While some folks here experienced "mature" bottles recently and even think the wine is on the downhill slope, my bottle tonight (in 2023) shows quite young. Everything is integrating nicely – baking spices, five spice, juicy black cherry, hints of orange rind – and the texture is supple and fine. Pure pleasure, wish I had more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature red cherry with earth, savory spice and tobacco. Good weight, good+ length, some warmth on finish. Good now, but better when younger and fresher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet ruby core that continues nearly to the rim. The aromas are bright and delicate yet robust with notes of roses, raspberries, forest floor, and crushed stones. The palate is similarly complete with flavors of red and purple fruits, earth, and spice. The tannins are warm yet firm and the balance is excellent. Definitely a wine that has aged beautifully with notable complexity and harmony. My last Alesia bottle and the best I can recall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The '07 Alesia Pinot Noir Falstaff is perfectly set in its drinking window. The nose was very pretty with rich cherry fruit, marine-borne minerals, green olive, citrus peel and tobacco. On the palate, I found zesty textures with sweet cherry and burnt orange, yet the mid fell short, leading into a long finish displaying mineral-encrusted cherry, sweet cream and herbs.
An hour open in bottle, allowed this wine to show best, but I felt it lost some momentum after the second hour of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
ripe cherry, rich nose but with hints of tobacco and herb. with time - a hint of burnt orange rind. mid is a bit light with red fruit leading to a powerful finish of earth and tobacco leaf. really enjoyable and clearly showing at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle #6 of 6. Brilliant again. Maybe even the best bottle yet. Deep, energized, bright red fruits blast from the glass on nose and palate. Still some structure left, this could go another 3-5 years. Quite a long finish, surprisingly. Delicious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. Beautiful and bright red fruits - pomegranate, cranberry, bright red cherries. Fresh. Maybe a bit candied, just a touch, but strongly in my wheelhouse. Delicious. Drink now, at a perfect peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An incredibly well-aged Pinot that tastes like it cost twice the price. Light red, with the tint of brick, in color; light in body; nose of cherries and minerals. Layered taste of sour cherry, forest floor, and straw, with an acidic yet soft finish. 14.1% alcohol. An exceptional wine at an exceptional value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank half a bottle on day 1 and put the rest in the fridge. Tasting on day 3, I am blown away at how much positive evolution has taken place. Strong red fruit, cherry, cola, allspice and delicate tannins are perfectly integrated with a 30 second finish. Air-time has taken this from okay to outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory. Started out astringent but never really shook it. Had some unripe strawberry and blackberry with black tea. Possibly flawed, possibly over the hill? Even after 2 hours it was still disjointed and unfocused. wasn't loving this. My wife drained 95% of the bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My impressions are pretty consistent with ENJOYWINE's on 4/21. Popped and poured tonight, very nice black cherry and earth. Very nice except for the touch of heat on the fairly short finish. I'll probably not risk it though, and just polish off the rest of mine soon. I went through a lot of the 07 Alesia's, great stuff....
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nothing formal here. OK nose of sour cherry and underbrush opens to some asian spices after a slow OX. Can see some bricking with medium color. Losing some of the CA fruit but negatively being influenced by the alcohol during the finish. I can see how this can go from 88 - 95 scores based on what on where this is today. If you are a Kosta Browne fan stay away. This is closer to an unbridled Oregon Pinot from a good year. Can still hang in for 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent! Deep, pure, pinot fruit with notes of earth, bramble and sassafras (less of this element than previous bottles). Superb balance, strong mid-palate, adequate length and enough complexity and style to make this right in my wheelhouse. Youthful, on its peak, and good for another decade, easily. Glad I have more, and a mouthwatering aperitif for the single vineyards waiting in the wings. Yum!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty much the same as my last note. It was nice to try this next to the 07 Green Valley another friend brought to the party. That wine showed nice earthiness and a more complex palate. When they were young I would have guessed the opposite trajectory for these wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I found this bottle to be somewhat disjointed. It did not have the typical aromatics the other bottles of Alesia have had in the past. The palate seemed a little hot even served at cellar temperature. I am not sure what to think. I have one bottle left and suspect some bottle variation is the cause for less than stellar showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely ruby. Incredible compelling aromas of blackberries, sandalwood, and cola. Serious palate of tomato juice, zingy cherry, and rhubarb. Excellent balancing acids and a long finish. This is spicy and really cool. A bit more burgundian than I remember.
Dark color, cranberry nose, medium weight palate with some dark fruit and acidity. A little mustiness on the finish (Not Burgundy barnyard). Finish seems short. I bought this on the secondary market to try some Rhys wine before going all in. Need to open an estate single vineyard wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, but followed for 3 days under argon. The front end is quite nice and intense, with cranberry and tangerine. Then it kinds of falls with a thud, with a meddling mid-palate and a clipped finish. But I'm focusing on the negative. This a fine pinot that most folks would be happy to drink, and it just hits that exceptional level for me. Still, there's a slight lack of balance, lack of interest, good flavor, holding up well for a 7 year old domestic pinot. This is a mixed bag for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kevin calls this wine his greatest Alesia ever, and it shows just how well all of the Rhys wines can age. An amazing value. Great structure and balance, with cherry, floral, and baking spice notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has developed some pleasant earth and spice notes, and the palate is wearing its age well, with smooth, resolved tannins and gentle fruit that still come across as bright and lively. I was surprised how much I liked this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. First one as I just found these in the corner of the cellar. Missed the 7 yrs of development but, boy, is this nice. Great fragrances on first pour that morphed subtly over the evening. As described by others, this has bright red fruits with some dark cherry, earth and spice/floral. Medium weight on palate with lifting acidity. Not really complex in terms of flavor or texture, but well put together; everything in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Consumed over two days. Darker garnet color. Moderate (-) nose of red and black berries, some spice and earth (muted compared to what hit the palate). On the palate: cranberry, darker raspberry, some spice, touch of cola, and some earth. Moderate acid. Fine finish. Medium-bodied, middle-of-the-road style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just wanted to post a note and say this is a really nice bottle of wine here. It drinks well from the get go but is better after an hour or two. Based on that feel free to drink up or wait, my guess is it will get a little better but not magnitudes better.
