Ellipsis, Russian River Valley, Rose of Pinot Noir 2008 The color is in the range of cooked salmon and the nose has lost its expression of fruit. In the mouth the tanginess of raspberries is accompanied by a bit of creaminess. Given its evolution, it might be best to drink this up soon. Produced and [...]

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This region holds a particular place in my heart. Linda and I visited some of the top producers of the region this summer and hiked the magnificent mountains. This Tyrolean region is beyond picturesque and vies with Stellenbosch as the most beautiful wine region in the world.
Alois Lageder, Alto Adige, Haberle, Pinot Bianco 2008 The [...]

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Domaine Chandon, California, Brut, Classic nv Unfortunately this wine was corked. The aromatics are dampened and the mouth is astringent. A sense of the dosage is the only element coming through.
I was concerned when I removed the foil from the top of the bottle. The smell of TCA was quite apparent. I removed the wire [...]

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Korbel, Russian River Valley Champagne, Natural’ Méthode Champenoise 2007 In the nose you’ll find green apples and strawberries while in the mouth it is acidic, with a sense of apples that have been baked with brown sugar. 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay; the style was instigated at Korbel by Adolf Heck in 1962, .7% [...]

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Trione, Russian River Valley, River Road Ranch, Pinot Noir 2008 In the nose you’ll find sweet red fruit with pastry notes, think cherry pie, warm and aromatic. In the mouth you’ll find a supple expression of that cherry pie, absolutely luscious. The fruit is sourced from a vineyard that the Trione’s have owned for over [...]

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The final round of judging in the 2010 Pinot Noir Shootout was held today at Bistro Boudin on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. I was asked to join about 30 other judges to pick the best of the best from over 250 entries across the world.
It was an easy day of judging, tasting just 32 [...]

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Balletto, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Bottled, Pinot Noir 2007 Sweet, ripe fruit fills the glass, a blend of cherries and raspberries. In the mouth there is also a touch of caramel, light body, smooth texture and long acidity – perfect for Sunday’s roast chicken. P&B by Laguna Oaks Vineyards & Winery in [...]

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S. Coquillette, Champagne, Grand Cru, Brut, Les Cles nv Give this some air to blow off the stinkiness then the complexity of baked apples emerges. In the mouth there is a soft profile, with lemony acidity and nice length. The grapes behind this Champagne are all Pinot Noir. Elabore par Stephane Coquillette a Chouilly 12% [...]

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Pierre Morlet, Champagne, Premier Cru, Grande Reserve, Brut nv There’s a lovely biscuit character in the nose, graced with flowers. In the mouth there is lots of green apple and plenty of acidity in the elegant sparkler. The grapes behind this wine are 74% Pinot Noir and 26% Chardonnay. Primary fermentation takes place in wood [...]

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Chronicle, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose sports sweet cherry and raspberries, with vanilla and cinnamon. The mouth shows these fruits again in a sleek format, a texture that is silky and ripe – delicious. Think about this Pinot when you want one to drink straight away; the soft profile makes it immediately accessible.
[...]

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Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Champagne, La Grande Dame, Brut 1998 The nose features an evolving medley of dried fruits and nuttiness. In the mouth it is quite acidic, tasting of oranges and brown spices. The unfortunate thing about this particular bottle is the cork taint blurring the full enjoyment of what I would expect is a [...]

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Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Methode Champenoise, Blanc de Noirs nv This is a newer bottling than that reviewed back in the fall of ‘07, with a change of appellation from Sonoma County to Carneros.
There’s a stinkiness that stuck with this wine. I didn’t want to believe it as it has always been such a consistent performer [...]

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Allimant-Laugner, Cremant d’Alsace, Rose nv There’s a light sense of fresh biscuits in the nose and tangy cherry fruit in the mouth with a lingering creaminess. This makes for a nice, clean, inexpensive alternative to Champagne when you would like a bit of bubbly from France. Mis en bouteille par Hubert Laugner in Orschwiller 12.5% [...]

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Fort Ross, Sonoma Coast, Fort Ross Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Rose 2008 There are cherries and raspberries in the nose and the mouth is bone dry with a little warmth. P&B in Napa 14.2% purchased for $9.69 at Bottle Barn Fort Ross Vineyard

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Esterlina, Anderson Valley, Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The fruit is quite expressive in the nose – an explosion of red and black fruits with a smoky note for complexity. In the mouth the fruit shines again with plenty of acidity and a supple texture. Warm up the barbie for some grilled salmon. P&B in [...]

