2005 Ampelos Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 86 points

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  5/27/2023 - timewithwine Likes this wine:

  The color is a deep cherry-cola-ruby in the glass. The cherry-cola theme carries through to the nose where it is joined by Asian 5 spice, black cherry, and forest floor. As the wine opens, some lavender and mocha notes appear on the finish. Consumed side by side with an Arcadian Pinot from the same vineyard and vintage. The Ampelos surpassed the Arcadian. The bouquet and palate were fresh and alive. The mouthfeel is round and supple. This was a pure delight to drink. 14.3% alc. With grilled ancho-cocoa dusted boneless pork chops. 05.27.23. Recommended.

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  11/6/2015 - timewithwine wrote:

  What an incredibly complete wine. Black cherry, cola, Asian 5 spice and cloves with a finish of chocolate. The mouthfeel is full, rich and round. Nothing is out of place here. Are those violets growing on the finish as the wine warms? My favorite wine of the night and fortunately, not so for others; more for me! 14.3% alc. With mustard crusted french pork roast and the Sheets and Smiley’s on the last weekend they live on Fallon. Recommended leaning to Highly Recommended.

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  7/26/2014 - timewithwine wrote:

  The steep upward trajectory of this wine continues unabated. “Pure notes of cherry, cola and Asian 5 spice. The weight of the wine has pumped up significantly” are the comments from six months ago. The amplification of those comments continue arithmetically. Smooth, rich, full bodied, but not weighty. “The finish conveys an element of vanilla,” well, vanilla, earth, lavender and violets. A complex wine, but one of nuance, not stodgy gravitas. 14.3% alc. With brined, grilled bone-in pork chops with a special, homemade BBQ boasted with a side of corn-basil relish. Recommended leaning to Highly Recommended.

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  10/13/2013 - timewithwine wrote:

  Another 1.5 years have passed since last trying this wine when I decidedly did not like it calling it “bitter” “dull” and “uninspiring”. At that time, I suspected it was in a dumb stage. Patience has rewarded. More time will likely continue to improve this wine markedly. Pure notes of cherry, cola and Asian 5 spice. The weight of the wine has pumped up significantly. The finish conveys an element of vanilla. The over sense is greater complexity and with more nuance. In short, this is coming along nicely. 14.3% alc. With pork belly, gravy and grits; a superb pairing. Recommended.

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  2/23/2012 - timewithwine wrote:

  Two years ago, I liked this wine. Now, I’m not so sure. My first and last impression is that it is simply in a dumb stage. Let’s hope so. The attack is sour - almost bitter - cherry. Cola and asian 5 spice eventually - and thankfully - fills out the palate. The weight of the wine is light for a Central Coast Pinot. This is a wine where I really expected more - more complexity; more nuance and more length on the finish. The herbal-earthiness on the finish is dull and uninspiring. I’ll hold the last few bottle of this in hopes that it lives up to expectations. 14.3% alc. With baked salmon with a mustard-panko crust and mustard sauce. 02.23.12. Withholding Recommendation at this time.

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