(cellar inventory maintenance, drank July 2017) Not a contemporaneous note, but this bottle surpassed my expectations when I opened it three months ago. This is a lovely, fragrant, balanced expression of Santa Lucia Highlands pinot noir, which has aged well. However, any remaining bottles should be drunk soon.
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Outstanding. Great fruity nose, great color, the right time to drink. I have had other Rosella' vineyards from other producers and this is a great vineyard.
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Rosella's stink on it. Still smelling like primary dark fruits. Plums and black cherries come to mind. Not my favorite and with my general aversion to Rosella's and SLH I was thinking I would dislike the wine. Well it ended up being a nice surprise. Big and dark fruit focused with a good balance of acid. Not crazy about the creamy finish but the wine is not blousy. Still showing as a big dark pinot. Very little heat. Tasty. I enjoyed.
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I generally prefer my Loring's young for their fun, pure fruit, but this 7-year old Rosella's was very nice and worked well with food. I didn't take specific notes, but I'll say that this tasted very much of Rosella's fruit and was nicely balanced at this point. It's holding on just fine, but but there isn't much secondary flavor development and I'll drink my other remaining bottle soon.
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While the profile has a distinct blueberry element, the dominate flavors are more bing cherry and cranberry. Cola and vanilla give a wave in the mid-palate just as the herbal duo of rosemary and thyme step out for the finish. While the fruit on the attack is interesting and attention grabbing, this just didn’t have the ability to collect and hold attention to the extent that the Ampelos Fiddlestix ‘05 did. Some sediment sneaks out in the last pour. 14.9% alc. With grilled salmon with an onion and mushroom Pinot Noir sauce (this wine used for making sauce. Recommended.
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Medium to dark garnet color and on opening an immeadiate hit of pinot funk...most went away, but there was some that hung around and would not leave...and was partnered with some tart raspberry and cranberry on the nose. Nicely evolved mouth feel, good grip at mid palate that had a nice bit of hang time on the finish. Well framed and hanging on nicely.
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juicy, ripe and sweet blue/black fruits - nose of blackberry and cherry compote. full, soft and lush palate with acid to balance. some secondary mushroomy/forest floor character is developing. oddly there was a touch of booze on the nose but none in the mouth. nice wine!
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Twisted and poured. Pretty color - it's an opaque light garnet. The nose reveals that the wood has integrated well - serving as a spice rather than a main course, it accents the cherry / cranberry fruit flavors, rolled up in some mushroom notes. Ironic, since Brian hates mushrooms, but anyway... On the palate the wine has a silky texture, with big fruit flavors. It stood up to a beefy tri tip sandwich, but was also pleasant to drink on its own, once the food was gone.
I've always liked the Rosella's, Brosseau, and Rancho Ontiveros bottlings from Loring. This bottle was another winner.
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We tried this over two nights. It seems more closed and tightly wound than it was 2 years ago. The second night is appeared to shine its light a little brighter. Blueberries, bing cherries, cola and vanilla give way to a finish of smoke and herbs (sage and rosemary ... or was it thyme. The spousal unit and I couldn’t agree.) Somewhere in between, we detected a little bit of cranberry. The blueberry element surprised me, as I don’t recall picking that up on Rosella’s previously. With one bottle of this remaining, I’ll hold it for a couple of years just to see what happens with it. 14.9% alc. With turkey and cranberry sauce. Recommended.
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8 months ago this wine was still hot, but had cooled from earlier bottles. Now the heat is gone and it is showing nice cherry, strawberry, leather, and cedar with a long finish. A different kind of Pinot, somewhat Burgendian. Finally living up to its billing. My guess is this is not going to get any better from here. Very delicious now, unfortunately, I don't have any more..
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Really quite nice. Restrained yet full bodied. Not heavy. Hard to explain, really. A real treat to drink, with grip, structure and baance. Not complex, but not too simple either. I'm glad always when I have a slightly older LWC.
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My first Loring, it wasn't really what I expected (not in a bad way). A little funk on the nose, mossy, with hints of red fruit. Mushrooms and strawberries on the palate. Nicely balanced. Very enjoyable, I look forward to digging through more of my Lorings.
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The wine is ready. The smokier, stinkier notes that I kind if liked last time are gone, with just a fade of funk. Bit of citrus still there and some red fruits.
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Yummy! No funky nose (sadness, I like that identifier) but lovely bright red fruit with and overlay of spice. You could get some of that strawberry spice on the nose also. This bottle was drunk ever so easily. Love those Rosella's!!
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Not decanted. Bright cherry aromas with a little funk (not nearly as much as 2 years ago -- I miss it) and some cola. Very pleasant, but lacking the 'value added' of more exciting, intoxicating pinots.
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This didn't do much for me. Somewhat mudled flavors, little if any complexity and overall an uninteresting wine. The most disappointing of Brian's '04s yet. I would drink'em if you've got'em.
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Chilled 10 mins in freezer, which always benefits the 04 Lorings. Classic unctioyus Loring, nice balanced palate, classic Rosella's nose. A bit of the funk, a bit of the spice (served with a spicy red wine sauce, tho', so it might have been more). All in all, a very fine bottle "for its type"... which I like.
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Dark ruby color with a tad of funk on opening that stayed around and never completely left, but was overshadowed by red berries and tart dark cherry on the nose. Very nice mouth feel and a rounded fruit grip that was very tasty and had a subtle and yielding framework around it...with a nice light and bright twang on a medium finish. Very nice...let your Lorings age.
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These are aging well. The ugly funk in a lot of young Lorings is gone. The parts have integrated very well. Nice cherry nose with a full and smooth mouth feel. Get's better with a bit of air. Color is medium light. Palate is mostly cherry with other red fruits behind it. No noticeable wood. At the high end of excellent bordering on outstanding.
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Excellent fruit and character. Finishes hot. Not as hot as 6 mos ago. As the bottle opened the heat melowed. Give it another year and it should be terrific.
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Followed over two nights. On night one, there was a good dose of funk on the nose - a kind of damp earth and sticks element that I found to be the most enjoyable part of the wine. That funk never fully went away, though it did mostly recede on night two to reveal some sweet, black cherry cola. The palate presence and flavors stayed fairly consistent between the two nights. Medium in weight, with dark strawberry and black cherry profiles. Both fruit components are candied. There is some gripping heat that fights with sweet fruit as it goes down the throat. I am having trouble with this one. I can't say I found a lot of Rosella's character here, and in general, have not found the Loring wines I have had to be expressive of their origin. That said, they are consistent in their demeanor, and have earned several accolades from many with better palates than I. Perhaps I am just looking at these wines in the wrong light, but at the end of the day, they don't ring for me.
