Food & Beverage International - Pinot Noir

PINOT NOIR

Acacia 1998 Pinot Noir
Napa Valley - Carneros 100% Pinot Noir. very fine soft silt of tannin coats the tongue and the modest acidity make drinking this now delightful This wine is luxurious with a plush texture and an evolving length. But with the character of fruit, we expect that time will treat this wine well Drink it now or contribute to its complexity by cellaring for several years. Retail: $25.00

Bianchi Winery 2005 Pinot Noir- Garey Vineyards / Paso Robles
A Beautiful, deep berry color with great legs greets the nose. The complex bouquet of fruit aromas give way to an inviting first sip. Hold tight, because this just gets betters. A structured, well balanced palate gives way to mild tannins and a lingering finish, topping off with wild mushrooms and earthy mineral tones. Pairs well with pasta seafood dishes, roasted game, smoked meats and full flavored cheeses. MMmmmm enjoy!.

Beauregard Vineyards 2006 Trout Gulch Vineyard Pinot Noir / Ben Lomond Mt.
Grown in the sub-AVA of Ben Lomond Mt., the Pinot shows superb color in a glass. Swirl and take in the rich aromas of damp earth, ripe cherry, and raspberry, as well as sweet hints of vanilla, clove, and cola. A sip brings a rush of red berry flavor and creamy, toasty vanilla that move into notes of truffles, spice, and a kiss of minerals. A very nice wine that paired well with grilled chicken seasoned with thyme.
Score: 92

Burrell School Vineyards 2005 {Principal's Choice" Pinot Noir /
Santa Cruz Mountains
Bringing together four different French clones and aging in French oak for 18 months have produced a very nice wine. A very bright Pinot, with excellent structure, swirling a glass releases delectable aromas of plum, strawberry, raspberry, and cola along with gamy notes. The palate is rich with red fruit flavors, with hints of rose petal, sweet spice, and chocolate adding a nice depth. Only 720 cases were produced, so get a bottle or a case before they sell out.
Score: 90

Cinnabar 2006 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains are known for producing first-class Pinot Noirs, and this bottle does not disappoint. From its deep purple hue, fragrances of black cherry, dark plum, a touch of lavender, and spice rise up. When sipped, a very warm palate delivers ripe dark fruit flavors with nuances of truffle oil, cloves, and minerals. Matched with a roast pork tenderloin in a blackberry sauce, the wine promises not to disappoint. Only 400 cases were produced, so get a bottle while you can.
Score: 90

Clos LaChance 2007 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Swirl a glass and the lively floral nose of rose, geranium, and lavender can transport you to a warm spring day. The palate has a nice depth with herbaceous notes flowing into flavors of plum, brown sugar, coffee, and hints of spice. Open a bottle and unwrap a Calindia Bar from Vosges Chocolates. The flavors of cardamom, eucalyptus, and citrus fruits, along with the robust finish of Venezuelan dark chocolate, blend splendidly with the wine.
Score: 88

Domenico 2006 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
With fruit sourced from two different Santa Cruz Mountains vineyards, the wine strikes a nice balance with ripe fruit flavors playing off a pleasant acidity. Red berry aromas dominate the nose, with notes of smoke and cola in deeper pockets. On the palate, vibrant flavors of cherry and strawberry flow into notes of truffles and earth that mingle together on the lingering finish. This wine would pair nicely with variety of dishes ñ from salmon to lamb to a white chocolate dessert.
Score: 87

Echelon 1998 Pinot Noir
Central Coast, [A Chalone Wine Estate] (Address: 621 Airpark Rd, Napa, CA 94558, 707-254-4250) Deep in color displaying character on the palate. At first the flavors and aromas seem almost jammy, but in time in the glass the fresh berry influence comes through. The hint of dried herbs and cinnamon with a dry, spicy character make this good today, but will certainly improve with time in the bottle. The wine contains smoky roast notes and hints of oak. Recommended. Retail: 14.50

Edmeades Vineyards 1996 Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley 5500 Highway #128, Philo, CA 95403, 707-544-4000, Spicy, exotic fruits with a long finish. Earthy with vanilla yet not over powered by oak aromas. This is a full-bodied wine with backbone. Could cellar for 10-20 years. Retail $20.00

Estancia 2006 Reserve Pinot Noir / Santa Lucia Highlands
Made from fruit grown at Estancia's Stonewall Vineyard, where morning fog and cool breezes make for ideal growing conditions. After harvest, the wine was aged for nine months in French Oak. Out of the bottle and in a glass, this deep, ruby wine entices drinkers with rich aromas of dark cherry, plum, blackberry, and sweet spice. Deep dark fruit flavors, cola, and nutmeg drift across the palate after that first sip. A very nice, medium-bodied wine, it would pair quite nicely with a tender lamb chop.
Score: 88

