Light color, but great concentration of orange peel, spice, stems, and rustic cherry fruit tacked to the palate by fine gritty tannins, just delicious.
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Koolade colored, intense strawberry cherry fruit, meshed very well with a variety of foods at Christmas. Really light, pure, but intense stuff, very Cali but doesn't suffer from overt ripeness or alcohol.
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This is amazing Pinot Noir. It's still youthful and vibrant. Strawberries, cherries and floral notes, spice, hints of tobacco, clove, mint and herbal tea. Tannins are well balanced the wine is silky smooth.
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A very pretty wine of carnelian-red with an almost wispy look of dustiness. Nose of tart cranberries and just a bit of creme brulee. Nose alone shows elegance and class. Palate reveals what I will describe as the perfectly matured Russian River Pinot; it's perfectly balanced layerers of purity, sensuality and presence and within a perfectly packager framework of glorious fruits of quiet strawberries and warm tart cranberry pie. Interesting soft rose petals too! There is nothing popping out as a 'spot me?' quality. Acidity perfectly delineated and tannins perfectly resolved. A delicate wine that if one swirls too vigorously one will sense some reduction notes, so I won't. After a dozen minutes this starts exploding upward from the glass and now is super fragrant. This wine right now does demand/deserve the perfect serving temperature, somewhere right at 63-65 is downright necessary. I did say it's a delicate flower and needs to be treated like one. Long and graceful finish all reminiscent of what came before. This is one to savor, not rush through.
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13.0% alcohol. Light red color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, baking spice, mushroom, and earth. Classic Saralee's. In the mouth, light and elegant but vibrant. A tantalizing streak of red cherry fruit is supported by ample acidity and a high level of complexity, leading to a slightly tart finish. A-
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13.0% alcohol. This just continues to roll along. A terrific bottle of Pinot. Light red cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry fruit, light spice, and pronounced floral notes. In the mouth, linear and leading with red cherry fruit, spiked with excellent acidity, floral notes, and underlying spice. Smooth finish. A balanced, complete wine that is starting to show its upside. A-
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Cloudy light ruby color with lots of thrown sediment. The bouquet was a highlight of the wine- really pretty tertiary notes of mushroom, tea and clove, along with fig and strawberry fruit. Lots of sweet spice on the palate- cinnamon and clove were prominent, along with red cherry fruit. Some mineral and earthiness lingered in the background. Awkward at first, the flavors developed with air and the wine gained texture, although it was very light and dainty throughout in both tannins and acid. Ultimately for me this was a little clumsy, both in the prominence of sweet spice flavors, and in an overall lacking structure. Perhaps this is in an awkward stage (I really wanted to love this), but I just didn't detect the acid and structure to tie it all back together.
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13.0% alcohol. Light red cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, mushroom, and spice. In the mouth, the picture of elegance in a red cherry frame. Bright acidity. Some tannic bite on the back end. This is a very pretty, bright, lovely wine that is just starting to hit its stride. Pretty gorgeous and with great upside. A-
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Had put my last bottle of the 07 aside for some time to see how it would evolve. The aromas of strawberry, cherries, flowers, spice, and clove were still evident but much more elegant in taste as the sweetness had calmed down. Very happy to have let this rest.
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Very pretty, very prototypical Russian River Valley pinot nose, with red berries, cherries, apple-pie spice and pipe tobacco. Sour cherry and cola show strongly on the palate. Despite an initial tart burst, there's surprisingly little acidity left in the finish, leaving this to end a little bit flabby. A stronger finish would have elevated this into outstanding territory; as it is, it's still very enjoyable.
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Incredible. Very similar to '07s from WesMar, with delicate aromas of strawberry, flowers, baking spice, and clove giving way to a vibrant, mouthfilling palate overflowing with strawberry, bing cherry, clove, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Long finish. Bright acidity. A joy.
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Agree with the comments of other tasters - typically Swan light strawberry color and light weight, delicate, lovely but I would say a little faded compared to some other Swan pinots. Makes me wonder whether it's time to drink up or give it more time - I'm not sure
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Typical Swan Pinot in its color. Got a lot of strawberry on the first night, with hints of the typical RRV cherry-cola thing. The second night, the flavor profile had changed to emphasize the cherry as well as some herbs. Nice subtle acidity and minerality. Great wine!
