Deep ruby in color with some even more purple hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with cherries, sour cherries, and spice. Nice texture. Light tannins. On the palate, this is more about sour cherries with some spice and a bit of char. Nice finish. This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years. Nice on its own, this would work well with Salmon.
Rhys makes some of the best Pinot Noir's (and Chardonnays) anywhere. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries, spice, char and slight earthiness. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is complex and layered from the first sip. Cherries, earth and smoke. Long finish. This took a while to get to this point, but it is drinking well. It should continue to drink well for another ten to fifteen years. Great on its own but better with food. Roasted duck would be perfect.
This is a great value in Pinot Noir. Deep garnet/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cherries, black cherries, and spice. Clean. Medium bodied. On the palate, black cherry fruit with some spice. Good finish. This is a surprisingly bigger and riper Pinot (for France) than expected. That is not to say over done. Good finish. Nice on its own, this should work well with many foods. Salmon would be nice. It was nice with pasta in a mushroom sauce. Drink over the next five to seven years.
This is a very special bottling.
This is a lighter, more elegant style of Pinot that is not often seen (even in Burgundy) these days. Light ruby in color, clear and vibrant. The nose is great with sour cherries, dusty attic, and spice. Really nice semi-velvety texture. Good acidity. On the palate, cherries and some sour cherries. Clean. Long finish. This is nice on its own, but would be better with food. A Mushroom Quiche would work well. Drink over the next ten to twelve years.
Bouchaine has consistently made this wine and has consistently made it well. What sets this apart from many California rosé is that it straddles the line between fruit and acidity, allowing the wine to be a part of any meal. It offers strawberry, lemon-lime, resin, light apricot and loquat. There is also a slight tartness to it, a hint of green apple that helps define this as a multi layered wine. Since the wine sees no oak at all, the freshness, the brightness and the clean fruit shines through. 1,500 cases. ORIGIN: Napa Valley, Carneros. ALCOHOL: 13.5%
This is a bigger in style Pinot typical of many in Sonoma. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries, some black cherries and a nice underlying earthiness. A soft accessible texture. On the palate, black cherries with some root beer notes. Nice finish. This would work well with Salmon. Drink over the next five to seven years.
This is a Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. Its rare to find good Pinot for under $20, but this manages to do it. Screw capped. Pale, ruby in color with some blueish hues. clear and bright. The nose is tight but opens to show some rhubarb and cranberries. Medium bodied. Light tannins. On the palate a sort red currant, slightly medicinal note (better than it sounds) along with red berries. A bit of menthol on the finish. After about an hour, its more of a cherry cough drop note. A solid Pinot that is nice on its own, but improves with food. This went well with vegetarian taco roll-u
Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries, cranberries and slight rhubarb along with some spice and char. Wonderful semi-plush texture. Good balance. Light tannins. The palate is riper/stronger than the nose (in a good way). Cherries and Kirsch with some char. Long finish. This has some complexity and depth as it nears peak. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. Very nice on its own, this would be great with Roasted Duck.
From an Oregon winery/winemaker, Peter Rosback, who can't sit still, he make New Zealand Pinot Noir in the wintertime here. Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is bright with cherries and some black cherries with spice and char. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. Good acidity. On the palate, this is tasty. Showing some development, but probably not at peak. Lovely semi-plush texture. Cherries, black cherries, slight herbal note and char. Long finish. drink over the next ten years. Good on its own, this will work well with roasted chicken.