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Wow. Is this pinot noir or is it jam? Medium rudy, slightly faded with a brownish tinge. Huge, pungent nose of FUNKY earth, barnyard and berry patch, with floral, mineral and chocolate notes hovering in the background. Right out of the bottle a fair amount of acid and tannin, but both of these settle down quickly. Very ripe, juicy and concentrated on the palate, with a wide range of red and black candied fruit flavors: plum, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, boysenberry, maybe even some red currant, with an undertone of cola and vanilla. (Funky aromas just won't quit.) The long finish is powerful and sweet, with faint suggestions of chocolate and cinnamon lingering at the end. Impressive aromatics, and there seems to be a lot going on here. But for my tastes, it's just too jammy and in your face. Moderate complexity, but no subtlety. Had with christmas dinner of roasted duck in a plum jam glaze. Flavors lined up, but this wine still threatened to overwhelm the food. The funkiness of the nose references burgundy, but everything else just screams California at the top of its lungs.
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Mmm, brambly, funky, yummy Pinot drinking really well with Thanksgiving. A bit better on its own than with the food. Cola and birch beer move to some stem and twig. Very full, concentrated palate this is more black than red, savory, very yummy!
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Nose of barn, redness, cheerios (??) Midpalate had hints of dirt with the cherry, and more tannins than Lorings previously tasted. Still a pleasure to drink.
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Seattle Vayniac Pinot Noir tasting (Seattle, WA): My favorite Loring of the night (and the wine that actually precipitated the tasting) and one of my top 3 of the night. Wow, brambly, funky and awesome on the nose. The palate is meaty, chunky, a sturdy wine, pretty ripe. Sort of a Pinot for Chateaneauf-du-Pape lovers.
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My first Loring, except for a few sips at a tasting a year ago. We all really liked this wine, which went very well with grilled ahi. Slightly funky nose of black cherry with a whiff of smoke and leather Good balance and length on the finish. Can definitely taste the acidity, so this baby may be even better with somne aging. Defintely a repurchase, especially if I find it in the $3.99 bin again. Life is good....
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Absolutely delicious red cherry and bacon aromas with rich red and black cherry flavors with notes of forest floor and smoke. Great balance and silky texture with a lingering finish.
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Craig Vanderah's Annual BBQ (Pax, Kosta Brown, Beaucastel, Donjon, Turley, Loring, Neal): Pale ruby red color. The nose is a very intriguing and enjoyable blend of sour cherry fruit, mushroom, earth and expresso. Funky in a good way. The taste yields dark fruit, earth, and mineral in a mid-weight effort. The attack is a bit mild, but flavors build through the finish. Almost no tannin to speak of and really well balanced. I really enjoyed this.
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Dark ruby unto purple. Cola, mocha, spice, dark fruits, very slight pinot funk. Full, dark cherry, dark fruit, cola and some strawberry on the palate. Long finish. Seems to have some acidity that might bode well for ageing.
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A little disjointed. It hits you with Rosella's fruit up front, but doesn't have a lot of acidity or body to carry it thru. It suffered a little bit in comparison to the Siduri bottling which was more lush and balanced.
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Consistent with other notes, funk on the nose, surprisingly burgundian, oak, forest floor, medium weight red current flavors with touch of grapefruit, good finish. Not the fruit bomb I expected, but a nice surprise. Drink or hold.
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Initial reaction was "oh my God!". Completely ready to go right after uncorking...uh...unscrewing. Light-to-medium color. Big nose right out of the gate. Lush, creamy fruit nose, hint of vanilla, floral notes, bit of earth. I described it as a 'perfect' nose. Smooth and balanced on the palate, medium-bodied, with cherries and vanilla. Just a hint of acidity. Not a long finish, but enough. Then...it kind of fell apart at the very end of the bottle...flattened out and was simply fruity at the end.
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2004 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir Horizontal (Drew's House): Bottle decanted for 1-1.5 hr. This wine exhibited a dark ruby color with aromas of dark cherry and black raspberries with hints of lead and earth. On the palate, flavors of cherries and pomegranate lead the way and finishing a little bit out of wack. Definitely enjoyed the 2005 from the previous night much better. HS87
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Normally a Loring fan, this one just didn't do it for me. Incredibly huge pinot funk on the nose that never seemed to go away, even with a couple of hours. Red fruits were ok, but the funk just overpowered me.
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Complete 2004 Rosella's Pinot Horizontal (Durham, NC): Unbearable gut shot of reductive aromas. Intense and not what I want to smell. Rubber and cabbage. This did clear some with air to the point I could drink it, but still funk laden. Heavy and dense on the palate. NR
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Undrinkable. I'll try again tomorrow but for now - yuch.60 pts today. Day 2 - The difference is amazing. Nice rich, funky and earthy fruit. A little heavy. 90pts. today. This is the third time I've had this happen with a Loring. The last time (with a Carg.) I had three hours before dinner for the funk to blow off. This time I didn't so I opened a 2002 Delinger that was great.
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Tremendous fruit but nose and finish was a little more vegetal than the AP Vin. Color was definitely deeper than the AP Vin. No noticeable oak, this is all about the fruit. I think this will continue to develop over the next year or two.
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From much of what I've heard about Loring I was prepared to not like this. Although nothing like Burgundy or Oregon Pinots, or just about aany other Pinots, this definitly had the characteristic lightness of body, mix of funk and fruit, and delicious finish of Pinot. The finish had a nice bitter, minerally finish that was delightful. There was also a touch of tea throughout the taste. It was much better on the second night than the first. I will hold the other bottles for a year or so.
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Drank slowly over two days. Definitely had the pinot funk nose on initial opening. The fruit is soft strawberry and touches of blackberry , and there is a definite spice and pepper throughout, especially on day two which really shapes the long finish.
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Light- medium color. Slight funk on the nose, almost motor oil but in a good way, earthy stink, definitely bright red cherries. Very pleasing in the mouth, this one is slightly thicker than pinot shoud be, but is very round and pleasing. There's a hint of bitterness at the end. My impression is of a slightly large pinot but it's not over-the-top, it's quite rich, and very pleasing.
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On pop, funky nose with a faint hint of citrus. As the wine aerates, the nose shows more smokiness, pepper and some remaining funk. The flavors are all about sour cherry, berry, citrus acidity and some minerality on the finish, which tightens a bit. Would suggest another year or so on this wine. As for any heat from the 2004 vintage, on this bottle, I did not find any. This wine showed pretty well.
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I'm still evaluating whether the Loring wines are my style. The nose had a distinctive earthiness and funk. On the palate, it had brighter cherry flavors with good acidity.
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11/22/2006 Thanksgiving eve bottle, along with a 2000 Testerossa Sleepy Hollow. This wasn't decanted and really through off a variety of flavors. Had more of an earthy funk on initial opening than I expected when compared with earlier 04 Gary's or Clos Pepe Lorings, and tons of soft tannins. After an hour there was lots of blackberrish flavor with some currant like edge, with still lots of tannins.
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Decanted for 30mn. Strong and very pleasant nose with gamy/earthy smell and cassis fruit. In the mouth it is a very ripe fruit with ripe tannins in the mid palate and a little bitterness in the finish. Acidity is there but could be a little bit stronger. Finish is somewhat short. Overall a good, big and ripe pinot with earthy and dark fruit taste.
