May 5, 2013
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Sean Minor Wines
| Owner(s) | Sean Minor |
| Web site | www.4bearswinery.com |
| Link to this site |
The Minor family founded the Four Bears Winery in 2005, later incorporating this label under the new name, Sean Minor Wines. The varietal wines produced include Central Coast Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carneros Pinot Noir from Napa Valley.
Will Bucklin is the winery's winemaking consultant. They developed a friendship at King Estate Winery in Oregon where Bucklin was a winemaker and Sean Minor was the General Manager.
Sean Minor wines are sold on the website and distributed in 24 states.
Articles About Sean Minor Wines
Mining for Good Pinot Noir in the Value-Priced Bin (9.5 4/4/2012)
Mining the Pinot Bargain Bin: It’s What’s for Dinner (9.3 2/22/2012)
More Sips of California Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (9.20 2/26/2013)
Sips of Pinot (8.25 11/7/2010)
Three Carneros Pinot Noir Gems (8.11 2/15/2010)
Value-Price Pinots (9.18 1/19/2013)
Reviewed Wines
2011 Sean Minor Four Bears Central Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $11.99, screwcap.
·
Moderately light
reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of dark cherries, strawberries, anise, pipe smoke, spice and mowed
grass. Juicy and frisky, with very little tannin, offering bright flavors of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, earth
and sweet smoky oak. Decent.
Reviewed January 19, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 Sean Minor Four Bears Central Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc.,
$12, screw cap.
·
Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Darker
fruits are featured with added aromas of kitchen spice, oak and cut
flowers. Very soft on the palate with a tasty array of dark red cherry,
black raspberry and blueberry flavors enhanced by a touch of oak.
Moderately light and easy to drink with commendable tannic support.
Lacks finishing strength but otherwise is quite impressive at this price
level. Good (+).
Reviewed February 22, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Sean Minor Carneros Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $14.
·
Medium
reddish-purple hue in the glass. Shy aromas of dark fruits, forest floor
and oak. Lighter weight flavors of dark raspberries and blackberries
with a subtle smoky, oak char undertone that dissipates over time in
the glass. Velvety soft in the mouth. This wine could use more time in
bottle. Decant if you pop a cork now. Good (+).
Reviewed April 4, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Sean Minor Carneros Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $14.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass.
Earthy black fruit on the nose which is very shy. Somewhat rich flavors of red and black plum with a hint of
spice and oak. The wine has a silky presence on the palate with good tannic spine and a refreshing cut of
acidity on the finish. A pleasant drink and solid for its price range. Decent.
Reviewed February 27, 2013
ARTICLE »
2009 Sean Minor 4 Bears Winery Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5%
alc.,pH 3.63, $17 (but available for as little as $13). 100% Pinot Noir
and a blend of Pommard and Dijon clones. 100% de-stemmed, coldsoaked
for 3 days, aged 9 months in 15% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderate ruby hue in the glass. Striking perfume of strawberries,
raspberries, pear and savory spices. Tasty red, blue and black berry
core with a cola and oak note. Quite smooth on the palate and will attract many
fans, especially at the low price. A local retailer I know blew out cases of this
wine. Will stand up to hearty fare. Very good.
Reviewed November 7, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Sean Minor 4 Bears Napa Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.,
$13.
·
A spicy mother on the nose and palate with added interest from
scents and flavors of strawberries, woodshed and cardamon. Lightbodied
but pleasing with enough tannin to support the splashy fruit.
True to the varietal and surprisingly good for the price.
Very good (-).
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2011 Sean Minor Four Bears Central Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $11.99, screwcap. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of dark cherries, strawberries, anise, pipe smoke, spice and mowed grass. Juicy and frisky, with very little tannin, offering bright flavors of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, earth and sweet smoky oak. Decent. Reviewed January 19, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 Sean Minor Four Bears Central Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $12, screw cap. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Darker fruits are featured with added aromas of kitchen spice, oak and cut flowers. Very soft on the palate with a tasty array of dark red cherry, black raspberry and blueberry flavors enhanced by a touch of oak. Moderately light and easy to drink with commendable tannic support. Lacks finishing strength but otherwise is quite impressive at this price level. Good (+). Reviewed February 22, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Sean Minor Carneros Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $14. · Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. Shy aromas of dark fruits, forest floor and oak. Lighter weight flavors of dark raspberries and blackberries with a subtle smoky, oak char undertone that dissipates over time in the glass. Velvety soft in the mouth. This wine could use more time in bottle. Decant if you pop a cork now. Good (+). Reviewed April 4, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Sean Minor Carneros Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $14. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Earthy black fruit on the nose which is very shy. Somewhat rich flavors of red and black plum with a hint of spice and oak. The wine has a silky presence on the palate with good tannic spine and a refreshing cut of acidity on the finish. A pleasant drink and solid for its price range. Decent. Reviewed February 27, 2013 ARTICLE »
2009 Sean Minor 4 Bears Winery Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.,pH 3.63, $17 (but available for as little as $13). 100% Pinot Noir and a blend of Pommard and Dijon clones. 100% de-stemmed, coldsoaked for 3 days, aged 9 months in 15% new French oak barrels. · Moderate ruby hue in the glass. Striking perfume of strawberries, raspberries, pear and savory spices. Tasty red, blue and black berry core with a cola and oak note. Quite smooth on the palate and will attract many fans, especially at the low price. A local retailer I know blew out cases of this wine. Will stand up to hearty fare. Very good. Reviewed November 7, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Sean Minor 4 Bears Napa Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $13. · A spicy mother on the nose and palate with added interest from scents and flavors of strawberries, woodshed and cardamon. Lightbodied but pleasing with enough tannin to support the splashy fruit. True to the varietal and surprisingly good for the price. Very good (-). Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
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