86 doesn't seem like a big number, but for a CA Pinot without off notes and a creamy texture it's actually pretty good.
I enjoyed this wine at Ruth's Chris not too long ago and hadn't seen it around at retail in MA so I hopped on this opportunity to pick some up at $9.99. At $9.99 you have to temper your enthusiasm a bit -- I'd call this wine "very good" rather than "outstanding". Hard not to like it. And for $10? Please!
Opened 20min before dinner. At first, there was pronounced red fruit and a tad of sweetnes - conistent with the other bottles I tried. After about an hour, however, the fruit faded away, and I was left with a beautifully mineral wine of balance and finesse. There was even some acidity showing through. Again, not an amazing one, but a very solid performance, given the price ($9), but please let it breathe a little bit.
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Dull medium cranberry colour. Spices, light oak and red fruit on the nose. Cherry on the palate.. thin, with a little acidity and minimal tannins. Good with shrimp and chicken appetizer. Wouldn't pay more than the $9 cost.
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This was a pop and pour with aeration. Maybe a few hours decanting could have helped with the SO2.
Thin. Awkward nose with major SO2 overpowering a simple red fruit nose. Big cherry, blank mid-palette and surprisingly subtle chocolate on the finish- at first- but it quickly fades to a moldy character like a strong blue cheese sans the saltiness. Silky mouthfeel, nice acidity.
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Huge nose, tons of ripe, dark fruit, braised meat. Similar on the palate but with some smoke and chocolate. If I didn't know better I would have sworn I was drinking a Syrah. A bit exhausting to drink alone. Was a lot better with the meal.
Considering the price this is a great bottle. I spent 5 times more for a Willamette Valley Pinot tonight and it paled in comparison.
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Opened this 4 days ago and drank half of the bottle - it was refreshing with bright cherries, very light bodied, overall very good, without crazy oak or extraction. I found it true to the Pinot varietal and a bargain at $9. Then I forgot about the bottle sitting in the fridge and decided to give it a shot. Not surprisingly, it was not good - it was dusty and flat. I left it on the table and decided to give it one more try before i poured it in the sink. The wine had changed. Some of the fruit came back, but it was much more refined and subdued. A nice little surprise at the end there. I bought half a case of this and I am happy I did. Hopefully the other bottles are as good as this one.
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Great value- good color for the age- dark red moving lighter red. Nose of dark plum moving into strawberry and a finish of chocolate. Light berries on the palate. Delicate with a surprising small amount of tannin's. Highly recommend.
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Similar profile to prior tasting note, but something's off. Best guess would be SO2. Not obnoxious, but noticeable, and didn't blow off after one-two hrs. Been seeing this as low as $8 lately; well worth a gamble on more bottles anywhere near that price.
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Sexy boquet, Bright ruby garnet color, beautiful cherry nose with spices and slight tobacco. Fruit is fresh great balance, smooth, slight tartness with round subtle tannins. QPR is outstanding. I've paid 2x & 3x for similar but no better.
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A very excellent Pinot bargain. To me this was more Burgundy than California. I didn't get so much bright fruit flavor as I did an earthy umami-ness. Darker fruits of plums and dark cherry on the nose with similar flavors and some tobacco box and baking spice. Medium finish, plump tannins. Very good, especially at $14/bottle.
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Good Pinot, outstanding bargain. Plum, strawberry, sour cherry, baking spices. Tobacco note at the end adds interest. Good balance and California typicity. Medium-long finish, silky texture. For <= $15, I'll be back for a lot more.
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5/23/2019 - nmcandrew wrote:
Full body fruity with a smooth finish.
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6/15/2017 - Cycledoc wrote:
Enjoyed at my Dad's 90th
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2/23/2016 - Cycledoc wrote:
Ok
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11/6/2014 - Tracy0763 Likes this wine: 75 Points
Not as fruit forward as I would have liked. Earthy & light bodied.
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8/1/2013 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 86 Points
86 doesn't seem like a big number, but for a CA Pinot without off notes and a creamy texture it's actually pretty good.
I enjoyed this wine at Ruth's Chris not too long ago and hadn't seen it around at retail in MA so I hopped on this opportunity to pick some up at $9.99. At $9.99 you have to temper your enthusiasm a bit -- I'd call this wine "very good" rather than "outstanding". Hard not to like it. And for $10? Please!
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3/31/2013 - fgar59 wrote: 84 Points
nothing special, even for the price.
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2/22/2013 - ininov wrote:
Opened 20min before dinner. At first, there was pronounced red fruit and a tad of sweetnes - conistent with the other bottles I tried. After about an hour, however, the fruit faded away, and I was left with a beautifully mineral wine of balance and finesse. There was even some acidity showing through. Again, not an amazing one, but a very solid performance, given the price ($9), but please let it breathe a little bit.
