Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards
Alma Rosa 2008 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-light color, with very pretty floral aromas along with black cherry, smoke, and spice. Medium-bodied and lively, with a finish that was clean but slightly rough.
Alma Rosa 2008 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium ruby color, with more intense black cherry and plum fruit, smoke, and minerals. More structured in the mouth, with some tannic grip on the finish.
Ampelos Cellars
Ampelos 2006 Pinot Noir, “Rho,” Ampelos Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium color, minerally red fruits, earth, and a touch of spicy oak. Medium-bodied and fairly smooth, with refined tannins.
Ampelos 2007 Pinot Noir, “Lambda,” Ampelos Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-light color, showing plum and darker berry fruit, hints of dried herbs, and a more noticeable oak component. Bigger and more structured than the “Rho” bottling, with a lively finish.
Ampelos 2008 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium ruby color, with aromas of dark berries, earth, spices, and sweet oak. Richer mouthfeel with great acidity and a moderately grippy finish.
Arcadian Winery
Arcadian 2007 Pinot Noir, Pisoni Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium color, featuring earth, spice, and plum aromas. Very nice depth of flavors and texture on the palate, finishing with some moderate tannins, nice.
Arcadian 2005 Pinot Noir, Pisoni Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. A bit lighter color than the ’07, with some floral notes along with both red and black fruits, and a slight stemmy note. The tannins are a bit mellower than the ’07 but this still has plenty of structure.
Arcadian 2007 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-light color, with earthy cherry fruit plus an herbal, tea leaf component. Lively mouthfeel, with a moderate tannins.
Arcadian 2005 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. A little darker than the ’07, showing an earthier profile and darker fruit aromas. Bigger on the palate, this had a more grippy finish than the ’07.
Comments: A good opportunity to taste two vintages of these two wines, really highlighting both the vineyard and vintage distinctions.
Argot Wines
Argot 2009 Pinot Noir, “Over The Moon,” Silver Pines Vineyard, Bennett Valley. 60% Mariafeld clone, 40% Pommard. Medium color, showing spicy cherry and rhubarb aromas, medium-bodied with good acidity and lively finish.
Argot 2009 Pinot Noir, “The Fence,” Sonoma Coast. 90% Pommard clone, 10% Mariafeld. Medium-dark color, black cherry and raspberry fruit, lots of spice, and vanilla/oak on the nose. More full-bodied and rich on the palate, and a more tannic finish. A bigger-styled Pinot that will need some cellar time to come together.
Arista Winery
Arista 2009 Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge. Mostly from the Perli vineyard, dark cherry with some anise overlaid with some smoky oak, needs a year for the components to knit together. (AO)
Arista 2009 Pinot Noir, “Longbow,” Russian River Valley. A blend of four vineyards, lots of cherry cola and plum, fairly big and lush with some mocha. (AO)
Arista 2009 Pinot Noir, La Cruz Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Raspberry, cranberry, and rhubarb with some floral notes, slightly sweet-ish fruit. (AO)
Arista 2009 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard, Anderson Valley. More focused nose of raspberries and red cherries, floral, nicely layered tannins with good acidity. (AO)
August West Wine
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August West 2006 Pinot Noir, Graham Family Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Light garnet color, displaying strawberry and bing cherry, cinnamon, and a touch of earth. Medium-bodied with a smooth finish.
August West 2006 Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium-light color, with more fruit-forward black cherry and spice aromas. More structured than the ’06 Graham, this had some moderate tannins and lots of spice on the finish.
August West 2008 Pinot Noir, Graham Family Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium-light garnet color, showing cherry, spice, cola, and a touch of earth on the nose, with a more depth than the ’06. Lively mouthfeel with a long, tasty finish, nice.
August West 2008 Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. A bit darker color than the Graham bottling, the aromatics were a bit muted, but showed slightly tart black cherry and raspberry along with an herbal note. Good acidity with a juicy finish.
August West 2009 Pinot Noir, Graham Family Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium-light purple, with raspberry and plum fruit and spice. Bigger texture on the palate, with tannins that sneaked up on the finish. This could use some additional time in bottle to show its best.
August West 2009 Pinot Noir, Rosella’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium-light color, a bit tight at first but opened to reveal bright ripe black cherry, a touch of citrus, and baking spices on the nose. A vibrant texture in the mouth, with good structure for some time in the cellar.
Comments: Ed Kurtzman poured an interesting vertical. The ‘06s were drinking well and probably nearing maturity, the ‘08s were at a tasty youthful stage, and I thought the ‘09s could still use some time. (Disclosure – I’ve helped out at August West with bottling and on occasion during crush)
Auteur Wines
Auteur 2009 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Stage Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Medium ruby color, very pure fruit aromas of ripe raspberry and plum, along with spice and earth notes. Medium-full bodied and smooth mouthfeel, with a tasty finish.
Auteur 2009 Pinot Noir, Manchester Ridge Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge. Medium color, showing brighter black cherry and raspberry fruit, herb, forest floor, and spice aromas. Very lively acidity and long finish, with refined tannins. Quite distinctive Pinot that should age well, very nice.
Auteur 2009 Pinot Noir, Shea Vineyard, Willamette Valley. Medium-dark color, featuring darker berry fruit along with bigger earth and forest floor components and more noticeable oak. Bigger on the palate with chalky tannins on the finish.
Comments: Auteur presented one of the tasting’s best group of wines. I’ve particularly enjoyed Pinots sourced from Manchester Ridge Vineyard in the past, and the ’09 Auteur bottling is another fine one.
Breggo Cellars
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Breggo 2010 Pinot Gris, Anderson Valley. Made in about 60% stainless steel, 40% neutral oak. Light straw color, aromas of ripe stone fruit, lees, and a bit of spice. Nice texture, with a hint of sweetness on the refreshing finish.
