-
2007 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/24/2009)
14.2% alcohol. I really don’t know why I drank this so young. Popped and poured, too. Lovely red cherry color, very light. With vigorous swirling, a lovely black cherry, spice, and mineral-laden bouquet. In the mouth, racy and linear, with a laser-like burst of red and black cherry fruit, tightly wound complexity, and a substantial burst of acidity. The whole cluster influence shows lightly on the finish. Really nice but young stuff here. A step up from 2006. A- -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (7/23/2009)
14.9% alcohol. This is a terrific example of the best of Brian Loring. Big, fruit-forward bouquet. A slight hint of reduction lurking behind the blackberry and black cherry fruit, along with earth, spice, and minerals. In the mouth, plush yet refined and somewhat racy. Excellent body and mouth feel. Bright acidity. A strong showing at this point for this wine, reinforced by the long finish. A- -
2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Rio Vista - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (7/22/2009)
14.5% alcohol. Interesting nose, with a little funk and black fruit and some earth. In the mouth, a surprisingly warm feel that was a bit between fat and thin. The fruit was tasty enough, but there was something lacking here. A hole on the palate. I don’t know if it’s in a dumb phase, but I feel like this wine didn’t have the characteristic expression I expect from an Arcadian. B -
2003 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County (7/22/2009)
14.0% alcohol. Cherry color. Fragrant but strikingly ripe bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, a touch of spice, and a little heat. This is a product of the vintage, for sure. In the mouth, round and quite generous, with slightly muddled and dark fruit. Fairly light acidity. Medium finish. Everything comes up just a tad short. B/B+ -
2006 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/22/2009)
Corked. Badly corked. Four Gary Farrell wines in the last year. NR (flawed) -
2006 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/22/2009)
14.2% alcohol. Black cherry color. Fragrant bouquet of blackberry, black cherry, light spice, and healthy oak. Perhaps the oak isn’t quite as integrated as it could be at this point. In the mouth, an interesting combination of linear and rounded, with a bit of rich fatness to the fruit and spice, but a focused, acidic backbone. Long finish. Youthful but tasty. B+/A- -
2006 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir San Mateo County - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County (7/22/2009)
13.8% alcohol. Six months has done this wine well, and it will continue to improve. Popped and poured, and it just burst forth with delicious red fruit on the nose, with a strong earth and spice component. Excellent mouth feel, delicious, juicy fruit, and serious complexity. Strong acidity. Long finish. Delightful. A-
Posted from CellarTracker