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Castle Rock 2014 Monterey County Pinot Noir
Winery: Castle Rock
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Monterey County, Ca
Year: 2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification: n/a
Price: 5-10

Review:
There are lots of raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates on the nose, backed by suggestions of sweet spice and apple-wood smoked bacon. Flavors of ripe red berries and pomegranate take shape on the palate, with accents of bacon, baking spice, and black tea. A wine with elegant tannins and lively flavors, it's a great value for an everyday Pinot.
Rating: 89

Mark West "Black Label" 2015 Pinot Noir
Winery: Mark West
Grape(s): 80% Pinot & 20% Syrah
Region: Monterey, Ca
Year: 2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification: n/a
Price: 10-15

Review:
An abundance of blackberries and cherries come forth on the nose, followed by butterscotch, sweet spice, and earth. The palate blends black cherry, plum, and bramble fruit with elements of leather, butterscotch, and clove. Rather supple and a bit sweet but it still has a little hearty kick to it, pair a bottle with pork chops in a cherry sauce.
Rating: 86

Seaglass 2015 Pinot Noir
Winery: Seaglass
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Santa Babara County, Ca
Year: 2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification: n/a
Price: 10-15

Review:
The nose mixes cherries and strawberries with accents of vanilla and earth. A pleasant acidity carries flavors of strawberry, cherry, and cranberry into suggestions of minerals, floral earth, and vanilla. Lively for a bargain Pinot, it would match up nicely with ratatouille.
Rating: 86

Acacia 2014 Pinot Noir
Winery: Acacia
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Napa Valley, Ca
Year: 2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification: n/a
Price: 10-15

Review:
Ripe strawberries and plums combine with spicy, smoky, and earthy highlights on the nose. Plum, strawberry, and cherry flavors form a nice fruit core that interweaves with rose petal, earth, and spice on the palate. There's a nice acidity here to balance slightly jammy fruit; pair it with grilled salmon.
Rating: 87