2006 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 369 barrels,
$30.50.
·
Closed up tighter than a drum. Pepper-dosed dark red fruits which are very restrained and mild
grainy tannins that need to be shed. A wine of decent potential that is not showing its best at this young
stage. Really peppery!
2006 Esterlina Estate Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 611 cases, $45.
·
Noticeably confected cherry and cotton candy
aromas with accents of roses and new-sawn oak. Delicious and
caressing in the mouth, enveloping the tongue with rich spiced
black cherry and black raspberry fruit. A little woodsy, shroom
flavor adds interest. Beautifully balanced with silky tannins and a
clean finish that lingers. Love to spend the evening with this one.
2006 A.P. Vin Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
15.0% alc., $49. Proprietor
and winemaker Andrew P. Vingiello crafts interesting wines from multiple vineyard sources within
California.
·
Very fruity nose with alluring cherry and strawberry perfume accented by spice and oak. Discreetly
concentrated super ripe fruit tending toward raisin. Healthy tannins and a clean herb-tinged finish.
2005 Castle Los Carneros Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., $16. Castle has
been farming vineyards in Los Carneros and the Sonoma Valley for
more than twenty years.
·
The nose is of some interest showing off
black cherries, baking spices, and fresh roses. Alcohol peaks out.
Light in body and intensity with a soft mouth feel. Flavors of cherries,
red licorice, and tobacco are decent. Not a bad drink for the money.
My wife liked this a lot (she is partial to bright cherry flavors).
2005 Sarah’s Vineyard Estate Santa Clara Valley Pinot Noir
15.9% alc., 502 cases, $25. This is a
historic property, founded in 1978 and planted to a variety of proprietary clones.
·
The grapes for this
wine appear to have hung too long. An over ripe fruit character dominates the wine which displays burnt
jam and raisin flavors. The nose offers the smell of ripe cherries, mushrooms, beets and a hint of alcohol.
There is plenty of acid and a grapefruit flavor that mars an otherwise lingering finish.
2005 EQ Matetic Vineyards Chile Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $27. EQ stands for Equilibrio, Spanish for
balance. Imported by F.P.D. Inc., Carson, California.
·
Dark crimson color. Scents of wild dark berries
with less appealing lacquer, wet stone and stinky aromas. Plump and earthy blackberry and plum flavors
tending toward prune. Richly textured with finely ground tannins and well appointed oak. For the curious.
2005 Tyler Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $50.
·
The nose trumps the
flavors here. Like an expensive perfume, the scents of black fruits, roses, and fresh green grass are alluring.
A different story in the mouth where the black cherry fruit is tart and lean. A hefty acidic spine dominates
throughout.