Breggo 2009 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley. Medium-light color, showing earthy and upfront cherry fruit with an herbal note. Medium-light bodied, with a mildly tannic finish.
Breggo 2009 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard, Anderson Valley. Fragrant nose of strawberries and raspberries with well-layered structure of fine tannins, good mid-palate depth and length, very young but showing a promising balance of fruit and structure. (AO)
Breggo 2009 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley. Red cherry and plum fruit with some Asian spice, a somewhat bigger wine that’s mainly showing its precocious fruit at this stage. (AO)
Breggo 2009 Pinot Noir, Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley. To be released this fall. Medium-light color, with complex aromas of black cherry, tea leaf, forest floor, a savory component, and a touch of oak. Medium weight on the palate with good structure and moderate grip on the long finish, nice.
Comments: Breggo continues to be one of the standout Anderson Valley producers, and winemaker Ryan Hodgins poured a very good group of wines.
Cargasacchi Wines
Point Concepción 2009 Pinot Noir, “Salsipuedes,” Santa Barbara County. Sourced mostly from Jalama Vineyard. Medium ruby color, with black cherry and plum fruit along with tea leaf and spice notes. Medium-bodied and smooth on the palate, with mild tannins on the finish.
Cargasacchi 2008 Pinot Noir, Cargasacchi Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. 100% Clone 115. Medium color, aromas of raspberry and plum, with a savory component along with earth and smoky oak. A bit bigger and more structured than the “Salsipuedes” bottling, with a moderately grippy but tasty finish, nice.
Chronicle Wines
Chronicle 2007 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. From the Castaldi and De Meo vineyards, red strawberries, lots of forest floor and spice, with brisk acidity and some noticeable tannins. (AO)
Chronicle 2007 Pinot Noir, Cerise Vineyard, Anderson Valley. From the Pommard, Wädenswil, and 115 clones with 40% new French oak, a fairly big-boned wine with deep red and dark berry fruit and tannins that need couple of years to resolve. (AO)
Chronicle 2009 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley. A blend of 80% Savoy and 20% Toulouse vineyards, showing red berry and plum fruit, bigger and lusher than the 2007s with a rich mid-palate. (AO)
Comments: The Chronicle wines are made by Ted Lemon, the well-known owner and winemaker of Littorai.
Clos Pepe Estate
Clos Pepe 2009 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. Precocious nose of red berries and cherries with a touch of rose petal and spice, fine tannins, easy to drink but principally fruit-driven at this young age and needs a couple years to develop. (AO)
Clos Pepe 2009 Pinot Noir, “Vigneron Select,” Sta. Rita Hills. Each year, the “Vigneron Select” is a selection of the best three barrels, with ⅔ new oak vs. the ⅓ typical for the Estate bottling, darker fruit on the nose along with the more noticeable oak, deeper with a rich mid-palate and nice structure, I’d let this age for 4-5 years. (AO)
Clos Pepe 2008 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. A bit more restrained, with red cherry fruit and more floral notes along with some Asian spice. A little more delicate than the other offerings, but I think this wine has room to develop. (AO)
Clos Pepe 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. Still somewhat tight although starting to develop some secondary characteristics, a bit higher toned red fruit on the nose with a lush palate that just needs to unwind a little. (AO)
Clos Pepe 2006 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. Nicely developed, tart cherry and red berry, very savory with forest floor and herbs, somewhat elevated acidity, earthy, my favorite of the Clos Pepe wines in the tasting. (AO)
Clos Pepe 2005 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. Red and dark cherry, earthy, with a touch of funk, showing more oak even though I don’t think any more was used. (AO)
Comments: Winemaker Wes Hagen always brings a number of vintages to highlight the current releases, as well as to taste the way the wines develop, and the older releases showed impressively. As noted, the ‘09s need some cellar time, but based on the track record of the Clos Pepe Pinots, they should be outstanding in a few years.
Copain Wine Cellars
Copain 2009 Pinot Noir, “Tous Ensembles,” Anderson Valley. Sourced from five vineyards. Medium-light color, displaying bright upfront cherry fruit, along with notes of earth and forest floor. Medium-light bodied, smooth yet lively.
Copain 2009 Pinot Noir, “Les Voisins,” Anderson Valley. Medium color, aromas of red fruits, dried herbs, minerals, and baking spices. Bright acidity in the mouth, where the mineral component is emphasized, and moderate but refined tannins on the finish, very nice.
Copain 2009 Pinot Noir, Wentzel Vineyard, Anderson Valley. Medium ruby color, with a similar profile to the “Les Voisins” bottling but more intense fruit and a bit less of the herb and mineral elements. A bit richer on the palate, with fine acidity and balance.
Comments: Very impressive showing for the Copain Pinots, one of the strongest line-ups of the day. Both the “Les Voisins” and the Wentzel Vineyard bottlings were highlights and it was a toss-up as to which of the two was included in the “favorites” list.
Couloir Wines
Straight Line 2009 Pinot Noir, Mendocino County. Medium color, with black cherry, forest floor, spice, and herbal/stemmy note. Fairly smooth mouthfeel with mild but noticeable tannins.
Couloir 2009 Pinot Noir, Monument Tree Vineyard, Anderson Valley. Medium ruby color, less fruit-forward than the Straight Line bottling, showing more forest floor and earth together with raspberry, plum, and spice – more complex yet better-integrated than the Straight Line. Bigger and more structured, with grippier tannins, nice.
Comments: Couloir also makes a very good Marin County Pinot, which I tasted at another recent event.
