La Follette, Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Did not have high expectations for this as there has not been a tasting note in 6 years, which is where the CT drinking window was closing. I could not have been more surprised or pleased. This was drinking beautifully, with fully resolved tannins and classic red fruit and dark sweet cola flavors. If you still have some of these hanging around, I would drink them, but also don't be afraid to let them rest a bit more, the risk/reward …

2009 vintage

Drink up but still good

2009 vintage

Great wine that aged nicely.

2009 vintage

7th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL) : Part of Christmas wine dinner and cellar raid and didn't take detailed notes. Cork broke but no issues with the wine. This was on the lower end with the others in the flight, but still very nice

2009 vintage

This was better than I expected. Pure fruit driven but balanced.

2009 vintage

Yeah.....this blew the doors off some other more expensive wines. I love this winery and buy it up whenever I get a chance. So glad I have one more.

2009 vintage

Spice, earth and redfruit remain the prominent notes on the nose. Accessible from the start, but softened, integrated and improved over 3+ hours open. Nice red cherry upfront and excellent integration with the more tart notes of cranberry, sour red cherry and darker berry behind. Broadens into the finish (which was just plain pretty) and really expands to coat the mouth with mineral, earth and spice notes. There's good acidity and structure here. It only enhances current drinking (by balancing …

2009 vintage

Opened side by side with acacia 2011 sangiacomo. Acacia was drinking better but this wine will age longer - very nice bottle of wine.

2011 vintage

Enjoyed with made from scratch ravioli last weekend. All i remember is the beautiful earth tones and pure red fruit. A great winery to be a club member. Can't wait to drink again.

2011 vintage

Good balance between juiciness and acidity. Much like the raspberries we had for dessert. Although the salinity and savoriness that I look for in the most compelling of Pinots, wasn't quite there, this was a very enjoyable wine.

2011 vintage

Continues to show incredibly well. If only all fruit-forward California pinot noirs evolved in this fashion, wow! It retains the excellent fruit, but it continues to be the balance that makes this wine special. Beginning to pick up a nice mineral note on the finish as well. Great bottle and glad I have more.

2009 vintage

Big cherry on the nose and the palate, fruit forward but not overwhelming. Low ABV 13% really helps the fruit shine through. Some earthiness with a medium finish. Served with shrimp risotto, paired well although the fruit forward profile would make it better as the star, not in support of food.

2011 vintage

Spice, earth and varied redfruits on the nose. A little above medium bodied and showing extremely well right now. Red cherry upfront, with hint of sour cherry and raspberry in the background. Rich, but smooth; full but balanced. This was a very interesting blend of styles. It contained hints of strong richness and extraction, but was fully in balance throughout the evening. It was like a rich California style tempered and balanced with acidity and nuance. It gained strength and …

2009 vintage

Color: Lovely deep red. Nose: Red fruit, a bit of sharpness, toast. Taste: Dark cherries, burnt toast, tart and tangy. Mouth feel: Soft and smooth. Finish: Lingering, pleasant.

2009 vintage

Slow leg, medium bodied, nose of rose, cherry, and earth tones. Bright and juicy on palate, nice acidity, refined tannins. Medium to long finish. Unique and elegant.

2011 vintage

Popped and poured at a local restaurant. Aromatic nose of bright fruit followed by silky smooth red cherries on the palate. I appreciated the absence of heavy acidity or tartness. Finish was equally enjoyable and our table felt it was the best wine of the night.

2009 vintage

nose: im not gonna lie...it doesnt smell like any pinot ive ever had. more like a distinctive washington merlot from a very warm vintage. palate: super smooth, ripe, slightly boozy on entry [sweet cherries and raspberries]. it transitions into awesome minerally, silty mushroomyness with tiny prickles of acidity. finishes hugely [i mean it goes on for 3+ minutes!] with toasted oak, slight licorice, white pepper, fennel and seamless tannins. very tea-like as well and then the fat lady sang

2009 vintage

Pinot Days 2014 (Navy Pier - Chicago, IL) : Super funky. Really enjoyable as a whole.

2011 vintage

Sweet fruits predominate. Elegant, but simple.

2011 vintage

What a joy to drink. The nose is like a cherry vanilla dessert. Nice ripe red fruit with just the right amount of acidity on the palette. This wine was a joy to drink and enjoy.

2009 vintage

Getting better with age. Softened since the last tasting.

2009 vintage

Great bottle of wine. Bright cherry nose. Savory/saline entry. Great mid-level acidity. Medium-long, impeccably balanced finish.

2009 vintage

La Follette tasting (La Follette tasting room Sebastapol) : Bright cherry with leather, dark tar, light weight, elegant.

