Beauregard Vineyards - 2006 Bald Mountain Pinot Noir

The next stop for The 12 Days of Pinot Noir is one of several to the Santa Cruz Mountains. I’ve been sampling and ultimately drinking more and more wines from this region over the last few years. I’m happy to report that there are quite a number of wineries turning out excellent wine in this area. The common thread that sticks out for me in the better Santa Cruz Mountains selections I have tried is an outstanding purity of fruit. The first selection I’m looking at from Santa Cruz Mountains during The 12 Days of Pinot Noir is 2006 release from Beauregard Vineyards. While Beauregard Vineyards wasn’t officially launched as a winery until 1999, the family has farmed the area for four generations. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah are amongst the varietals they produce in addition to Pinot Noir.

The 2006 Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir is made from fruit sourced at Bald Mountain. This 38 acre parcel is their largest vineyard and has 9 acres planted to Pinot Noir. The suggested retail price for this wine is $45.

Vanilla and dark cherry that’s coated with a slight candied edge fill the nose of this Mountain Pinot Noir. Cranberries and pomegranate are prominent throughout the palate along with layers of raspberry and light flourish of forest floor. Hints of dusty baker’s chocolate and subtle but emerging earth notes lead the lengthy finish along with sour cherry, white pepper, and light cola notes. The tannins are generous and silky, framed by good acidity.

I found this selection from Beauregard Vineyards to be a beautiful expression of mountain grown Pinot Noir. Along the lines of my previous Santa Cruz experiences this wine has a purity of fruit that shines through. This wine is delicious now and will evolve nicely with some additional bottle age. My recommendation would be to lay it down for 2-3 years and drink it in the 5 years after that.

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Foggy Bridge - 2006 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir

So here it is after some anticipation, The 12 Days of Pinot Noir has arrived to welcome in October. Over the next 12 Days quite a few Pinots will be covered and recommended  here. But where to start? Back in July I was out at the Wine Blogger’s Conference and had the opportunity to taste a Chardonnay from an urban San Francisco Winery. That Chardonnay from Foggy Bridge made an impression and when I was rounding up wines to taste for possible inclusion in the 12 Days of Pinot Noir, I checked to see if they made a Pinot, and sure enough they do. So theirs will be the inaugural selection for this 12 Day Pinot Fest. The 2006 Foggy Bridge Pinot Noir is made from fruit sourced at the well known Bien Nacido vineyard in Santa Maria Valley. This wine is 100% Santa Maria Valley fruit and all Pinot Noir. Oak aging was accomplished over 12 months in French (90%), and American (10%) oak. 426 cases of this selection were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.

Wild strawberries and bing cherry fill the nose of this wine along with touches of crème fraiche and vanilla bean. The palate which gently coats your taste buds is loaded with medium dark fruit; cherries dominate. These are joined by subtler mushroom and earth characteristics. Light chicory notes lead a lingering finish that also has cinnamon, chocolate and solid flourishes of sour cherry. Soft, supple tannins and good acidity round out this wine.

This Pinot Noir provides a ton of varietal character which is particularly important to note when there are a lot of examples out there that don’t. This wine is a classic case of a Pinot that will pair well with a wide array of food. Don’t hesitate to drink it on it’s own though as it’s delicious solo too.

If you want to read more about Foggy Bridge head over to my other site Drink Dry Creek where we recently wrote about their 2007 Zinfandel.

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The "12 Days of Pinot Noir" Is Coming

A couple times a year I celebrate the Wine version of Christmas. How do I do that you ask? Pretty simple actually, I focus on a single varietal for 12 straight days. Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and most recently Cabernet Franc are amongst the varietals I've celebrated this semi-annual holiday with over the last couple of years. When I was thinking about what I should taste for the Fall 2009 edition of "12 Days," Pinot struck me as a no brainer. I've yet to run across a varietal of wine I don't like at all. But by the same token, few grapes get me as excited as Pinot Noir can. When they're excellent I find them downright inspirational. If I'm going to sit in the corner or under a tree and contemplate life with a bottle of wine, more than likely it's going to be Pinot Noir.