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A Week in Las Vegas; 3/26/2012-4/2/2012 (Las Vegas, NV): Thought this was incredibly elegant with beef broth, dried floral notes and spicy red fruit. So distinctly Russian River Valley fruit, it has the unmistakable cherry-cola tone to it. It's not sweet or syrupy, at all, but still has this cola aspect to it. Loved the weight or, rather, lack thereof too. Impressive.
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Sonoma Wine Tasting & San Francisco - March 2012; 3/22/2012-3/27/2012: I'd love to pour this pinot noir blind for a lot of wine drinkers. I'm sure there would be some who'd guess Willamette Valley, or even Burgundy. It's a clear auburn/cherry color in the glass with medium viscosity. The nose shows fresh wild strawberry and a distinct beef bouillon and broth aroma. The tannins are soft and plush. The mix of currant tea and savory beef broth flavors are really interesting and exciting. Sour cherry as well. Medium+ acid makes this easy to sip and a great accompaniment to a lot of foods. (The first thing that comes to mind is beef stew!) Very pure, light and sexy. This is a wine for those who love to slam Russian River pinots as being too fruity and exctracted. Joseph Swan does some great things with the Saralee's Vineyard fruit, and this was no exception.
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13.0% alcohol. This reminds me of the 2002 at a similar stage. It's youthful and quite wrapped up in the minerality of the vineyard. But it's lovely and will only get better. Very light red cherry color. Always one of the lightest Pinots there is from California. The nose is somewhat muted, with vigorous red cherry fruit wrapped in a cloak of minerality but with undertones of earth and flowers. In the mouth, a laser beam of cherry fruit expands to reveal earth, spice, and floral notes, all supported by pronounced minerality and running into strong acidity. Another couple years, and this wine will have a chance to unwind and just relax, and it'll be brilliant. Just like the 2002. A-
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This is a really pretty wine and the winery's description is spot on. To be honest, if I had tasted this wine I would have thought it was an OR pinot. More specifically, something like a Matello (but not from the light, acidic 07 vintage -- this wine is softer). Gorgeous aromatics of red cherry, a touch of brown sugar, some green stem notes and just enough oak. In the mouth it's more of the same but with less acid than one typically sees in wines of this style from OR, which is what sets it apart and makes it uniquely RRV. It definitely opened up after an hour of slow enjoyment. It is drinking beautifully now and I'd enjoy it sooner rather than later for it's delicacy and grace. It's got decent acid but not enough to make it a long ager, IMHO. Tannins seem pretty much resolved. Enjoy!
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Beautiful aromas of earth, red fruits and roses. Silky texture with notes of cherries, cranberries, roses, and spices. Finish is medium with oak notes prominent. Drinking well now but should improve with short term aging.
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Tons of sediment, decanted. Extremely light in color, probably the lightest colored pinot I've had. Aromas of smoke, tobacco, cherry, forest floor Immediately after pouring the alcohol was noticeable causing me to double check the label; 13% but feels like more. Incredibly light in flavor and body but really lovely. Floral and fruit flavors, tons of acid.
Through the night more perfume like rose aromas became evident as well as wet leaves. The alcohol subsided some but it still felt slightly out of balance, I guess it's true you can't go on percentages alone.
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Visit to Joseph Swan Vineyards: Pale ruby color. Simple notes of red cherry. Light, with cherry and clove flavors and bright acid. Nice finish. 88-89 pts.
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9/1/2017 - B&PBaker wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful subtle fruit. Smooth finish. Just like I like!
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1/14/2017 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light color, but great concentration of orange peel, spice, stems, and rustic cherry fruit tacked to the palate by fine gritty tannins, just delicious.
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12/31/2016 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
Koolade colored, intense strawberry cherry fruit, meshed very well with a variety of foods at Christmas. Really light, pure, but intense stuff, very Cali but doesn't suffer from overt ripeness or alcohol.
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3/10/2016 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is amazing Pinot Noir. It's still youthful and vibrant. Strawberries, cherries and floral notes, spice, hints of tobacco, clove, mint and herbal tea. Tannins are well balanced the wine is silky smooth.
