Cambria Pinot Noir Rae's Vineyard

This wine has held up well. I'm actually impressed with the balance and quality. The style is my only nit. For me, and Lynn, our first take is syrupyness. Just too sweet, big and ripe for my preferences, and crosses those lines significantly - for my tastes. Still, a very nice mature and big pinot otherwise, if you like that style.

P&P. At ten years in bottle, it's showing nicely - ruby red, barest lightening of rim, surprisingly. A bit indistinct on the nose - brambly low register ripe cherries. Medium palate presence as well - kinda baked and jammy. A bit syrupy and sweet for my tastes, but balanced enough to make it this far, and for overtly ripe sweet Caliphiles, this might be right up your alley. Not mine.

Slightly dull, brick red, lightening amber to rim. Subdued cherry cola nose - fruity. Nothing special on the palate - soft and forward, ripe, lush plum and cherry fruit, cola, hinting towards that Luden's cough syrup thing, undergrowth and wood notes, brambly spiciness. Definite heat on the finish. Medium bodied, medium textured, medium finish. Ho hum. Drinkable and clean. Let's call it "good," not much more, but not bad either. Consistent with previous note - 86 pts quality, 82 points …

Soft, fruit-laden, fairly spicy, lots of cola. Basic drinkable pinot. Side by side with a Germain Chassagne from the same year, an intersting side by side comparison. Everyone except one at the table preferred the Burgundy. Good for another 2 years, tops.

Consistent notes. This wine impresses with its youthfulness, and the continued, balanced deepening of its grip and earth. 50+5+12+17+9=92

Deep garnet color with light, very gradual bricking at rim. Layered, slightly hot nose of dark raspberries, cloves, blackberries and dark cherries. Medium-to-full bodied with dark fruit and spicy flavors and plenty of stuffing to age gracefully for five or more years. The alcoholic notes from nose which were well-covered on the palate return on the finish. 50+5+12+17+8=92