So, starting on October 1, it'll be all Pinot Noir for 12 days. How many Pinot Noirs am I going to write about you ask? I can't tell you, because I don't know yet. I'm tasting through quite a few Pinot's (well over 80) and I'll post here about the ones I like best. What I can tell you is that the Willamtte Valley in Oregon and the Santa Cruz Mountains of California are the areas I'm mostly tasting from. A couple of other appellations are on my tasting schedule and they may make it in as well. So depending on how many wines hit my sweet spot, look for multiple posts on most days. October is almost here and so is the 12 Days of Pinot Noir! Are you excited? I am and I hope you'll check in often to read up on my Pinot progress. As I write this I'm checking my list of Pinot Noir and organizing tasting flights, not to mention making sure all of my Burgundy glasses ares clean and ready to accept wine.

Of course a few months down the road and there will be another "12 Days" event. I'm open to suggestions for what the next varietal should be. So please shoot me a message and give me your thoughts. And by all means Drink some Pinot this week to help ne celebrate the 12 days of Pinot Noir!

Irony Wines - 2006 Monterey Pinot Noir

As readers to this blog can attest I have a fickle relationship with Pinot Noir. In theory I’m a huge fan. In fact if you force me to choose a favorite varietal, Pinot Noir is in the running, with a fighting chance to win. Sadly though there are a lot of Pinot’s from California, especially in the under $20 category that don’t live up to what this great grape should be. These subpar examples often have other varietals blended in to darken the hue or add something. The trouble is they take away more Pinot character than anything they add. So when I find an example in this price range that acquits itself nicely, I find it a reason for a minor celebration. Today I’ll look at one from Irony Wines. This 2006 Irony Pinot Noir is produced from fruit sourced in Monterey. This wine is aged in a combination of both new and old French and American oak for eight months. 24,000 cases were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.99.

Wild strawberries dominate the nose along with touches of vanilla and an inherent and appealing hint of cream. Throughout the palate, cherry and raspberry characteristics are on the forefront and underpinned by subtle spice. Earth, wild mushroom and white pepper are all part of a medium length finish. I found this wine went quite well with pork loin and rosemary roasted potatoes.

As I hinted at above what I like about this Pinot Noir is that it’s both true to the varietal and well priced. This is a genuine wine that’s widely available and sold at a reasonable cost. When it comes to California Pinot Noir those traits don’t intersect very often. This wine is made to drink now and will be enjoyable for the next couple of years. As far as everyday drinking Pinot goes, this is a solid choice.

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Firesteed - 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir

When it comes to Pinot Noir, outside of a handful of exceptions Oregon really has it all over California. Their climate, especially in Willamette Valley is prime Pinot real estate. For those of us who love Pinot Noir made with Burgundian intent there are many examples available. Today I'm looking at one from Firesteed. They make approximately 60,000 cases of wine and acquire their fruit from a host of growers, mostly through long term contracts. The Firesteed 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir is composed of fruit sourced from Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla Valleys. A small percentage of the wine was barrel aged. This offering commonly sells for less than $15.

Upon first opening this Pinot Noir is slightly reticent. A bit of time in the glass or decanter helps. Once it has opened up, bing cherry and earth notes are present in the nose. Sour cherry, mushroom and wild strawberry are apparent throughout the palate. Tea, mineral and cola reference points are all part of the finish which is noticeably lengthy and lingering. Good acidity frames the structure of this wine and keeps everything even keeled and balanced.

What I like most about this Pinot Noir is that it's gentle, soft and elegant, while also being nicely layered and complex. This is an offering that will really develop in your glass or decanter over a long meal or evening. It's one to savor. The combination of Oregon terroir and Burgundian intent when it comes to wine-making style, make for a winner, not to mention nice value.