Cru Wine Company
Cru 2008 Pinot Noir, “Vineyard Montage,” Central Coast. Blend of fruit from Monterey County and Santa Maria Valley, dark cherry cola with some clove and allspice. (AO)
Cru 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands. Strawberries and tart cherries, big, coffee, SLH spice. (AO)
Cru 2008 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley. Red cherries and rhubarb, somewhat sweet fruit overlaid with prominent oak. (AO)
De Tierra Vineyard
De Tierra 2007 Pinot Noir, Silacci Vineyard, Monterey County. Medium color, showing some green/herbal notes along with cherry and earth aromas. Medium-light bodied, with very bright acidity and a grippy finish.
De Tierra 2006 Pinot Noir, Tondré Grapefield, Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium garnet/red color, with bigger earth and mushroom aromas along with black cherry fruit. A bit bigger mouthfeel than the Silacci bottling, with moderate tannins.
De Tierra 2007 Pinot Noir, Monterey County. Sourced from Silacci and De Tierra Estate vineyards. Medium ruby color, more fruit-forward raspberry and wild berry with earth and spice. Rounder mouthfeel with a longer finish than the first two wines.
Derby Wine Estates
Derby 2008 Pinot Gris, Derbyshire Vineyard, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County. Aged in stainless steel and neutral oak. Very light color, with aromas of pear, citrus, earth, and spice. Very vibrant, zippy acidity, with a crisp finish.
Derby 2008 Pinot Noir, Derbyshire Vineyard, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County. From 115, 667, and 777 clones. Medium color, with herbal cranberry and cherry fruit, plus touches of earth, baking spices, and oak. Medium-bodied with a bright mouthfeel and clean finish.
Derby 2007 Pinot Noir, “Reserve,” Derbyshire Vineyard, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County. From 115, 667, and 777 clones. Medium ruby color, featuring more intense plum and tart cherry and dried herb notes, along with a more noticeable vanilla/oak component. Richer and smoother on the palate with a lively finish.
Comments: Derbyshire vineyard is located a virtual stone’s throw from the ocean near San Simeon, and the wines were distinctive.
Domaine de la Vougeraie
Domaine de la Vougeraie 2006 Beaune “La Montée Rouge.” Strawberry and red cherry with good minerality and some herbs, medium to lighter bodied. (AO)
Domaine de la Vougeraie 2006 Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru “Les Corvées Pagets.” Mainly red fruit in a deeper and somewhat more rustic wine, young, earthy with some iron notes, finishes with dry tannins that still need a few years to soften. (AO)
Comments: This is one of the Boisset Family Estates lines of wine.
Donum Estate
Donum 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Russian River Valley. Medium color, with ripe cherry, cola, spice, and oak aromas. Medium-bodied with a fairly smooth texture and milder tannins on the finish.
Donum 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Carneros. Medium garnet color, showing more earthy and herbal red fruits on the nose, along with a dash of sweet oak. More structured than the RRV bottling, with a grippier finish.
Dunstan Wines
Dunstan 2010 Rosé, Durell Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Made from saignée of Pinot Noir. Light salmon color, with fresh strawberry aromas along with a savory note. Lively mouthfeel and a clean finish.
Dunstan 2008 Pinot Noir, Durell Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Medium ruby color, with black cherry and plum fruit, spice, and a big vanilla/oak element. Medium-bodied and smooth.
Dusky Goose
Dusky Goose 2007 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills. Made with 15-20% whole cluster and 30% new oak, lots of strawberry and raspberry with a somewhat darker-fruited palate, spice box and some earth, in a bigger and richer style. (AO)
Dusky Goose 2008 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills. Made with 15-20% whole cluster, more restrained aromatically than the 2007 at present, red raspberry and dark cherry with some spice, similar lush and rich wine that needs a little time to fully develop. (AO)
Failla Wines
Failla 2009 Pinot Noir, Pearlescence Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Nicely focused nose of red berries, floral, and some well-integrated oak, generous palate, lush and precocious today but with nice structure for aging. Available only at the tasting room. (AO)
Failla 2009 Pinot Noir, Hirsch Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Very fragrant, intense nose of red and dark raspberries, younger and tighter than the Pearlescence with more noticeable tannins, very nice wine that needs at least a year to unwind. To be released in the Fall. (AO)
Failla 2009 Pinot Noir, Occidental Ridge Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Darker color, dark cherry and plum, young, very deep with prominent grip, the most muscular of the three Pinots poured at the tasting. (AO)
Comments: A very good group of wines poured at the Failla table.
Freeman Vineyard & Winery
Freeman 2009 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Pretty nose of red and dark cherries, a little cola, drinking very nicely even in its youth. (AO)
Freeman 2009 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. Raspberry and dark cherry with some pine forest aromas, less forward than the RRV bottling, with nice structure. Needs a year or two to hit its stride. (AO)
Freeman 2009 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Strawberries, red cherries, and rhubarb, some floral notes, nice spice, plush with crisp acidity. (AO)
Freeman 2009 Pinot Noir, “Akiko’s Cuvée,” Sonoma Coast. Precocious nose of cherry and raspberry, spice, deep fruit with a rich mid-palate, great acidity and structure. (AO)
Hirsch Vineyard and Winery
Hirsch 2009 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast. Very light straw color, this showed bright citrus and spice along with a touch of vanilla. Medium weight on the palate with good acidity on the finish.
Hirsch 2009 Pinot Noir, “The Bohan Dillon,” Sonoma Coast. Medium-light ruby color, with bright aromas of plum and raspberry, with undertones of earth and sweet oak. Lighter-bodied, this had very lively acidity in the mouth and a clean finish.
Hirsch 2009 Pinot Noir, “San Andreas,” Sonoma Coast. To be released later this year. Medium color, displaying more intense aromatics and deeper fruit than the “Bohan Dillon” bottling, along with a more noticeable spice component. More structured, with chewy tannins on the finish.
