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FEATURED IN THIS WEEK'S PinotFile, VOL 7 ISSUE 21

Was 2007 the vintage of the decade? A look back at the vintage charts for the preceding seven vintages of the decade would not support such a claim because the 2001 and 2002 vintages received higher scores (Wine Spectator has yet to release its 2007 vintage score). That said, Pinot Noir viticulture and winemaking has progressed dramatically over the past 5 to 6 years, creating, if not better wines, a larger number of great wines compared to 2001 and 2002. For example, some outstanding producers featured in this issue such as Rivers-Marie (2002), De la Montanya (2003), Eric Kent Cellars (2003), Cima Collina (2004), Pali Wine Company (2005), and Foursight (2007) were not even producing Pinot Noir as recently as 2001. J Winery & Vineyards, whose Pinot Noirs are strikingly good in the 2007 vintage, made a serious commitment to Pinot Noir beginning with the 2006 vintage. Several wine regions such as Carneros and Santa Cruz Mountains have made remarkable strides over the last six vintages. I believe it is safe to say that no other vintage in this decade surpasses 2007 for breadth of quality Pinot Noir throughout California.
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WINES REVIEWED IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF PINOTFILE
2008 Pali Wine Co. Sunset Rosé 2008 Bybee Vineyards & Habitat Rosé of Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008 Lynmar Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 14.1 2008 Antica Terra Rosé Willamette Valley 2007 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Stiling Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Expression 39 Anahala Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Bluffs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Balletto Burnside Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Balletto Winery Block Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Flying Rooster Red Sonoma Coast 2007 Felta Creek Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Felta Creek Pinot Squared Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 13.6 2007 Coho Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Lane Tanner Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2007 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Merryvale Carneros Pinot Noir 2007 Lane Tanner Julia’s Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Black Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2007 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Windsor Oaks Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 De La Montanya Tina’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Landmark Grand Detour Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Rivers-Marie Willow Creek Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Seawind Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2007 Seawind Split Rock Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 De La Montanya Christine’s Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 DeLoach Vineyards Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 DeLoach Vineyards Maboroshi Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 DeLoach Vineyards Masut Vineyard Redwood Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Merryvale Stanly Ranch Estate Carneros Pinot Noir 2007 Red Car Trolley Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Rivers-Marie Summa Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Charles Vineyard All-In Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Foursight Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Cima Collina Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2007 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Freestone Pinot Noir 2007 Foursight Charles Vineyard Clone 05 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2007 De La Cain Chanconne Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2007 De La Montanya Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Boer Family Vineyard Chalone Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Cargasacchi Jalama Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Durrell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Inman Olivet Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Keefer Ranch Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Momtazi Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Turner Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2007 Red Car Heaven & Earth La Boheme Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Red Car The Aphorist Bartolomei Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Halleck Vineyard Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Halleck Vineyard The Farm Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Landmark Solomon Hills Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Pali Wine Co. Thorn Ridge Ranch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 Rivers-Marie Summa Old Vines Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 DuMOL Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 J Vineyards Nicole’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 J Vineyards Robert Thomas Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Landmark Kanzler Kanzler Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007 J Vineyards Barrel 16 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 J Vineyards Nonny’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 J Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006 Coho Stanly Ranch Los Carneros Pinot Noir 2006 Athair Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Benziger Signaterra Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Sierra Madre Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Olson Ogden Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Dehlinger Goldridge Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Halleck Vineyard Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 La Crema 9 Barrels Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2005 De La Montanya Tina’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2004 A.P. Vin Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 De La Montanya Tina’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2004 La Rochelle Garys‘ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Loring Wine Company Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Lucia Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Marguerite Ryan Cellars Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Miner Family Vineyards Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Miura Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Morgan Garys‘ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Roar Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Siduri Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Surh Luchtel Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Tantara Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Vision Cellars Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Waltzing Bear Wines Garys‘ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Martin Alfaro Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2004 Testerossa Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
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