Amazingly, still no bricking on this still-youthful(!) Pinot. Not decanted, and served at cellar temp, the aromatics are outstanding right out of the gate, no funk, just deep red and black fruit with a nice touch of spice. Seamless on the palate, just great balance, with still plenty of fruit held up by great acidity. Tannins are pretty much nil at this point, just a joy to drink. I'd say time to drink up, but no rush!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.1% alcohol. Black cherry color, no bricking yet at the edge of the glass. Initially, a slightly earthy, funky nose that took some time to open up. But when it did, it was classic Clos Pepe, with really pretty blackberry and black cherry fruit, moderate spice, and ample earth rising up at the back. In the mouth, supple and smooth, with delicious blackberry fruit predominating, a touch of cherry, ample earth and spice. There is modest acidity and a texturally pleasing finish that's fully resolved. Ready to drink and very pretty. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and poured. Bricking evident in the coloration. There are off aromas of too much oak, vegetal musk or detergent flaws on the nose....maybe it's brett or microbial action. Flamboyant fruit on the attack, with confected plum, raspberry, port like chewy taffy and stewed blackberry. An odd offering, perhaps will improve with air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, 2 nights. Much more open on night 2 (would decant if having on a single night). Red-tinged violet (darker than the '05 Beau Coudelet served along side) Nose features dark cherries/berries, a large dose of cola and distinct vanilla. Also some baking spice and touch of earth. Palate has loads of creamy rich fruit, soft tannins, medium/low acidity, length, low complexity, no finesse, but no etoh poking out either. Quite good for what it is.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great spring nose - wet earth but also a little heat. Beautiful pink orange color. The allspice and clove notes just go on and on. Soft tannins with a strawberry cherry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well worth the wait so far. Deep ruby color, with a moderately aromatic nose and intense red cherry flavor. Bright acidity suggests I can hold my last bottle for at least another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, a bit earthy and funky with a spry acidic backbone that was really nice with the lightly spiced mexican appetizer course...Red fruit, cherries and strawberries
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine got paired with Chinese unfortunately and just didn't work. Excellent Pinot however. This wine should continue to develop over the next couple of years. It shows a nice Santa Rita earthiness with a touch of Siduri funk. I am glad I have another to drink down the road under better circumstances.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decent but unexciting. Earthy nose of sweet cherry and raspberry gives way to a palate of plums and cherry extract. Mineral note. Good acidity. No nuance. Not worth the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Way too big to be pinot. Beautiful clear red color and hugh pinot nose. A very precise wine, great structure, slight tannins and a hugh explosion of pinot flavors that go on and on. Nothing subtle about this wine. A very pronounced sweetness on the palate, to the point of distraction. This is the Aussie fruit bomb of American pinots. I give it a 90 because it is technically excellent, but not my style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd Annual NYC Blind 2005 Pinot Shootout (Taste): A very big wine, starting with effusive sweet black fruit with baking spice and some wet earth. Bordering on heavy in the mouth, it seemed a bit clunky. The decent acidity was clearly overmatched by the gobs of primary fruit, fruit and more fruit. The finish is long, but completely fruit driven and not terribly interesting. This may develop into a punch in the jaw, but right now its a club on the head.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very rich California Pinot - I like the profile of Santa Rita Hills pinots... dark in color, the fruit is dark but vibrant. There is an earthy espresso and spice in the background that I hope will become more pronounced as it ages. This is a nicely balanced Pinot, though clearly new world in style. I am not sure if I am a major buyer at $50 per, but this experience supports my preference for Clos Pepe among the Siduri profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium deep ruby. Intense nose of bright raspberry fruit, violets, smoke, pencil lead and a bit of background funkiness. On the palate it is mouth-coating and full bodied with smooth tannins and alluring notes of coffee. Very nice PN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted alongside the 2005 Loring Clos Pepe for contrast purposes. This bottle has been open for 24 hours, with a listed alcohol of 14.1%, like the Loring. The nose on this wine, as compared to the Loring, is a lot larger. My notes from last night say baking spice, sweet and a little flowery. This morning, it shows similar. This is a texturally lovely wine, with nice weight and push. Cherry is there but also find some darker notes (which is in some conflict with a few comments this wine got last night, called more 'red'), like black cherry, root beer and like the Loring, a big lift of nice acidity on the finish. The latter is probably the key signature that sticks out for me and I like the balance and layers on this bottle. Less of the minerally feel I have found on most of the 2005s but does finish with a light mocha and some tannin. Really nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Atlanta "Not Lori" Off-line (Rathbun's): Sweet and big nose leading to raspberry and blackberry with a touch of light cinnamon, some vanilla and a touch of earth flavors. Slightly tannic and syrupy with a jumbled and dis-jointed mid-palate, this young, primary wine needs a lot of time to integrate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/21/2023 - ewhite wrote: 93 Points
Amazingly, still no bricking on this still-youthful(!) Pinot. Not decanted, and served at cellar temp, the aromatics are outstanding right out of the gate, no funk, just deep red and black fruit with a nice touch of spice. Seamless on the palate, just great balance, with still plenty of fruit held up by great acidity. Tannins are pretty much nil at this point, just a joy to drink. I'd say time to drink up, but no rush!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2018 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
14.1% alcohol. Black cherry color, no bricking yet at the edge of the glass. Initially, a slightly earthy, funky nose that took some time to open up. But when it did, it was classic Clos Pepe, with really pretty blackberry and black cherry fruit, moderate spice, and ample earth rising up at the back. In the mouth, supple and smooth, with delicious blackberry fruit predominating, a touch of cherry, ample earth and spice. There is modest acidity and a texturally pleasing finish that's fully resolved. Ready to drink and very pretty. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2014 - Senso-beak wrote: 85 Points