2011 vintage

Well-balanced. Good fruit, earth, and veggie.

2009 vintage

This wine has a relaxed but present nose followed by a tremendous initial mouthfeel with a really long and smooth finish that evokes cherry, and fig paste. Wish I had more

2009 vintage

Really special, and more open than the Manchester, though with a similar profile.

2011 vintage

Big, rich, dark, and brooding. Extracted and almost over the top. Much of that seemed to settle and come into better balance after about 1 hr. Still a solid wine, but slightly overpowering. Iron fist in a velvet glove style.

2009 vintage

PnP. Red fruits, bright berry cola, perfume, light herbs. Medium finish. Excellent.

2009 vintage

Dark crimson. Nose tea, spice, subtle hint of perfume. On palate dark fruit, complex, meat, strong tea notes. A very complex rich Pinot.

2009 vintage

Drank with grilled steak tips with neighbor. It continues to be big but well balanced CA pinot. In general I am not a fan of big CA pinot noir but this is one of the best examples I have had. It was enjoyable for it's fruit profile and balance but I would not age this much longer. It's better consumed now as it seems at it's peak. I do not see age improving this.

2009 vintage

Excellent Pinot for the money.

2009 vintage

Incredibly smooth and lush. Balanced and highly approachable. Medium + finish. Fruit forward but not a jammy hot mess. Very good.

2009 vintage

Brought to BBQ party. Continue to enjoy how balanced this is. After being ipen a few hours a deeper earthier note began to emerge. Still, this is a fruit forward PN that has variety characteristics and was enjotable for all.

2009 vintage

This is an exciting Pinot from the Mendocino Ridge. Cherries and earth on the nose. In the mouth, fresh cherries are smooth and delicious. The body is fairly big, although, this is a somewhat subtle wine. Highly enjoyable.

2009 vintage

Opened by Dan. Second time I've had this in the last seven months - Thanks Dan. I liked this better this time around, perhaps because it was the only Pinot in the lineup with several CdP's. Black fruits and nice acidity, with decent finish.

2009 vintage

Deep crimson color with notes of cola, earth, cherry and raspberry. Flavors of red fruit, clove, cola and cherry. Nice balance; finishes well. 92+ pts.

2009 vintage

Absolutely a fantastic wine.

2009 vintage

Medium dark red violet color; toasty, brett, light pepper, tart cherry nose; intriguing, creamy textured, tart cherry, cranberry, mineral, raspberry puree, Asian spice palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish (ideal with seared duck breast with Asian 5 spice, or salmon with wild rice)

2009 vintage

Spicy sexy wine. Lots of deep dark spice. A bit hot on the finish. Could have shown a bit more finesse but still a bold single vineyard from this "Grand Cru" site in Sonoma.

2009 vintage

Had a "hot" quality typical of the area. Did soften after about an hour.

2009 vintage

Beautiful from the first pour to the last drop. Will only get better with more time.

2009 vintage

Wine Reviews: Pinot Noir : SRP: $50. A laundry list of aromatics -- tart cherries, dried strawberries and raspberries, sandalwood, forest floor, coffee, and so much more. The finish is a bit hot, but this is clearly a well-made wine.

2009 vintage

Wine Reviews: Pinot Noir : SRP: $40. A ripe, expressive nose of raspberries, cherry pie, and blackberries, backed by cola, piecrust, and a hint of toasted oak. On the palate, the wine shows great weight but is light on its feet.

2009 vintage

Plum and raspberry, very floral, but deep, musky flowers, like toadflax. Hint of old leather and a slight sense of oak but it's well-integrated and seems like used oak (yay!). Was a big fan of this.

2009 vintage

Opened by Dtrf at Adelle's with CWM and xhoser. Very dusty with black fruits and floral notes.

2009 vintage

After first opening was tight. There was some good fruit to be found but dusty tannins suppressed it a bit. Corked the bottle and revisited 48hrs later. The dustiness was gone and it was a lovely juicy pinot. 90 on night 1 but rose to a 92 with time.

2009 vintage

No decant.

2009 vintage

Can't believe this is 14.7% ABV. It is a wonderful Pinot Noir and is promising for the area. Great color. Wonderful nose, red cherry, lavender & spices. The red cherry continues on the palate along with spices, cinnamon. The acidity is good and the balance is very nice.

2009 vintage

Not decanted.

2009 vintage

My system (nose mouth finish) /+/, tasted from friends bottle on day 2 was likely better day 1. big ripe fruit, spice and barrel. Little va and heat poke thru on the finish. 14.7% Drink now.

2009 vintage

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La Follette, Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

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