MAGA theme night at Maison Dakota. Aired in bottle few hours before. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of sweet mildly decaying earth with autumn leaves, cola, dark spice, indistinct ripe red fruits. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), totally integrated medium tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet cola, dark spice, ripe red plum, sweet red cherries, brown leaves earth. Medium finish. Very good quality. Though clearly this is in its twilight years. Drink up before it's too late. Distinct New World trying to be Old World kind of Pinot. Does a somewhat decent job though you can't hide the terroir. Fruit from the Nielson Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley AVA which is in California's Central Coast AVA. This bottle I drank is labelled "Nielson Vineyard". Interestingly, I note that there are labels posted online where the ABC bottle label is "Nielsen Vineyard". Anyone care to shed some light on this? Feel free to comment.
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I'm amazed at how relatively youthful the fruit is since I last tasted this. Fragrant dried raspberry with hints of cherry, the secondary notes of ash, autumn leaves, and leather have become more pronounced, but better integrated. Lush and perfumed, this is a warm and inviting wine that really hits every part of the palate with precision. Remarkably well balanced, this is going to be around for a few years yet.
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Absolutely stunning. Fresh strawberry and cherry with some nice baking spices that evolved to be a little darker and earthier with time in the glass. Best about 45 minutes after opening. Lots of depth and layers. Went great with some smoked chicken and saffron rice. Kudos to you Mr. Clendenen.
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Wonderfully Burgundian with lots of savoury red fruits and heaps of autumnal earthiness with a good dose of spice. Tannin and acidity still very balanced, fruit is elegant and pure while also having a certain succulence. Extemely long finish. This has some legs left.
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Pop and pour. Clear medium ruby color. Aromas, nicely secondary, of vanilla, anise and pressed flowers, along with fig fruit. Vivid notes of spicy fig fruit on the palate, with seamless secondary layers of potpourri spice and flowery depth- very well melded. Rich mid-palate with totally integrated acid, finishing with silky tannins and good overall length. Excellent.
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Sappy, but dry and varietally correct. This is quite good with refreshing acidity. More open versus last time. Nice sappy red fruit with tart orange peel to offset the fruit. 90+.
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Santa Barbara Trip - July 2011; 7/1/2011-7/6/2011: Tasted at the tasting room in SB. Strawberry and Cocoa/Nestle powder nose... very interesting! Earthy on the palate with dried red fruits that transitions into a spicy/dry finish. A touch of alcohol pops out - maybe give it 2-3 years.
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Drank alongside the ABC Bien Nacido (opened a day earlier), and also obtained (or should I say, stolen) for the silly price of $15 from Zachys. An interesting side by side comparison, as the winemaking style was consistent in both wines, falling sqarely into the elegant, understated, low extraction school. The Nielson (don't know why this is in CT as 'Nielsen' when it is spelled 'Nielson' on the label), seems a bit more backward and structured than the Bien Nacido, with a more restrained nose marked by notes of absinthe (anise/black licorice), crabapple, rose, and raspberries. Subtle and elegant on the entry (much more subdued than the Bien Nacido), showing bright acidity, red fruits, and hints of tangerine and flowers. A very pretty wine, and made in a food-friendly style.
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This is a very pretty wine. Understated, 13.5% ABV, not over-ripe or extracted. Classically styled with lots of red fruit, exotic spice, sandalwood, and other cooler climate notes. Almost like a Kendric or another real old school producer. A lot of people who like fruit bomb, dark, extracted pinot would not like this. This is elegant and almost burgundian styled except for the fruit on Night 1 that is cearly california, but night 2 this could confuse some as a burgundy.
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3/11/2020 - JMFWC Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a good spot now for pop and pour but faded after about an hour and a half. Drink now and hurry.
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10/16/2019 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
MAGA theme night at Maison Dakota. Aired in bottle few hours before. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of sweet mildly decaying earth with autumn leaves, cola, dark spice, indistinct ripe red fruits. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), totally integrated medium tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet cola, dark spice, ripe red plum, sweet red cherries, brown leaves earth. Medium finish.
Very good quality. Though clearly this is in its twilight years. Drink up before it's too late. Distinct New World trying to be Old World kind of Pinot. Does a somewhat decent job though you can't hide the terroir.
Fruit from the Nielson Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley AVA which is in California's Central Coast AVA.
This bottle I drank is labelled "Nielson Vineyard". Interestingly, I note that there are labels posted online where the ABC bottle label is "Nielsen Vineyard". Anyone care to shed some light on this? Feel free to comment.