Hitching Post Wines
Hitching Post 2008 Pinot Noir, “Hometown,” Santa Barbara County. Lighter color, this was fruit-forward, with black cherry aromas along with herb and tea leaf notes. Medium-light bodied with a smooth, clean finish. Not complex but tasty.
Hitching Post 2007 Pinot Noir, “St. Rita’s Earth,” Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-light ruby color, showing plum and wild berry fruit, clove, smoke, and mushroom/earth. A bit bigger on the palate, with more grip on the finish than the “Hometown.”
Hitching Post 2007 Pinot Noir, “Highliner,” Santa Barbara County. Medium color, with brighter black cherry fruit, herbs, earth, and oak on the nose. Fairly rich texture with refined tannins and a smooth finish.
Hitching Post 2007 Pinot Noir, “Perfect Set,” Sta. Rita Hills. Barrel selection, sourced from Fiddlestix vineyard and aged in 100% new French oak. Medium ruby color, showing lots of upfront ripe plum and darker fruit, vanilla/oak, earth, and baking spices. Rich and mouthfilling, with a big hedonistic finish.
Holdredge Wines
Holdredge 2009 Pinot Noir, Bucher Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, with spicy red fruits and a touch of sweet oak. Great acidity in the mouth and a clean, lively finish.
Holdredge 2009 Pinot Noir, “Selection Massale,” Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, the aromatics were a bit shy at first, but revealed black cherry, plum, lots of spice, and earth on the nose. Also somewhat tight on the palate, with a structure that suggests a few years of cellar time will round out this wine nicely.
Holdredge 2009 Pinot Noir, “Shaken Not Stirred,” Russian River Valley. From 37 year-old Martini clone vines. Medium-light color, displaying aromas of bright red fruits, tea leaf, a touch of earth, and a savory note. Medium-bodied with a vibrant mouthfeel with a clean, mildly tannic finish, quite nice.
Holdredge 2009 Pinot Noir, “Mazie Rose,” Russian River Valley. Medium color, this showed raspberry and plum fruit along with spice and a bit of oak. Richer than the first three wines, this still had good acidity along with moderate tannins.
Holdredge 2009 Pinot Noir, “Rolling Thunder,” Russian River Valley. Medium color, with more noticeable spicy oak on the nose, plus a darker fruit profile and a bit of cola. The boldest of the five wines, this had a bigger structure and more weight on the palate, with a grippier finish.
Comments: A solid line-up of wines, with the “Shaken Not Stirred” bottling being my favorite of the bunch. The Martini clone of Pinot doesn’t get a lot of respect these days but fruit from older Martini vines can produce some very fine wines.
Inman Family Wines
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Inman 2010 “Endless Crush” Rosé of Pinot Noir, “OGV,” Russian River Valley. Very light salmon color, fresh pure strawberry aromas, along with touches of mineral and orangepeel. Bright and lively on the palate, with just a hint of tannin on the clean, tasty finish, nice.
Inman 2010 Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley. Pear and melon fruit with some citrus, crisp with nice spice, very nice summer wine. (AO)
Inman 2008 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, fruit-forward nose of red fruits, smoke, and spice. Medium-light bodied with a mild tannic grip on the finish.
Inman 2008 Pinot Noir, “OGV,” Russian River Valley.Slightly darker color, with raspberry, cola, and baking spice on the nose, along with a mineral note. Fairly smooth texture but with more structure than the ’08 RRV bottling, this had a tasty finish.
Inman 2007 Pinot Noir, “OGV,” Russian River Valley.. Nicely developed nose of red and dark cherry with some floral notes, a graceful wine with nice concentration, more elegant than the 2008 “OGV.” (AO)
Inman 2007 Pinot Noir, Thorn Ridge Ranch, Russian River Valley. Raspberry and plum with lots of spice, tea and a little root beer, less forward fruit on the nose than the 2007 “OGV” but with good richness. (AO)
Comments: The Inman “Endless Crush” Rosé is produced only in even-numbered years, with fruit specially picked for this bottling, then destemmed and pressed. I thought it was the best Rosé I tasted at the event.
J.K. Carriere
J.K. Carriere 2010 White Pinot Noir, “Glass,” Willamette Valley. Whole-cluster pressed rather than saignée, all barrel fermented, light copper-pink color with watermelon and citrus fruit, crisp and refreshing. (AO)
J.K. Carriere 2009 Pinot Noir, “Provocateur,” Willamette Valley. Ripe red cherries and plums, somewhat big and slightly rustic. (AO)
J.K. Carriere 2008 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. Dark cherry, pine forest, cinnamon, and some smoke, deeper yet more graceful than the “Provocateur.” (AO)
Jean-Claude Boisset
Jean-Claude Boisset 2006 Bourgogne. Somewhat simple nose of strawberries and cherries, light to medium-bodied, straightforward wine. (AO)
Jean-Claude Boisset 2006 Santenay 1er Cru “Grand Clos Rousseau.” Pretty red cherry and raspberry nose with some slightly funky earth, medium-bodied with moderate length and a little finishing tannins. (AO)
Jean-Claude Boisset 2006 Beaune 1er Cru “Les Bressandes.” Slightly closed, mostly red raspberries with earth and spice, showing more oak than the other two JCB wines, slightly rustic but with good depth and plenty of finishing grip, this will probably show better in a couple of years. (AO)
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JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset
JCB 2006 Pinot Noir, No. 7, Sonoma Coast. Fairly forward nose of bright red berries with some smoky oak and prominent finishing tannins. (AO)
JCB 2008 Pinot Noir, No. 22, Mendocino Ridge. Dominating nose of smoked meat, barbecue, and old campfire. Maybe this issue had been mitigated and then returned in bottle, but this is the most smoke-tainted commercial release I’ve tasted. (AO)
Joseph Swan Vineyards
Joseph Swan 2007 Pinot Noir, Saralee’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Very light garnet color, featuring earthy red fruits with herbal notes. Medium-light bodied with a vibrant mouthfeel and fairly smooth and tangy finish.
