Every bit as good as last bottle nearly 4 years ago, maybe better; cool and foresty and savory like top-notch burgundy; featherweight with crisp acidity
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Equal parts cranberry and pomegranate and cinnamon and tea and gray pebbles and black peppercorn; seamless alcohol (12.7%) and acidity; a confidently made wine not afraid to show its sense of place; but a bit disjointed on day two
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Drank along with a Big Basin 08 Woodruff, double-blind to most of the group except me. The Wind Gap took time to come around; the first pour was not totally closed down but flatter boring compared to the fruitier and livelier Big Basin. Later, it emerged as a more complex and satisfying if less showy wine with a long, gorgeous finish right on the edge of savory. I found this rendition more complementary with food. More stems, less oak here compared to the Big Basin, quite a dramatic comparison between 2 wines made from the same source, with neither wine hitting my happy medium at the moment. This bottle is far superior to one from 2012 but still somewhat reticent and fussy. If I had another I would hold 2-4 years.
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Delicious tart red cherries, spice, and a hint of stems on the nose and silky palate with refreshing acidity and finish. Still very youthful and should drink well for years!
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Absolutely outstanding pinot. Even better than the last tim eI had this. Stunning nose of red fruit, earth and flowers - a tiny bit of earthy funk. Pretty ruby / garnet color with only the smallest bit of bricking. Delicate with great acidity, good spice and pretty fruit. Spiced cranberries, cherries and pomegranate with earhty notes, some flowers, stem and tea undertones. The midpalate has filled out leaving a complete wine. Silky texture without weight. Long finish with spiced fruit and earth notes. The best 2008 CA Pinot Noir I've had to date.
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A shy nose and shortish length detracted from an otherwise terrific food friendly middleweight on day 1 with light earth, balanced red fruits, and a profile unlike most any Pinot in my experience, more about texture, context, and potential than danceworthy stuff in the glass. Day 2 & without food, the structure is showing more teeth, the nose is more open, and the wine comes across as more burly, less refined overall. Not sure about this one but definitely not a QPR for the drinking pleasure right now.
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Outstanding pinot. I really enjoyed this. Very pretty nose. Very delicate and light with great acidity, good spice and pretty fruit. Spiced cranberries and pomegranate. Initially the wine almost seemed thin or hollow, but it put on substantial weight with air, adding depth to the midpalate. Already silky in texture. A great food wine, I really like what Pax has done with this bottling.
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What a beautiful color and nose! Brilliant garnet with suggestions of pomegranate, red raspberry and earth. In body and aromatic complexity, this reminds me of a Jacky Truchot burgundy. Nice tangy red fruit palate with some earth, but the finish comes up a bit short. Hope this wine gains follow through with some bottle age.
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I love that Pax is doing Pinot like this - spare, light on the palate, with a slight zing of acidity and tartness. It actually tastes and drinks a bit like an old world pinot noir (unlike some other Cali Pinots that drink like Zins). I wish I could give it a higher score, but I found it lacked some of the earth and tannic structure that would move it up into the 90s. Still, a very nice wine. Wish it weren't so expensive - QPR is middling at best. I plan on letting my remaining two bottles sit for a couple years and see what develops.
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I am a big fan of what Pax is doing at Wind Gap but this bottle was the first we have had that was disappointing. For our tastes, this was, as Deb293 and Mr. Murray said, a little lean/austere. The aromas were fairly nice and it had a pretty, lighter color. Tart red fruits and quite a bit of acidity. Better with food than for just quaffing. I prefer the Gaps Crown bottling.
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We poured this @ Falltacular and I tasted it then but did not get the chance to sit with the wine and think about it like I did tasting it this time. Cherry, herb, with a leaner styled mid palate. Juicy with some watermelon and lean strawberry.
