Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
90
/100
Reviews
14
professional
Vintages
1
2008
Other
90/100
Pinot Noir
NV
Community Reviews
2222
Reviews
89.6
Avg Score
92
Highest
Taster #4781
· Mar 26, 2017
92/100
Our last bottle of this under-the-radar Pinot Noir, and wow! A pale and slightly cloudy ruby in the glass, with an excellent, powerful nose of raspberry, rhubarb, slight greenies, candied ginger and vanilla! Superb concentration and intensity on the palate, with a thick, oily juice with a long, long finish! Lots of dry extract, along with excellent acidity! This is absolutely singing on this night paired with spicy BBQ spareribs. Plenty to body of stand up to the spicy ribs. …
2008 vintage
Taster #6503
· Jun 4, 2014
91/100
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle. Enjoyed this earthy pinot, but it wasn't to everyones liking.
2008 vintage
Taster #1554
· Mar 16, 2014
86/100
Thin and too light
2008 vintage
Taster #2779
· May 19, 2013
91/100
My last WH Smith pinot, and it makes me wonder why I'm not still on the mailing list. This is gorgeous. Pale cherry red - actually looks like Pinot - which is unusual for the golden state. Fragrant and complex, lots of cherry, strawberry fruit, maybe some raspberry, hints of sous bois and mushroom. Soft and smooth on the palate, juicy and well balanced with a long well defined finish. Notes of cherry fruit, maybe a little dilute but has …
2008 vintage
Taster #6503
· Jan 6, 2013
92/100
Wonderful earthy aromas with tart cherry and strawberry notes on the silky finish.
2008 vintage
Taster #1990
· Oct 13, 2012
87/100
Can easily see how this is a crowd-pleaser. Very nice, straightforward nose and good mouthfeel. Nice in that it has enough fruit to please the crowd, but also offers some complexity for those that care..
2008 vintage
Taster #6148
· Aug 9, 2012
85/100
Light with some cherries but not enough depth to make it interesting
2008 vintage
Taster #4152
· Jun 10, 2012
91/100
Drinking great now this wine was loved by everyone who tried it. A terrific well made Pinot that has excellent acidity and an explosive nose. A terrific Last Bottle purchase that I wish I bought more of.
2008 vintage
Taster #8700
· Apr 10, 2012
Ha, Wine-Strategies, I completely get your flagging enthusiasm for this wine as you mow down the bottles. Me too: this *is* pretty rich & sweet, more so than I'd prefer. And I enjoyed the first bottle more a three months ago, but each of three days with this one, I was less and less into it. Probably new-world crowd-pleasing, yes, and especially for those who like their wine sans food. I recently enjoyed an inexpensive Trimbach pinot, and loved its …
2008 vintage
Taster #4858
· Mar 25, 2012
90/100
Nice acidity up front and the texture was softer then I expected. Some smoky elements mixed with spice frame some good red berry flavors. A touch of tannins on the finish. Pretty good stuff.
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Mar 24, 2012
consistent tn's. Less sweet than bottles before it, thankfully. A crowd-pleaser that should be consumed/enjoyed in its youth. Worth the $25 I paid, but really not any more. 14,2% abv., score: B/B+
2008 vintage
Taster #0434
· Feb 16, 2012
91/100
My second bottle of this and round it to be better than I remembered the first. Lighter color in the glass the wine drank very easily with little or no acidity on the back end. Not my favorite pinot by a long shot but an excellent QPR at $28.00 a bottle.
2008 vintage
Taster #8700
· Jan 13, 2012
89/100
Soft, sliky-velvety. Pure, pretty low-toned red fruit with a little of that allspice or nutmeg. It may be new world, but I thought it was pretty restrained for a CA pinot noir; plausibly a cousin of the terrific Kendirc from Marin County. 89-90.
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Jan 6, 2012
Slow-O 2 hrs. My fifth or sixth time with this wine now, and all I can say is that it has me firmly on the fence. My new-world leaning friends lap it up, plain and simple. It has a really full mouthfeel that contrasts perfectly with the bright garnet core and loads of acidity to move it all about cleanly. But for me, there's a touch of sweetness to the tannins and overall profile that I find a bit misplaced. …
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Jan 3, 2012
consistent tn's. Score: B/B+
2008 vintage
Taster #4615
· Dec 10, 2011
90/100
Same note as last bottle.
2008 vintage
Taster #4615
· Dec 7, 2011
90/100
Vinturi'd: nose of strawberries, cherries, and pine needles. On the palate, strawberries, cherries, and sweet tannins with no heat on the finished, but rather a lingering hint of baking spices.
2008 vintage
Taster #0434
· Oct 24, 2011
90/100
Transparent pinkish color in the glass this pinot is a touch sweeter than other pinot's I've had. Not overly layered but enjoyable bottle for the price. Of the four of us who had it, two thought it was decent. Two were not impressed.
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Oct 12, 2011
PnP that showed a sweeter side than in the past. No r/s mind you, but the tannins, mouthfeel and finish all combine to keep this firmly on the new world side of the equation. 14,2% abv, drink thru 2016, score: B+
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Sep 26, 2011
I recently picked up a six pack of this, thinking I could keep my hands off of it, wrong. A lovely textural component to it that makes this irresistible; a solid party wine. The tannins are round, and sweet, the fruit, pure, and as all my notes indicate, the medium garnet color is brilliant and lively. Enjoy. 14,2% abv, recommended, score: B+
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Sep 23, 2011
consistent tn's, another very enjoyable experience. It's difficult to get past the color, bright garnet with brilliant reflections...so seldom seen these days where Cali Pinot is often as dark as Cali Cab. There is a youthful exuberance here that lovingly sets the stage for a pure pinot experience - tactile, aromas, tannins, acids - that forces you to pick up the bottle and study as if to burn into your mind where it came from while pondering how it was …
2008 vintage
Taster #3247
· Feb 15, 2010
Slow-ox for 3 hours, served over 2 nights. Of the 15 wines in this blind lineup, this was the most Burgundian in color and brilliance. The nose of pine forest, fresh strawberries and cedar leads to a medium toward full body that offers up an ample mid-palate, plenty of ripe strawberries and a rich, earthy character. The lengthy finish is highlighted by sweet tannins and juicy acidity lending plenty of lift. Very well structured. A superb effort given the challenges …
2008 vintage