Gary Farrell, Pinot Noir Allen Vineyard, California

Tart cranberry with a nice finish. Will buy again.

Fresh cherry and raspberry aroma with a hint of tobacco. On the palate initial crispness and tart cherry, raspberry and strawberry freshness and light cola. The flavors deepened over 48 hours and a beautiful 15 second finish that lingered on the mid palate and ended with a zesty raspberry note on the back palate. Just lovely now with decant and aeration but will age nicely for another five years ease.

Fruit forward with notes of cherry, vanilla, cola, raspberry,boysenberry, lingonberry, mineral, radish and white pepper with a surprisingly long finish.

The Fifth Annual Blind Tasting of American Pinot Noir : Retail $45. Quite shy initially, but dark fruit eventually comes through on the nose. That same shyness on the palate but the fruit and tartness come screaming in on the finish. 90 points. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

Lively cherry color. The aromas pop with crisp cherry and raspberry, strawberry, red apple peel, so vibrant and mixed with tones of tobacco, rhubarb, mint, some clay and cola. The palate shows crisp acidity and a plush feel, smooth tannins. The fruit tastes crisp, cool and delightful (black cherries, raspberries, juicy strawberries). Pretty elements of rhubarb, white pepper, bay leaf, mixing with nuanced cola and toffee with floral, spicy tones on the finish. Crisp, fresh, balanced Pinot.