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York Mountain - 2006 Jack Ranch Pinot Noir

York Mountain Winery has a history that dates all the way back to 1882. Over that long history they have only changed had a couple of times. The most recent was in 2001 when David & Mary Weyrich, owners of Martin & Weyrich purchased it. They have continued the tradition of producing wines in the York Mountian tradition. Today I'll look at one of their Pinot Noirs. The 2006 York Mountain Winery Pinot Noir is made from fruit sourced at their Jack Ranch Estate vineyard. These vines are located in the Edna Valley appellation. The cooler climate there is noted for being a prime spot to grow Pinot Noir. This offering spent 12 months in French oak; 33% of the barrels were new. 212 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $25.

The nose of this Pinot Noir has wild strawberry and touches of cream. Black Cherry, raspberry and generally dark fruit notes dominate the palate. Toasty oak notes emerge in the finish along with sour cherry, vanilla and a touch of earth. This Pinot Noir has excellent acidity and firm tannins.  While this wine will pair beautifully with a wide array of foods, I matched it up with Mushroom Risotto and found it to be a terrific pairing.

Pinot Noir from California can be a mixed bag. Too many examples taste like anything but Pinot. Thankfully this one offers plenty of true Pinot Noir character. Considering the earth of well priced, quality Pinot Noir out there, this selection is a good value in its category.

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Two Wines From Brancott In New Zealand

Brancott in New Zealand planted the first commercial vineyards in Marlborough more than 30 years ago. In 1979 they made their first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc. This is particularly noteworthy when you consider what an important role that varietal plays in the history, evolution and world-wide recognition of New Zealand’s Wine Industry. Today I’ll look at two of their current release wines, not surprisingly one is in fact a Sauvignon Blanc. The Brancott 2008 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is made from fruit sourced at two vineyards. This offering is comprised completely of Sauvignon Blanc. The suggested retail price for this wine is $19.

Melon, gooseberry and lemon zest are prominent in the nose. They carry through the palate which also features peach characteristics and hint of grass. Mineral notes, white pepper and some mouth puckering tartness emerge on the finish. Crisp, abundant acidity frames everything and makes this a Sauvignon Blanc that lends itself quite favorably to food.

What stood out most about this Sauvignon Blanc is that even with its hint of grassiness it leans away from the style that normally comes to mind in New Zealand. While that typically grassy Zealand style is often great, I like seeing something different and well done.

The second wine from Brancott is the 2007 Terraces “T” Marlborough Pinot Noir. This wine is of course 100% Pinot Noir. Aging was accomplished in French oak; ages ranged from new to two years old. The suggested retail price for this Pinot Noir is $32.

Black cherry and vanilla dominate the nose of this Pinot Noir. Throughout the palate, raspberry, clove nutmeg and white pepper are prominent along with subtler but present hints of cocoa. The finish of this classy Pinot Noir has an avalanche of deliciously pleasing sour cherry. The structure of this wine is framed by terrific acidity. This is one of those Pinot’s you can order at a restaurant when everyone at the table is eating a diverse array of foods.

What impressed me most about this selection is that it’s clearly age worthy. It should really come together and improve in the short term (2-3 years) and drink well for a couple of years after that. Good and great Pinot Noir is not inexpensive. This is an excellent one at a reasonable price.

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Stoneleigh - 2007 Marlborough Pinot Noir

If the momentum of Wine was compared to vehicles, New Zealand Pinot Noir seems to be picking up steam like a freight train. By and large the Pinot Noir's from New Zealand are well made and crafted in a style true to the essence of this legendary grape. While these offerings are coming from numerous regions, Marlborough is perhaps the most well known at this point. The 2007 Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot Noir. Fruit was sourced from 4-9 year old vines. This wine spent six months in French oak. Alcohol is a modest 13%. This offering has a suggested retail price of $16.

