Au Bon Climat, La Bauge Au-Dessus Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley

Ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, orange peel, macerated cherries and macerated strawberries on the nose. Starting to get long in the tooth, and dangerously bordering on "cola" to my palate. Medium + intensity of aromas. The palate is a little fresher, showing flavors of eucalyptus, ripe red cherries, ripe raspberries and dried leaves. Medium intensity of flavors. Medium body with medium acid. This is declining for sure. I've had older La Bauge that showed better, so maybe it's a vintage thing. …

From 75cl, perfect cork, P+P. Good low-key, light-bodied, entry-level PN with low acidity, restrained soft strawberry/raspberry fruit and low-key red-fruit aromatics. Nice that it hasn't been pumped up, or acidified to the point of sharpness. 87–88P

Very sexy stuff. The Pinot is bursting from the glass, has creamy exteriour, good acidity, herbs, thyme, but the base is strawberry. Loving it. #Kandestederne

Had again, ripe grapes , not young immature grape profile, but a tad sour. Paired with chile tonight which did not work. Light velvety ( almost raisin tint) color, would work with brownie other soft cheeaen

Plenty of ripe (almost sweet) red berry notes on the nose and palate, with raspberry, cherry, and strawberry leading the way. Hints of milk chocolate and baking spice weave in, with just enough acidity (and a skosh of tannin) to provide tension. Not long on complexity, but a delicious crowd-pleaser.

Wine pours to a subtle crimson color. Decent bouquet of fresh flowers, but the taste is lackluster and void of complexity or distinctive flavors. Very soft bottle of wine. Could be good for some people, a stand alone glass without food or a sitting in the summer heat bottle. Price point is high for so little.

100% Pinot Noir, mainly from the hillsides of the Bien Nacido vineyard (planted to 115, 2A, 113, and 114 clones), but blended with a little bit of estate fruit from Le Bon Climat vineyard (planted mainly to clone 67 with a little bit of Mt. Eden clone). Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels (50% new). According to the producer, the name means "the wild party upstairs", but this must be a very colloquial use of "la bauge", because …

The wine looks crimson colored. It tastes like red currant and raspberry. The body is medium. The wine has juicy texture. The wine has medium acidity. pinot like in color, but with a bit more heft

Palest plum colour. Opulent, floral aroma, lots of warming spice and sweet cooked berry and cherry. Quite meek, taste, fairly dry, short. A letdown. Nice profile but lacking concentration. [Unknown closure but not screwcap; 13.5% abv; Woodwinters, £40].

Extremely light in color but a classic nose with bracing acidity on the palate with brambly fruit and a long finish.

Le premier jour était ordinaire, peu d’arôme et acide. Transforme le lendemain laissé dans sa bouteille refermée avec liège. 86 —> 90! Le fruit devient plus évident ainsi qu’une texture soyeuse. Tannins extra fins, soyeux. Finale un peu vaporeuse, vraiment pas guidoune. Fruits rouge un peu acidulé, excellent avec une raclette de fromage. RQP ****

This is a very gentle, feminine rendition of the grape. Light-medium ruby. Some legs, but not tall. Cherry aromas seem a little washed out, but attractive enough all the same. Nice dusty note to the fruit. Pomegranate fruit and earth flavors. Pretty lengthy on the finish. Good stuff. 4-11-16-8: 89/100.