2005 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir - Very big and young still. On initial pour a fairly big hit of alcohol, eucalyptus, black pepper and black cherry. Quite closed and tart on the palate - all cranberry and acidic structure. After some time open, the wine starts to open up a little bit - dark earth and juniper start to show up on the nose. Dark, dark black cherry on the palate. Still a baby but with the structure to be a very good wine - I’m going to wait at least another couple of years before opening my next one.
2004 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard - Unilke other notes I have seen, I didn’t perceive any brett at all in this wine. This wine really evolved over the 3 hours we consumed it, and was it its best toward the end, so more bottle time will do it good. First pour - cool, red, earthy forest floor and some young tart black cherry fruit on the nose, beautifully textured but still young and somewhat awkward on the palate. After a vigorous decant, much more floral, oregano and asian spice notes start to appear with a lot more floral perfume and black fruit on the palate. After 2 hours, perfume really starts to kick in, white flowers, honeysuckle and sweet candied cranberry on the nose. Veering toward red fruit on the palate with a great silky texture and a long finish. A very enjoyable wine now, and some great promise of wonderful things to come in a few years.
2008 Alban Vineyards Viognier - Lemon peel and honey on a nice, but fairly one dimensional nose. Nice waxy lemon on the palate, but not enough acidity to really give it the oomph it needs.
2004 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate - Lovely warm nose of cranberry, cherry, limestone and white pepper. Very nicely textured and structured with tangy sweet acidity on the mid palate and finish with great minerals, red fruit, baking spices and warm sunbaked earth throughout. A pleasure to sip on its own but also great with food.
2003 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir - Since we had such good luck with this wine last Thanksgiving, we decided to do it again. This bottle was excellent as well. Upon first opening, tons of peppery spice, forest floor and dark cherry on the nose. As it opened up, more dark sun baked earth and mushrooms emerged. Great supple texture, baking spice and dark cherry on the attack finishing with more beautiful dark cherry fruit on a long finish. In a great place, unlikely to improve and I will drink my remaining bottles in the next year.
2006 Kiana Cabernet Sauvignon To-Kalon Vineyard - Dusty earth, high toned black fruit, menthol, limestone and white pepper on the nose. Really nicely balanced on the palate with a combination of ripe reddish black fruits , elegant supple texture and nice dusty tannins on the finish. Really elegantly made - kudos to Randy, Tammy and Oscar for turning a small friend funded project into a world class bottle of wine!
2006 Inman Family Pinot Noir -Baking spices, cola, black cherry and spruce forest floor on the nose. Nice bright spiciness and rich black cherry fruit on the attack with good structure, acidity and a nice longish finish. Very nice indeed.