the offline to end all offlines. the granddaddy of them all. the superbowl of pinots. you may scoff at trite superlatives, but in this case, they apply. while i think the jury is still out on the quality of 2007 california pinots, in comparison to the stellar 2005 vintage, i am of the firm opinion that 2007 is MUCH better than 2006.
FALLTACULAR 2009 - Casa Murray - San Juan Capistrano, CA (1/24/2009)
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N.V. Yann Alexandre Champagne Grande Réserve Courmas - France, Champagne
This Champagne tasted a bit older than it perhaps is. In place of green apples and yeast are baked apples and bread crust, with crushed minerals and lemon curd rounding out the palate. A nice sparkler from a relatively unknown producer (at least to me). 89-90 points. (89 pts.) -
2007 Tercero Grenache Blanc Camp 4 Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
This wine showed better – sleeker and more vibrant – than the previous time I tasted it (about 6 months ago). Refreshing notes of nectarines and lemon custard. Good acidity provides balance to the richness of the fruit. (89 pts.) -
2005 Ampelos Pinot Noir Ampelos Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
What happens when you bring a 2005 to a 2007 battle? Well, it’s a little like bringing a shotgun to a pistol duel. In this case, I was the one who was blown away. Vibrant and pure notes of Bing cherries, ripe strawberries, and crushed minerals – just delicious. My notes say, “Straight up good!” 90-91 points. (90 pts.) -
2007 Armonie Cellars Pinot Noir Split Rock Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
A very ripe expression of this sight. Notes of raisins, black plums, black cherries, and hard spices. Large scaled and quite intense on the palate. (87 pts.) -
2007 August West Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Compared to the Rosella’s, this Pinot came across as less approachable and more aggressive on the palate. Notes of black cherries, black raspberries, and wet soil. Dense and compact with a slightly gravelly finish. Has promise, but needs more time at this point. (90 pts.) -
2007 August West Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
This was one of the wines I was most interested in tasting, and I was not disappointed! Notes of strawberry preserves, black cherries, raspberry coulee, and hard spices. Rich, deep, and decadent on the palate. This wine is like a smart and sexy brunette – quite the keeper! My WOTD. (93 pts.) -
2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Fruity and easy to drink with cheerful notes of bright cherries, watermelon, and shadings of sous bois. Not terribly complex, but I did very much like the mouthfeel, which I found rather supple and light. 88-89 points. (88 pts.) -
2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir Stony Terrace - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
I liked this much better than when I tasted it at Pinot Days. Complex notes of black cherries, raspberries, sandlewood, leather, and crushed minerals. A polished wine that is very lithe and elegant on the palate. (91 pts.) -
2007 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
This wine is, to my mind, the benchmark for SRH Pinot Noir. Elegant notes of black cherries, pomegranates, cinnamon, citrus rind, and crushed minerals. Refined and balanced. (92 pts.) -
2005 Joseph Swan Vineyards Pinot Noir Saralee’s Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Another 2005 showstealer. This wine is in a very good place right now. Bright notes of red cherries, strawberries, and raspberries. Forest floor lingers on the finish. Lightweight and restrained on the palate. 91-92 points. (91 pts.) -
2007 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
My notes say, “How Pinot Noir should taste.” Pure and vibrant notes of black cherries, fresh raspberries, baking spices, and just a hint of earth. (91 pts.) -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Aubaine Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley
Ripe and concentrated with a broad palate of black cherries, boysenberries, red licorice. Excellent! (91 pts.) -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Durell Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
This wine came across as the “sweetest” of the Loring line-up I tasted today. Notes of cherry pie filling, boysenberries, and vanillin oak. Creamy and lithe on the palate, but seems to need just a touch more acid. (88 pts.) -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Notes of black cherries and orange peel. Pure and focused with a bright texture and long finish. 89-90 points. (89 pts.) -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley
Plush notes of dark cherries, black plums, and black raspberries. Soft on the palate with a nice lingering finish. (90 pts.) -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
I have always like the Rosella’s from Brian, and this wine is no exception. Bright notes of sour cherries, crushed raspberries, plum skin, citrus peel, and baking spices. Zesty on the palate with a nice long clean finish. Very refreshing! 91-92 points. (91 pts.) -
2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Russell Family Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Ripe and full on the palate with notes of black cherries, boysenberries, and a touch of candied orange peel. Very easy to drink. 88-89 points. (88 pts.) -
2007 Melville Pinot Noir Estate - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