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After reading the assorted notes on the board, I approached this, my first Loring, with some trepidation. It is however a lovely bottle of wine. Decanted for approximately one hour before tasting. Gorgeous cherry red colour, loads of sweet cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruit with a load of distinctive Pinot barnyard funk to go along with it. Really complex and interesting. Palate is more of the same, sweet tannins and cherry acidity keep it balanced and not at all cloying. Great sweet finish, but still all Pinot. Not sure that this wine is for the long haul, but it is a great drop right now.
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initial funk on the nose quickly blows off with some air. Medium garnet in color beautiful spicy nose and although a bit hot contains tons of fresh pinot flavor. Will save the other half for tomorrow.
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I was a little disappointed in this bottle initially. On the first day, I would say it was a little too heavy on the cola flavors and a little hot. If I hadn't saved any for the second day, it would have been an 86. On the second day, it was defintely better. The flavors were much more integrated and the heat was gone. I wouldn't touch it again for another couple of years.
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Medium-dark ruby color, PN funk and earth dominating the nose, but surprising lack of fruit anywhere to be found, on nose or palate. Thought it might need some air, but I had the second half the next night, and it was actually worse. Maybe it's just my palate, but I certainly wouldn't want this one again.
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Popped and poured. Medium-bodied wine that is medium ruby/raspberry in color. On the nose, mint, spice, and barnyard funk. On the palate, black cherries and cola with a slightly tart 30-second finish. Lots of fruit here, and not too over-the-top. Good balance, structure, and weight...well done Brian!
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Generally I find the LWC style immensely satisfying as long as you know what you're getting into, perfect for occasions when you're in the mood for a jaunty, puppy-dog, face-licking wine. I've never understood the complaint that they taste more like syrah than pinot -- every one I've had up until this one has tasted like pinot, just very dense, plump pinot. But this wine shows no characteristics of pinot noir at all and has the fruit intensity and unpleasant salinity of an overdone shiraz. The finishing warmth is so severe that it has the after-effect of a whiskey shot.
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Tried the vigorous shaking routine and after the foam and fizz cleared, I let it sit open for about an hour. Garnet to ruby in color. The nose was terrifically expressive from the get go with huge earth, cherry (accented with cola) and exotic spice. The palate was also great with great fruit weight and balanced tannins/acid. Just great. If this could develop some more complexity with age, it would be 3-4 points stronger.
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Opened and poured without decanting. Beautiful ruby color and wonderful Pinot aromas of earth, red fruit (cherries) and cola. Excellent mouthfeel with a palate of black cherry, slight cola and cloves. Dusty tannins on a medium long finish with nice balance.
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Not as big as the '03, but it still is about the blacker side of cherry than the red. As with other LWC's, I found it impossible not to enjoy but did not fall in love with it. Raspberries, plums, black cherries, wet earth and spices fly out of the glass. Very full in the mouth with sweet dark fruit and cola with a strange mocha thing going on in the middle. Decently long finish. There's a lot going on there but it kind of jumps around and lacks the focus it may develop over time. Decanted well before serving.
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Poured immediately after opening in the middle of a 12 bottle binge. Not the best for this wine to strut its stuff. Many commented on the rustic/funky nature of the wine. I thought it got better after a few minutes in the glass. Still somewhat disjointed. I think this will get better with time and is in an awkward stage. Next time we will treat it with more respect.
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At home from bottle. Opened up nicely after 1/2 hour. Good red berry flavors.After opening screw cap, and using PEK System, the cap leaked slightly when resealed??
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Ordered off the list at Mesa Grill in NYC. This started out a bit funky and reductive before improving a bit. Solid wine but not a terrific showing overall.
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It's a pleasure just to look at this brilliant, clear deep red pinot. I absolutely love the toast, strawberry, leather and honey-mustard? (I guess that would be spice), on the nose of this. The palate is thick and silky, with gobs of sweet fruit held up by ample acidity. Sure, theres a bit of alcohol here, but this is wine, and there's plenty of fruit to balance things out. The finish is long, sweet and pleasant. A great expression of California pinot.
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Opened and poured. Very Funky nose, with mushrooms, yeast, barn smells. Took 30 minutes to mellow out, but still barny. The taste was heavy oak and vanilla, with some heat and tannins coming later. After about 30 minutes, the oak started to integrate, leaving a lot of heavy blue fruits, nut and cola flavors. I am starting to think Brian's wines, which are very interesting, are not to my tastes for Pinots. I tend to like the brighter, cherry laden styles. Have left a glass for tonight to see how things integrate.
A lot going on, but maybe not what I would choose again on my own.
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My first Rosella's by LWC. The nose had a distinct earthiness almost funk quality to it. The palate had bright cherries and was very enjoyable. I would have rated this higher but for the nose.
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Taken to France for a "wine tasting." This unfiltered young wine has a rather intense nose with animal, barnyard, burnt wood or smoke--possibly an interaction between the wine and oak aging. It's powerful with some black current, pepper flavors, a round complex wine with pleasant acidity and finish. However, despite the high alcohol content (hot on the throat) the wine remains rather sweet, possibility reflecting the warmer microclime of SL Highlands. As an intense expression of Pinot Noir, the wine should be left in the bottle for a minimum of 5 years. Hopefully, all the stuffings will become better integrated.
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Drank after a 2004 Siduri Pisoni Vineyard Pinot and roast rack of lamb combo. Definitely tighter than the Siduri, was somewhat difficult to drink without a food pairing. Still, an enjoyable wine that we will most definitely have with the Lamb next time.
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Pretty translucent cranberry color. Initially this had an overly funky nose that really needed some time to blow off and open up. After getting some air the aromas were great with cherry cola, fresh soil, and some baking spices. This wine really excels in the texture department, just gorgeously smooth mouthfeel on the palate of sweet and spicy red fruit. I also found this well balanced with lifting acidity and good persistence. Given some air this is compelling stuff.
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Medium-to-light red/purple color in the glass. On the nose this was a bit subdued. Hints of red fruits and maybe some clove along with "Pinot-ness". After some time in the glass, this opened up - spicy raspberry and sweet strawberry. The alcohol is somewhat noticeable, and the acidity slightly hides the lush fruit I normally expect in a Loring. Finish was fairly long.
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This is a rich and satisfying wine. Dark ruby, with a nose of black cherry, smoke, spice, and some medicinal overtones. Lush and rich in the mouth, almost full-bodied, with weighty black fruits (currants), camphor and lots of cherry flavors, and a slightly hot but satisfying, stomach warming, finish. This needs perhaps another six months to settle and integrate, but clearly a fantastic wine that improves over the course of an evening, and then the next. Another Loring hit.
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This was my favorite at a tasting of Loring Pinots at Sunset Corners, though honestly they were all pretty lovely. Definitely CA style, but if you like that sort of thing you need to hunt these down!