Goldeneye Winery, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2005
Moderate temperatures and superb ripening conditions in the Anderson Valley made for a slow and steady harvest, producing fruit of excellent quality. Aging in French oak for 16 months, helped produced a lighter, highly drinkable wine, with a bold depth of flavors. Black cherry, sweet spices, and hints of herbs rise up from a freshly swirled glass, setting you at ease for your first sip. Strawberry and cherry flavors pack the palate, with notes of vanilla and a touch of oak floating in the deep layers. A wine worthy to share with your dearest friends, cook up some portabella burgers and open two bottles. Youíll want them both.

Goldeneye Winery, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2005 / Confluence Vineyard
Located in the heart of the Anderson Valley and offering a distinctive array of soils, exceptional Pinot fruit comes out of these vineyards. For this 2005 vintage, the quality was superb, as many of the blocks were harvested at near perfection. Out of this first-class fruit has come a first-class Pinot Noir. Leisurely swirl a glass, and then indulge your senses in the luxurious aromas of fresh strawberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry, with rich pockets of sweet spice and toasted oak. Sip ever so slowly, and relish the intoxicating blackberry, strawberry, cinnamon, and earth flavors that envelope the palate. Incredibly smooth and very well-structured. Aging in the cellar will certainly result in further development. A spectacular wine!

Goldeneye Winery, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2005 / Gowan Creek Vineyard
Two miles north of Confluence Vineyard, the Gowan site combines the valley's warmer character with the cooler elements of the northern “deep end" These unique conditions produce wines that are potent and expressive. This 2005 vintage leads you in with a nose brimming over with ripe black cherry, blackberry, and raspberry, which opens into deeper scents of tea, dusty earth, and hints of oak. Bursting from the rich ruby hue, come ripe fruit flavors of cherry and wild blackberry, with complicating nuances of earthy minerals. Well-controlled acidy and a lush mouth feel make this a highly drinkable wine. Paired with roast duck, fresh grilled salmon, rich mushroom dishes, or an elegant cheese plate, this excellent wine will not disappoint. Drink now or in a few years.

Hallcrest Vineyards 2005 Belle Farms Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Reviving the historic vineyard from the 1940ís in 1987, John Shumacherís latest offering of Pinot Noir is worthy of notice. The nose is lush with ripe black cherry, plum, and lovely floral notes alongside hints of hickory meat and soft earth. A sip brings lovely strawberry and cherry flavors accented by nuances of cola and cinnamon. A bright, crisp wine, it can be savored before dinner or enjoyed with grilled lamb or a roast turkey breast or cellared for a few years.
Score: 90

Hallcrest Vineyards 2004 Barrell Select Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Another offering from the historic Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyard, each bottle is commemorated with an individual number. A California springtime nose of rose petal, lavender, and bing cherry greets the senses. Plum, cherry, and floral tones unfold into notes of minerals that build to a refreshing spicy finish. A smooth, bright wine with a nice acidity, it could be paired now with a grilled pork tenderloin or cellared for further development.
Score: 85

Hahn SLH 2007 Pinot Noir / Santa Lucia Highlands
Fruit sourced from four different Santa Lucia vineyards, with sun drenched afternoons and cool ocean breezes, contributed to this vintage. In sunlight, its bold ruby hue sparkles. Swirl a glass and take in the rich aromas of cherry, strawberry, plum, cola, and sweet spice. Sip and enjoy the deep red berry flavors, with notes of spice accenting the earthy finish. With a medium-body and firm tannins, this wine can work well with grilled pork, salmon, or tuna.

La Rochelle 2006 Classic Clones Pinot Noir / Arroyo Seco
The Mirassou family has a long history with Pinot Noir and this wine is the latest addition to that account. The fruit, which comes from a late fall harvested on the family vineyards in the Arroyo Seco region, was aged for over a year in French oak. The resulting wine presents with a bold ruby hue in bright sunlight. Swirling a glass releases aromas of black cherry and cola, with hints of spice and herbs lingering in the background. Ripe cherry flavors dominate the palate, with subtle hints of spice and earth that give the wine added depth and entice you back for a second sip. With its lingering, lively finish, the flavors' memory hangs on. A very nice Pinot Noir to pair with salmon in a soy sauce and garlic marinade or a roast chicken seasoned with rosemary.

Loma Prieta Winery 2005 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Sourced from fruit grown at a 700 foot elevation, this Pinot Noir was aged in 100% new French oak for 10 months. Out of its soft purple hue, bright aromas of red fruit, cola, and a hint of rose pedal. When sipped slowly, plum and cherry flavors dominate the palate, with subtle notes of earth and creamy oak lingering at the wineís finish. A light body and crisp acidity make this a highly drinkable wine. Just 72 cases were produced, so get one before they run out.
Score: 86

Loma Prieta Winery 2006 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Grown at 2,400 feet, this 100% Pinot Noir was aged for 11 months in French oak. The nose is full of ripe red fruit and the palate conjures up flavors of raspberry, strawberry, and plum, with accents of cola, orange peel, as well as a hint of spice. A lovely, smooth wine with nice acidity, it can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a Shiitake mushroom and tofu stir fry with a sweet soy sauce. Just 195 cases were produced of this very nice wine.
Score: 90

Loma Prieta 2007 Saveria Vineyard Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
The Saveria Vineyard has a history of producing first-class wine, and this Pinot is not an exception. Its nose is a deep blend of raspberry, strawberry, musty forest floor, clove, and cinnamon sticks. The palate is light and smooth with sweet red berry flavors that unfurl into notes of truffles, figs, toasty oak, and spice. The wine closes upon notes of strawberries and fresh minerals. Portabella mushrooms or salmon with a balsamic vinegar marinade would pair quite nicely.
Score: 90

Manzoni 2006 Santa Lucia Pinot Noir / Santa Lucia Highlands
A blend of two French clones, this estate grown pinot matured for nearly a year in oak before being bottled. In a freshly swirled glass, the elegant violet-ruby hue conveys rich fruit aromas of cherry and plum, with accents of spice, lavender, and cola. The palate is fruit forward and bright, unfolding layers of flavor as plum, strawberry, and spice mingle together. Slightly sweet but balanced by a firm acidity, this is a highly drinkable wine. Pair it with a pork-tenderloin in a maple-chipotle sauce and enjoy!.
Score: 84

Martin & Weyrich 2006 Pinot Noir / Paso Robles
A fruit forward Pinot that truly caters to a crowd. An exquisite dark red color with the edges of a warm sunset give this wine an enticing hue. Subtle cherry notes on the nose are pleasant and refreshing, and the subtle tannins make this wine highly drinkable. The balanced finish is dry yet smooth. A great table wine to be framed with many platters of food and warm laughter. Pass the bottle, please!

McHenry Vineyards 2005 Estate Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
The 2005 harvest produced small, concentrated berries, and the quality of the fruit translated into this flavorful and complex wine. The bouquet opens up with ripe spiced cherries, cinnamon, cola, and raspberry. Highlights of cinnamon and lush black cherry unfurl into pockets of rose petals and finish with lingering fresh mineral notes. A bright wine with a nice clean acidity, it is great as an aperitif. The wine would also pair superbly with smoked meats or a fine cigar.
Score: 91

Migration Winery, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006
Mild temperatures during harvest time allowed the 2006 fruit to be handpicked by block based on ripeness. Such ideal conditions resulted in superb fruit for winemaker Zach Rasmuson. With this excellent harvest, he crafted a fine, dark ruby wine, with great depth and drinkablitity. Take a moment to indulge yourself in the bouquet of strawberry, raspberry, cola, hints of mint, and subtle floral notes that emanate from the glass. Savor the bright flavors of cherry, spiced plums, vanilla, and cola as they float across the palate. This is another fine effort from the Duckhorn company. Enjoy a bottle now, and save another for the cellar.

Monterey Vineyard, 1998 Pinot Noir, (800) 709-7667 Napa, CA This versatile and inexpensive Pinot Noir has soft fruit highlights and oak undertones. Light spice of pepper, clove and cinnamon are gentle on the palate making this wine a nice accompaniment to grilled pork loin and roasted quail.