This Pinot Noir has a beautiful dark hue, and it's a treat to even look at in your glass. The nose is filled with both red and black cherry notes, underpinned by vanilla. Throughout the palate, cherry characteristics continue, accompanied by rhubarb. Sour cherry emerges on the finish along with leather, tobacco, white pepper and a hint of cola. This wine is framed by tremendous acidity and firm but approachable tannins. This Pinot is delicious and quite drinkable on it's own, but it has the structure to pair with a wide array of foods. Grilled Lamb skewers with portobello mushrooms strikes me as a particularly good match.

What I like best about this New Zealand Pinot Noir is that it's well made, well balanced, and crafted in the correct style for this varietal. For $16 this wine is a steal. It over delivers for it's cost, and is a great introduction to the tremendous Pinot Noirs that are emerging from new Zealand.

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Cosentino Winery - 2006 Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir

Last week I looked at one of Cosentino's Cabernet Francs. As I mentioned at the time, I have found them to be a consistent producer. There are several things that I've found particularly impressive about their consistency. One is that they maintain high levels of quality and make interesting wines at a diverse range of price points. Secondly they make an incredible array of different wines that manage to be distinct and varietally correct while also maintaining a house style that brands them as uniquely Cosentino. Today I'll look at one of their current release Pinot Noirs. The Cosentino Winery 2006 Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from two vineyards; one just north of Carneros, and another in Russian River Valley. This wine was aged in barrel for 9 months. 1265 cases were produced and the suggested retail price is $40.

This Pinot Noir has a nice nose of wild strawberry and cherry notes. Throughout the palate pomegranate, cherry and vanilla spice notes star. Leather and earth emerge on the finish, alongside continued vanilla and a touch of nutmeg and a subtle hint of cola. This wine is nicely balanced, with fine acidity.

What I like best about this wine is that it's a classic expression of Pinot Noir made with Burgundian intent. Way too many Pinot Noir's from California are made in an overblown style that tastes nothing like Pinot. Thankfully this effort from Cosentino is not in that category. This wine is drinking incredibly well right now, especially after 30 minutes in the decanter. It'll drink well for the next 3-4 years. This 2006 Pinot Noir is another fine effort by the folks at Cosentino Winery.

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Lionheart Wines - 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The third and final wine from Lionheart Wines I'm looking at right know is a Pinot Noir. I've mentioned many times on this blog that I'm pretty finicky about this varietal. The trouble is that there are a lot of over manipulated Pinot's, especially in California. So, while it's one of my favorite grapes, I approach examples I haven't had with caution. Having had several impressive Lionheart offerings by the time I got to the Pinot I was quite hopeful. The Lionheart Wines 2007 Pinot Noir was made from Sonoma Coast fruit. 4 separate Pinot Noir Clones were blended and co-fermented. 50 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $40.

Loads of black cherry and a hint of licorice fill the nose of this Pinot Noir. Upon taking the first sip of this wine its apparent some time to breathe was needed. An hour in the decanter was very helpful and allowed this offering to blossom nicely. Once it opens up, cherry strawberry, tobacco and copious spice notes are omnipresent through the palate of this wine. The finish features some subtle but emerging earth notes, a bit of sour cherry and lingering black tea elements.

As with the other two Lionheart Wines selections I looked at this Pinot Noir has excellent acidity and balance. They have once again achieved their goal of food friendly wines with this Pinot Noir. While this wine is drinking well now, after some breathing time, my recommendation is to let it sit for another 6-12 months. That time should really help it evolve. I'd expect it to drink well for several years after that. Kudos to Lionheart Wines for making some lovely wines that are true to their respective varietals.

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Barra of Mendocino - 2006 Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the next release I'm tasting from Barra of Mendocino. Along with Chardonnay, this Burgundian varietal is one that can be very hit and miss for me. While I love both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir when they are well made, there are way too many poor examples out there clogging up wine shop shelves. These poor examples often bastardize the grapes by over oaking them. In the case of Pinot Noir some wineries blend in Syrah or even Petite Sirah to darken the color. All that said I approach every Pinot with a combination of great anticipation and little bit of fear. The 2006 Pinot Noir from Barra of Mendocino is 100% varietal. This wine was aged in small French oak barrels. Just under 2,000 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $22.

