like smoked cherry. it lightened up later in the evening, but i didn't hit it in it's sweet spot that is for sure.
should have decanted it and i didn't pay attention to my last notes to wait...(or decant).
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7/18/2006 - charbo wrote:
we had too much beer and margarit's on the beach before we had this. will have to rate the next 2
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7/8/2006 - CO CHRIS wrote:
15.1% alc...smoky, verging on gamey, matchstick, flinty on the nose...medium-full body, VERY much like the nose on the palate, smoky, meaty, gamey, subtle char-like notes, then just as you begin to think this is awful Syrah-like - the Pinot character sweeps through on the finish with some cherry/dark strawberry, tart PN nuances, really sweeping in on the finish. Interesting, by far the most complex of my '04's. I didn't get any Carg. This wine is evolving and changing...not sure where it is going...heat never registered unlike past notes I had on this bottling. **** out of *****.
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7/7/2006 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Red cherry and plum, earth, and caramel notes.
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6/10/2006 - MarkC wrote: 89 Points
Once again, a reminder that these wines need decanting, at least within the first couple years of release. Initially this was tight and had very bright flavors, being a bit unbalanced and showing sharp acidity. However, after an hour it became a sultry, sexy wine, with darker fruit flavors, black cherry, and a hint of soy. Finish was quite long, and the fairly high alcohol just barely registered. Note to self: hang on to these for a few years to see what happens.
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5/25/2006 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($40) Smokey, slightly roasted coffee nose. Tangy, sweet raspberry-cherry-strawberry melange on the attack. Earthy towards the finish with tangy lift. Large scaled, rather in-your-face Pinot noir. Maybe a nuance of saline on the nose? Pretty good. Not an easy wine.
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5/21/2006 - pjhr wrote: 90 Points
Earthy nose with cherry and spice flavors. Nicely balanced but with a touch of heat on the finish.
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5/20/2006 - Siggy wrote: 80 Points
Spicy nose of cherries and orange zest. Soft palate of cherry cola, nutmeg, and potpourri spice. Began falling apart after 20-30 minutes of air, turning disjointed, acidic, and searingly hot (almost whiskey-like) on the finish. 90 points upon opening, barely drinkable (70 points) thereafter.
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5/13/2006 - Colima74 wrote: 89 Points
with grilled Italian sausages at bbq with Barbara..nicely spicy, elegant and svelte. Lovely tart, tangy bing cherry... very nice.. Love the RO fruit... 3.5+
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5/2/2006 - shemmy wrote: 85 Points
Funky nose, but sort of flat mid-palate. Not much brightness or fruit. Not my favorite Loring.
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4/29/2006 - mangell wrote: 86 Points
Popped at home with Casey and Audi. C and I agreed- funk and alchohol over powered the fruit. Jenn and Aud had high praise. Not what I expected. Now I know what barnyard means. Will keep the other bottle for 2+ years.
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4/27/2006 - en_kierkegaa wrote: 92 Points
Upon opening, the wine was a bit hot, but had enjoyable strong Pinot nose characteristics: barnyard, funk, mushroom, earth, etc. After 1.5 hrs. the wine mellows and becomes more interesting. Pretty to drink right out of the bottle with familiar french oak influence on the palate (cherrysickle if you will). The palate is interesting with tart cherry, funk, almost a sweetness, nutmeg, and maybe brown suger, maybe a little baking spice from the oak too. In color, the wine is marbled dark red to an almost brown/purple. Except for the alchohol at first, the wine is balanced and nice to drink. Lacks a little backside complexity and strong tannins, but I don't think that's what the winemaker was shooting for.
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4/27/2006 - Love4Vino wrote:
Not decanted. Dark cherry red color not as "syrupy" body as the 03. Nose of dark cherry, cola, some funk, coffee and pepper. The fruit (strawberry and blackberry) was well integrated with a bit of heat on the finish. When I looked at the bottle - 15.1% alcohol, Wowsa! That's why I was wobbling.....
Drank over two days with consistent notes.
Another wonderful Loring! Well done, Brian!
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4/23/2006 - jebbeling wrote: 90 Points
Drank with my Dad and Step-mother on Sunday afternoon before dinner...Very enjoyable deep dark flavors, although still smooth and easy to drink. Nice wine!