Ample but subdued fruit, viscous mouthfeel, new worldish in profile but not candied or over the top, rather subdued in fact with a good acid profile. Very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pleased with this wine. It shows nice character right now. Color reminds me of raspberries, most likely because I got raspberries on the nose and on the palate. Spice and earth show up as well, with a little sweet cranberry on the palate and finish too. A lovely food wine it easily washed down leftover bbq turkey and helped make the meal festive. A very happy wine. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Focused, red fruit and black earth. Bright acidity elevates the wine, almost flinty with currant/tart cherry. Pomegranate type acidity, food friendly but definitely the structure of a sonoma coast pn. Good now, I could see this better in 1-2 yrs as the wine loosens up a bit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby color. Lots of sweet raspberry and blackberry compote on the nose. Medium to full bodied on the palate with plenty of presence through the middle, in a more modern style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ditto previous note, with maybe less burliness and sassafras. Knitting together nicely. Not sure it will improve other than move towards developing more secondaries, and continue its integration and softening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent. Perfumed bouquet of raspberry, black cherry, lavender, and flowers, with notes of nutmeg, clove, and anise. Mouth-filling flavors of cherry and wild berry, with notes of cola and spice. Good acidity, light on the palate, long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured to follow the 2005. Not nearly the same beautiful nose, but similar, just not as accessible. Maybe it would benefit from either more air, or more time. Nice balanced red berries with a touch of vanilla. Hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I absolutely love this wine. I know the Alecia is supposed to be their lessor wine not made from estate grapes but this bottling is really terrific. Plenty of tannin to last several more years. Incredibly complex this wine has it all. One of my favorite Rhys to date
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow was this good . . . . From the start, the fragrance was incredible: cherry, strawberry, flowers, baking spice. Fresh and vibrant, and much brighter than the dark color would portend. On the palate, pure cherry with a hint of cola and a melange of spices (cinnamon stick and clove), and some minerality on the back palate. Long, clean finish. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not very ready for a pnp on night one, very open on night two after leaving out overnight with a cork in it. Still very drinkable on day three. Not as earthy as some Rhys Alesia as I have had, but still a broad bigger wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice. Light ruby color. Nose has bright cherry, pomegranate. Medium-light palate. Nice acidity. Certainly good, but didn't live up to the high expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop & pour to celebrate Lisa's 40th: loads of minerals and red berries on the nose. On the palate, loads of elegant tart red berries with a nice amount of acidity. The finish consists of lingering baking spices. Wonderful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of cranapple like character. It didn't really show much complexity or depth of fruit this go around. Pretty much the same over 2 nights. Good acids giving it some length but wanted for more interest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The aromatics are the wow factor with this wine. Lots of florals and minerals, with the light red fruit playing second fiddle. Palate is full of luscious yet tart red fruit (think cranberries with a lush side), with good acidity. The only nit is that it ends up feeling a bit syrupy on the finish after awhile. Still, a nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely berry, roses, and baking spice aromatics. Berry and anise on the lively palate that keeps bringing me back for another sip. A deliciously long finish wraps up this wine that is very much on point at this time, but be sure to decant. Not my finest effort at pairing, but we drank it with baked flounder topped with Locatelli and panko, baked yams, and steamed broccoli.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed over three nights. Black cherry and sassafras in both nose and palate give way over time in glass, and over the three days, to a focused, vibrant red-fruited elegance, with great depth and harmony. Nice spicy nose, delineated attack, sweet ripe cool climate fruit, plenty of food friendly acidity, great back-end breadth and noticeable length make this a complete package. This is my first of six, confirming (and helping me practice!) the patience required with the Rhys single vineyard gems. This'll easily last a decade plus, as evidenced by the integrated, fine, buried, but still present tannins, and even more by the impeccable balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely pinot. Clean and bright red fruit. Great balance. Vibrant personality. Lacks the elegant texture of the Burg served beside it, but more than made up for this with fruit and freshness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, a nose that is full of dark cherries, nutmeg and cloves. Drinking well with all that dark fruit. It finishes a little short, but it keeps improving with air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big, baked black cherry nose. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Ripe red and black cherry fruit, not baked as the nose suggests. Accented by a bit of clove and cinnamon. Nice but doesn't bear much resemblance to the Rhys estate wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On day 1, half the bottle went into a decanter. That juice acted like a strong take on a distinctly California profile with an unhelpful note of cedar sawdust, even after a couple of hours. Day 2 finds the other half more harmonious and restrained, a clear expression of fruit balanced by savory, earthy and minerally tinges. Will continue to improve its pnp performance for a few years I'm sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking great with minimal air. Nose is a little deceiving showing a stewed, fruit cocktail element. Medium weight palate of black cherry, cranberry fruit with minerals and ample acidity. Simple, but delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking beautifully. This has gotten to a place with excellent, pure red cherry fruit to go with the stems and earth notes. In the mouth, tasty and pure. The balance is impeccable, except for perhaps a bit much acidity for a totally seamless feel. But still a very high-quality wine. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is drinking in a really nice place right now. The fruit is pure and quite dark, with a hint of blackberry to the black cherry. There's a nice edge of steminess to the wine, along with earthy and floral notes that pick up the acidity and sing through the finish. It'll get better with age, no doubt, but it has a more forward fruit and less stem influence than some of the Rhys/Alesia wines at this early stage. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is rocking right now. Dark red color. More meat on it than the 2006 and better balance. This just seems to have better raw material. Black cherry and plum fruit on the nose, with earth, stems, and floral notes. In the mouth, gorgeously velvety, with pretty fruit, a somewhat stern structure, and a lovely finish. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Warm, sweet cherry nose with baking spices. Light to medium bodied with medium acidity. Ripe black cherries, clove and allspice. The fruit is sweet but balanced by nice acidity. Lovely expression of California Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has improved significantly over the past 18 months or so, but it's still far from its apex. It has started to open up and show more fruit to balance out the earthy, savory aspects of the wine, but there is still a pronounced structure and stemmyness that should integrate over the next few years. If I had to guess, I'd say another 5 years will be very, very kind to this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of underbrush, bacon and pork. On the palate there are layers of red fruit, Indian spices, earth and mineral tones. Finish is spicy with pepper notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
really delicious. berry fruit profile with different layers of flavor and impressive acidity. some spice flavor and also powdered chocolate. beautifully integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wonderful Alesia that is just entering it's prime and should even improve over the next 2-3 years. I love it and will definitely order my fulll allocation of the new vintage when it's released soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really coming into its own, yet still young and tight upon opening; rich fruit and dark earth flavors with the spiciness from the whole clusters combined with a long finish and a savory edge, make this a classic Alesia. Ready now, but give it 30 min in the decanter or in the glass to really open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My fourth, best and last 07 Falstaff. Great balance, complexity and flavor interest. Exceptional focus with a long aftertaste. With a little age, these just got better and better. Another four years wouldn't hurt a bit.
