Saintsbury, Pinot Noir Reserve, Los Carneros

Drinking great right now although I wouldn't push it much further. Very smooth and enjoyable cherry and light strawberry flavors. Soft tannins.

2003 vintage

Popped, decanted, and poured. Good deep color, almost opaque. Not much on the nose, I tried to find some red fruit and it was finally there. On the palate, a disappointment. Not much going on at all. By the end of the bottle, it had opened some, but I just do not think there is much there to begin with.

2003 vintage

Solid, balanced middleweight in a Burgundian vein - cherries, tea and earth backed by still vibrant acidity and soft but slightly drying tannins. Seemed to be fading a bit and it definitely declined on night 2. Don't think this is really going anywhere; finish up now while it is still a very nice drink.

2003 vintage

Decent Pinot, but had characteristics of other grapes in the sense that it was 'bigger' than most Pinot's we've had of late (Petit Sirah/Syrah?), not as refreshing and perhaps a bit past it's time as the fruit seems to have waned - It was dark red, medium bodied with notes of plum, cherry, spice and vanilla on the nose, decent overall structure, quite tannic still with the fruit taking a back seat on the front palate, smooth on the finish …

2003 vintage

Had with greek lamb and chicken dishes. Light bodied, old-world styled, good acidity. Not opulent, but a nice food wine. Some "forest" and sour cherry aromas, with similar flavors.

2003 vintage

A pleasant surprise. Smooth and light with strawberry overtones. Nice finish.

2003 vintage

Interesting pinot. More old world than fruit forward CA pinot from Sonoma and Santa Barbara. Fruit at the tip but the finish is short.

2003 vintage

Beautiful light ruby. Sour,tart cherry with a hint of earthyness and vanilly. Medium heat. Last of my stash. Shared with friends and all enjoyed this bottle.

2003 vintage

I thought that this was a very nice Pinot... medium ruby red color. Nose of strawberry, cherry and some minerals. Medium bodied palate has lots of red fruit, some minerals, fresh acidity and a solid finish. Not overly coomplex, but a nice expression of a Cali Pinot.

2003 vintage

good drinking wine for the middle of the week

2003 vintage

smooth glycerin makes mouthfeel very nice; the oak/vanilla is a bit much for the modest bing cherry and earth base; not complex enough to hold much longer, as you will only get more vanilla than fruit; ok with food;

2003 vintage

Typical Saintsbury lightness – in the glass and on the pallet. Nice cherry flavors, but not overly complex.

2003 vintage

4th Bottle consumed in the past 12 months. This was the best of the lot. Wine had settled down a bit. Heat was not as great as in prior bottles, and the cherry aroma and taste was more forward.

2003 vintage

Corked.

2003 vintage

Aroma is consistently cherry with Saintsbury. Carried through to tart or sour cherry on the palate. Heat in throat. Great cherry finish but not long. Bit of oak, not overdone at all. One of our favorite food wines. 4th bottle tasted at our Fall Wine Tasting.

2003 vintage

Medium body, noticeable acidity and alcohol. Nice rounded cherry and plum flavors, some spice and earthiness. Enjoyed it with grilled halibut with vegetable ratatouille.

2003 vintage

As always, a solid Pinot. Cherry with sweek oak. Nice mouthfeel. I have always loved the cherry finish of this wine. Great wine for about any food. I always have a few of these on hand for a "food emergency" or just to share with friends over conversation.

2003 vintage

Wonderful bottle at a great price.

2003 vintage

Medium pinot colour with no age. Slightly dumb nose with some gentle fruit. Luscious fruit in the mouth, soft tannins, good balance, good length, will peak in five years.

2003 vintage

Intense Bouquet Of Jammy SWEet Cherry Fruit Intermixed With Loamy Soil, Subtle New Oak, Apple Skin, And Spice. It Is Fleshy And Medium-bodied, With Good Underlying But Unobtrusive Acidity As WEll As Tannin. This Is A Delicious Pinot...(WA)

2003 vintage

This bottle enhanced a multitude of foods at La Fondue. Everything from the swiss cheese fondue to ostrich broiled in garlic butter to chocolate. A good choice for a special occasion where one doesn't know what's for dinner!

2003 vintage

Not powerful, but a consistent wine from Saintsbury

2003 vintage

Very pleasant. Not spectacular, but nice. Great mouth-feel.

2003 vintage

Initial off odors blew away, revealing a modest, rather straightforward cherry-scented bouquet. Rather nice mouth feel: velvety but not too soft. A nice bottle at a fair price.

2003 vintage

good. will try this one again. the nose was fantastic, with bright red fruit and wet trampled leaves. upon tasting it, the fruit was perky but not overwhelming and it had a softer mouth feel. this is an elegant wine, certainly not complex or deep by any means, but is very approachable and friendly.

2003 vintage

Fruity aroma. Great balance (tasting note from journal).

2003 vintage

Very good pinot. Smooth dark red cherry flavours with nicely integrated sweet-oak. Just a touch of wet-earth. Not terribly complex, but done in a nice clean style (not overblown or jammy). Great food wine.

2003 vintage

2005 Fall Vendors Sale (Tokyo American Club) : Strong initial whiff of sweet wood on nose, which gives way to bright red fruit and a little herb. Very clean and bright. Theme continues on the palate, where the wine has reasonable concentration, but very little weight. A little mineral joins the red fruit on the finish, where the oak again becomes a wee bit intrusive. Experience with prior vintages suggests the oak should integrate. If it does, this should become …

2003 vintage

Heritage: Balanced, big, ripe flavors. Good

2003 vintage

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Saintsbury, Pinot Noir Reserve, Los Carneros

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