Joseph Swan 2009 Pinot Noir, “Cuvée de Trois,” Russian River Valley. Medium-light ruby color, with deeper raspberry and plum aromas, earth, and spice. Richer texture than the Saralee’s bottling, with mild tannins.
Joseph Swan 2007 Pinot Noir, Trenton View Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, showing red fruits, spice, and cola on the nose. Smoother on the palate, but with moderate tannins that crept up on the finish.
Joseph Swan 2008 Pinot Noir, Trenton Estate Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, this showed more high-toned aromas of strawberry, cherry, and earth, along with more elevated acidity in the mouth and firmer tannins.
Joseph Swan 2007 Pinot Noir, Trenton Estate Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium ruby color, with black cherry and raspberry, dried herbs, baking spices, and a floral note. Seamless and silky on the palate, with lively acidity and refined tannins, quite nice.
Comments: I’ve had some hits and misses over the years from Joseph Swan, but I thought this was a very good and nicely varied group of wines.
Kanzler Vineyards
Kanzler 2009 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. About 20% whole-cluster fermentation. Medium color, showing ripe plum and darker berry fruit, spice, and undertones of vanilla/oak. Medium-full bodied with a smooth yet lively mouthfeel and fairly mild tannins on the finish.
Keefer Ranch Wines
Keefer Ranch 2008 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, with ripe raspberry, clove, earth, and an underlay of vanilla/oak. Fairly smooth on the palate, with moderate tannins on the finish.
Keefer Ranch 2009 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, this featured more intense black cherry aromas along with spice, cola, and a touch of sweet oak. A bit bigger and more structured in the mouth, with more grip on the finish than the ’08. Showing well now and should age nicely.
Comments: Both wines are from the estate vineyard, and made from Swan, Pommard, and 115 clones.
Kendric Vineyards
Kendric 2009 Pinot Noir, Marin County (barrel sample). About 50% whole-cluster fermentation. Medium-light color, this showed bright and floral red fruits and lots of spice on the nose. Lively but somewhat tight in the mouth, with some grippy, youthful tannins that will require some bottle age to round out. Needs time to develop, but shows a lot of promise.
Comments: I’d tasted the ’07 and ’08 Kendric Pinots just a week earlier so I only tried the ’09 barrel sample this time. The ’08 Marin Pinot in particular was a standout in the earlier tasting.
Kenneth Volk Vineyards
Kenneth Volk 2007 Pinot Noir, “Santa Maria Cuvée,” Santa Maria Valley. Bright red cherry and rhubarb with some blueberry, fairly big and lush, with slightly sweet-ish fruit. (AO)
Kenneth Volk 2007 Pinot Noir, Nielsen Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley. Pretty nose of strawberries and red cherries, medium-bodied, more structured than the Cuvée with nice acidity. (AO)
Kenneth Volk 2007 Pinot Noir, Sierra Madre Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley. Red berries and plums, slightly deeper and darker with some noticeable oak. (AO)
Kenneth Volk 2007 Pinot Noir, Garey Ranch, Santa Maria Valley. Red and dark cherries along with dark raspberries, bigger and deeper, lush palate with good length. (AO)
Kenneth Volk 2007 Pinot Noir, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley. Dark plums, darkest fruit of the Volk Pinots, some smoke, big wine balance with good acidity. (AO)
Ladd Cellars
Ladd 2008 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. Light color, bright black cherry, spice, and slight floral and tea leaf notes. Medium-light weight on the palate, with vibrant acidity and a clean finish, nice.
Ladd 2008 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Slightly darker color than the Sonoma Coast bottling, showing bright red fruits, a touch of earth, and lots of spice. Medium-bodied, smooth but lively.
Ladd 2008 Pinot Noir, “Cuvée Abigail,” Sonoma Coast. Medium-light color, featuring earthy raspberry and plum aromas. A bit bigger and more structured than the first two wines.
Ladd 2008 Pinot Noir, Moore Ranch, Russian River Valley. Medium-light color, with a bit darker fruit profile along with spice and a dash of oak. Richer mouthfeel and with more tannic bite on the finish, this could use some bottle age to show its best.
Comments: Ladd presented a nice group of lighter-styled Pinots. The ‘08s are all bottled but not yet released. (Disclosure – I’ve helped out on occasion at Ladd Cellars, though not with these particular wines)
Le Cadeau Vineyard
Le Cadeau 2008 Pinot Noir, “Côte Est,” Oregon. Medium ruby color, strawberry and cherry fruit along with spice and earth notes. Medium-light weight in the mouth, with good acidity and a clean finish, nice.
Le Cadeau 2009 Pinot Noir, “Rocheux,” Oregon. Medium-light color, with more forward and intense red fruit, cloves, and spicy oak. Medium-bodied and lively on the palate, with noticeable but refined tannins.
Le Cadeau 2009 Pinot Noir, “Diversité,” Willamette Valley. Perfumed nose of dark raspberry and cherry, a fairly muscular wine that shows a little oak. Made by Scott Shull of Raptor Ridge. (AO)
Le Cadeau 2009 Pinot Noir, “Équinoxe,” Willamette Valley. Medium color, displaying black cherry and plum, earth, spice, and oak aromas. Richer and smoother mouthfeel, with a moderately tannic finish.
Aubichon 2008 Pinot Noir Reserve, Willamette Valley. Red and dark berries, a rich and big-boned wine showing a little oak and some more noticeable tannins. (AO)
Aubichon 2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. Half of the fruit for this wine came from the Le Cadeau vineyard, with the rest from Dundee Hills purchased fruit, perfumed nose of raspberries and cranberries with underlying notes of earth, nice structure. (AO)
Comments: Tom and Deb Mortimer have planted roughly 10 acres of their 28 acre parcel in the Dundee Hills. Each of their wines is made by a different winemaker. Aubichon Cellars is a partnership of the Mortimers and Jim Sanders, the winemaker of the “Équinoxe” wine.
Londer Vineyards
Londer 2009 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley. Sourced from four vineyards. Medium-light ruby color, with upfront raspberry and wild berry aromas supported by lots of spice and a floral note. Lighter-bodied and lively, with a fairly smooth finish.
Londer 2007 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard, Anderson Valley. Medium-light color, red fruits, herbs, and a touch of oak on the nose. Medium-bodied, with tannins that turn a little bitter on the finish.
Londer 2007 Pinot Noir, “Paraboll,” Anderson Valley. From Valley Foothills and Ferrington vineyards. Medium color, with raspberry and plum fruit, baking spices, and vanilla/oak. Bigger and richer mouthfeel, with refined tannins on the smooth finish.
Londer 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Anderson Valley. Medium color, this had a more complex nose of plum, minerals, tea leaf, spices, earth, and sweet oak. More structured on the palate, with enough grip on the finish to suggest some further aging will benefit this wine.
Loring Wine Company
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Loring 2009 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch, Russian River Valley. Medium-dark color, with raspberry, cola, and spice on the nose. Medium-full bodied and somewhat tight, this could use more time or decanting to help it open up.
Loring 2009 Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium-dark color, with upfront plum and black cherry fruit, baking spices, and a slight orangepeel note. Also somewhat tight and moderately tannic at this point, another candidate for a bit of cellar age.
Loring 2009 Pinot Noir, Cargasacchi Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-dark color, with a darker berry fruit profile, along with some earth and dried herb notes. Mouthfilling texture, with some tannic grip on the finish.
Loring 2009 Pinot Noir, Clos Pepe Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-dark color, showing aromas of earthy dark berry fruit, stony minerals, and lots of spice. Structured on the palate but with more refined tannins, showing nicely now but should age well too.
Loring 2008 “Divergence,” Paso Robles. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon (200% new American oak), 45% Mourvèdre (100% new French oak), sourced from Russell Family Vineyard. Very dark color, intense aromas of very ripe dark fruits, mocha, tobacco, spice, and sweet oak. Rich and dense in the mouth, with firm but not harsh tannins. Not for everyone, but quite an interesting wine.
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
MacRostie 2010 Rosé, Carneros. From 100% Pinot Noir saignée, nose of ripe strawberries and rhubarb, rich and fruity palate with crisp acidity. (AO)
MacRostie 2008 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast. From four vineyards with a large component of Wildcat Canyon fruit, red and dark fruit, with some coffee, full-bodied and rich. (AO)
MacRostie 2008 Pinot Noir, Wildcat Mountain Vineyard, Carneros. Big dark cherry nose and palate, with sassafras and some oak. (AO)
Manu Wines
Manu 2009 Pinot Noir, Marlborough. Dark cherry and plum, some purple flowers, forward and fairly big, some toasty oak, in an somewhat international style. (AO)
Melville Vineyards & Winery
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Melville 2005 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. Medium-light garnet color, spicy and somewhat stemmy plum and darker fruits, tea leaf, and earth. Lively on the palate and not too tannic.
Melville 2009 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. About 33% whole-cluster fermentation, aged in neutral oak. Medium-light ruby color, more fruit-forward black cherry and raspberry, along with spice and an herbal/green note. Medium-full bodied, with a fairly grippy finish.
Melville 2009 Pinot Noir, “Carrie’s,” Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. About 60% whole-cluster fermentation. Medium color, with raspberry and plum aromas that were less upfront than the SRH Estate bottling, plus spice, black pepper, tea leaf, and oak components. Mouthfilling and structured with tannins that were fairly big but refined, nice.
Comments: Chad Melville was on hand to pour at the event. I’d tasted a number of the current Melville releases at the winery a few months prior, but wanted to revisit some, especially with the opportunity to taste the ’05 Estate alongside their new wines.
Monks Gate Vineyard
Monks Gate 2008 Pinot Noir, Estate, Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley. From Pommard, 667, and 777 clones. Medium-light color, with bright cranberry and strawberry aromas, plus herb and earth notes. Lighter-bodied and lively on the palate.
Monks Gate 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley. From 667 and 777 clones, about 20% new oak. Medium-light color. More earthy/mushroomy and less fruit-driven than the ’08 vintage, showing some tea leaf on the nose as well. Slightly bigger mouthfeel and more tannic than the ’08.
Comments: Monk’s Gate has 19 acres planted to the 777, 667, 115, Pommard, and Wädenswil clones of Pinot Noir.
Native9 Wines / Alta Maria Vineyards
Native9 2008 Pinot Noir, Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley. From eight different clones, mainly Swan and Benedict, with 100% whole cluster, raspberry and red currants, lots of baking spice and herbs, lush and long. (AO)
Alta Maria 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley. Mostly from Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills fruit, with about 5% from the Rancho Ontiveros vineyard, ripe strawberry and cherry with some blueberry notes, big and full-bodied. (AO)
Nautilus Estate
Nautilus 2009 Pinot Noir, Marlborough. Deep color, raspberries and darks cherries, spicy and rich with some smoke. (AO)
Presqu’ile Winery
Presqu’ile 2010 Rosé, Santa Maria Valley. Light salmon color, with lightly herbal watermelon aromas. Lighter-bodied and smooth.
Presqu’ile 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley. Medium ruby color, showing red fruits, herbs, and a touch of vanilla/oak. Medium-light bodied with a fairly smooth texture and mild tannins.
Comments: Presqu’ile had more wines I would have liked to taste, but their pourer was preoccupied with a couple of people at the crowded table, all but ignoring the rest of us who were waiting for a taste, and my patience only lasted so long. Oh well.
Pyramid Valley Vineyards
Pyramid Valley 2008 Pinot Noir, Calvert Vineyard, Central Otago. Deep red, fragrant nose of sweet red and dark cherry fruit, some smoke, rich and lush palate without veering into overripe territory. (AO)
Raptor Ridge Winery
Raptor Ridge 2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. Medium-light garnet color, with upfront strawberry, and bing cherry aromas, plus earth and oak notes. Fairly light on the palate, with somewhat bitter tannins that sneaked up on the finish.
Raptor Ridge 2008 Pinot Noir, “Reserve.” Willamette Valley. Medium color, a bit reductive at first, more earthy black cherry and forest floor, less fruit-forward than the ’09, and showing a bit more oak. Medium-bodied and structured, with a grippy finish.
Scherrer Winery
Scherrer 2010 Dry Rosé, Sonoma County. Rosé from mostly Pinot Noir and Zinfandel saignée, with a little Syrah. Light pink/salmon color, aromas of watermelon and dried herbs, with a fairly smooth mouthfeel and finish.
Scherrer 2007 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County. Medium-light color, showing very spicy red fruits and a touch of earth. Medium-light bodied, with a round mouthfeel and lively finish.
Scherrer 2008 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County. Red berries, spice and some pine forest, somewhat leaner and more tightly focused than the 2007, good acidity with fine tannins, very nice wine. (AO)
Scherrer 2007 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Medium ruby color, with more intense raspberry, cola, and spice on the nose. A bit richer on the palate, with noticeable but refined tannins.
Scherrer 2008 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Strawberry and cherry nose with some floral notes and red and dark berry palate, medium-bodied good acidity balancing the lush fruit. (AO)
Scherrer 2007 Pinot Noir, “Big Brother,” Sonoma Coast. Sourced from the Annapolis area. Medium color, displaying bright red fruits, tea leaf, and forest floor, along with a touch of baking spice. Medium-bodied, vibrant, and elegant in the mouth, with a long, tasty finish, nice.
Comments: Fred Scherrer poured an impressive line-up of wines. The “Big Brother” would have been on the “favorites” list if not for the ’08 Sonoma County bottling – both were outstanding.
Sequana Vineyards
Sequana 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands. Sourced from Sarmento Vineyard. Medium color, bright and ripe cherry fruit along with earth and spice. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity.
Sequana 2009 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Sourced from three vineyards. Medium ruby color, showing ripe black cherry, cola, and spice on the nose. Round but lively mouthfeel with somewhat bitter tannins on the finish.
Sequana 2009 Pinot Noir, Dutton Ranch, Green Valley of Russian River Valley. Medium color, with more intense ripe plum and darker berry fruit, cola, earth, and spicy oak. Fairly rich on the palate with a smooth finish.
Comments: The Sequana wines are made by noted Pinot producer James MacPhail.
Sierra Madre Vineyard
Sierra Madre 2007 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley. Red and dark cherries with mocha, vanilla, and spice, tasty in a rich and straightforward style. (AO)
Sierra Madre 2008 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley. More focused and restrained than the 2007, red cherries and raspberries with a touch of blueberry, forest floor, medium-bodied with fresh acidity and nice texture. (AO)
Sierra Madre 2008 Pinot Noir, Sierra Madre Vineyard, “Block 216, Clone 5 Pommard,” Santa Maria Valley. Red cherry and raspberry cola, showing a little more oak than the regular bottling, and a little less complexity. (AO)
Skewis Wines
Skewis 2008 Pinot Noir, Salzgeber-Chan Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Medium-light ruby color, bright aromas of strawberry and red cherry, earth, and a touch of toasty oak. Lively mouthfeel with good acidity and clean finish, nice.
Skewis 2008 Pinot Noir, “North Coast Cuvée,” North Coast. Sourced from vineyards in Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley. Medium-light color, showing a bit darker fruit profile, along with a big spice/clove component. Bigger and more structured on the palate with moderately grippy tannins.
Skewis 2008 Pinot Noir, Peters Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. Medium-light color, displaying riper black cherry and raspberry, baking spices, earth, and more noticeable oak. Medium-bodied with nice texture in the mouth and refined tannins on the finish.
Small Vines Wines
Small Vines 2009 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. Medium ruby color, with black cherry, rhubarb, cola, and a dash of pepper. Medium weight with fairly mild tannins.
Small Vines 2009 Pinot Noir, MK Vineyard, Sonoma Coast. To be released later this year. Slightly darker color, displaying bright raspberry and plum, earth, and dried herbs along with a touch of oak. A bit bigger on the palate than the RRV bottling with good structure and a long and lively finish, nice.
Small Vines 2009 Pinot Noir, Baranoff Vineyard, Russian River Valley. To be released later this year. Medium-dark color, with ripe cherry, cola, and spice aromas plus an underlay of sweet oak. Richer and smoother mouthfeel, with moderate tannins.
Sokol Blosser Winery
Sokol Blosser 2008 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills. Medium-light color, featuring bright, earthy cherry and raspberry aromas, with spice and tea leaf notes. Vibrant mouthfeel with an elegant texture and lively finish, nice.
Sokol Blosser 2008 Pinot Noir, “Estate Cuvée,” Dundee Hills. Medium-light color, with more focused cherry and cranberry fruit, minerals, spice, and oak. Medium-light bodied with bright acidity and tannins that were a touch bitter on the finish.
Sokol Blosser 2010 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills. Very light pink color, pure wild strawberry on the nose. Tingly acidity in the mouth, with a crisp, refreshing finish, nice.
Comments: A strong group of wines from Sokol Blosser.
Testarossa Winery
Testarossa 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands. Sourced from four vineyards. Medium ruby color, ripe cherry, spice, with touches of citrus zest and sweet oak on the nose. Medium weight and round on the palate, with very mild tannins.
Testarossa 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County. Made for sales to restaurants. Medium color, with fruit-forward aromas of cherry and raspberry, plus a touch of dried herbs and a dash of oak. Medium-light bodied, fairly straightforward and smooth.
Thomas Fogarty Winery
Thomas Fogarty 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains. Red cherry and cranberry fruit with abundant aromas of forest floor and earth, nice medium bodied wine that emphasizes the savory side of Pinot Noir. (AO)
Thomas Fogarty 2008 Pinot Noir, Windy Hill Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains. Dark cherries and raspberries, nice spiciness, much deeper fruit with some more noticeable oak. (AO)
Thomas Fogarty 2008 Pinot Noir, Rapley Trail Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains. Wild raspberries and cherries, very earthy with prominent notes of forest floor, good length, my favorite of the three Pinots poured today. (AO)
Torii Mor Winery
Torii Mor 2007 Pinot Noir, Olson Estate Vineyard, Dundee Hills. Red and dark cherries and chocolate with some fairly noticeable oak. (AO)
Torii Mor 2008 Pinot Noir, “Chehalem Mountains Select,” Chehalem Mountians. More restrained, pretty nose of red cherries and strawberries with some rose petal notes, nice length with fine-grained tannins. (AO)
White Rose Estate
White Rose 2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. Spent 11 months in oak, 10% new barrels, with 20% whole cluster. Recently released, perfumed nose of red berries cherries, and cinnamon, in a medium bodied and forward style with slightly sweetish fruit. (AO)
White Rose 2009 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills. A blend with 80% from the Estate vineyard planted in 1980 and 20% from Grant vineyard planted in 1974, 15 months in oak, with 20-25% new, and 50% whole cluster. Spicy nose, red berry and dark cherry, forest floor, still fairly primary but with nice balance and good length. (AO)
White Rose 2008 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills. Made with 25% whole cluster and 24% new oak. Medium to slightly deeper red, juicy red raspberry and dark cherry, some oak and cinnamon spice, elegant to somewhat bigger with good length. (AO)
White Rose 2008 Pinot Noir, White Rose Vineyard, Dundee Hills. From own-rooted Pommard clone vines planted in 1980, 15% new oak, 50% whole cluster (average over different lots). Dark cherry and red and dark berries, some smoke, lots of spice with a silky texture, a more muscular wine but carries it well. (AO)
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2009 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley. Includes 10% Muscat with some Pinot Blanc. Very fragrant, could smell the wine as it was being poured, forward floral aromas with pear and melon fruit, medium-bodied wine with nice roundness and crisp finish. (AO)
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir, “Whole Cluster Fermented,” Willamette Valley. All stainless steel, carbonic fermentation for 21 days then pressed into another stainless steel tank to complete fermentation, pale ruby color, with juicy strawberry fruit, savory spice, and a hint of green tobacco leaf. Interesting wine in lighter, early drinking style. (AO)
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley. Strawberry/rhubarb fruit in a medium bodied style, a little reticent at present. (AO)
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir, Estate, Willamette Valley. Similar nose to the other 2008, with strawberries and red cherries with some spice, richer palate with a longer finish. (AO)
Winderlea Vineyard and Winery
Winderlea 2008 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley. From Carabella (Chehalem Mountain) and Hyland (McMinnville) fruit, and a combination of stainless and barrel fermented lots, tart apple, citrus, and white peach with some light oak, well-balanced and easy-drinking wine. (AO)
Winderlea 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Dundee Hills. A little closed down, red cherry and cranberry fruit, crisp acidity with some spice in a medium bodied frame, a little understated at present but I think this warrants further aging. Roughly a third new oak was used, includes Pommard, 777, 667, and 115 clones. (AO)
Winderlea 2008 Pinot Noir, Estate, Dundee Hills. Somewhat riper and darker than the 2007, red and dark berries, blueberry, spicier, with the oak showing a little more. Roughly a third new oak was used, includes Pommard, Coury, Wädenswil, 777, 667, and 115 clones. (AO)
Windy Oaks Estate
Windy Oaks 2008 Pinot Noir, “Wild Yeast,” Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains. 65% new oak. Medium-light color, featuring floral red fruit aromas, black pepper, spice, with an herbal note. Very lively on the palate, with good acidity and fairly mild tannins on the long finish, nice.
Windy Oaks 2008 Pinot Noir, “100% Whole Cluster,” Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains. 40% new oak. Medium-light color, showing lots of spicy cherry and strawberry fruit and sweet oak on the nose. Bigger and more structured than the “Wild Yeast” bottling, with more grippy tannins.
Windy Oaks 2008 Pinot Noir, “Terra Narro,” Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains. Bright raspberry and spice nose with raspberry and dark cherry palate, showing some spicy oak at this stage, nice acidity, a tasty wine that I think will show even better in a year or two. (AO)
Comments: Windy Oaks was one of the few Santa Cruz Mountains producers at the event. Their wines were all quite good, and very different from one another.
Zotovich Family Vineyards
Zotovich 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. Dark cherries and raspberries with some beet root and whole cluster spice, rich and somewhat muscular wine. (AO)
Zotovich 2008 Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. More focused nose of red and dark berries, nice floral overtones, some cola, deep and rich balanced with crisp acidity. (AO)
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