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Big and beautiful might be one way to describe my first Loring. Allspice, cola and dark rasberry on the nose with the spicy fruity flavors continuing to the medium finish. There was no heat in this wine for me or my wife. A great start to discovering these wines.
This paired very well with turkey sausage.
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Emptied top of bottle into empty .375. and poured the rest. Notes not different than last time but wine tasted better overall. Will see how remaining 375 tastes in another day or so.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 sold to Tammy and Joann for them to give to PDM Friday, December 23, 2005 Comments from Wade’s Wines: ’Deep ruby purple color; deep, complex and elegant aromas of black cherry, spice and smoke; rich, juicy cherry and plum fruit, intense spice and smoked meat notes; silky texture, great depth of flavor; great structure and balance; long finish. WOW! Amazingly rich and silky, Brian’s hit another home run with this bottling from Gary Franscioni’s Rosella’s Vineyard.’ (BEB follow up: Accurate in several respects but for the plum notes. I also detected both vanilla and cola notes that he did not mention. I agree with the smokiness he mentions, but would also add in some thyme and sage elements. This is a chewy, big wine that needs food. Also, a little out of balance, I thought, with a tad bit of a hot finish. No food pairing - just consumed over conversation while chatting in the cellar with a neighbor (Smiley). 14.9% alc.
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Unscrewed the cap and poured. Typical "bright" pinot characteristics, with heavy cherry aromas and flavors, and allspice/cardomom/cloves. Much more to my liking after 90+ minutes of air as the cherry fruit had begun to mute from its initial predominance. Nice wine that should go for a few years.
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Just an "ok" Pinot... still trying to get to be a Roella's fan but can't. Some good dark fruit elements with a brambly palate... but out of place chocolate/toffee note on the (very short) finish. Must hold the rest of my Rosella's.. perhaps age will enlighten me.
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Tasted at Pinot Days and was a clear winner along with a few others: Tandem Auction, Freeman Akikos and Hirsch. Violet and lavender nose was unbelievable followed by blueberry/blackerry taste that came on strong. dont know about balance, but Loring's wines are all about the here and now. Tasted again on 11/11/05: got cloves and light spices on the nose, not as dramatic as before. everything was more muted and fruit was more rhubarb than black...needs to sit a little while before tannins settle into elegance. I hate to say it, but the wine feels manipulated and heavy handed by the winemaker.
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Insanity at Pisoni Memorial Day Weekend!!! (Santa Lucia Highlands): (Barrel Sample) Amazing and definitely my favorite vineyard after the weekend in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Showing its typical spice and some almost smoked bacon flavors every sip was a delight. With terrific concentration and incredible weighty mouth feel, this is an aspiring champion.
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7/5/2021 - JackCMac Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well with a good PN nose. Medium-light body with a nice finish. Wine has aged very well.
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10/14/2017 - mattiasjansson wrote: 91 Points
My first Loring with some age on it. Has developed nicely - may improve for a few more years.
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7/1/2017 - ParisWino Likes this wine: 92 Points
(cellar inventory maintenance, drank July 2017) Not a contemporaneous note, but this bottle surpassed my expectations when I opened it three months ago. This is a lovely, fragrant, balanced expression of Santa Lucia Highlands pinot noir, which has aged well. However, any remaining bottles should be drunk soon.
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6/17/2014 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding. Great fruity nose, great color, the right time to drink. I have had other Rosella' vineyards from other producers and this is a great vineyard.
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1/26/2012 - SanFranSoxFan04 Likes this wine: 90 Points
2002-2005 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noirs (Bi-weekly group blind tasting at Tom's House): Blindtasted 9 Rosella's Vineyard Pinots, My #3, The group's #7.
Caramel, chocolate and espresso nose with nice pinot funk.
Dark cherry and pear flavors. Very unique.
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11/28/2011 - theodore3 wrote: 89 Points
Still very good but right decision to drink now.
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4/7/2011 - jasonh wrote: 88 Points
Rosella's stink on it. Still smelling like primary dark fruits. Plums and black cherries come to mind. Not my favorite and with my general aversion to Rosella's and SLH I was thinking I would dislike the wine. Well it ended up being a nice surprise. Big and dark fruit focused with a good balance of acid. Not crazy about the creamy finish but the wine is not blousy. Still showing as a big dark pinot. Very little heat. Tasty. I enjoyed.
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3/19/2011 - JP Likes this wine: 89 Points
I generally prefer my Loring's young for their fun, pure fruit, but this 7-year old Rosella's was very nice and worked well with food. I didn't take specific notes, but I'll say that this tasted very much of Rosella's fruit and was nicely balanced at this point. It's holding on just fine, but but there isn't much secondary flavor development and I'll drink my other remaining bottle soon.
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1/10/2011 - brianofthevine wrote: 95 Points
Same as before only better, wow!
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4/25/2010 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
great acidity...berries rhubarb, nice
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4/3/2010 - timewithwine wrote:
While the profile has a distinct blueberry element, the dominate flavors are more bing cherry and cranberry. Cola and vanilla give a wave in the mid-palate just as the herbal duo of rosemary and thyme step out for the finish. While the fruit on the attack is interesting and attention grabbing, this just didn’t have the ability to collect and hold attention to the extent that the Ampelos Fiddlestix ‘05 did. Some sediment sneaks out in the last pour. 14.9% alc. With grilled salmon with an onion and mushroom Pinot Noir sauce (this wine used for making sauce. Recommended.
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4/4/2009 - Tejano wrote:
Medium to dark garnet color and on opening an immeadiate hit of pinot funk...most went away, but there was some that hung around and would not leave...and was partnered with some tart raspberry and cranberry on the nose. Nicely evolved mouth feel, good grip at mid palate that had a nice bit of hang time on the finish. Well framed and hanging on nicely.
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2/3/2009 - yogester wrote: 91 Points
juicy, ripe and sweet blue/black fruits - nose of blackberry and cherry compote. full, soft and lush palate with acid to balance. some secondary mushroomy/forest floor character is developing. oddly there was a touch of booze on the nose but none in the mouth. nice wine!
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2/1/2009 - Jaytee wrote:
Twisted and poured.
Pretty color - it's an opaque light garnet.
The nose reveals that the wood has integrated well - serving as a spice rather than a main course, it accents the cherry / cranberry fruit flavors, rolled up in some mushroom notes. Ironic, since Brian hates mushrooms, but anyway...
On the palate the wine has a silky texture, with big fruit flavors. It stood up to a beefy tri tip sandwich, but was also pleasant to drink on its own, once the food was gone.
I've always liked the Rosella's, Brosseau, and Rancho Ontiveros bottlings from Loring. This bottle was another winner.
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12/15/2008 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious! One of the best Loring's I have had!
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11/29/2008 - timewithwine wrote:
We tried this over two nights. It seems more closed and tightly wound than it was 2 years ago. The second night is appeared to shine its light a little brighter. Blueberries, bing cherries, cola and vanilla give way to a finish of smoke and herbs (sage and rosemary ... or was it thyme. The spousal unit and I couldn’t agree.) Somewhere in between, we detected a little bit of cranberry. The blueberry element surprised me, as I don’t recall picking that up on Rosella’s previously. With one bottle of this remaining, I’ll hold it for a couple of years just to see what happens with it. 14.9% alc. With turkey and cranberry sauce. Recommended.