I'm almost out of Alesia ... and looking forward to starting in on the Rhys.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took this to Harvest Moon last night, and it proved to be a very nice wine (particularly the aromatics). Pop 'n pour, consumed over the course of close to two hours. Beautiful flowery nose with substantial red fruit. The palate was firm but approachable, the fruit impeccably balanced by the acid and noticeable -- though not obtrusive -- tannins. Although it's drinking very well (maybe better than I had expected), I think it would be best to wait a couple more years before getting into the remaining bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impressive PN. Really shined after drinking a Sea Smoke- less oak, and more focused, with plenty of juicy cherry flavor. I can't wait to open some of this producers' more heralded efforts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.1% alcohol. This is a very fine wine. Great balance, focus and purity. Complex with a deep mouthfeel and a lingering aftertaste. This has improved just over the past 8 months. I expect this will continue for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped the night before and recorked. 14.1% alcohol. Cool climate, W. Sonoma vineyard planted on Goldridge soil.
Medium dark ruby red. Nicely aromatic red and black fruit. Minty, herbal aromas point to stem inclusion. Minty herbacious notes carry through to the palate and provide interest to focsued rasberry, blackcherry, cranberry and sour cherry. Lingering aftertaste.
Very nice effort. I have to more of these and will probably hold for another year or so, but this is enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sour cherry nose laced with some stems and underbrush. Tart, fairly lively palate with a juiciness and a flavor intensity without much palate weight. Some bitter flavors mar the finish, but there is a good recurrence of flavors. Should improve over the next 5 years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.1% alcohol. Medium dark ruby red. Floral, spice and blue fruit on an expressive nose. On the palate, asian spice, a little pepper and lots of rasberry and black cherry. Lingering aftertaste. Very nice job by Jeff and the team!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour, it is a dark ruby red. The nose opened significantly in the glass to reveal floral notes, red and black berries, a potpourri of spices, sour cherries, and complex minerality. The palate is fresh and young with a nice balance of fruit and acidity. A little more fruit forward than I was expecting, but a lifting and vibrant finish. Overall a nice bottle, but I plan to give my last one another 5 years or so. I'm also not sure I see the value in this at $46 delivered next to the SC bottling at $28. But as they will not have any more Alesia bottlings, I guess it doesn't matter!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clove, cinammon, rose petals and dusty earth om the nose. Still young, tart and acidic on the palate. Drank alongside the 06 Falstaff and thought this had more promise based on the nose. I will give the rest of the bottles a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank this over two nights. I wanted to visit some 07's. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is very nice with a cherry sour mash kind of nose. Just a hint of earthiness. Great juicy texture. On the palate, sour cherries predominate which I like. No question, this was California in style but not over blown, just juicy fruit. Very nice and drinking well if lacking any evolution. Probably gets a bit better if you wait though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color is purple with ruby rim; nose gives tart fruit: cranberry/rhubarb, underbrushy menthol notes coming from stems I would imagine- almost like a whole-cluster syrah. Palate has tart fruit with good acidity; notes of loamy anisette flavor; a little bit peppery; finish a bit bitter. If served blind, I would have sworn this was an Oregon pinot. Mellows out after day 1, after which I like it better. There's a pungent intensity to the fruit here that makes it a cut above good; objectively a 91ish wine, but for me personally, this is an 89, not my favorite style. I prefer the non-Sonoma Coast bottlings from this producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pretty pinot popped and poured that went well with a calamari pasta in oil and garlic with basil and then paired wonderfully with ripe, gooey French cheese....very pure flavors of strawberry and cherry...real delight 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not ready yet but shows beautiful earthiness and structure and it's perfectly poised for the long-ish haul. The sweet fruit just needs some time to settle down. Flowers, baking spices, rhubarb, raspberries. Should be smashing in five years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At paper celebration party. Decanted for 30min then back to bottle. Really singing after the bottle was open for another hour. Spice, red and black berries, tree bark with some power underneath an elegant and silky texture. Nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine, but I'm saving the rest of these for at least a few years. Elegant red fruits and admirable concentration here. A bit stemmy, and both sweet and savory (beets), this is quite distinctive. Still, it's fairly reserved on the nose and the palate, and it's my guess that this will improve dramatically.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great potential here, but must wait for it to develop. A little too tart at this point for my taste. Will hold for another 1-2 years before opening another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This pinot really makes you think. There is perfect balance to this wine, nothing really sticks out. Great tannin/acid balance, great red fruits, cola, spice...everything is just there.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
These 2007 are definitely a step up from the less spicy and energetic 2006. The Falstaff might just be the best of the Alesia lineup, with plenty of energy on the long finish, and fine overall balance that suggests this will also age well. Excellent...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted over a couple days. In the glass, this is more deeply colored than I expected with a dark garnet color and just slight translucence. Complex nose of minerals, cinnamon, black cherry fruit and stems. Rich concentrated sweet/savory black cherry/waxy cherry. Medium to medium full bodied. I expected, (even hoped in light of the mailer in my inbox), not to like this, but it turned out to be one of the best Pinot's I've had lately. Little pricey for a second label, but very good. I think I was expecting something less fruit driven and was pleasantly surprised.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was our first 2007 pinot and oh what a wine to start with. Awesome bouquet...flowery perfume with a hint of pencil shavings. A little heavier in weight than I expected, but definitely not syrah like pinot. Perhaps not a perfect food match with the swordfish and grouper dishes that accompanied it, but still a wonderful experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tight as a drum on day 1, so I poured two glasses and the rest went into a 375. Tonight this wine is extremely delicious. Still not giving up much on the nose, but the palate has really rounded into form. Right now this is all about mouthfeel and balance. Very supple textured with a mouthful of sappy black cherry, hoisin, and pine. A soft whisp of oak throughout. Yum!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby red. decanted for 45 mins. Delicious cherry, strawberry nose, candied fruit on the palate with a bit of heat. Definitely need some time in the bottle. I enjoyed it though. Hooked on Rhys