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1/12/2018 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 93 Points
I'm amazed at how relatively youthful the fruit is since I last tasted this. Fragrant dried raspberry with hints of cherry, the secondary notes of ash, autumn leaves, and leather have become more pronounced, but better integrated. Lush and perfumed, this is a warm and inviting wine that really hits every part of the palate with precision. Remarkably well balanced, this is going to be around for a few years yet.
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5/26/2016 - brockley23 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely stunning. Fresh strawberry and cherry with some nice baking spices that evolved to be a little darker and earthier with time in the glass. Best about 45 minutes after opening. Lots of depth and layers. Went great with some smoked chicken and saffron rice. Kudos to you Mr. Clendenen.
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4/24/2016 - mike l. Likes this wine: 92 Points
terrific wine with lovely integrated fruit. a steal around 30-40 bucks at the tasting room.
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3/28/2016 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderfully Burgundian with lots of savoury red fruits and heaps of autumnal earthiness with a good dose of spice. Tannin and acidity still very balanced, fruit is elegant and pure while also having a certain succulence. Extemely long finish. This has some legs left.
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1/23/2016 - MattMauldin wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour. Clear medium ruby color. Aromas, nicely secondary, of vanilla, anise and pressed flowers, along with fig fruit. Vivid notes of spicy fig fruit on the palate, with seamless secondary layers of potpourri spice and flowery depth- very well melded. Rich mid-palate with totally integrated acid, finishing with silky tannins and good overall length. Excellent.
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9/30/2015 - Jay Win Likes this wine:
BurgundIan in nature with its restraint , a good thing. Plenty of fruit emerges after aeration
Enjoyable now but will hold. A-
3 years later still a graceful wine
Grade of A.
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12/14/2014 - Iceman611 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright and lovely. I enjoyed this very much.
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11/24/2012 - winegr wrote: 90 Points
Very similar to the last note. Nice, dry balanced pinot, but not lacking some sappy fruit either. Better day 2?
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7/29/2012 - winegr wrote: 90 Points
Sappy, but dry and varietally correct. This is quite good with refreshing acidity. More open versus last time. Nice sappy red fruit with tart orange peel to offset the fruit. 90+.
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5/13/2012 - greenwalter wrote: 91 Points
Browned with age. Nose of wood and spice. Beautiful balanced fruit with spice and earth. Depth with lightness.
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8/31/2011 - ikileo wrote:
Nose: Dried orange peel, raspberries and floral notes. Reminded me a little bit like a sangria (in a good way)
Taste: This was rather taut and not giving out much. So I cannot comment on it.
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7/5/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 91 Points
Santa Barbara Trip - July 2011; 7/1/2011-7/6/2011: Tasted at the tasting room in SB. Strawberry and Cocoa/Nestle powder nose... very interesting! Earthy on the palate with dried red fruits that transitions into a spicy/dry finish. A touch of alcohol pops out - maybe give it 2-3 years.
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3/31/2011 - GrapeScott wrote: 90 Points
Drank alongside the ABC Bien Nacido (opened a day earlier), and also obtained (or should I say, stolen) for the silly price of $15 from Zachys. An interesting side by side comparison, as the winemaking style was consistent in both wines, falling sqarely into the elegant, understated, low extraction school. The Nielson (don't know why this is in CT as 'Nielsen' when it is spelled 'Nielson' on the label), seems a bit more backward and structured than the Bien Nacido, with a more restrained nose marked by notes of absinthe (anise/black licorice), crabapple, rose, and raspberries. Subtle and elegant on the entry (much more subdued than the Bien Nacido), showing bright acidity, red fruits, and hints of tangerine and flowers. A very pretty wine, and made in a food-friendly style.
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3/31/2011 - winegr wrote: 90 Points
This is a very pretty wine. Understated, 13.5% ABV, not over-ripe or extracted. Classically styled with lots of red fruit, exotic spice, sandalwood, and other cooler climate notes. Almost like a Kendric or another real old school producer. A lot of people who like fruit bomb, dark, extracted pinot would not like this. This is elegant and almost burgundian styled except for the fruit on Night 1 that is cearly california, but night 2 this could confuse some as a burgundy.
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9/25/2010 - brigcampbell wrote: 87 Points
Danny's Solvang Trip; 9/24/2010-9/29/2010 (Slovang): Have to disagree with Tanzer on this one. Nose is candied fruit and a whiff of funk. Really nice.
Plenty of oak palate and not much fruit on the palate.
Medium finish with heat and a "greenish" linger.
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