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4/22/2006 - lbrent wrote: 87 Points
Barnyard nose, with heat and some cherry spice. Nice mouth-feel, but too hot - Night 1.
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4/10/2006 - pkwoods wrote: 89 Points
This wine is a great example of how the whole can actually exceed the sum of the parts. While the scoring breakdown for me ended up around 88-89 pts...this was a wine that gave me far more enjoyment than some wines that I've scored in the 92-94 range. After an hour in the decanter, this was a very easy drinking pinot. This is my second favorite of Brian's offerings (after the Keefer Ranch). Nose of strawberry and a little nutmeg or brown sugar. Tannins really loosened up with some time in the decanter. Medium finish. Very, very nice.
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4/8/2006 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Similar notes to last time, but the depth of fruit was more intense this time. Nice stuff.
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4/5/2006 - AlexRed wrote: 89 Points
not decanted...
dark and purple in the glass
1st night was syrupy, hot and out of whack, cloying and made me thirsty for water,
2nd night much much better,
3rd night best by far and actually very tasty. This was what i was hoping for the first night. color had lightened up some as well. i will wait on my remaining Loring ROs.
Ended up with asian spice and red fruit.
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3/27/2006 - thelostverse wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful Pinot funk nose right out of the bottle. Lots of tart cherries and leather and earth on the palate. Medium body with a decent finish and nice balance.
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3/12/2006 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
The Blind Drunks monthly tasting ("The Garage"): Taken to March Blind Drunks tasting, the theme was garage wines. Served double-blind to the group, I picked this bottle out as one of mine. Again, well-received by the group. Soft earthy notes, followed by big fruit and tannins on the palate. The future bodes well for this wine. I have yet to be be disappointed by a LWC Pinot.
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3/11/2006 - pinotwinelover wrote: 90 Points
Nice barnyard nose, rich darker fruit. Needs age.
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3/11/2006 - CO CHRIS wrote:
15.1% alc...Ohhhh Brian, what have you done with the alcohol?...but, upon further inspection, the alcohol doesn't show its ugly head...lighter in color than I expected, intense ruby...TREMEDOUS NOSE, really expressive, leather, barnyard, mushrooms, yet showing that spicy, sharp Pinot-ness as well - one of the most complex aroma notes I have had on a Loring wine...alcohol shows on the mouthfeel, but not as heat, rather as texture (?), medium-full, long, rich, showing oak and ripe fruit. Really approachable upon opening, but I'll be interested in seeing where this goes. **** out of *****.
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3/10/2006 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 92 Points
Another Friday night Pinot tasting extravaganza with Mark Rucks and Chris. This was a beauty from Brian Loring. I love the way this man makes Pinot. Notes of caramel and fruit forward and a velvet mouthfeel make this a winner. Really an unbelievable wine for a 2004 release. Interesting to see what a bit more time in the bottle would do, that is if I can what any time at all before opening the remaining one.
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3/9/2006 - timewithwine wrote:
Thursday, March 09, 2006 Sold to Mark Dorton
Thursday, March 09, 2006 I get it; I think I finally get it. I get the connection between this wine and its predecessors back to 2001. I taste a relationship between those wines in the fruit, in the nose. The connection is becoming clear. An big, round, full bouquet that once it grips you, won’t let go. Scents of cherry, cola, cinnamon, earth, cloves, currants, brown sugar and vanilla. The transition from bouquet to palate is almost seamless. Everything on the nose clearly and distinctly presents on the palate. A complex wine with sweet fruit on the attack that transitions into deep, evolving flavors. It delivers a long and elegant finish. The elegance of the wine relates back to the ‘01 and its Burgundian quality. This reflects that old world elegance yet stays true to its new world terroir. 15.1% alc. With tenderloins of pork marinaded in balsamic vinegar and served with a cranberry-bourbon sauce. Recommended highly.
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3/6/2006 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($42) 15.1% alcohol. Earthy nose with overtones of metal, meat, and wood. Further sniffing reveals coffee and smoke. Earthy sweet palate of black cherry fruit. Slightly warm in the finish. Tangy. Rich and powerful in structure. Pretty good, but not quite was I was in the mood for on this Friday evening.
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5/7/2005 - kstoddard wrote: 92 Points
Barrel sample
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