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweet nose with effusive cherries and red berries, violets, pak apice and stems. Sweet palate bolstered with strong acids and tannins. Will be interesting to se the secondary development of this wine. I did not get the minerality noted by others, which was disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The best part of this beautiful wine is its terrific structure: taut with firm acids and tannins, yet it has a lush quality. Has a distinct mineral element, with bright bing cherries developing after a short time. Very good potential; probably should hold for at least two more years before trying another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar to the SC in its pronounced, floral bouquet and bright spine. Where the SC shows citrus notes and red fruit, this is a bit more soil driven, and possesses richer fruit. Good structure and grip, balance and restraint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Touch of cola over cranberry, cherry and pretty spice. Lengthy palate with a focused mineral cored finish. Loamy earth and tannic cherry flavors. Plenty of fruit and acid. Try to keep your hands off for a couple more years. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose - shy, a touch of rustic stink, roasted plum and berry pie, minty spice, white wood. Biting tannin, pert, roasted plum, some green stemminess, glyceriny feel. Drink '13-'20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with Middle Eastern Foods: Decanted about 2 hours prior to consumption.Rich nose with plenty of minerals. Thick with plenty of packed fruit and very tannic for Pinot but balanced with acids. Chunky now but all the pieces are there for a terrific wine that should be long lived. This will be better than the 05 which is saying something.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Persian Food Meets Pinot and Chard (The Murray Casa): Bitchen. Of the 3 2007 Alesias tonight (S Coast and Green Valley), the whole cluster/stalk is most prominent on this wine. Again, dark colored, rich and deeply fruited with my notes saying "a pile of blueberry" and big tight minerally finish. A terrific wine and alongside the 2006 RM Occidental as my WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Striking how this contrasts to the Green Valley. Same bone structure, but with a darker fruit profile, more prominent minerality, and a touch of oak on the nose. Black cherry on the palate leads the way, with a bit of stem influence, plenty of floral and mineral notes, and a long finish. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/16/2023 - Wicker Parker Likes this wine:
While some folks here experienced "mature" bottles recently and even think the wine is on the downhill slope, my bottle tonight (in 2023) shows quite young. Everything is integrating nicely – baking spices, five spice, juicy black cherry, hints of orange rind – and the texture is supple and fine. Pure pleasure, wish I had more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2021 - JoeDwine wrote: 88 Points
At B....dark and on the decline
Earth and spice dominate with dark cherries.
Better with food
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2021 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Mature with notes of savory cherry, rose water, dried raspberries, and earth. No need to hold it any longer. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Mature red cherry with earth, savory spice and tobacco. Good weight, good+ length, some warmth on finish. Good now, but better when younger and fresher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2021 - Badfish Likes this wine:
Dark garnet ruby core that continues nearly to the rim. The aromas are bright and delicate yet robust with notes of roses, raspberries, forest floor, and crushed stones. The palate is similarly complete with flavors of red and purple fruits, earth, and spice. The tannins are warm yet firm and the balance is excellent. Definitely a wine that has aged beautifully with notable complexity and harmony. My last Alesia bottle and the best I can recall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2020 - Zvillan Likes this wine:
PnP at MB Post in Manhattan beach. Still alive and drinking beautifully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2017 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The '07 Alesia Pinot Noir Falstaff is perfectly set in its drinking window. The nose was very pretty with rich cherry fruit, marine-borne minerals, green olive, citrus peel and tobacco. On the palate, I found zesty textures with sweet cherry and burnt orange, yet the mid fell short, leading into a long finish displaying mineral-encrusted cherry, sweet cream and herbs.
An hour open in bottle, allowed this wine to show best, but I felt it lost some momentum after the second hour of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2017 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
ripe cherry, rich nose but with hints of tobacco and herb. with time - a hint of burnt orange rind. mid is a bit light with red fruit leading to a powerful finish of earth and tobacco leaf. really enjoyable and clearly showing at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2017 - sawira wrote: 93 Points
Bottle #6 of 6. Brilliant again. Maybe even the best bottle yet. Deep, energized, bright red fruits blast from the glass on nose and palate. Still some structure left, this could go another 3-5 years. Quite a long finish, surprisingly. Delicious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2017 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
Brilliant again. Bright red fruits, deep spice. perfectly balanced, and a wonderful lifted cut. Superb.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2017 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Beautiful and bright red fruits - pomegranate, cranberry, bright red cherries. Fresh. Maybe a bit candied, just a touch, but strongly in my wheelhouse. Delicious. Drink now, at a perfect peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2017 - jbaron wrote: 89 Points
Owned since release. Slightly woody. A bit thin throughout. Past its prime, but an okay drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - WetRock wrote:
Drank much better than my last bottle. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2016 - pickhardt wrote: 90 Points
Great RRV nose. Nice wine. Definitely not over the hill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2016 - msuwine wrote: 93 Points
An incredibly well-aged Pinot that tastes like it cost twice the price. Light red, with the tint of brick, in color; light in body; nose of cherries and minerals. Layered taste of sour cherry, forest floor, and straw, with an acidic yet soft finish. 14.1% alcohol. An exceptional wine at an exceptional value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2016 - ljl203 wrote: 92 Points
Drank half a bottle on day 1 and put the rest in the fridge. Tasting on day 3, I am blown away at how much positive evolution has taken place. Strong red fruit, cherry, cola, allspice and delicate tannins are perfectly integrated with a 30 second finish. Air-time has taken this from okay to outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2015 - puppetclause wrote: flawed
carbonation and a bit of TCA. No bueno.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2015 - meatman Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really nice, balanced pinot. Love Rhys/Alesia.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2015 - davudvl wrote: 87 Points
Better than the first bottle, but too expensive for what it offers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2015 - puppetclause wrote: 88 Points
From memory. Started out astringent but never really shook it. Had some unripe strawberry and blackberry with black tea. Possibly flawed, possibly over the hill? Even after 2 hours it was still disjointed and unfocused. wasn't loving this. My wife drained 95% of the bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2015 - RobDM Likes this wine: 90 Points
My impressions are pretty consistent with ENJOYWINE's on 4/21.
