Cabfrancophile and I enjoyed the exact same bottle. His note is exactly what I thought about the wine expressed even better than I could have done. Great wine and I believe my lone bottle of this vintage.
Showing well, open, typical mushroom, sage, raspberry and baking spice aromas, though heavier on the mushroom in this bottle. Gliding texture on the palate, not a super-ripe wine (modest 13.5% ABV), but very round and smooth. Flavor profile is red fruit, spice and mushroom. Nicely transitions to the finish, heavy again on the mushroom inner aromas. Very fine tannins.
I was expecting this to feel young/tight, but surprisingly it feels open for business, with the prominent sage+basil notes well integrated.
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Strawberry, fennel, mint, sage. A panoply of savory and herbal flavors, yet with a beam of pure red fruit. Medium bodied, rounded mid-palate, the finish is incredibly long with plenty of energy and fine tannins.
I expect this to last, but it is superb in its current state.
Oddly, the cork was stained about halfway up, but since this was a direct purchase heat as the cause is unlikely. If this bottle had a bad cork, then I'm glad I picked it off young!
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Bien Nacido Vineyard Tour (Bien Nacido Vineyards): Favorite of the tasting. The Solomon Hills PN shows an extra layer of thyme and basil, perhaps due to the cool, sandy terroir and whole cluster. But, again, it's made the same way as the BN Pinot, so it's the terroir showing differently. Highly structured--winemaker Anthony Avila explained the grapes are small and tough, with small clusters as well. Red fruit, great balanced acidity, it's that whole cluster herb character really works for me.
I loved this for near term consumption, but I also think it has awesome potential to develop and that the WC character will weave into the wine with 3-5 years of age.
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4/13/2024 - travelme Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cabfrancophile and I enjoyed the exact same bottle. His note is exactly what I thought about the wine expressed even better than I could have done. Great wine and I believe my lone bottle of this vintage.
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12/31/2022 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Showing well, open, typical mushroom, sage, raspberry and baking spice aromas, though heavier on the mushroom in this bottle. Gliding texture on the palate, not a super-ripe wine (modest 13.5% ABV), but very round and smooth. Flavor profile is red fruit, spice and mushroom. Nicely transitions to the finish, heavy again on the mushroom inner aromas. Very fine tannins.
I was expecting this to feel young/tight, but surprisingly it feels open for business, with the prominent sage+basil notes well integrated.
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12/10/2022 - STM82 Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of my favorite Pinots ever year
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4/1/2022 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 94 Points
Strawberry, fennel, mint, sage. A panoply of savory and herbal flavors, yet with a beam of pure red fruit. Medium bodied, rounded mid-palate, the finish is incredibly long with plenty of energy and fine tannins.
I expect this to last, but it is superb in its current state.
Oddly, the cork was stained about halfway up, but since this was a direct purchase heat as the cause is unlikely. If this bottle had a bad cork, then I'm glad I picked it off young!
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10/22/2021 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine:
Bien Nacido Vineyard Tour (Bien Nacido Vineyards): Favorite of the tasting. The Solomon Hills PN shows an extra layer of thyme and basil, perhaps due to the cool, sandy terroir and whole cluster. But, again, it's made the same way as the BN Pinot, so it's the terroir showing differently. Highly structured--winemaker Anthony Avila explained the grapes are small and tough, with small clusters as well. Red fruit, great balanced acidity, it's that whole cluster herb character really works for me.
I loved this for near term consumption, but I also think it has awesome potential to develop and that the WC character will weave into the wine with 3-5 years of age.
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