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10/22/2008 - jswanson wrote: 93 Points
8 months ago this wine was still hot, but had cooled from earlier bottles. Now the heat is gone and it is showing nice cherry, strawberry, leather, and cedar with a long finish. A different kind of Pinot, somewhat Burgendian. Finally living up to its billing. My guess is this is not going to get any better from here. Very delicious now, unfortunately, I don't have any more..
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9/12/2008 - Colima74 wrote: 90 Points
Really quite nice. Restrained yet full bodied. Not heavy. Hard to explain, really. A real treat to drink, with grip, structure and baance. Not complex, but not too simple either. I'm glad always when I have a slightly older LWC.
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8/19/2008 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Clear ruby color. Funky nose with chocolate and big boysenberry flavors. Nice oak on the finish. Enjoyable bottle but slightly overdone.
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8/15/2008 - bilge316 wrote: 89 Points
My first Loring, it wasn't really what I expected (not in a bad way). A little funk on the nose, mossy, with hints of red fruit. Mushrooms and strawberries on the palate. Nicely balanced. Very enjoyable, I look forward to digging through more of my Lorings.
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8/9/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
The wine is ready. The smokier, stinkier notes that I kind if liked last time are gone, with just a fade of funk. Bit of citrus still there and some red fruits.
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7/15/2008 - BonnieM wrote:
Yummy! No funky nose (sadness, I like that identifier) but lovely bright red fruit with and overlay of spice. You could get some of that strawberry spice on the nose also. This bottle was drunk ever so easily. Love those Rosella's!!
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6/26/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 88 Points
Not decanted. Bright cherry aromas with a little funk (not nearly as much as 2 years ago -- I miss it) and some cola. Very pleasant, but lacking the 'value added' of more exciting, intoxicating pinots.
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6/24/2008 - RussW wrote:
This didn't do much for me. Somewhat mudled flavors, little if any complexity and overall an uninteresting wine. The most disappointing of Brian's '04s yet. I would drink'em if you've got'em.
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6/23/2008 - stufis wrote: 89 Points
Chilled 10 mins in freezer, which always benefits the 04 Lorings. Classic unctioyus Loring, nice balanced palate, classic Rosella's nose. A bit of the funk, a bit of the spice (served with a spicy red wine sauce, tho', so it might have been more). All in all, a very fine bottle "for its type"... which I like.
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3/16/2008 - Jack wrote: 90 Points
Pretty much the same as last note except maybe a little spicier than I remember.
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2/27/2008 - Tejano wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color with a tad of funk on opening that stayed around and never completely left, but was overshadowed by red berries and tart dark cherry on the nose. Very nice mouth feel and a rounded fruit grip that was very tasty and had a subtle and yielding framework around it...with a nice light and bright twang on a medium finish. Very nice...let your Lorings age.
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2/24/2008 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 89 Points
These are aging well. The ugly funk in a lot of young Lorings is gone. The parts have integrated very well. Nice cherry nose with a full and smooth mouth feel. Get's better with a bit of air. Color is medium light. Palate is mostly cherry with other red fruits behind it. No noticeable wood. At the high end of excellent bordering on outstanding.
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2/16/2008 - jswanson wrote: 91 Points
Excellent fruit and character. Finishes hot. Not as hot as 6 mos ago. As the bottle opened the heat melowed. Give it another year and it should be terrific.
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2/7/2008 - BonnieM wrote:
Lovely funky Pinot nose, baking spice and very ripe strawberries. Killed the bottle almost before we knew it! Yummy!
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2/6/2008 - rjoyer wrote: 86 Points
Followed over two nights. On night one, there was a good dose of funk on the nose - a kind of damp earth and sticks element that I found to be the most enjoyable part of the wine. That funk never fully went away, though it did mostly recede on night two to reveal some sweet, black cherry cola. The palate presence and flavors stayed fairly consistent between the two nights. Medium in weight, with dark strawberry and black cherry profiles. Both fruit components are candied. There is some gripping heat that fights with sweet fruit as it goes down the throat.
I am having trouble with this one. I can't say I found a lot of Rosella's character here, and in general, have not found the Loring wines I have had to be expressive of their origin. That said, they are consistent in their demeanor, and have earned several accolades from many with better palates than I. Perhaps I am just looking at these wines in the wrong light, but at the end of the day, they don't ring for me.
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1/14/2008 - Old_Winyards wrote: 84 Points
Big jammy flavors of bing cherries, cherry cola, and raspberries. The finish veers off into a somewhat unpleasant bitterness (overextraction?).
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12/25/2007 - schway wrote: 90 Points
Wow. Is this pinot noir or is it jam? Medium rudy, slightly faded with a brownish tinge. Huge, pungent nose of FUNKY earth, barnyard and berry patch, with floral, mineral and chocolate notes hovering in the background. Right out of the bottle a fair amount of acid and tannin, but both of these settle down quickly. Very ripe, juicy and concentrated on the palate, with a wide range of red and black candied fruit flavors: plum, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, boysenberry, maybe even some red currant, with an undertone of cola and vanilla. (Funky aromas just won't quit.) The long finish is powerful and sweet, with faint suggestions of chocolate and cinnamon lingering at the end. Impressive aromatics, and there seems to be a lot going on here. But for my tastes, it's just too jammy and in your face. Moderate complexity, but no subtlety. Had with christmas dinner of roasted duck in a plum jam glaze. Flavors lined up, but this wine still threatened to overwhelm the food. The funkiness of the nose references burgundy, but everything else just screams California at the top of its lungs.
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12/23/2007 - fisk15 wrote: 87 Points
Acidity a bit too pronounced, might need to be open awhile to smooth it out - will retaste tonight.
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12/17/2007 - brianofthevine wrote: 93 Points
Great sweet cherry and plum notes with cinnamon spice, long finish, great balance, awesome wine!
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12/17/2007 - Jack wrote: 91 Points
Sweet candied fruit (Jolly Rancher) and prickly acid when 1st opened quickly turns into a smooth very easy to like wine.
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11/22/2007 - Eric wrote:
Mmm, brambly, funky, yummy Pinot drinking really well with Thanksgiving. A bit better on its own than with the food. Cola and birch beer move to some stem and twig. Very full, concentrated palate this is more black than red, savory, very yummy!
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11/10/2007 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Delicious, and better still after an hour in the decanter.
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11/7/2007 - tarheel17 wrote: 90 Points
Nose of barn, redness, cheerios (??)
Midpalate had hints of dirt with the cherry, and more tannins than Lorings previously tasted. Still a pleasure to drink.
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11/7/2007 - Eric wrote: 93 Points
Seattle Vayniac Pinot Noir tasting (Seattle, WA): My favorite Loring of the night (and the wine that actually precipitated the tasting) and one of my top 3 of the night.