Popped and poured tonight, very nice black cherry and earth.
Very nice except for the touch of heat on the fairly short finish.
I'll probably not risk it though, and just polish off the rest of mine soon.
I went through a lot of the 07 Alesia's, great stuff....
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2015 - jwebtx wrote:
My second Alesia 07 this week and both showed very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2015 - enjoywine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nothing formal here. OK nose of sour cherry and underbrush opens to some asian spices after a slow OX. Can see some bricking with medium color. Losing some of the CA fruit but negatively being influenced by the alcohol during the finish. I can see how this can go from 88 - 95 scores based on what on where this is today. If you are a Kosta Browne fan stay away. This is closer to an unbridled Oregon Pinot from a good year. Can still hang in for 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2015 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
Excellent! Deep, pure, pinot fruit with notes of earth, bramble and sassafras (less of this element than previous bottles). Superb balance, strong mid-palate, adequate length and enough complexity and style to make this right in my wheelhouse. Youthful, on its peak, and good for another decade, easily. Glad I have more, and a mouthwatering aperitif for the single vineyards waiting in the wings. Yum!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious dark cherry and berry aromas and flavors with spice and oak notes on the long finish. Drinking beautifully!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2014 - WetRock wrote:
Pretty much the same as my last note. It was nice to try this next to the 07 Green Valley another friend brought to the party. That wine showed nice earthiness and a more complex palate. When they were young I would have guessed the opposite trajectory for these wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2014 - Robert R. Likes this wine:
Consistent with note from 3/2/14. Might score it a touch higher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2014 - Big Dog wrote: 87 Points
I found this bottle to be somewhat disjointed. It did not have the typical aromatics the other bottles of Alesia have had in the past. The palate seemed a little hot even served at cellar temperature. I am not sure what to think. I have one bottle left and suspect some bottle variation is the cause for less than stellar showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2014 - mzimberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely ruby. Incredible compelling aromas of blackberries, sandalwood, and cola. Serious palate of tomato juice, zingy cherry, and rhubarb. Excellent balancing acids and a long finish. This is spicy and really cool. A bit more burgundian than I remember.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/28/2014 - jimkay21 wrote: 90 Points
Dark color, cranberry nose, medium weight palate with some dark fruit and acidity. A little mustiness on the finish (Not Burgundy barnyard). Finish seems short. I bought this on the secondary market to try some Rhys wine before going all in. Need to open an estate single vineyard wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2014 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured, but followed for 3 days under argon. The front end is quite nice and intense, with cranberry and tangerine. Then it kinds of falls with a thud, with a meddling mid-palate and a clipped finish. But I'm focusing on the negative. This a fine pinot that most folks would be happy to drink, and it just hits that exceptional level for me. Still, there's a slight lack of balance, lack of interest, good flavor, holding up well for a 7 year old domestic pinot. This is a mixed bag for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2014 - Itriolo Likes this wine:
Kevin calls this wine his greatest Alesia ever, and it shows just how well all of the Rhys wines can age. An amazing value. Great structure and balance, with cherry, floral, and baking spice notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2014 - jlm wrote:
This has developed some pleasant earth and spice notes, and the palate is wearing its age well, with smooth, resolved tannins and gentle fruit that still come across as bright and lively. I was surprised how much I liked this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2014 - Stumpy wrote: 89 Points
Good bottle but a bit bigger and monolithic than I expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2014 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
PnP. First one as I just found these in the corner of the cellar. Missed the 7 yrs of development but, boy, is this nice. Great fragrances on first pour that morphed subtly over the evening. As described by others, this has bright red fruits with some dark cherry, earth and spice/floral. Medium weight on palate with lifting acidity. Not really complex in terms of flavor or texture, but well put together; everything in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2014 - bonedocnine Does not like this wine:
Another great bottle. Love this wine and vineyard!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2014 - Robert R. Likes this wine: 88 Points
Popped and poured. Consumed over two days. Darker garnet color. Moderate (-) nose of red and black berries, some spice and earth (muted compared to what hit the palate). On the palate: cranberry, darker raspberry, some spice, touch of cola, and some earth. Moderate acid. Fine finish. Medium-bodied, middle-of-the-road style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2014 - Tubbs wrote: 90 Points
Just wanted to post a note and say this is a really nice bottle of wine here. It drinks well from the get go but is better after an hour or two. Based on that feel free to drink up or wait, my guess is it will get a little better but not magnitudes better.
