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2004 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (1/17/2012)
This is really in its sweet spot–literally and figuratively. Sweet red fruits follow the cork out of the bottle. The overdone body and fruit of some of the '04s is not found here. Instead you get a medium weight, elegant wash of cherries, strawberry and orange. An excellent example of a Dehlinger PN starting its dance. (93 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
I really enjoyed a bottle of the 2004 a couple of weeks ago. Your note is spot on.
I think the 2004 is terrific, but I do think it is a bit atypical for Dehlinger in terms of how ripe and expansive the fruit is, reflecting the 2004 vintage. Tom Dehlinger told me back in 2009 that he thought so as well, and I got the sense it was a bit outside his stylistic comfort zone from his comments, but I love the wine for what it is anyways, and I’ve never found it over the line at all in terms of being hot, stewed, pruney or anything like that.
As they’ve had a chance to settle I’m finding that the '04 Pinots, in general, are getting better and better. I wish I had more.