A cool, pure and restrained nose consists mainly of red cherry, dark raspberry, orange peel and a hint of tea. The mouthfeel of the medium weight flavors is equally cool and restrained with good focus and vibrancy, all wrapped in a dusty, intense and mildly austere finish that flashes a hint of bitter cherry pit quality. Provided that you can cellar this for at least a few years this should prove to be lovely. 89 points.
Dark red cherry, pomegranate, rose petal and sweet spices are all nicely layered in the 2015 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley). Juicy and expressive, the 2015 is a terrific wine at this level. Sweet floral and spice notes add a measure of brightness. This has quite a bit more freshness than the Sonoma County Pinot.
The Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is made from a blend declassified wines coming from throughout the Russian River Valley, from the Santa Rosa Flood Plain west to Green Valley. Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has very pure aromas of black cherry and black raspberry with hints of violets and chocolate box. Medium to full-bodied and straight-up seductive with its gregarious fruit and voluptuous texture, it finishes with appealing freshness.
Spicy aromas of dark cherry and raspberry introduce succulent, round and fleshy medium weight flavors that possess a polished mouthfeel before concluding in a dusty and ever-so-mildly austere finish. This moderately firm effort could be enjoyed young or held for a few years first, which is what I would suggest to allow this to unwind further. Very good quality here. 89 points.
A snappy red, with vibrant floral and cherry aromas and flavors. Finishes on a spicy note.
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A complex nose leads off with aromas of blackberry, cassis, wine cave, floral notes and a hint of baked apple. Well endowed with ripened purple and black berry fruits. Robust, yet vibrant, with matched tannins, complimentary barrel accents, and a modest sweet-fruited finish. This wine could easily be mistaken as one from California. Score:
There's lots to admire here, showing complexity and depth to the loamy earth, dark berry, anise, cedar and crushed rock flavors. The texture smoothes out, ending with a savory herb aftertaste. 89 points. Very good.
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. The nose is both fruity and oaky (charcoal, tobacco, BBQ spices). Sweet fruited in a mid weight style featuring black cherry and black raspberry with a serious investment in oak. Well proportioned tannins and acidity with good persistence on the finish that offers black cherry and sweet tobacco aromatics. Score: 89
Here is a ripe and well-muscled wine that speaks very much to its place of origin, and, if a little less rich than several of its Santa Lucia Highlands siblings, it will not be mistaken for a Pinot from a foggy, cold-coast site. It is a tad tough at the edges and a touch hot at the end, but it is kept on course by ample, extracted fruit and a bit of age and/or thoughtful mealtime matching will temper its slightly rougher nature. 89 points. One star.
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. A straightforward wine featuring aromas and flavors of red cherry, cranberry and toasty oak. Modest in attack and finish modes, with easy going tannins and integrated acidity. Score: 89
Moderate garnet color in the glass. There is definitely terroir at work in this individualistic wine but not necessarily in a favored way. Aromas of dusty black cherry, dark raspberry, savory herbs and smoke. The mid weight purple and black fruits are framed by substantial tannins. A brambly herb and earthy mountain character runs through this wine that is more savory than fruity. A slight bit of alcoholic warmth shows up on the finish. Score: 89
Light-bodied and slightly lacking in color, Siduri’s Muirfield Pinot is a bit deceptive because it’s anything but short on flavor. Delicate notes of cherry and spice dominate, with modest tannins for enjoyable near-term consumption. 89 points.
A whisper of wood toast sets off elegant and pure aromas of discreetly spiced essence of red cherry and raspberry. There is a bit more volume to the nicely concentrated and appealingly textured medium weight flavors that offer slightly better depth and particularly so on the muscular and ever-so-slightly warm finish that is borderline rustic. This should repay a few years of keeping as it’s presently pretty tightly wound. 89 points.
The 2015 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard is an attractive wine, but it also comes across as a bit compact and lacking the juiciness, especially on the mid-palate, that is such a Siduri signature.
The 2014 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard is another pretty wine with plenty of immediacy. Sweet red cherry, cola, mint, wild flowers and sweet spices are pushed forward. This is a classic Keefer Pinot built for near-term enjoyment. Here, too, it would be great to see a little more complexity and persistence.
The 2014 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains comes from vines planted between 1981 and 1999. Matured with 35% whole cluster fruit, it has a tightly wound bouquet at first and needs some coaxing from the glass, eventually revealing wild mint and fennel scents that complement the black and red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red cherry fruit, slightly grain in texture with a fresh, fennel tinged finish that displays good delineation.
Moving to the 2014s, the appellation release 2014 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills offers lots of red fruits, loamy, sandy, earthy characteristics, medium-body and a silky, polished texture. Readers looking for a classic representation of this appellation should grab a bottle as it really shows the more savory, spicy and earthy nuances that are the hallmark of the Sta. Rita Hills.
Combining elegance with density and complexity, this is firm and spicy, with earth-scented dried berry, licorice, light oak and road tar notes. Ends a bit chewy and rustic, but in a pleasant way.
Olallieberries, grape seeds, roasting herbs and hot gravel show on the nose of this appellation blend by Adam Lee, whose recently sold his brand to Jackson Family but remains deeply involved. A marjoram-laced cranberry-juice flavor consumes the palate, lifted further by hints of dried fennel.
The 2014 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County) is bold, juicy and forward, with plenty of character, especially for its modest price. Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, cedar and leather are pushed forward in a super-affordable, delicious Pinot to drink over the next 2-3 years.
The 2014 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is plump, juicy and forward. Dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol and cola race out of the glass. This exuberant, flamboyant Pinot is sure to deliver considerable pleasure over the next few years. The addition of the fruit that would have been used for the Sonoma Coast bottling has improved the Russian River Pinot.
Light, bright red. Spice-laced aromas of fresh strawberry and redcurrant, with a hint of white pepper emerging with air. Taut, linear and nervy on the palate, offering bitter cherry and red berry skin flavors and a touch of black tea. Closes with repeating spiciness, good energy and very soft tannins. This would be delicious with a light chill, à la Beaujolais.
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. This wine blends the best of both worlds of power and elegance in a harmonious package. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, black plum, black tea, tobacco and a hint of tarry oak are pleasingly boisterous in this impressive value priced wine.
The 2014 Pinot Noir Pratt Vineyard - Sexton Road is a bit ripe and juicy for a Sonoma Coast Pinot. The flavors are dark, bold and intense, but in exchange, readers will find an attractive, large-scaled Pinot, that will drink well upon release. Black cherry, blackberry, cola and sweet spices meld into the plush finish.