Aromas of wild strawberry and cola fill the nose of this wine along with lighter vanilla notes. Throughout the palate black cherry dominates along with spice notes. The finish lingers and provides light mushroom as well as continued cherry and a hint of cedar and mocha. This is a very well balanced wine with terrific acidity. Decanting this wine for 45 minutes is recommended to get it to really open up and shine.

What I like best about this Pinot Noir is its balance. Truth be told that has been a hallmark of each wine I have tasted from Barra of Mendocino. I retasted this wine after it had been open for a full 24 hours and found it to be even more expressive. It's drinking very well right now, but some earth should emerge over the next couple of years, if you're patient enough to lay it down. Another lovely wine from Barra of Mendocino.

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Willowbrook Cellars - A Couple of 2006 Pinot Noirs

Willowbrook Cellars was founded in 2001 by Winemaker Joe Otos along with partners John Tracy and John Sillari. Their focus is on Pinot Noir. Specifically they've honed in on Russian River Valley as their primary region for sourcing Pinot Noir. However they look for fruit sources outside of that area that offer unique micro-climates and opportunities to make interesting expressions of Pinot Noir. Today I'll look at two of their current Pinots. Both of them are from outside the Russian River appellation. The 2006 Willowbrook Cellars DuNah Vineyard Pinot Noir is a single vineyard offering. The fruit was sourced from the DuNah Vineyard located in the Sonoma Coast. Fruit from select blocks was used. This offering was aged in French oak. A mere 190 cases of this wine was produced and the suggested retail price is $44.

The DuNah Vineyard Pinot opens with a nose of black cherry and vanilla. The palate is filled with plum, nutmeg spice and classic sour cherry throughout. Good spice, mineral and light truffle notes emerge in the finish accompanied by a bit of cola at the very end. This Pinot has tremendous acidity and nice balance.

This is an example of the style of Pinot Noir I like to sip on my deck while I'm contemplating life. A truly lovely wine made in a classic style.

The second Pinot Noir is also from 2006. The Marin County Pinot Noir was sourced from the northernmost part of Marin County. This selection spent 11 months in French oak. 245 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.

With only 200 acres in Marin County under vine this wine is a window into what sort of wine can be made from this region. In fact this wine is the first that Willowbrook Cellars has released from this source.

The nose opens with wild raspberry notes along with mushroom and vanilla. In contrast to the DuNah which was ready to go immediately, this offering wants some air. A minimum of 45 minutes in the decanter makes a huge difference. The palate has rhubarb, black raspberry and white pepper notes. Compared to the DuNah the Marin County offering is more tightly knit with darker, slightly sweeter berry fruit. The finish brings on more prominent layers of mushroom and additional dark fruit flavors. It has nice acidity and a firm structure.

Both of these Pinot Noir's from Willowbrook Cellars are laudable efforts. Each is made within a style that strikes me as genuine for Pinot Noir. Choosing amongst them is going to come down to personal preference of course. Those looking for a delicate, gentle approach to Pinot are going to lean toward the DuNah Vineyard offering. Someone preferring a bolder selection with darker fruit and a bit more structure will go for the Marin County Pinot Noir. In each case you're getting an authentic expression of this grape that speaks to the fruit's place of origin.

Joe Otos also makes wine for Owl Ridge. I'll take a look at a couple of their Cabernet Sauvignons in the near future.

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Luigi Bosca - 2006 “El Paraíso” Vineyard Pinot Noir

The difficulty of making great Pinot Noir is legendary in wine circles. There are really only a handful of places that are making this grape in its classic style. Luigi Bosca from Argentina makes a Pinot Noir amongst their wide range of offerings. That's the wine I'm looking at today. Very few South American PInots have impressed me over the years but I'm always curious to see what's out there. The 2006 Luigi Bosca Pinot Noir is 100% varietal. The grapes for this wine were harvested from a single vineyard source in Mendoza. "El Paraiso" vineyard sits more than 780 Meters above sea level. This Pinot was aged for 8 months in French oak. The suggested retail price for this wine is $18.