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10/23/2015 - King Cab wrote: 92 Points
A very pretty wine of carnelian-red with an almost wispy look of dustiness. Nose of tart cranberries and just a bit of creme brulee. Nose alone shows elegance and class. Palate reveals what I will describe as the perfectly matured Russian River Pinot; it's perfectly balanced layerers of purity, sensuality and presence and within a perfectly packager framework of glorious fruits of quiet strawberries and warm tart cranberry pie. Interesting soft rose petals too! There is nothing popping out as a 'spot me?' quality. Acidity perfectly delineated and tannins perfectly resolved. A delicate wine that if one swirls too vigorously one will sense some reduction notes, so I won't. After a dozen minutes this starts exploding upward from the glass and now is super fragrant. This wine right now does demand/deserve the perfect serving temperature, somewhere right at 63-65 is downright necessary. I did say it's a delicate flower and needs to be treated like one. Long and graceful finish all reminiscent of what came before. This is one to savor, not rush through.
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9/2/2015 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
13.0% alcohol. Light red color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, baking spice, mushroom, and earth. Classic Saralee's. In the mouth, light and elegant but vibrant. A tantalizing streak of red cherry fruit is supported by ample acidity and a high level of complexity, leading to a slightly tart finish. A-
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1/13/2015 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
13.0% alcohol. This just continues to roll along. A terrific bottle of Pinot. Light red cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry fruit, light spice, and pronounced floral notes. In the mouth, linear and leading with red cherry fruit, spiked with excellent acidity, floral notes, and underlying spice. Smooth finish. A balanced, complete wine that is starting to show its upside. A-
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6/26/2014 - jasonh wrote:
The Vineyard Lunch Gang Visits Saralee's + 97 Pentagon & 02 Trenton: Probably my favorite of the flight although the most closed. Doesn't show a lot of stuffing but should become a pretty and balanced pinot. My guess is it should be consumed over the next few years.
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6/15/2014 - MattMauldin wrote: 87 Points
Cloudy light ruby color with lots of thrown sediment. The bouquet was a highlight of the wine- really pretty tertiary notes of mushroom, tea and clove, along with fig and strawberry fruit. Lots of sweet spice on the palate- cinnamon and clove were prominent, along with red cherry fruit. Some mineral and earthiness lingered in the background. Awkward at first, the flavors developed with air and the wine gained texture, although it was very light and dainty throughout in both tannins and acid. Ultimately for me this was a little clumsy, both in the prominence of sweet spice flavors, and in an overall lacking structure. Perhaps this is in an awkward stage (I really wanted to love this), but I just didn't detect the acid and structure to tie it all back together.
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9/5/2013 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
13.0% alcohol. Light red cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, mushroom, and spice. In the mouth, the picture of elegance in a red cherry frame. Bright acidity. Some tannic bite on the back end. This is a very pretty, bright, lovely wine that is just starting to hit its stride. Pretty gorgeous and with great upside. A-
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5/15/2013 - Yelm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had put my last bottle of the 07 aside for some time to see how it would evolve. The aromas of strawberry, cherries, flowers, spice, and clove were still evident but much more elegant in taste as the sweetness had calmed down. Very happy to have let this rest.
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4/7/2013 - linwinmac21 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine, good final - tastes like citrus at the end.
One of my favorite russian river Pinot Noir! A must try!
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3/22/2013 - Cphofmann wrote: 90 Points
Translucent and light in color. Nose and palate of strawberry. Light cherry, some earthiness. Good acidity.
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7/16/2012 - stvjackson wrote: 87 Points
Very pretty, very prototypical Russian River Valley pinot nose, with red berries, cherries, apple-pie spice and pipe tobacco. Sour cherry and cola show strongly on the palate. Despite an initial tart burst, there's surprisingly little acidity left in the finish, leaving this to end a little bit flabby. A stronger finish would have elevated this into outstanding territory; as it is, it's still very enjoyable.
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6/11/2012 - JOJ wrote: 95 Points
Incredible. Very similar to '07s from WesMar, with delicate aromas of strawberry, flowers, baking spice, and clove giving way to a vibrant, mouthfilling palate overflowing with strawberry, bing cherry, clove, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Long finish. Bright acidity. A joy.