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Etude, Carneros, Estate Grown, Pinot Noir 2007 This is sweet smelling Pinot with caramel and an almost jammy fruit character. The mouth is very concentrated with ripe tannins, punchy acidity and that sweet caramel on top of the black fruit – very nice. Produced and bottled in Napa 14.4% $31.99 purchased at Bottle [...]

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Paul Hobbs, Carneros, Napa Valley, Hyde Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007
The nose features ripe black fruits, a bit of earthiness, cola and a toasty note. In the mouth you’ll find the characteristic mouthfeel that I find over and over again with Paul Hobbs’ wines – suppleness. There’s lingering acidity as well – very nice. P&B [...]

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Fotinos, Carneros, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir 2005 The nose features very sweet brown spice notes, with ashes of the campfire. In the mouth there’s a fair amount of grip. Produced and bottled in Sonoma 14% $35 at the winery, a gift to the class from the SFCWC Fotinos Vineyard

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Saintsbury, Carneros, Pinot Noir, Garnet 2008 This has always been a light and elegant Pinot and the ‘08 is on target. By light I don’t mean thin and the creaminess enhances the mouthfeel. There’s a screw cap top for added protection. Cellared and bottled in Sonoma 13.5%, purchased at Bottle Barn for $15.99 Saintsbury

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Ancien, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose speaks of sweet cherries sprinkled with brown spices. In the mouth this is a supple Pinot with polished oak in the background to enhance the fruit – very nice.
The majority of the fruit is sourced from 2 acres planted by Gilbert Perez in the southwest [...]

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Graton Ridge, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Paul Family Vineyard, Estate, Pinot Noir 2007 There’s a lovely cherry pie essence in the nose, a sweet expression of fruit and oak. In the mouth there is vanilla, caramel and cherries baked in the oven, with a supple texture and a little warmth. Grown, produced and bottled [...]

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The Davis Family brand has stood for great Pinot and you see that in the latest crop of wines which garnered honors at this year’s Harvest Fair in Sonoma.
Davis Family, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2007 Sweet caramel combines with raspberries in the nose. In the mouth the wine is all suppleness, enhanced by a [...]

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Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma County, Brut nv The nose is ripe with apples which carries through on the palate. There’s a healthy dosage that combines with the fruit to create a sweeter sensation than you’ll see with some of the other bubblies labeled brut.  The grapes are a combination of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. P&B in [...]

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Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Fume Blanc 2007 This wine is always ripping with acidity, tangy and bright and the same is certainly true today – yes! Sourced from biodynamically grown fruit grown in American Canyon and the Carneros, the wine is fermented and aged in mostly older French oak, with six months of [...]

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MacMurray Ranch, Central Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 Give this wine a good 20 minutes of air and the perfume will come through in the nose, with candied fruit and floral notes. In the mouth this light-bodied wine has refreshing acidity with a nice glaze of sweet caramel. A large portion of the fruit is sourced [...]

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Schramsberg, North Coast, Cremant, Demi-Sec 2004 There’s sweet tropical fruit in the nose, with flowers and perfume. In the mouth this wine is lightly sweet, with a fruity core and a little bitterness. The grapes are 84% Flora, 9% Chardonnay, 6% Pinot Noir and 1% Gewurztraminer sourced from Napa 89%, Mendocino 7% and Sonoma 4%.
Flora [...]

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Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, L’Ermitage, Brut 2002 The nose opens with fresh biscuits, citrus and stone fruits, also calling to mind a freshly baked fruit tart. In the mouth this wine is very concentrated and full of the flavor of green apples in all of there glorious tartness. Yet that bracing aspect is enhanced by [...]

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Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Vintage Reserve, Royal Cuvee, Brut 2002 Let this open up a bit and after 10 minutes the fruit will start to show. There are apples both red and green and refreshing acidity in this light-bodied sparkler. The grapes are a combination of approximately 2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Chardonnay aged for more [...]

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Schramsberg, North Coast, Mirabelle, Brut Rose nv There’s a red-fruited sweetness in the nose, reminiscent of the cherries jubilee that I used to whip up table side back in the day. In the mouth the fruity theme continues with moderate acidity and a touch of warmth. The grapes behind this bubbly are 66% Chardonnay and [...]

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Louis Roederer, Champagne, Brut Premier nv The nose smells of fresh bread, mushrooms and biscuits to with cinnamon. In the mouth this highly acidic sparkling tastes of green apples and peaches and lasts for a long time. The grapes behind the wine are 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. A portion of [...]

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