Ample but subdued fruit, viscous mouthfeel, new worldish in profile but not candied or over the top, rather subdued in fact with a good acid profile. Very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2013 - theRealPepe Likes this wine:
Very pleased with this wine. It shows nice character right now. Color reminds me of raspberries, most likely because I got raspberries on the nose and on the palate. Spice and earth show up as well, with a little sweet cranberry on the palate and finish too. A lovely food wine it easily washed down leftover bbq turkey and helped make the meal festive. A very happy wine. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2013 - btock wrote: 89 Points
Focused, red fruit and black earth. Bright acidity elevates the wine, almost flinty with currant/tart cherry. Pomegranate type acidity, food friendly but definitely the structure of a sonoma coast pn. Good now, I could see this better in 1-2 yrs as the wine loosens up a bit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2013 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium ruby color. Lots of sweet raspberry and blackberry compote on the nose. Medium to full bodied on the palate with plenty of presence through the middle, in a more modern style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2013 - xwine wrote:
Didn't pay too much attention, but it underwhelmed on this occasion. Seemed to be lacking zip (acidity seems a bit low).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2013 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous note, with maybe less burliness and sassafras. Knitting together nicely. Not sure it will improve other than move towards developing more secondaries, and continue its integration and softening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2013 - JOJ wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Perfumed bouquet of raspberry, black cherry, lavender, and flowers, with notes of nutmeg, clove, and anise. Mouth-filling flavors of cherry and wild berry, with notes of cola and spice. Good acidity, light on the palate, long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2013 - gzim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured to follow the 2005. Not nearly the same beautiful nose, but similar, just not as accessible. Maybe it would benefit from either more air, or more time. Nice balanced red berries with a touch of vanilla. Hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2013 - EhrlichDY wrote: 94 Points
Dark fruit and cola on the new. Raspberry and baking spice on the palate. Mid weight, long finish, silky mouth feel. Stunning wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2013 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 93 Points
I absolutely love this wine. I know the Alecia is supposed to be their lessor wine not made from estate grapes but this bottling is really terrific. Plenty of tannin to last several more years. Incredibly complex this wine has it all. One of my favorite Rhys to date
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2013 - JOJ wrote: 95 Points
Wow was this good . . . . From the start, the fragrance was incredible: cherry, strawberry, flowers, baking spice. Fresh and vibrant, and much brighter than the dark color would portend. On the palate, pure cherry with a hint of cola and a melange of spices (cinnamon stick and clove), and some minerality on the back palate. Long, clean finish. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2013 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
Not very ready for a pnp on night one, very open on night two after leaving out overnight with a cork in it. Still very drinkable on day three. Not as earthy as some Rhys Alesia as I have had, but still a broad bigger wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very nice. Light ruby color. Nose has bright cherry, pomegranate. Medium-light palate. Nice acidity. Certainly good, but didn't live up to the high expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2013 - mdaniel wrote: 91 Points
Pop & pour to celebrate Lisa's 40th: loads of minerals and red berries on the nose. On the palate, loads of elegant tart red berries with a nice amount of acidity. The finish consists of lingering baking spices. Wonderful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2013 - WetRock wrote:
Lots of cranapple like character. It didn't really show much complexity or depth of fruit this go around. Pretty much the same over 2 nights. Good acids giving it some length but wanted for more interest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2012 - xwine wrote:
The aromatics are the wow factor with this wine. Lots of florals and minerals, with the light red fruit playing second fiddle. Palate is full of luscious yet tart red fruit (think cranberries with a lush side), with good acidity. The only nit is that it ends up feeling a bit syrupy on the finish after awhile. Still, a nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2012 - DougLee wrote: 90 Points
Well-made wine with lots of earthy good smells and pangs of luscious red and black raspberry fruit. Too young but going in the right direction.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2012 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Lovely berry, roses, and baking spice aromatics. Berry and anise on the lively palate that keeps bringing me back for another sip. A deliciously long finish wraps up this wine that is very much on point at this time, but be sure to decant. Not my finest effort at pairing, but we drank it with baked flounder topped with Locatelli and panko, baked yams, and steamed broccoli.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2012 - Acohen wrote: 91 Points
Nice body and balance with cherry and red fruit and some slight slice and nutmeg. Good finish and can last a while
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2012 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed over three nights. Black cherry and sassafras in both nose and palate give way over time in glass, and over the three days, to a focused, vibrant red-fruited elegance, with great depth and harmony. Nice spicy nose, delineated attack, sweet ripe cool climate fruit, plenty of food friendly acidity, great back-end breadth and noticeable length make this a complete package. This is my first of six, confirming (and helping me practice!) the patience required with the Rhys single vineyard gems. This'll easily last a decade plus, as evidenced by the integrated, fine, buried, but still present tannins, and even more by the impeccable balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2012 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 91 Points
A lovely pinot. Clean and bright red fruit. Great balance. Vibrant personality. Lacks the elegant texture of the Burg served beside it, but more than made up for this with fruit and freshness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2012 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Wow, a nose that is full of dark cherries, nutmeg and cloves. Drinking well with all that dark fruit. It finishes a little short, but it keeps improving with air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2012 - rc@ughey wrote: 90 Points
Quite a nice wine but maybe a tad stemmy and not at the same level as the Green Valley. I think this will improve with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2012 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big, baked black cherry nose. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Ripe red and black cherry fruit, not baked as the nose suggests. Accented by a bit of clove and cinnamon. Nice but doesn't bear much resemblance to the Rhys estate wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
This wine is definitely in its prime but should drink well for at least 4-5 years. Joan liked it more than I did but it was quite tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
Consistent with recent bottles, but this one was particularly showing well. A terrific wine when it's firing on all cylinders. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2012 - silton wrote: 91 Points
On day 1, half the bottle went into a decanter. That juice acted like a strong take on a distinctly California profile with an unhelpful note of cedar sawdust, even after a couple of hours. Day 2 finds the other half more harmonious and restrained, a clear expression of fruit balanced by savory, earthy and minerally tinges. Will continue to improve its pnp performance for a few years I'm sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2012 - glaze3 wrote:
Drinking great with minimal air. Nose is a little deceiving showing a stewed, fruit cocktail element. Medium weight palate of black cherry, cranberry fruit with minerals and ample acidity. Simple, but delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
Drinking beautifully. This has gotten to a place with excellent, pure red cherry fruit to go with the stems and earth notes. In the mouth, tasty and pure. The balance is impeccable, except for perhaps a bit much acidity for a totally seamless feel. But still a very high-quality wine. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 89 Points
Blind Tasting '04-'07 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Stewed black fruit nose, bit volatile. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Fresh black cherry fruit and minerality, much better than the nose. (my 4th, group's 5th)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
This is drinking in a really nice place right now. The fruit is pure and quite dark, with a hint of blackberry to the black cherry. There's a nice edge of steminess to the wine, along with earthy and floral notes that pick up the acidity and sing through the finish. It'll get better with age, no doubt, but it has a more forward fruit and less stem influence than some of the Rhys/Alesia wines at this early stage. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - DougLee wrote:
Big and tasty!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2011 - davudvl wrote: 84 Points
Decent bottle, pleasant nose, but found it a bit unharmonious on the finish. Will wait for a couple of yrs before opening another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - pismo45 wrote: 91 Points
Didn't get much of this at Thanksgiving but what I did taste was beautiful. Dark fruits, velvety mouth feel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2011 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Vibrant nose of red fruits. Layers of red fruit with a very focused and pure taste. A bit of spice with nice acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
This is rocking right now. Dark red color. More meat on it than the 2006 and better balance. This just seems to have better raw material. Black cherry and plum fruit on the nose, with earth, stems, and floral notes. In the mouth, gorgeously velvety, with pretty fruit, a somewhat stern structure, and a lovely finish. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2011 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Warm, sweet cherry nose with baking spices. Light to medium bodied with medium acidity. Ripe black cherries, clove and allspice. The fruit is sweet but balanced by nice acidity. Lovely expression of California Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2011 - rc@ughey Likes this wine: 90 Points
This has improved significantly over the past 18 months or so, but it's still far from its apex. It has started to open up and show more fruit to balance out the earthy, savory aspects of the wine, but there is still a pronounced structure and stemmyness that should integrate over the next few years. If I had to guess, I'd say another 5 years will be very, very kind to this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2011 - MCUBEB wrote: 92 Points
Nose of underbrush, bacon and pork. On the palate there are layers of red fruit, Indian spices, earth and mineral tones. Finish is spicy with pepper notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2011 - brettlaurvick wrote: 93 Points
- Crimsom color. It's balanced with a medium/full body with a medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2011 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
really delicious. berry fruit profile with different layers of flavor and impressive acidity. some spice flavor and also powdered chocolate. beautifully integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
A wonderful Alesia that is just entering it's prime and should even improve over the next 2-3 years. I love it and will definitely order my fulll allocation of the new vintage when it's released soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2011 - sdatl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really coming into its own, yet still young and tight upon opening; rich fruit and dark earth flavors with the spiciness from the whole clusters combined with a long finish and a savory edge, make this a classic Alesia. Ready now, but give it 30 min in the decanter or in the glass to really open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 94 Points
My fourth, best and last 07 Falstaff. Great balance, complexity and flavor interest. Exceptional focus with a long aftertaste. With a little age, these just got better and better. Another four years wouldn't hurt a bit.
I'm almost out of Alesia ... and looking forward to starting in on the Rhys.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2011 - xwine wrote:
Took this to Harvest Moon last night, and it proved to be a very nice wine (particularly the aromatics). Pop 'n pour, consumed over the course of close to two hours. Beautiful flowery nose with substantial red fruit. The palate was firm but approachable, the fruit impeccably balanced by the acid and noticeable -- though not obtrusive -- tannins. Although it's drinking very well (maybe better than I had expected), I think it would be best to wait a couple more years before getting into the remaining bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2011 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Impressive PN. Really shined after drinking a Sea Smoke- less oak, and more focused, with plenty of juicy cherry flavor. I can't wait to open some of this producers' more heralded efforts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
14.1% alcohol. This is a very fine wine. Great balance, focus and purity. Complex with a deep mouthfeel and a lingering aftertaste. This has improved just over the past 8 months. I expect this will continue for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2011 - mellison wrote: 92 Points
Nice expression of CA Pinot Noir. Tastes of strawberries and red currants, well balanced with well balanced fruit and tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 91 Points
Popped the night before and recorked. 14.1% alcohol. Cool climate, W. Sonoma vineyard planted on Goldridge soil.
Medium dark ruby red. Nicely aromatic red and black fruit. Minty, herbal aromas point to stem inclusion. Minty herbacious notes carry through to the palate and provide interest to focsued rasberry, blackcherry, cranberry and sour cherry. Lingering aftertaste.
Very nice effort. I have to more of these and will probably hold for another year or so, but this is enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2011 - llink wrote:
Sour cherry nose laced with some stems and underbrush. Tart, fairly lively palate with a juiciness and a flavor intensity without much palate weight. Some bitter flavors mar the finish, but there is a good recurrence of flavors. Should improve over the next 5 years or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
As much as I love this wine Joan likes it even more. So happy I've got a bunch more of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2011 - collin wrote:
A little bit of cola; texture is a bit thick. Otherwise, this is pretty nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
14.1% alcohol. Medium dark ruby red. Floral, spice and blue fruit on an expressive nose. On the palate, asian spice, a little pepper and lots of rasberry and black cherry. Lingering aftertaste. Very nice job by Jeff and the team!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2011 - gblacave wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour, it is a dark ruby red. The nose opened significantly in the glass to reveal floral notes, red and black berries, a potpourri of spices, sour cherries, and complex minerality. The palate is fresh and young with a nice balance of fruit and acidity. A little more fruit forward than I was expecting, but a lifting and vibrant finish. Overall a nice bottle, but I plan to give my last one another 5 years or so. I'm also not sure I see the value in this at $46 delivered next to the SC bottling at $28. But as they will not have any more Alesia bottlings, I guess it doesn't matter!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2011 - jreis wrote:
Clove, cinammon, rose petals and dusty earth om the nose. Still young, tart and acidic on the palate. Drank alongside the 06 Falstaff and thought this had more promise based on the nose. I will give the rest of the bottles a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2010 - CMCLR wrote: 87 Points