Opened and poured. Bricking evident in the coloration. There are off aromas of too much oak, vegetal musk or detergent flaws on the nose....maybe it's brett or microbial action. Flamboyant fruit on the attack, with confected plum, raspberry, port like chewy taffy and stewed blackberry. An odd offering, perhaps will improve with air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2012 - thomaskeil wrote: 88 Points
PnP, 2 nights. Much more open on night 2 (would decant if having on a single night). Red-tinged violet (darker than the '05 Beau Coudelet served along side) Nose features dark cherries/berries, a large dose of cola and distinct vanilla. Also some baking spice and touch of earth. Palate has loads of creamy rich fruit, soft tannins, medium/low acidity, length, low complexity, no finesse, but no etoh poking out either. Quite good for what it is.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2011 - Gravity wrote: 93 Points
Really drinking well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2010 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
As delicious as my last bottle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2010 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and Poured. A decant would have helped .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2010 - ljl203 wrote: 91 Points
Great spring nose - wet earth but also a little heat. Beautiful pink orange color. The allspice and clove notes just go on and on. Soft tannins with a strawberry cherry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2010 - 2loyal wrote: 92 Points
Well worth the wait so far. Deep ruby color, with a moderately aromatic nose and intense red cherry flavor. Bright acidity suggests I can hold my last bottle for at least another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2010 - sachsen wrote: 88 Points
Funky nose (85), but tasted much better (90)--88 avg.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2009 - jmd60611 wrote: 90 Points
Dark, a bit earthy and funky with a spry acidic backbone that was really nice with the lightly spiced mexican appetizer course...Red fruit, cherries and strawberries
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2009 - dmatley wrote: 92 Points
This wine got paired with Chinese unfortunately and just didn't work. Excellent Pinot however. This wine should continue to develop over the next couple of years. It shows a nice Santa Rita earthiness with a touch of Siduri funk. I am glad I have another to drink down the road under better circumstances.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2009 - ptelgenh wrote: 92 Points
similar tasting notes as previous. Dense ripe cherries with a touch of pinot earthy funk. Really good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2008 - ptelgenh wrote: 92 Points
A big Cali Pinot, drinking really well right now. Dense ripe Cherries with some earth and spice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2008 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Delicious black cherry and earthy aromas and flavors with hints of toast and spice with lovely finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2008 - JOJ wrote: 87 Points
Decent but unexciting. Earthy nose of sweet cherry and raspberry gives way to a palate of plums and cherry extract. Mineral note. Good acidity. No nuance. Not worth the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2008 - philblum wrote: 91 Points
solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2008 - brianofthevine wrote: 92 Points
Red cherry and raspberry, earth and cinnamon, long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2007 - vintage61 wrote: 90 Points
Way too big to be pinot. Beautiful clear red color and hugh pinot nose. A very precise wine, great structure, slight tannins and a hugh explosion of pinot flavors that go on and on. Nothing subtle about this wine. A very pronounced sweetness on the palate, to the point of distraction. This is the Aussie fruit bomb of American pinots. I give it a 90 because it is technically excellent, but not my style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2007 - win wrote: 93 Points
Large DAWG tasting.: Refined cherry notes with a bit of earth mixed in. Very happy with this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2007 - bsherwin wrote:
2nd Annual NYC Blind 2005 Pinot Shootout (Taste): A very big wine, starting with effusive sweet black fruit with baking spice and some wet earth. Bordering on heavy in the mouth, it seemed a bit clunky. The decent acidity was clearly overmatched by the gobs of primary fruit, fruit and more fruit. The finish is long, but completely fruit driven and not terribly interesting. This may develop into a punch in the jaw, but right now its a club on the head.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2007 - nomadfromcincy wrote:
A very rich California Pinot - I like the profile of Santa Rita Hills pinots... dark in color, the fruit is dark but vibrant. There is an earthy espresso and spice in the background that I hope will become more pronounced as it ages. This is a nicely balanced Pinot, though clearly new world in style. I am not sure if I am a major buyer at $50 per, but this experience supports my preference for Clos Pepe among the Siduri profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Medium deep ruby. Intense nose of bright raspberry fruit, violets, smoke, pencil lead and a bit of background funkiness. On the palate it is mouth-coating and full bodied with smooth tannins and alluring notes of coffee. Very nice PN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2007 - Winetex wrote:
VinoCellar.com 4th Anniversary Celebration (Wineries and John Ash Restaurant, Santa Rosa, CA): Tasted at the winery as part of the VinoCellar.com 4th Annual Celebration. Notes from memory (!): Young and tannic and disjointed. Needs time to find itself. No score. $53 from the winery.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2007 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Tasted alongside the 2005 Loring Clos Pepe for contrast purposes. This bottle has been open for 24 hours, with a listed alcohol of 14.1%, like the Loring. The nose on this wine, as compared to the Loring, is a lot larger. My notes from last night say baking spice, sweet and a little flowery. This morning, it shows similar. This is a texturally lovely wine, with nice weight and push. Cherry is there but also find some darker notes (which is in some conflict with a few comments this wine got last night, called more 'red'), like black cherry, root beer and like the Loring, a big lift of nice acidity on the finish. The latter is probably the key signature that sticks out for me and I like the balance and layers on this bottle. Less of the minerally feel I have found on most of the 2005s but does finish with a light mocha and some tannin. Really nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2006 - GreenDrazi wrote: 88 Points
The Atlanta "Not Lori" Off-line (Rathbun's): Sweet and big nose leading to raspberry and blackberry with a touch of light cinnamon, some vanilla and a touch of earth flavors. Slightly tannic and syrupy with a jumbled and dis-jointed mid-palate, this young, primary wine needs a lot of time to integrate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment