Ovene Winery Pinot Noir

Nicely aged California pinot. Good brambly fruit, not too ripe, some secondary flavors, but overall a little simple. But $15 at auction, no complaints!

A straight up drinkable Pinot Noid showing classical Santa Rita terroir. Nice fruit, acid balance, and minerality. Perhaps just a bit past it's peak and missing a little oomph, but overall satisfying. Found. Bottle at a clearance price that was 50% of retail; so it was a good value for the money. Overall score 89-90.

Medium to light red in color. Florals and some lavendar on the nose. Berries and soft rose petals on the palate up front with a nice acidity level and well-balanced finish. Nice, approachable wine.

Pale ruby. This bottle seems a little more "awake" than last. Bright cherry, roses, and pink peppermint nose. Etoh note has subsided a little and this is really showing a nicely made, $20 Cali Pinot. Still, not a long-runner (5+12+14+6) = 87

Comparing side by side with the '05 Solomon Hills. Only about 60% saturated, it is a beautiful light ruby, almost rose'. Nose is not as expressive or as ripe and with a higher alcohol note than the SH. Brighter palate with a firm attack and a hot streak. Good fruit flavor but the finish comes in a shorter, too. Not drinking like my note from year ago and I feel this structure is fading quickly. Drink up. (5+11+14+6) = 86

Found this on clearance at the local wine shop for $20. Big nose that is distinctly Central CA, with soft floral notes embracing sweet and spicy cherries, and a bit of smoke. It needed about an hour of air to come together, as the 14.5% ABV was a little out of balance at first. When it did, it became a bold, yet still feminine wine showing really lovely rose petal, sweet and ripe cherries, blackberries, and underlying smoke, and dirty …

Donated to the party. No notes

Tasty, tasty, tasty. That's the short description. Formally, it is very, very light - almost Rose' with legs like molasses. Really profound nose of candied cherries, Mandarin orange, dried sage, lavender, leather, cigar and cola notes. Fruit bombardment on the palate that begs for rack of lamb. I also get a little cashew and smoky marshmallow flavor and a hidden sweetness reminiscent of Brach's peppermint. Beautiful medium-long finish and an impressive QPR value. (5+13+17+7) = 92