Too many of these wines have a green or herbaceus note to them. Not very pleasant nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/28/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Drank this over two nights. I wanted to visit some 07's. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is very nice with a cherry sour mash kind of nose. Just a hint of earthiness. Great juicy texture. On the palate, sour cherries predominate which I like. No question, this was California in style but not over blown, just juicy fruit. Very nice and drinking well if lacking any evolution. Probably gets a bit better if you wait though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 91 Points
Color is purple with ruby rim; nose gives tart fruit: cranberry/rhubarb, underbrushy menthol notes coming from stems I would imagine- almost like a whole-cluster syrah. Palate has tart fruit with good acidity; notes of loamy anisette flavor; a little bit peppery; finish a bit bitter. If served blind, I would have sworn this was an Oregon pinot. Mellows out after day 1, after which I like it better. There's a pungent intensity to the fruit here that makes it a cut above good; objectively a 91ish wine, but for me personally, this is an 89, not my favorite style. I prefer the non-Sonoma Coast bottlings from this producer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2010 - Mr T wrote:
Very pretty pinot popped and poured that went well with a calamari pasta in oil and garlic with basil and then paired wonderfully with ripe, gooey French cheese....very pure flavors of strawberry and cherry...real delight 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2010 - Wicker Parker wrote:
Not ready yet but shows beautiful earthiness and structure and it's perfectly poised for the long-ish haul. The sweet fruit just needs some time to settle down. Flowers, baking spices, rhubarb, raspberries. Should be smashing in five years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2010 - bonedocnine wrote: 93 Points
I <3 this wine. Super pure fruit with classic pinot flavors of cherries and all kinds of red fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2010 - James Kim wrote: 91 Points
At paper celebration party. Decanted for 30min then back to bottle. Really singing after the bottle was open for another hour. Spice, red and black berries, tree bark with some power underneath an elegant and silky texture. Nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2010 - rc@ughey Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good wine, but I'm saving the rest of these for at least a few years. Elegant red fruits and admirable concentration here. A bit stemmy, and both sweet and savory (beets), this is quite distinctive. Still, it's fairly reserved on the nose and the palate, and it's my guess that this will improve dramatically.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2010 - brettlaurvick wrote: 88 Points
Great potential here, but must wait for it to develop. A little too tart at this point for my taste. Will hold for another 1-2 years before opening another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2010 - winelovr2001 wrote: 93 Points
This pinot really makes you think. There is perfect balance to this wine, nothing really sticks out. Great tannin/acid balance, great red fruits, cola, spice...everything is just there.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2010 - CSteefel wrote: 91 Points
These 2007 are definitely a step up from the less spicy and energetic 2006. The Falstaff might just be the best of the Alesia lineup, with plenty of energy on the long finish, and fine overall balance that suggests this will also age well. Excellent...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 92 Points
Tasted over a couple days. In the glass, this is more deeply colored than I expected with a dark garnet color and just slight translucence. Complex nose of minerals, cinnamon, black cherry fruit and stems. Rich concentrated sweet/savory black cherry/waxy cherry. Medium to medium full bodied. I expected, (even hoped in light of the mailer in my inbox), not to like this, but it turned out to be one of the best Pinot's I've had lately. Little pricey for a second label, but very good. I think I was expecting something less fruit driven and was pleasantly surprised.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2010 - E wrote: 92 Points
This was our first 2007 pinot and oh what a wine to start with. Awesome bouquet...flowery perfume with a hint of pencil shavings. A little heavier in weight than I expected, but definitely not syrah like pinot. Perhaps not a perfect food match with the swordfish and grouper dishes that accompanied it, but still a wonderful experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2010 - T-Mac wrote: 92 Points
Tight as a drum on day 1, so I poured two glasses and the rest went into a 375. Tonight this wine is extremely delicious. Still not giving up much on the nose, but the palate has really rounded into form. Right now this is all about mouthfeel and balance. Very supple textured with a mouthful of sappy black cherry, hoisin, and pine. A soft whisp of oak throughout. Yum!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2009 - vinocerus wrote: 90 Points
Pleasant classic pinot nose and fruit profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2009 - mye wrote:
Dark ruby red. decanted for 45 mins. Delicious cherry, strawberry nose, candied fruit on the palate with a bit of heat. Definitely need some time in the bottle. I enjoyed it though. Hooked on Rhys
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 90 Points
Sweet nose with effusive cherries and red berries, violets, pak apice and stems. Sweet palate bolstered with strong acids and tannins. Will be interesting to se the secondary development of this wine. I did not get the minerality noted by others, which was disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2009 - xwine wrote:
The best part of this beautiful wine is its terrific structure: taut with firm acids and tannins, yet it has a lush quality. Has a distinct mineral element, with bright bing cherries developing after a short time. Very good potential; probably should hold for at least two more years before trying another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2009 - Jody Smith wrote:
Similar to the SC in its pronounced, floral bouquet and bright spine. Where the SC shows citrus notes and red fruit, this is a bit more soil driven, and possesses richer fruit. Good structure and grip, balance and restraint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2009 - jwwinec wrote:
Stemmy, in a good way. Well balanced, with good acidity and tannins framing a core of ripe fruit. Seriously concentrated. An excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Touch of cola over cranberry, cherry and pretty spice. Lengthy palate with a focused mineral cored finish. Loamy earth and tannic cherry flavors. Plenty of fruit and acid. Try to keep your hands off for a couple more years. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2009 - yhn wrote: 91 Points
Nose - shy, a touch of rustic stink, roasted plum and berry pie, minty spice, white wood.
Biting tannin, pert, roasted plum, some green stemminess, glyceriny feel. Drink '13-'20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with Middle Eastern Foods: Decanted about 2 hours prior to consumption.Rich nose with plenty of minerals. Thick with plenty of packed fruit and very tannic for Pinot but balanced with acids. Chunky now but all the pieces are there for a terrific wine that should be long lived. This will be better than the 05 which is saying something.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Persian Food Meets Pinot and Chard (The Murray Casa): Bitchen. Of the 3 2007 Alesias tonight (S Coast and Green Valley), the whole cluster/stalk is most prominent on this wine. Again, dark colored, rich and deeply fruited with my notes saying "a pile of blueberry" and big tight minerally finish. A terrific wine and alongside the 2006 RM Occidental as my WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
Striking how this contrasts to the Green Valley. Same bone structure, but with a darker fruit profile, more prominent minerality, and a touch of oak on the nose. Black cherry on the palate leads the way, with a bit of stem influence, plenty of floral and mineral notes, and a long finish. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment