Pinot Noir

This is a very nice premier cru Burgundy.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight cinnamon, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Very light tannins.  On the palate, cherries, slight sour cherries with a bit of spice.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own but probably better with food.  Salmon would be a nice choice.

A very interesting wine.  It is 90% Pinot Noir, 7% Merlot, and 3% Pinot Meunier.  The website indicates that the fruit is Sonoma Coast, but the bottle is devoid of info except carrying a California designation.  Deep light ruby/orange in color, clear and bright.  Very pretty.  The nose is intense with rhubarb, apples and watermelon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, watermelon, raspberries and cherries.  Long finish.  A very satisfying Rose that should be quite food friendly with everything from Salmon to a steak.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

Another in a line of Excellent Pinot Noirs from this producer.  Stylistically, these tend to be big for Oregon, but would be on the smaller size for California (if that make sense).  Garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, hay and slight earthiness.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, lots of sour cherries with some cherries with underlying char and a hint of earthiness.  Long finish.  This is, of course, very young but already drinking well.  It would be better to cellar for ten years, and then drink over the next f

The label lists this as 33 year old vines.  Great showing.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cola, cherries, spice and slight earthiness.  Wonderful round texture.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, this seems to be at peak.  Black cherries with slight cherries and a bit of spice.  No signs of age but certainly mature.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with roasted chicken.  

The label proclaims the grapes were from 20 year old vines.  What a treat to taste this at age 29.  Drinking beautifully.  Ruby color, clear and bright.  Just the barest tinge or browning.  The nose is great with cherries, slight rhubarb, slight cola, dust and spice.  Medium bodied.  This is mature but if it is past, it hides it very well.  Impressive.  The palate has cherries, rhubarb and an underlying earthiness.  Complex.  Nice finish.  This seems like it would still have life left but given bottle variation with older wines, be prudent.  Nice on its own or with food.  This deserves a ni

Jamie Kutch makes some of the best values in top quality (expensive) Pinot Noir.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is good with cherries, char and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins seems fully integrated.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries and just a bit of char.  Good balance.  Long finish with a slight green herbal note.  Delicious. This is still young but closing in on maturity.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will work well with fowl or pork.  It would also go great with Vietnamese food.  

The definition of a feminine Pinot Noir.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is beautiful with cherries, slight strawberry, char and earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Almost delicate but too persistent.  Cherries, slight black cherries, with spice and forest floor.  Long finish.  This is near maturity but may have a bit more to go.  it should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  Nice on its own, probably better with food.  Pan Roasted duck with wild mushrooms would be perfect.  

Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens with air.  Sweaty with a burnt note along with cherries and slight cola.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, sweet black cherry fruit.  Deep.  This drinks very easy but it has a complexity that should come out with age.  This drinks well today and should continue for another ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with food.  Mushroom pizza would be a great match.  

My first time trying this winery.  Very impressive.  In a blind tasting of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, this was the runaway winner for the group.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has smoke, cherries, black cherries, slight cola and a nice earthiness to it.  Lovely velvety texture.  On the palate black cherries and slight anise.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but approaching maturity.  Drinks great on its own and will work well with food.  Mushroom Risotto would be great.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

This is a bigger wine than many of the Sonoma Coast Pinots, as such, it will perhaps, take a bit longer to mature.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is very tight.  Spice.  With air, black cherries and slight sour cherries emerge.  Great, lush texture.  On the palate, cherries, coffee and slight sour cherries.  This is either ripe or has a bit of residual sugar as it does come off almost sweet.  Nice finish.  These needs another seven to ten years in the cellar and it should come together beautifully.  Right now, this is a Pinot for those who like them t