Wild strawberry, bing cherry and subtler but present vanilla notes are the most dominant characteristics in the nose of this Argentine Pinot Noir. Looking at it in the glass it has a slightly darker hue than what is most often typical of Pinot Noir. Think dark cherry in color more than strawberry. From the very first sip sour cherry notes and subtle leather characteristic come out and carry through the mid-palate along with dark plum and emerging earth notes. The earth becomes more prominent on the finish, accompanied by light mushroom and mocha notes. The wine is well balanced with well integrated oak and persistent acidity.

What I like best about this Pinot Noir is how elegant, layered and refined it is for a South American Pinot Noir. It easily outclasses many of the other Pinot's I've had from this region. While it's a bit fuller in the middle than a typical Pinot from Burgundy or Oregon it still manages to lean towards delicate. For a suggested retail price of $18, this wine offers plenty of true varietal character.

Up Next: Malbec from Argentina’s Luigi Bosca

Imported by: Testa Wines of The World Ltd.

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Artesa Winery - 2006 Carneros Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

The last wine from Artesa Winery I'm looking at right now is their 2006 Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir. Coming up in the near future I'll look at a couple from one of their sister Wineries. I first had this particular Pinot a couple of months back at a large scale tasting. It left an impression and I made a note to re-taste it and take a closer look. Just over 3,000 cases of the Artesa Winery 2006 Carneros Estate Reserve Pinot Noir were produced. The grapes were harvested from Artesa's best Pinot Noir blocks and aged in French Oak. The suggested retail price for this wine is $40.

Dark cherry, violets, spice and palpable mineral notes make up the nose of this wine. My first sip found the wine to be a bit reticent. I returned to it after decanting for 45 minutes and found it had really started to blossom. Dried raspberry, nutmeg and an earthy mushroom undertone come out throughout the palate. This Pinot Noir won't hit you over the head; rather its subtle charms sneak up on you and steal your attention with its complex, layered impressive palate. This continues through a finish that's well above average in length and an impressive microcosm of the rest of the wine. Subtle dark cherry, spice notes and persistent earth are the notes that stay the longest. This Pinot Noir has excellent structure and good acidity. It drinks incredibly well on its own and will pair with many diverse dishes.

What I like best about this offering is that it fulfills the promise of the high quality Pinot Noir that can emerge from Carneros, one of the handful of classic Pinot Noir growing regions in California.

Look for this wine to improve over the next 2-3 years and drink well for at least 2-4 after that. An excellent Pinot Nor, and my favorite of the Artesa selections I looked at these last few days.

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Artesa Winery - 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir

Carneros bridges the southern part of Napa and Sonoma Valleys. It's a distinct cooler climate AVA than most other parts of either valley. While many other grape varietals are planted and sometimes prosper there Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are their bread butter, not to mention stand out varieties. As I mentioned the other day Artesa Winery makes several examples of each. Today's wine is a Pinot Noir from their Classic Tier. The 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir from Artesa Winery was made from hand harvested fruit. The juice was aged in French oak barrels. Just under 13,000 cases of this wine was produced and the suggested retail price is $25.

The Artesa Winery Carneros Pinot Noir is reticent at first, needing some air before it begins to fully emote. 45 minutes in the decanter seemed to do the trick and then it was fully expressive. Major black cherry and vanilla notes are the stars of an inviting nose. Taking the first sip, dark cherry and subtle strawberry notes, followed by star anise, highlight the solidly fruity, lush mid-palate. These characteristics carry though the finish which also features an emerging earthiness, mushroom, clove spice and light lingering toast.. Within the world of Pinot Noir this is a medium bodied wine. It's balanced by terrific acidity.