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6/4/2012 - skp88 wrote: 89 Points
Agree with the comments of other tasters - typically Swan light strawberry color and light weight, delicate, lovely but I would say a little faded compared to some other Swan pinots. Makes me wonder whether it's time to drink up or give it more time - I'm not sure
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5/18/2012 - urban_dk wrote: 90 Points
Typical Swan Pinot in its color. Got a lot of strawberry on the first night, with hints of the typical RRV cherry-cola thing. The second night, the flavor profile had changed to emphasize the cherry as well as some herbs. Nice subtle acidity and minerality. Great wine!
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4/1/2012 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
A Week in Las Vegas; 3/26/2012-4/2/2012 (Las Vegas, NV): Thought this was incredibly elegant with beef broth, dried floral notes and spicy red fruit. So distinctly Russian River Valley fruit, it has the unmistakable cherry-cola tone to it. It's not sweet or syrupy, at all, but still has this cola aspect to it. Loved the weight or, rather, lack thereof too. Impressive.
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3/25/2012 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Sonoma Wine Tasting & San Francisco - March 2012; 3/22/2012-3/27/2012: I'd love to pour this pinot noir blind for a lot of wine drinkers. I'm sure there would be some who'd guess Willamette Valley, or even Burgundy. It's a clear auburn/cherry color in the glass with medium viscosity. The nose shows fresh wild strawberry and a distinct beef bouillon and broth aroma. The tannins are soft and plush. The mix of currant tea and savory beef broth flavors are really interesting and exciting. Sour cherry as well. Medium+ acid makes this easy to sip and a great accompaniment to a lot of foods. (The first thing that comes to mind is beef stew!) Very pure, light and sexy. This is a wine for those who love to slam Russian River pinots as being too fruity and exctracted. Joseph Swan does some great things with the Saralee's Vineyard fruit, and this was no exception.
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2/17/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
13.0% alcohol. This reminds me of the 2002 at a similar stage. It's youthful and quite wrapped up in the minerality of the vineyard. But it's lovely and will only get better. Very light red cherry color. Always one of the lightest Pinots there is from California. The nose is somewhat muted, with vigorous red cherry fruit wrapped in a cloak of minerality but with undertones of earth and flowers. In the mouth, a laser beam of cherry fruit expands to reveal earth, spice, and floral notes, all supported by pronounced minerality and running into strong acidity. Another couple years, and this wine will have a chance to unwind and just relax, and it'll be brilliant. Just like the 2002. A-
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2/10/2012 - Ron Felthoven wrote: 89 Points
This is a really pretty wine and the winery's description is spot on. To be honest, if I had tasted this wine I would have thought it was an OR pinot. More specifically, something like a Matello (but not from the light, acidic 07 vintage -- this wine is softer). Gorgeous aromatics of red cherry, a touch of brown sugar, some green stem notes and just enough oak. In the mouth it's more of the same but with less acid than one typically sees in wines of this style from OR, which is what sets it apart and makes it uniquely RRV. It definitely opened up after an hour of slow enjoyment. It is drinking beautifully now and I'd enjoy it sooner rather than later for it's delicacy and grace. It's got decent acid but not enough to make it a long ager, IMHO. Tannins seem pretty much resolved. Enjoy!
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1/30/2012 - MCUBEB wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful aromas of earth, red fruits and roses. Silky texture with notes of cherries, cranberries, roses, and spices. Finish is medium with oak notes prominent. Drinking well now but should improve with short term aging.
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12/11/2011 - SanFranSoxFan04 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tons of sediment, decanted.
Extremely light in color, probably the lightest colored pinot I've had.
Aromas of smoke, tobacco, cherry, forest floor
Immediately after pouring the alcohol was noticeable causing me to double check the label; 13% but feels like more.
Incredibly light in flavor and body but really lovely. Floral and fruit flavors, tons of acid.
Through the night more perfume like rose aromas became evident as well as wet leaves. The alcohol subsided some but it still felt slightly out of balance, I guess it's true you can't go on percentages alone.
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10/8/2011 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Visit to Joseph Swan Vineyards: Pale ruby color. Simple notes of red cherry. Light, with cherry and clove flavors and bright acid. Nice finish. 88-89 pts.
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6/18/2011 - rentmp3 wrote: 87 Points
Pinot Days 2011 - San Francisco, CA (Fort Mason Center - Festival Pavilion, San Francisco, CA): Red cherries, spice, a little hollow.
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