Mount Eden 2006 Estate Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Grown in the Los Gatos area, sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the fruit produces vibrant, crisp wines. Swirling a glass releases a nose of wet earth, raspberry, cherry, and exotic spice. The palate is quite bright with the cherry and raspberry flavors returning, unfolding into notes of earth and vanilla, which close upon a cocoa powder finish with lingering accents of minerals.
Score: 88

Murphy-Goode Pinot Noir 1997
Russian River Valley 4001 Highway 128, P.O. Box 158, Geyserville, CA 95441, 800-499-7644, www.wines.com/murphy-goode/wines Their first Pinot is a winner' Wild strawberry flavors and spice . Complex ripe fruit flavors with smooth tannins. Drink now or good for cellaring. Limited 3 bottle limit at $30.00 ea. (6-pack/750ml)

Pessagno Winery 2006 Four Boys Vineyard Pinot Noir / Santa Lucia Highlands
The vineyard's name just happens to coincide with the number of sons winemaker Steve Pessagno has. Handpicked block by block as each reached maturity, the fruit was first cold-soaked for up to six days and then aged in French oak for eleven months. The resulting wine has a robust smoky, yeasty nose with notes of plum and cola mingling together. A slow sip and the lovely palate brings forth the soft, smooth flavors of black cherry, plum, vanilla, and chocolate. A big wine, with a nice depth of flavor, it would pair nicely with grilled pork chops or lamb seasoned with rosemary and thyme..
Score: 88

Silver Mountain Vineyards 2007 Rosè of Pinot Noir / Central Coast
America has yet to have a love affair with Rosè, but this wine may help them along the way. A blend of fruit grown in Monterey County and the Santa Cruz Mountains, the wine was aged 5 months in stainless steal. Ripe aromas of summer drift up from a glass with cherry, cranberry, and watermelon enveloping the sense alongside accents of lavender. When sipped, the bright red fruit returns finishing on a lovely hint of spice. This wine is the perfect companion for a warm spring day.
Score: 90

Silver Mountain 2006 Miller Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Miller Hill Vineyard is located less than a mile from the winery at a 1750 foot elevation. In a freshly swirled glass, rich aromas of black cherry, strawberry, and raspberry mix with notes of orange peel, vanilla, and smoky oak. When sipped slowly, red fruit flavors flow into hints of hickory, rose petal, toasty earth, and orange spice. A crisp wine right out of the bottle, giving it a day to breath brings out its smooth and silky character. Grilled chicken with a touch of mesquite seasoning makes for a very nice pairing.
Score: 89

Silver Mountain Vineyards 2005 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Sourced from Muns Vineyard 2,600 feet up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it sits above the fog line and enjoys gentle seas breezes from the Monterey Bay, making it ideal for growing Pinot. Swirl a glass and take in the rich aromas of cherry, strawberry, cola, and truffles along with soft floral notes. Sip slowly and allow the bright red fruit flavors to drift over the palate flowing into a finish of rose petal and cinnamon. Perfect to pair with roast chicken, grilled salmon, or bbq pork, this wine may just become your weekend favorite.
Score: 91

Storrs 2006 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
Sourced from the southern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the southwest-facing vineyards enjoy plenty of sunshine along with Monterey Bay's cooling breezes. Bottled in mid-April of 2008, the wine's nose is rich with bright red berries, refreshing minerals, and a hint of mint that are balanced nicely by a smooth touch of vanilla and chocolate. Cherry, strawberry, vanilla, and red currants dominate the palate with subtle notes of chocolate, spice, and earth rounding out the flavors. The wine finishes with soft nuances of minerals and chewy dried cherries. A light, elegant Pinot, with just a kiss of acidity, it drinks quite smoothly.
Score: 91

Windward Winery 2006 Pinot Noir / Paso Robles
Hold this deep plum colored wine up to the light and savor the first sip to come, for this Burgundian style Pinot Noir so carefully nurtured every step of the way deserves to be savored. The complex bouquet of plum, cherry, spice and hints of truffles, cigars, laced gently with spicy notes of clove unfolds into a supple palate with firm structure. The tannins are firm with lingering notes of spice. Drink now, but buy for the cellar, for this wine will age well and will pair well with smoked meats, hearty roasts, deep flavorful cheeses, and wild game.

Woodside Vineyards 2005 Pinot Noir / Santa Cruz Mountains
This is a rich, flavorful Pinot from the Skyline region of the Santa Cruz appellation. The nose is ripe with black cherry and raspberry mixing brilliantly with floral notes, traces of earth, a touch of vanilla and dark chocolate, as well as a sprinkle of allspice. Red berry flavors dominate the palate flowing to notes of musty forest floor and sweet spice. The finish is fresh with lingering notes of minerals. An elegant, smooth wine with a nice hint of acidity, it is easy to savor a glass. Paired with a mushroom and spinach calzone, it was even better.
Score: 91

Ratings Key:

96 — 100	Spectacular
92 — 95	Outstanding
89 — 91	Great
85 — 88	Good
81 — 84	Solid

TOP OF PAGE

HOME