Wow, brambly, funky and awesome on the nose. The palate is meaty, chunky, a sturdy wine, pretty ripe. Sort of a Pinot for Chateaneauf-du-Pape lovers.
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11/3/2007 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
My first Loring, except for a few sips at a tasting a year ago. We all really liked this wine, which went very well with grilled ahi. Slightly funky nose of black cherry with a whiff of smoke and leather Good balance and length on the finish. Can definitely taste the acidity, so this baby may be even better with somne aging. Defintely a repurchase, especially if I find it in the $3.99 bin again. Life is good....
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9/6/2007 - olm2000 wrote: 93 Points
nose of red fruits and leather...seamless mouthfeel and nice balance...good length...possibly the best Loring i've had to date
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8/30/2007 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely delicious red cherry and bacon aromas with rich red and black cherry flavors with notes of forest floor and smoke. Great balance and silky texture with a lingering finish.
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8/11/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 90 Points
Craig Vanderah's Annual BBQ (Pax, Kosta Brown, Beaucastel, Donjon, Turley, Loring, Neal): Pale ruby red color. The nose is a very intriguing and enjoyable blend of sour cherry fruit, mushroom, earth and expresso. Funky in a good way. The taste yields dark fruit, earth, and mineral in a mid-weight effort. The attack is a bit mild, but flavors build through the finish. Almost no tannin to speak of and really well balanced. I really enjoyed this.
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7/4/2007 - Greg Pierce wrote:
Dark ruby unto purple. Cola, mocha, spice, dark fruits, very slight pinot funk. Full, dark cherry, dark fruit, cola and some strawberry on the palate. Long finish. Seems to have some acidity that might bode well for ageing.
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6/15/2007 - MJTed wrote: 88 Points
Pleasant but nothing memorable. Hasn't developed much since I first tasted on release.
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6/10/2007 - irish87 wrote: 88 Points
A little disjointed. It hits you with Rosella's fruit up front, but doesn't have a lot of acidity or body to carry it thru. It suffered a little bit in comparison to the Siduri bottling which was more lush and balanced.
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6/8/2007 - ginfizz wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with other notes, funk on the nose, surprisingly burgundian, oak, forest floor, medium weight red current flavors with touch of grapefruit, good finish. Not the fruit bomb I expected, but a nice surprise. Drink or hold.
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5/29/2007 - clee wrote: 75 Points
Hot, disjointed and harsh. I'll let the rest of the bottle sit until tomorrow. So far, this is worst pinot that I have had this year.
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5/22/2007 - blaine wrote: 90 Points
Initial reaction was "oh my God!". Completely ready to go right after uncorking...uh...unscrewing. Light-to-medium color. Big nose right out of the gate. Lush, creamy fruit nose, hint of vanilla, floral notes, bit of earth. I described it as a 'perfect' nose. Smooth and balanced on the palate, medium-bodied, with cherries and vanilla. Just a hint of acidity. Not a long finish, but enough. Then...it kind of fell apart at the very end of the bottle...flattened out and was simply fruity at the end.
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5/3/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 89 Points
Dry cherry. Some heat. (Much less than Garys' and Rancho Ontiveros.) Nice fruit.
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5/2/2007 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 87 Points
2004 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir Horizontal (Drew's House): Bottle decanted for 1-1.5 hr. This wine exhibited a dark ruby color with aromas of dark cherry and black raspberries with hints of lead and earth. On the palate, flavors of cherries and pomegranate lead the way and finishing a little bit out of wack. Definitely enjoyed the 2005 from the previous night much better. HS87
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5/2/2007 - GreenDrazi wrote: 86 Points
A Baker’s Dozen of Rosella’s - A Horizontal of ’04 Rosella’s Pinot Noir (Drew's in Durham, NC): Bottle decanted 45 minutes. Reticent and somewhat reduced nose with cherry, cranberry and light earth notes. Dark cherry and a sack full of deep earth flavors did not seem well integrated. Has good weight but is oddly structured and has a short to medium finish.
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5/2/2007 - DukeDrew wrote: 86 Points
Normally a Loring fan, this one just didn't do it for me. Incredibly huge pinot funk on the nose that never seemed to go away, even with a couple of hours. Red fruits were ok, but the funk just overpowered me.
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5/2/2007 - Hillbilly wrote:
Complete 2004 Rosella's Pinot Horizontal (Durham, NC): Unbearable gut shot of reductive aromas. Intense and not what I want to smell. Rubber and cabbage. This did clear some with air to the point I could drink it, but still funk laden. Heavy and dense on the palate. NR
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4/19/2007 - budman wrote: 90 Points
Tart, but in a good way. Lots of strawberry notes.
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3/9/2007 - budman wrote: 91 Points
Two hours of decanting time gave this wine the opportunity to shine!!!
Tartness in a good way. Lots of fruit. We look forward to the next bottle!
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3/1/2007 - Jack wrote: 90 Points
Undrinkable. I'll try again tomorrow but for now - yuch.60 pts today. Day 2 - The difference is amazing. Nice rich, funky and earthy fruit. A little heavy. 90pts. today. This is the third time I've had this happen with a Loring. The last time (with a Carg.) I had three hours before dinner for the funk to blow off. This time I didn't so I opened a 2002 Delinger that was great.
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2/25/2007 - irish87 wrote: 90 Points
Typical Rosella's fruit character, intense, dark color, bright red cherry, a touch of baking spice, balanced.
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2/17/2007 - madeiradog wrote: 90 Points
Tremendous fruit but nose and finish was a little more vegetal than the AP Vin. Color was definitely deeper than the AP Vin. No noticeable oak, this is all about the fruit. I think this will continue to develop over the next year or two.
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1/30/2007 - zheem wrote:
From much of what I've heard about Loring I was prepared to not like this. Although nothing like Burgundy or Oregon Pinots, or just about aany other Pinots, this definitly had the characteristic lightness of body, mix of funk and fruit, and delicious finish of Pinot. The finish had a nice bitter, minerally finish that was delightful. There was also a touch of tea throughout the taste. It was much better on the second night than the first. I will hold the other bottles for a year or so.
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12/28/2006 - JeffcB wrote:
Drank slowly over two days. Definitely had the pinot funk nose on initial opening. The fruit is soft strawberry and touches of blackberry , and there is a definite spice and pepper throughout, especially on day two which really shapes the long finish.
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12/28/2006 - cadamson wrote: 89 Points
A very funky nose of dirt and petrol, yet tastes of red cherry, chocolate, earth and a bit of spice made this enjoyable.
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12/26/2006 - grossie wrote: 91 Points
Light- medium color. Slight funk on the nose, almost motor oil but in a good way, earthy stink, definitely bright red cherries. Very pleasing in the mouth, this one is slightly thicker than pinot shoud be, but is very round and pleasing. There's a hint of bitterness at the end. My impression is of a slightly large pinot but it's not over-the-top, it's quite rich, and very pleasing.
