Starting to get a bit of brick-ish color, but still a ton of black cherry fruit, some good earthiness and tinge of Pinot funk. Lingering, balanced finish. Really happy I have more in the cellar.
3/23/2023 Seems like the oak was a little more prominent, if I trust my previous note. Or maybe it was the Pinot funk. Either way, still happy I have a bottle left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This medium ruby Pinot continues to offer a core of ripe black cherries, dark plums, toasty oak, licorice and loamy earth. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic and with soft tannins at this point, it is dense in the middle, has no alcoholic heat (despite its 15.1% sticker) and finishes with good length. This is an impressive Pinot that will (assuming properly cellared) last longer than previously estimated. It is a shame that this quality producer has thrown in the towel. Drink now-2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an excellent Santa Lucía Highlands Pinot Noir. It has a pleasing earthiness with some forest floor flavors. Delightful red berries greet you on the nose and blend nicely with the earth, minerality, and limestone in the mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color. Smokey nose with underlying berry fruit, graphite & white pepper aromas. Palate matches with black pepper over raspberry, pomegranate & tart cherry. Great pinot out of Santa Lucia Highlands.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious SLH Pinot! Paired perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner... our guests loved it. Fruit forward, excellent at pop & pour, even better with a bit of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby in color, this Pinot offers smoky black cherry, plum, toasty oak and loamy earth aromas. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic and with medium fine-grained tannins, it delivers flavors mirroring the nose and (at 65°F) throws no heat from its reported 15.1% alcohol. Nicely dense on the mid-palate and finishing medium-to-long, this is a quality Pinot that is likely early in its drinking window. Drink now-2022.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unscrewed and consumed immediately at about 60 degrees. Very fruit forward with a bouquet of candied raspberry, red fruit, and some earth elements. Rich on the palate with more raspberry, sweet cranberry, and some mushroom tones. Did not enjoy this nearly as much as the 2014 Sonoma AP Kanzler as I felt it did not exhibit as much complexity or nuance as that wine. Probably a good wine for someone who might appreciate a very fruit forward drink. But AP Vin is definitely producing some nice CA Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Obviously young, so much room for improvement with remaining bottles. Solid nose and flavors, but the quite high (15.1%) alcohol makes me wonder what this will be like in a few years. Hopefully everything comes together nicely!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/25/2022 - underwds wrote:
Starting to get a bit of brick-ish color, but still a ton of black cherry fruit, some good earthiness and tinge of Pinot funk. Lingering, balanced finish. Really happy I have more in the cellar.
3/23/2023 Seems like the oak was a little more prominent, if I trust my previous note. Or maybe it was the Pinot funk. Either way, still happy I have a bottle left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich, deep fruit, smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2020 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank 1/2 btl and it was quite good. Drank the second half and it was terrific.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2020 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bright fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2020 - jlgnml wrote: 94 Points
Singing, no flaws drinking boldly. Long road ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright color, deep cherry nose, structured finish. NYE!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of berries on the palate. Late night drink after a long travel day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
This medium ruby Pinot continues to offer a core of ripe black cherries, dark plums, toasty oak, licorice and loamy earth. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic and with soft tannins at this point, it is dense in the middle, has no alcoholic heat (despite its 15.1% sticker) and finishes with good length. This is an impressive Pinot that will (assuming properly cellared) last longer than previously estimated. It is a shame that this quality producer has thrown in the towel. Drink now-2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2018 - VoVo Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is an excellent Santa Lucía Highlands Pinot Noir. It has a pleasing earthiness with some forest floor flavors. Delightful red berries greet you on the nose and blend nicely with the earth, minerality, and limestone in the mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2018 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Smokey nose with underlying berry fruit, graphite & white pepper aromas. Palate matches with black pepper over raspberry, pomegranate & tart cherry.
Great pinot out of Santa Lucia Highlands.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2018 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark color, dark fruit, I think too,young and would suggest revisiting in 2-5'years. I really believe the screw top adds a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2017 - denisontb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious SLH Pinot! Paired perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner... our guests loved it. Fruit forward, excellent at pop & pour, even better with a bit of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2017 - SMZ wrote: 93 Points
Delicious
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2016 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby in color, this Pinot offers smoky black cherry, plum, toasty oak and loamy earth aromas. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic and with medium fine-grained tannins, it delivers flavors mirroring the nose and (at 65°F) throws no heat from its reported 15.1% alcohol. Nicely dense on the mid-palate and finishing medium-to-long, this is a quality Pinot that is likely early in its drinking window. Drink now-2022.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2016 - drdan8 wrote: 90 Points
Unscrewed and consumed immediately at about 60 degrees. Very fruit forward with a bouquet of candied raspberry, red fruit, and some earth elements. Rich on the palate with more raspberry, sweet cranberry, and some mushroom tones. Did not enjoy this nearly as much as the 2014 Sonoma AP Kanzler as I felt it did not exhibit as much complexity or nuance as that wine. Probably a good wine for someone who might appreciate a very fruit forward drink. But AP Vin is definitely producing some nice CA Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2016 - denisontb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit forward, lush. Needs some air, and probably a bit more time. Very good. Last glass was best. Look forward to seeing how this develops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2015 - pezscott wrote:
Obviously young, so much room for improvement with remaining bottles. Solid nose and flavors, but the quite high (15.1%) alcohol makes me wonder what this will be like in a few years. Hopefully everything comes together nicely!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment