Reviews

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

As expected, this is a biggin' of a domestic Pinot. Dark and haunting core fruit notes of black cherry, black raspberry, and brambly blueberry. Spice box, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, mulch, and…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

In a FAR better place than it was nearly a year ago. But be warned, this is still a biggun! Huge fruit. Huge spice. Huge Pinot. Black cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, anise, clove, Chinese five…

Château Boswell Pinot Noir Absolutely Eloise Bentrock Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Very similar to the Sonoma offering of the Eloise, with higher-toned, red fruit flavors of cranberry, pomegranate, incense, and alcohol-laced vanilla. Fairly linear on the attack, with a lithe,…

Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing

From Magnum. Medium-to-light bodied flavors of black cherry, allspice, cedar, vanilla, and earth/soil. A faint herbal tinge on the back end. The delivery on this wine was fairly linear and somewhat…

Walt Pinot Noir Clos Pepe

Similar to my previous note. Somewhat overbearing and at the same time a bit lackluster. An ok Pinot, but a little heavy-handed on the attack but yet thinning out on the back end. Not much…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

From Magnum. Previous notes apply. Pretty boozy on the PnP, but fanned out nicely after some air time in the glass. A big, rich, spicy style, but with quality fruit and focus still intact. An…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Same as my notes from last month. We had this wine at the after-party (or rather, the party), after leaving Wren Hop. It started out a little boozy, but then blew off the alcohol after about 30…

Walt Pinot Noir Clos Pepe

PnP was immediately accessible with gobs of red and black cherry, red and black raspberry, and a viscous young blackberry liqueur note. Acid seemed a bit low, but a few spice flavors gave way to a…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Same as all of my other previous notes on this wine. I'm certainly a fan. Up there with the best Wren Hops I've had. Up there with one of the best Pinots I've ever had. Big and giving, with an…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Previous notes apply. Hold for another year in hopes the hot, sweet, alcohol-tinged flavors will settle in a more integrated fashion.

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

I really need to leave this wine alone for another year. Same notes as before. Hot, sweet, and jammy. The stuffing is there to hopefully drive this home at some point, but certainly not yet. Hold!

Mail Road Wines Pinot Noir Blocks 2, 3, 5 Mt. Carmel

Same as my notes from February, but this still needs quite a bit of time in bottle to integrate. High pitched and never fully shedding itself of a tartness/sourness that was a bit distracting,…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Same as my notes from August and before. Almost as good as the Daughters of Earth, with just a tad less in terms of layered complexity. Wins huge points for power and intensity, and the most…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Same as my notes from January. Hold until 2017+. Big, ripe, sweet, and a bit hot. This still has some working out to do.

Melville Pinot Noir Estate

Simple, high-toned red berry fruit, strawberry, cranberry, and alcohol. Distractingly high on the red fruit register; sour and monolithic. Standby for the headache. Reminded me more of a vodka…

Mail Road Wines Chardonnay Mount Carmel

Same as my December 2015 notes, except that I found this to be even more humdrum than last time. The fruit has faded even more so than I remember from 9 months ago.

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Same as my tasting notes from almost a year ago, except that this has clearly evolved in the bottle even better since October 2015. Dark black cherry, currant, and spice notes were at the forefront.

Melville Pinot Noir Block M

A little difficult to read for me at this stage. Came off a little hot and linear. Strawberry cream, cranberry, smoke, and spice. Alcohol was certainly showing its 15% compared to the would-be fruit…

Mail Road Wines Pinot Noir Blocks 2, 3, 5 Mt. Carmel

PnP into the glass with little time for air. Extremely youthful notes of black cherry, pomegranate seed, rose petal, heather, rosemary, and the faintest of orange peel (not as strong as, for example,…

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

I certainly empathize with those who find this Pinot to be too rich and sweet for their palates. The initial PnP was certainly the most "extracted" experience I have ever had with a Bevan Pinot in my…

Mail Road Wines Chardonnay Mount Carmel

A very pretty and feminine Chardonnay, with soft citrus and vanilla notes cascading across the palate. Additional notes of lemon curd, poached pear, green apple, popcorn, and a subtle minerality that…

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Architects & Saboteurs

Tasted at Wren Hop alongside the new 2013 lineup of Pinots.