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12/19/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
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11/23/2006 - Frank Murray III wrote:
On pop, funky nose with a faint hint of citrus. As the wine aerates, the nose shows more smokiness, pepper and some remaining funk. The flavors are all about sour cherry, berry, citrus acidity and some minerality on the finish, which tightens a bit. Would suggest another year or so on this wine. As for any heat from the 2004 vintage, on this bottle, I did not find any. This wine showed pretty well.
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11/23/2006 - Hoya Vinophile wrote: 88 Points
I'm still evaluating whether the Loring wines are my style. The nose had a distinctive earthiness and funk. On the palate, it had brighter cherry flavors with good acidity.
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11/22/2006 - JeffcB wrote: 91 Points
11/22/2006 Thanksgiving eve bottle, along with a 2000 Testerossa Sleepy Hollow. This wasn't decanted and really through off a variety of flavors. Had more of an earthy funk on initial opening than I expected when compared with earlier 04 Gary's or Clos Pepe Lorings, and tons of soft tannins. After an hour there was lots of blackberrish flavor with some currant like edge, with still lots of tannins.
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11/16/2006 - french16 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 30mn.
Strong and very pleasant nose with gamy/earthy smell and cassis fruit.
In the mouth it is a very ripe fruit with ripe tannins in the mid palate and a little bitterness in the finish. Acidity is there but could be a little bit stronger. Finish is somewhat short.
Overall a good, big and ripe pinot with earthy and dark fruit taste.
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11/14/2006 - E wrote: 85 Points
last bottle, just did not impress. Earthy bitterness that emerged after a couple of hours, muted nose.
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11/12/2006 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
After reading the assorted notes on the board, I approached this, my first Loring, with some trepidation. It is however a lovely bottle of wine. Decanted for approximately one hour before tasting. Gorgeous cherry red colour, loads of sweet cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruit with a load of distinctive Pinot barnyard funk to go along with it. Really complex and interesting. Palate is more of the same, sweet tannins and cherry acidity keep it balanced and not at all cloying. Great sweet finish, but still all Pinot. Not sure that this wine is for the long haul, but it is a great drop right now.
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10/6/2006 - JonnyB wrote: 90 Points
initial funk on the nose quickly blows off with some air. Medium garnet in color beautiful spicy nose and although a bit hot contains tons of fresh pinot flavor. Will save the other half for tomorrow.
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9/30/2006 - KevinP wrote: 88 Points
Good, not great. I'm giving the remainder of mine at least a year to integrate.
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9/24/2006 - MWes wrote: 88 Points
I was a little disappointed in this bottle initially. On the first day, I would say it was a little too heavy on the cola flavors and a little hot. If I hadn't saved any for the second day, it would have been an 86. On the second day, it was defintely better. The flavors were much more integrated and the heat was gone. I wouldn't touch it again for another couple of years.
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9/19/2006 - shaneajohnson wrote: 80 Points
Medium-dark ruby color, PN funk and earth dominating the nose, but surprising lack of fruit anywhere to be found, on nose or palate. Thought it might need some air, but I had the second half the next night, and it was actually worse. Maybe it's just my palate, but I certainly wouldn't want this one again.
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9/18/2006 - DFC wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Medium-bodied wine that is medium ruby/raspberry in color. On the nose, mint, spice, and barnyard funk. On the palate, black cherries and cola with a slightly tart 30-second finish. Lots of fruit here, and not too over-the-top. Good balance, structure, and weight...well done Brian!
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9/15/2006 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 71 Points
Generally I find the LWC style immensely satisfying as long as you know what you're getting into, perfect for occasions when you're in the mood for a jaunty, puppy-dog, face-licking wine. I've never understood the complaint that they taste more like syrah than pinot -- every one I've had up until this one has tasted like pinot, just very dense, plump pinot. But this wine shows no characteristics of pinot noir at all and has the fruit intensity and unpleasant salinity of an overdone shiraz. The finishing warmth is so severe that it has the after-effect of a whiskey shot.
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9/14/2006 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
Tried the vigorous shaking routine and after the foam and fizz cleared, I let it sit open for about an hour. Garnet to ruby in color. The nose was terrifically expressive from the get go with huge earth, cherry (accented with cola) and exotic spice. The palate was also great with great fruit weight and balanced tannins/acid. Just great. If this could develop some more complexity with age, it would be 3-4 points stronger.
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9/2/2006 - beachnic wrote: 92 Points
My favorite 2004 Loring (besides the Gary's). Worth buying again and I did.
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8/14/2006 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Opened and poured without decanting. Beautiful ruby color and wonderful Pinot aromas of earth, red fruit (cherries) and cola. Excellent mouthfeel with a palate of black cherry, slight cola and cloves. Dusty tannins on a medium long finish with nice balance.
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7/6/2006 - bsherwin wrote:
Not as big as the '03, but it still is about the blacker side of cherry than the red. As with other LWC's, I found it impossible not to enjoy but did not fall in love with it. Raspberries, plums, black cherries, wet earth and spices fly out of the glass. Very full in the mouth with sweet dark fruit and cola with a strange mocha thing going on in the middle. Decently long finish. There's a lot going on there but it kind of jumps around and lacks the focus it may develop over time. Decanted well before serving.
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7/4/2006 - DanB wrote:
Poured immediately after opening in the middle of a 12 bottle binge. Not the best for this wine to strut its stuff. Many commented on the rustic/funky nature of the wine. I thought it got better after a few minutes in the glass. Still somewhat disjointed. I think this will get better with time and is in an awkward stage. Next time we will treat it with more respect.
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6/21/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
At home from bottle. Opened up nicely after 1/2 hour. Good red berry flavors.After opening screw cap, and using PEK System, the cap leaked slightly when resealed??
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6/17/2006 - EPounds wrote:
2004 Rosella's Pinot Noir Comparison (Bakersfield): "Pinot funk" on the nose with ripe fruit and some oak. Earthy on the palate with lazer-like fruit and a long finish.
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6/6/2006 - winestem wrote: 87 Points
A little muted and light for my taste. Earthy, and not as fruit forward as some of Loring's offerings.
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6/4/2006 - Deryl wrote:
Good, but not my favorite Loring this vintage.
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6/3/2006 - Eric wrote:
Ordered off the list at Mesa Grill in NYC. This started out a bit funky and reductive before improving a bit. Solid wine but not a terrific showing overall.
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5/30/2006 - Tubbs wrote: 92 Points
It's a pleasure just to look at this brilliant, clear deep red pinot. I absolutely love the toast, strawberry, leather and honey-mustard? (I guess that would be spice), on the nose of this. The palate is thick and silky, with gobs of sweet fruit held up by ample acidity. Sure, theres a bit of alcohol here, but this is wine, and there's plenty of fruit to balance things out. The finish is long, sweet and pleasant. A great expression of California pinot.
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5/30/2006 - mrabinowitz wrote:
Okay, nothing outstanding. Harsher than other Lorings that I have had.
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5/26/2006 - jwolfsthal wrote:
Opened and poured. Very Funky nose, with mushrooms, yeast, barn smells. Took 30 minutes to mellow out, but still barny. The taste was heavy oak and vanilla, with some heat and tannins coming later. After about 30 minutes, the oak started to integrate, leaving a lot of heavy blue fruits, nut and cola flavors. I am starting to think Brian's wines, which are very interesting, are not to my tastes for Pinots. I tend to like the brighter, cherry laden styles. Have left a glass for tonight to see how things integrate.
A lot going on, but maybe not what I would choose again on my own.
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5/15/2006 - Hoya Vinophile wrote: 89 Points
My first Rosella's by LWC. The nose had a distinct earthiness almost funk quality to it. The palate had bright cherries and was very enjoyable. I would have rated this higher but for the nose.
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5/6/2006 - DanSm wrote:
Taken to France for a "wine tasting." This unfiltered young wine has a rather intense nose with animal, barnyard, burnt wood or smoke--possibly an interaction between the wine and oak aging. It's powerful with some black current, pepper flavors, a round complex wine with pleasant acidity and finish. However, despite the high alcohol content (hot on the throat) the wine remains rather sweet, possibility reflecting the warmer microclime of SL Highlands. As an intense expression of Pinot Noir, the wine should be left in the bottle for a minimum of 5 years. Hopefully, all the stuffings will become better integrated.
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4/16/2006 - jameswm13 wrote: 90 Points
Drank after a 2004 Siduri Pisoni Vineyard Pinot and roast rack of lamb combo. Definitely tighter than the Siduri, was somewhat difficult to drink without a food pairing. Still, an enjoyable wine that we will most definitely have with the Lamb next time.
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4/1/2006 - Badfish wrote:
Pretty translucent cranberry color. Initially this had an overly funky nose that really needed some time to blow off and open up. After getting some air the aromas were great with cherry cola, fresh soil, and some baking spices. This wine really excels in the texture department, just gorgeously smooth mouthfeel on the palate of sweet and spicy red fruit. I also found this well balanced with lifting acidity and good persistence. Given some air this is compelling stuff.
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3/27/2006 - MarkC wrote: 89 Points
Medium-to-light red/purple color in the glass. On the nose this was a bit subdued. Hints of red fruits and maybe some clove along with "Pinot-ness". After some time in the glass, this opened up - spicy raspberry and sweet strawberry. The alcohol is somewhat noticeable, and the acidity slightly hides the lush fruit I normally expect in a Loring. Finish was fairly long.
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3/19/2006 - charbo wrote: 90 Points
another beauty by loring. i only wish i decanted. the 2nd glass was so "pure pinot" silky creamy feel.
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3/19/2006 - jim dixon wrote: 94 Points
Man, I wish this was cheaper. It is an incredibly pleasurable wine. Great balance and a satisfying finish. No heat, just pure hedonic delight.
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3/2/2006 - mdstenner wrote: 93 Points
This is a rich and satisfying wine. Dark ruby, with a nose of black cherry, smoke, spice, and some medicinal overtones. Lush and rich in the mouth, almost full-bodied, with weighty black fruits (currants), camphor and lots of cherry flavors, and a slightly hot but satisfying, stomach warming, finish. This needs perhaps another six months to settle and integrate, but clearly a fantastic wine that improves over the course of an evening, and then the next. Another Loring hit.
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2/25/2006 - jim dixon wrote: 92 Points
This was my favorite at a tasting of Loring Pinots at Sunset Corners, though honestly they were all pretty lovely. Definitely CA style, but if you like that sort of thing you need to hunt these down!
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2/10/2006 - madeiradog wrote: 91 Points
Big and beautiful might be one way to describe my first Loring. Allspice, cola and dark rasberry on the nose with the spicy fruity flavors continuing to the medium finish. There was no heat in this wine for me or my wife. A great start to discovering these wines.
This paired very well with turkey sausage.
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1/28/2006 - davidandrose wrote: 89 Points
Emptied top of bottle into empty .375. and poured the rest. Notes not different than last time but wine tasted better overall. Will see how remaining 375 tastes in another day or so.
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1/13/2006 - Wusman wrote:
Very nice. Fun.
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12/24/2005 - MJTed wrote: 89 Points
I love Lorings but this is one of my least favorite from any vintage. Nice texture, and a bit o ripe fruit but not much going on.
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12/20/2005 - timewithwine wrote:
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 sold to Tammy and Joann for them to give to PDM
Friday, December 23, 2005 Comments from Wade’s Wines: ’Deep ruby purple color; deep, complex and elegant aromas of black cherry, spice and smoke; rich, juicy cherry and plum fruit, intense spice and smoked meat notes; silky texture, great depth of flavor; great structure and balance; long finish. WOW! Amazingly rich and silky, Brian’s hit another home run with this bottling from Gary Franscioni’s Rosella’s Vineyard.’ (BEB follow up: Accurate in several respects but for the plum notes. I also detected both vanilla and cola notes that he did not mention. I agree with the smokiness he mentions, but would also add in some thyme and sage elements. This is a chewy, big wine that needs food. Also, a little out of balance, I thought, with a tad bit of a hot finish. No food pairing - just consumed over conversation while chatting in the cellar with a neighbor (Smiley). 14.9% alc.
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12/10/2005 - Geoffrey Carter wrote: 93 Points
WOW!
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11/23/2005 - davidandrose wrote: 89 Points
Unscrewed the cap and poured. Typical "bright" pinot characteristics, with heavy cherry aromas and flavors, and allspice/cardomom/cloves. Much more to my liking after 90+ minutes of air as the cherry fruit had begun to mute from its initial predominance. Nice wine that should go for a few years.
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11/20/2005 - Mattswines wrote: 86 Points
Just an "ok" Pinot... still trying to get to be a Roella's fan but can't. Some good dark fruit elements with a brambly palate... but out of place chocolate/toffee note on the (very short) finish. Must hold the rest of my Rosella's.. perhaps age will enlighten me.
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7/9/2005 - rodge wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at Pinot Days and was a clear winner along with a few others: Tandem Auction, Freeman Akikos and Hirsch. Violet and lavender nose was unbelievable followed by blueberry/blackerry taste that came on strong. dont know about balance, but Loring's wines are all about the here and now. Tasted again on 11/11/05: got cloves and light spices on the nose, not as dramatic as before. everything was more muted and fruit was more rhubarb than black...needs to sit a little while before tannins settle into elegance. I hate to say it, but the wine feels manipulated and heavy handed by the winemaker.
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5/31/2005 - jamiekutch wrote:
Insanity at Pisoni Memorial Day Weekend!!! (Santa Lucia Highlands): (Barrel Sample) Amazing and definitely my favorite vineyard after the weekend in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Showing its typical spice and some almost smoked bacon flavors every sip was a delight. With terrific concentration and incredible weighty mouth feel, this is an aspiring champion.
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5/7/2005 - kstoddard wrote: 92 Points
Barrel sample
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