What I like best about this offering is that it's a Pinot Noir made in the proper fashion. Oak influence is present, but never overwhelming. The soft, layered fruit is allowed to be the star. This is a Pinot Noir to drink in the first 3-4 years of its life. This offering is enjoyable on its own and will also be an excellent match for many lighter meals, particularly mushroom based dishes.

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Rodney Strong Vineyards - 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

The Russian River Valley appellation in Sonoma is one of a handful of areas in California that's well suited to regularly turning out world class Pinot Noir. There are others, of course. Too often however, Pinot Noir from California is too dark, too heavy, too alcoholic and bearing little resemblance to fine Burgundy. At the end of the day most wine makers who take on the challenge of Pinot Noir are using Burgundy as their gold standard. Rodney Strong Vineyards in Sonoma has a large portfolio with a wide array of offerings across various designations, price points and styles. Amongst those are three different Pinot Noir offerings. Their 2006 Russian River Pinot Noir is amongst several wines I'll take a look at over the next few days. This 2006 Pinot Noir from California has 3% Syrah blended in. This is fairly common in California, often to add color. The wine spent 9 months in 100% French Oak. The suggested retail price for this offering is $22 and it can often be found in the mid teens.

Wild strawberry and rhubarb notes are the first thing to emerge from this wine's nose. Taking the first sip I was hit with bing cherry, nutmeg, light vanilla and additional strawberry notes. The wines mid-palate is soft, lush, delicate and gentle. A strong earthiness that features mushroom notes emerges at the end of the mid-palate and carries through the finish. This is accompanied by persistent spice notes, which linger, in an above average finish. The Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir, as with other well made Pinot Noirs will match a wide array of foods. This is a selection to look for in a restaurant when everyone at the table has ordered vastly different dishes.

What I like best about this wine is that it's true to its varietal. Here's a relatively modestly priced Pinot Noir that has the characteristics one would expect from this grape. The oak influence in this wine is well in check, properly enhancing, not detracting from the fruit. Well done by Rodney Strong Vineyards.

Up Next: Rodney Strong Vineyards- Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Wild Horse Winery - 2006 Pinot Noir

Wild Horse Winery in Paso Robles is one of the larger producers in the Central Coast of California. They source their fruit from a diverse array of area vineyards. In my experience they make quite a few wines that are widely available, fairly priced and true to the varietal in question. Today I'm looking at their 2006 Pinot Noir. As with a lot of Pinot Noir fans I'm particularly finicky about this varietal. I was curious to see how Wild Horse was doing with this notoriously difficult grape. The 2006 Wild Horse Winery Pinot Noir is 100% varietal. This wine spent 10 months in French Oak, with 30% of it being new. Just over 56,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $25. Wine-Searcher shows it can often be found priced in the upper teens.

This Pinot opens with wild strawberries, bing cherry, vanilla and nutmeg in the nose. While the first sip I took proved this wine to be immediately appealing and accessible, time in the glass or a decanter does wonders to make it even more inviting. The wines palate is filled with light lavender notes and continued strawberry and cherry characteristics. Mushroom, earth, and spice, particularly lingering nutmeg are the starts of this offerings above average finish. This is a well balanced wine with good acidity. It'll match a wide array of foods.

What I like best about this wine is its true varietal character. Oak influence is apparent but never overshadows or diminishes the fruit. Finding well made Pinot Noir around the $20 price point can sometimes be a difficult chore. The 2006 Wild Horse Pinot Noir makes it a little easier.

Up Next: The Wines of Summer: Half a Case of Whites.

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Opolo Vineyards - 2005 Pinot Noir

Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles is best known for their Zinfandels. I'll look at several of those during Zinfandel Week. Today though I'm going to look at their 2005 Pinot Noir. Paso Robles tends to be a very warm growing region and Pinot Noir is one of the last varietals I normally associate with the area. The Opolo Vineyards 2005 Pinot Noir was produced from Estate Fruit. The wine was aged for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak. Approximately 500 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $32.