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2/4/2013 - Djohnsonjr53 wrote: 82 Points
Light in color earthy smell slightly acidic
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1/12/2013 - Zbear wrote: 85 Points
Dull medium cranberry colour. Spices, light oak and red fruit on the nose. Cherry on the palate.. thin, with a little acidity and minimal tannins. Good with shrimp and chicken appetizer. Wouldn't pay more than the $9 cost.
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1/7/2013 - SeanBurgundy Does not like this wine: 80 Points
This was a pop and pour with aeration. Maybe a few hours decanting could have helped with the SO2.
Thin. Awkward nose with major SO2 overpowering a simple red fruit nose. Big cherry, blank mid-palette and surprisingly subtle chocolate on the finish- at first- but it quickly fades to a moldy character like a strong blue cheese sans the saltiness. Silky mouthfeel, nice acidity.
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1/1/2013 - MichaelNorwood wrote: 84 Points
Huge nose, tons of ripe, dark fruit, braised meat. Similar on the palate but with some smoke and chocolate. If I didn't know better I would have sworn I was drinking a Syrah. A bit exhausting to drink alone. Was a lot better with the meal.
Considering the price this is a great bottle. I spent 5 times more for a Willamette Valley Pinot tonight and it paled in comparison.
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12/28/2012 - ininov Likes this wine:
Very correct varietal expression - red fruits on the nose, light body, no excessive oak use. Very straight forward, but nice wine, especially at $9.
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12/23/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 84 Points
Simple fruity California Pinot, but the fruit comes across as a little overly sweet for my tastes, though not overly ripe. Decent for the price.
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12/6/2012 - Tarstmartin wrote: 85 Points
Great party wine at $9 Can't expect too much but we need a selection for 25 people and this is included.
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12/3/2012 - majjaz wrote: 91 Points
Great fruit aroma.
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11/20/2012 - foobarski wrote: 87 Points
Great with pork.
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11/20/2012 - Sarfisc wrote: 87 Points
Very light. Berries.
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11/13/2012 - ininov wrote:
Opened this 4 days ago and drank half of the bottle - it was refreshing with bright cherries, very light bodied, overall very good, without crazy oak or extraction. I found it true to the Pinot varietal and a bargain at $9. Then I forgot about the bottle sitting in the fridge and decided to give it a shot. Not surprisingly, it was not good - it was dusty and flat. I left it on the table and decided to give it one more try before i poured it in the sink. The wine had changed. Some of the fruit came back, but it was much more refined and subdued. A nice little surprise at the end there. I bought half a case of this and I am happy I did. Hopefully the other bottles are as good as this one.
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10/23/2012 - Stockgorilla wrote: 86 Points
Great value- good color for the age- dark red moving lighter red. Nose of dark plum moving into strawberry and a finish of chocolate. Light berries on the palate. Delicate with a surprising small amount of tannin's. Highly recommend.
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9/23/2012 - Seweint wrote: 87 Points
An enjoyable, everyday kind of Pinot. Correct for the varietal, refreshing and tasty, albeit a bit uncomplicated.
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9/22/2012 - Ombibulous wrote: 83 Points
Burgundian style, loosely speaking. Translucent. Not fruity. Good (83.5).
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9/19/2012 - Z1nnfull wrote: 79 Points
Thin, watery, barely varietally correct. Translucent, not much nose and not much taste. Rip-off, could probably compete with $4.99 Pinots.
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9/1/2012 - Jnkberg wrote: 84 Points
Smooth and slight purple. Very drinkable.
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7/17/2012 - DanSm wrote: 85 Points
Nice for the price
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7/5/2012 - AnytimeWineTime wrote: 88 Points
S: berries T: fruity, cherry, a nice every day Pinot
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5/19/2012 - tomherer wrote: 87 Points
Similar profile to prior tasting note, but something's off. Best guess would be SO2. Not obnoxious, but noticeable, and didn't blow off after one-two hrs. Been seeing this as low as $8 lately; well worth a gamble on more bottles anywhere near that price.
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4/14/2012 - chcook wrote: 80 Points
Not so great. Nose w some off aromas. Palate simple. Won't revisit.
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2/7/2012 - Vinobrother wrote: 88 Points
Sexy boquet, Bright ruby garnet color, beautiful cherry nose with spices and slight tobacco. Fruit is fresh great balance, smooth, slight tartness with round subtle tannins. QPR is outstanding. I've paid 2x & 3x for similar but no better.
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1/20/2012 - nvlgm wrote: 89 Points
A very excellent Pinot bargain. To me this was more Burgundy than California. I didn't get so much bright fruit flavor as I did an earthy umami-ness. Darker fruits of plums and dark cherry on the nose with similar flavors and some tobacco box and baking spice. Medium finish, plump tannins. Very good, especially at $14/bottle.
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1/13/2012 - tomherer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good Pinot, outstanding bargain. Plum, strawberry, sour cherry, baking spices. Tobacco note at the end adds interest. Good balance and California typicity. Medium-long finish, silky texture. For <= $15, I'll be back for a lot more.
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