I’m not exactly sure what to think of this wine, as I am usually a fan of Melville Pinots. This one, however, came across as very candied, very primary, almost as if it saw barely any oak at all. A quick look at their website confirms my impressions, as it says that this wine saw only 16% new French oak. In any case, this cheerful little fruit punch of a wine came across very extroverted, yet rather simple, with youthful cherry fruit and sea shell notes. 86-87 points. (86 pts.) -
2004 Melville Pinot Noir Carrie’s - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
Although the nose was opulent and rich with notes of black raspberries and chocolate-covered cherries, the palate seemed overdone, slightly coarse, and more herbal than I remembered a year ago. LB said it tasted a little like salsa. I’m not exactly sure if this wine was flawed, but something did not seem entirely right with this wine. The nose is a winner, but the palate seemed a little off. The best of two bottles. 86-87 points. (86 pts.) -
2007 Melville Pinot Noir Carrie’s - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
I think this wine holds a lot of promise, as I have always really enjoyed the Carrie’s, but right now the 65% whole cluster notes are dominating the wine. With swirling, one is able to coax out notes of Bing cherry, Asian pickled plums, wet soil, and hard spices. Not at opulent as previous years, this wine conveys a certain sense of old world gravitas that is reminscent of Burgundy. 89-90 points. (89 pts.) -
2007 P2 Wine Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville
I remain to be convinced fully of Oregon’s greatness, but I did very much like this wine. Complex and savory notes of bacon, baking spices, dark cherries, and plums. Nice acidity and a mineral-laced finish. 91-92 points. (91 pts.) -
2007 Seawind Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
Fruit foward notes of tart cherries and raspberry coulee. Full on the palate with a citrus peel finish. 90-91 points. (90 pts.) -
2007 Seawind Pinot Noir Split Rock Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Notes of sweet cherries, strawberries, red plums, and pomegranate. Fruit forward, soft on the palate, and easy to drink. (89 pts.) -
2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Opens with some reductive aromas, but after some swirling I was able to coax out notes of sweet cherry pie filling, new leather, and sea shells. A really nice, if somewhat different, expression of the site compared to Keefer Ranch. 88-89 points. (88 pts.) -
2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
I am a huge fan of Pisoni fruit but realize that it does not always show its potential at such a young stage. Rich and syrupy with notes of black cherries, red plums, Asian pickled plums, and oak spice. Needs much more time in the bottle. (89 pts.) -
2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
I found this wine a little curious as I was not expecting it to be so restrained and delicate. Earthy notes of sweet tobacco, cranberries, red cherries, clay and hard spices. (88 pts.) -
2007 Sojourn Pinot Noir Demuth Vineyard Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
This wine is not due to be released until the fall of 2009, so perhaps it is still a work in progress. But as it is, it came across a bit rough. Whole cluster notes dominate the nose, with earth, dried cherries, and tree bark on the palate. If New World Pinot is your thing, then this is probably not your wine. On the other hand, red Burgundy lovers should rejoice! (85 pts.) -
2006 Tercero Cuvée Christie - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
My impressions of this wine are pretty similar to the last time I tasted it. Rustic notes of raspberries, hard spices, minerals, tree bark, and peppercorns. Fleshy on the palate with a firm tannic grip. 88-89 points. (88 pts.) -
2007 Tercero Grenache Camp 4 Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
I believe this was a barrel sample. Rustic notes of black raspberries, cassis, garrigue, and peppercorns. Bold on the attack, then turns bright on the midpalate and finish. (88 pts.) -
2007 Terra Novus Pinot Noir Split Rock Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
This bottle threw off significant reduction, even after giving it the Mollydooker shake. Notes of black cherry, plums, smoke, and tar. Tasted closer to my first bottle than my most recent one. 88-89 points. (88 pts.) -
2004 Vergari Pinot Noir DuNah Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Earthy and smokey notes of cooked cherry reduction, tanned leather, and red clay. I can see this wine going really well with food. (87 pts.) -
2005 Vergari Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
This wine showed better than when I tasted it at Family Winemakers a year ago. Sauvage notes of red cherries, strawberries, earth, and red clay. Soft on the palate. (88 pts.) -
2006 Vergari Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I think wine is pretty typical of the 2006 vintage for the region. A beam of bright cherry and blueberry fruit on the attack, but rather underdeveloped on midpalate and finish. (86 pts.) -
2006 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
This was actually the first wine I tasted today. Wow, what a way to begin! Concentrated notes of boysenberries, blackberries, white pepper, loamy earth and dried herbs. In spite of its density, it was surprisingly sleek and sinewy on the palate. In contrast to the 2005, which I found beautiful and voluptuous, this 2006 comes across as taut and well-toned. A Petite with abs! (91 pts.)