Tons of blackberry and earth come through on what is a very big and fairly bright nose. Dark fruit and mocha notes emerge on the first sip and are prominent throughout this wines palate. The finish which is of slightly above average length features vanilla, spice mushroom and toasty oak notes. This is bigger with more upfront fruit than a classically styled Pinot Noir and as such will stand up to richer cuisine. It does have good acidity which helps keep all the bold fruit in check a bit.

If you're looking for a Burgundian styled Pinot Noir this probably isn't the wine you'll want. However if you enjoy rich, new world Pinot Noir with bigger jammy fruit, The Opolo Pinot Noir is a good bet. I found this to be an enjoyable wine to drink, but not exactly a text book Pinot Noir though. Whether you want to seek this offering out or not is going to depend on the style of Pinot you prefer to drink.

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Adelsheim Vineyard - 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is unquestionably the varietal that the Willamette Valley in Oregon is best known for. The relatively cool region approximates Burgundy and makes it possible for vintners to do impressive things with this famously finicky grape. Adelsheim Vineyard makes several Pinot Noirs. The one I'm looking at today is their most widely available Pinot Noir offering. I'd venture to guess it's also the bottling they're best known for. The 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from Adelsheim Vineyard was produced from 75% Estate Fruit. The other 25% was from 9 other vineyards in the Willamette Valley. 24% of the barrels used were new with the remainder varying in age from one to three years old. Just under 16,000 cases of this Pinot Noir were produced and the suggested retail price is $31. A quick look at wine-searcher shows it can generally be located for closer to $25.

Fresh wild strawberries, rhubarb and light vanilla notes fill the nose of this offering. Earthiness, nutmeg spice and more prominent vanilla fill the mid-palate. Bing cherry and strawberry star throughout. As it should be, the fruit is the feature attraction here. Oak is present but integrated and well in check as part of an overall package, not a distraction. The finish is long, layered, persistent and full of earth, mushroom and nutmeg notes. This wine is impeccably balanced with good acidity. The 2006 Adelsheim Willamette Valley Pinot Noir will be and excellent match for a varying array of foods. A terrific choice when everyone at dinner has very different meals in front of them.

What I like best about this selection is that it's marvelously typical of the kind of well crafted, varietally correct and pure Pinot Noir often emerging from the Willamette Valley. Considering it's widely available in the mid $20's this is an excellent deal on a lovely wine.

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Edna Valley Vineyard - 2006 Pinot Noir

a 2006 Pinot Noir is the second release I'm looking at from Edna Valley Vineyard. Coverage of a Syrah will follow tomorrow. Additionally, Edna Valley Vineyard will be represented on this blog again in April during Petite Sirah Week. This 2006 Pinot Noir had tiny amounts of Carignane & Syrah (3% total between the two) blended in. 96% of the oak used was French and 1/3 of it was new. The suggested retail price on the Edna valley Vineyard Pinot Noir is $20. However, as with yesterdays Chardonnay you can easily find it for a few dollars less if you look around.

A huge nose of fresh strawberries is the the first thing that emerges from the glass with this wine. It's followed by subtle vanilla aromas that emerge more prominently as the wine has a chance to open up. Sour cherry and earthiness are immediately present when you first sip this Pinot Noir. The mid-palate is full of raspberry and mushroom notes that linger through the substantial finish. White pepper is the last note to emerge from this wine and it tickles the back of the throat pleasently.

This Pinot Noir is well balanced and it has a teriffic acidity to it. As is typical of Pinot Noir made in a Burgundian style this wine will marry well with a wide array of foods. I personally find well made Pinot to be one of the most adaptable wines out there.

For a price-point under $20 this is a fine example of a well made Pinot Noir. Plenty of true varietal character here. It'll drink well over the next 3 or 4 years, with the earthiness likely to become more prominent.

Up Next: Edna Valley Vineyard Syrah

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