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6/13/2021 - AB16 Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Sour cherry gone bad. Very sad
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10/3/2019 - bklynwine wrote:
Every bit as good as last bottle nearly 4 years ago, maybe better; cool and foresty and savory like top-notch burgundy; featherweight with crisp acidity
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1/25/2016 - bklynwine wrote:
Equal parts cranberry and pomegranate and cinnamon and tea and gray pebbles and black peppercorn; seamless alcohol (12.7%) and acidity; a confidently made wine not afraid to show its sense of place; but a bit disjointed on day two
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11/27/2014 - silton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank along with a Big Basin 08 Woodruff, double-blind to most of the group except me. The Wind Gap took time to come around; the first pour was not totally closed down but flatter boring compared to the fruitier and livelier Big Basin. Later, it emerged as a more complex and satisfying if less showy wine with a long, gorgeous finish right on the edge of savory. I found this rendition more complementary with food. More stems, less oak here compared to the Big Basin, quite a dramatic comparison between 2 wines made from the same source, with neither wine hitting my happy medium at the moment. This bottle is far superior to one from 2012 but still somewhat reticent and fussy. If I had another I would hold 2-4 years.
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11/5/2014 - 560 B&W wrote: 91 Points
Showing well. No oak issues
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1/24/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious tart red cherries, spice, and a hint of stems on the nose and silky palate with refreshing acidity and finish. Still very youthful and should drink well for years!
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4/9/2013 - jnanz Likes this wine:
Absolutely outstanding pinot. Even better than the last tim eI had this. Stunning nose of red fruit, earth and flowers - a tiny bit of earthy funk. Pretty ruby / garnet color with only the smallest bit of bricking. Delicate with great acidity, good spice and pretty fruit. Spiced cranberries, cherries and pomegranate with earhty notes, some flowers, stem and tea undertones. The midpalate has filled out leaving a complete wine. Silky texture without weight. Long finish with spiced fruit and earth notes. The best 2008 CA Pinot Noir I've had to date.
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9/26/2012 - silton wrote: 89 Points
A shy nose and shortish length detracted from an otherwise terrific food friendly middleweight on day 1 with light earth, balanced red fruits, and a profile unlike most any Pinot in my experience, more about texture, context, and potential than danceworthy stuff in the glass. Day 2 & without food, the structure is showing more teeth, the nose is more open, and the wine comes across as more burly, less refined overall. Not sure about this one but definitely not a QPR for the drinking pleasure right now.
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4/10/2011 - alanr wrote: 89 Points
TN: California Pinot "In Pursuit of Balance" tasting (RN74 Restaurant, San Francisco): Compared to the 09, this is a bit lighter and sweeter, with dark cherry, medium acidity, some green olive from the whole cluster.
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3/27/2011 - jnanz wrote:
Outstanding pinot. I really enjoyed this. Very pretty nose. Very delicate and light with great acidity, good spice and pretty fruit. Spiced cranberries and pomegranate. Initially the wine almost seemed thin or hollow, but it put on substantial weight with air, adding depth to the midpalate. Already silky in texture. A great food wine, I really like what Pax has done with this bottling.
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3/7/2011 - j45 wrote:
What a beautiful color and nose! Brilliant garnet with suggestions of pomegranate, red raspberry and earth. In body and aromatic complexity, this reminds me of a Jacky Truchot burgundy. Nice tangy red fruit palate with some earth, but the finish comes up a bit short. Hope this wine gains follow through with some bottle age.
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3/7/2011 - FLI Likes this wine: 89 Points
I love that Pax is doing Pinot like this - spare, light on the palate, with a slight zing of acidity and tartness. It actually tastes and drinks a bit like an old world pinot noir (unlike some other Cali Pinots that drink like Zins). I wish I could give it a higher score, but I found it lacked some of the earth and tannic structure that would move it up into the 90s. Still, a very nice wine. Wish it weren't so expensive - QPR is middling at best. I plan on letting my remaining two bottles sit for a couple years and see what develops.
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1/16/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
I am a big fan of what Pax is doing at Wind Gap but this bottle was the first we have had that was disappointing. For our tastes, this was, as Deb293 and Mr. Murray said, a little lean/austere. The aromas were fairly nice and it had a pretty, lighter color. Tart red fruits and quite a bit of acidity. Better with food than for just quaffing. I prefer the Gaps Crown bottling.
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1/13/2011 - Deb293 wrote: 89 Points
A bit austere and light bodied. Not a fan.
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4/24/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
We poured this @ Falltacular and I tasted it then but did not get the chance to sit with the wine and think about it like I did tasting it this time. Cherry, herb, with a leaner styled mid palate. Juicy with some watermelon and lean strawberry.
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