Intense and concentrated, with a range of flavors that stretches from earth to spice, cranberry and cherry.
Deep opaque ruby red. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Mildly oaked. Mildly tannic. Plums, vanilla. Pleasant black fruit nose dominates the palate with some good tannins on the finish. A ripe attractive style.
Deep opaque ruby red. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Mildly oaked. Mildly tannic. Plums, vanilla. Pleasant black fruit nose dominates the palate with some good tannins on the finish. A ripe attractive style.
Intensely spicy, and the exotic cherry, herby, and black cherry flavors fold together nicely with the mild tannins.
An attractive, hedonistic Pinot Noir, with medium ruby color, a big, spicy, plum and raspberry-scented nose, round, generous, ripe flavors, full body, excellent definition, and a lusty finish, this is a thick, juicy Pinot Noir.
Plummy fruit attracts, and a delicious balance of oak, fruit, and soft tannins finish the wine with style.
Medium to dark ruby in color, it offers up aromas of nearly overripe plums, underbrush, and flowers. It has a succulence bordering on fatness, a fleshy, voluptuous texture, and a lusty, heady finish.
Medium to dark ruby in color, it offers up aromas of nearly overripe plums, underbrush, and flowers. It has a succulence bordering on fatness, a fleshy, voluptuous texture, and a lusty, heady finish.
Opening in the glass with notes of crunchy berry fruit, creamy new oak, spice and candied peel, the ambitiously priced 2015 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard Signature Collection is medium-bodied and rather fleeting on the palate, with some austere oak tannins asserting themselves on the finish.
Elegant and light-footed, with modest plum and raspberry flavors that retain an elegant mouthfeel, gaining spice hints and dusty tannins.
Concentrated raspberry fruit meets with earthy rhubarb, cranberry, beet, orange rind and thyme herbs on the nose of this new project from the Jackson family. Tighter pomegranate and raspberry fruit show on the palate, alongside graphite and woody herbs. It's a reliably down-the-middle and fresh wine.
Spice, peppery herbs, leather and darker currant and cherry fruits all emerge from the 2013 Pinot Noir Bench Break (aged eight months in 27% new French oak), and it has medium-bodied richness and firm tannin. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years.
A pretty, elegant and fresh effort that has loads of charm, the 2011 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard has plenty of sweet cherry, raspberry and spice to go with a medium-bodied, pure and supple feel on the palate. Juicy acidity emerges on the finish and the focus here is on beautiful Pinot Noir fruit. Enjoy it over the coming handful of years. Drink now-2016.
Cambria's 2010 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard bursts from the glass with sweet red cherries, hard candy, flowers and spices. This is an overt, fruit-driven style with good initial energy, although the wine loses some of its persistence on the mid-palate and finish. Still, the Julia's is a solid offering in its price range.
I'll keep my tasting notes on Cambria's Pinot Noirs short, since the only wine produced in acceptable commercial quantities is the Bench Break. The rest are experimental, small lots, all of them solidly made wines emphasizing the red currants, strawberry, and sweet and sour cherry notes as well as the minerality of Pinot Noir. I didn't see as much difference in the clonal choices as one might expect, although the alcohol percentages ranged widely.
I'll keep my tasting notes on Cambria's Pinot Noirs short, since the only wine produced in acceptable commercial quantities is the Bench Break. The rest are experimental, small lots, all of them solidly made wines emphasizing the red currants, strawberry, and sweet and sour cherry notes as well as the minerality of Pinot Noir. I didn't see as much difference in the clonal choices as one might expect, although the alcohol percentages ranged widely.
The one lot available commercially in decent quantities is the 2008 Pinot Noir Bench Break. This red shares many characteristics with the others - minerality (wet rock notes) intermixed with strawberry, black cherry, and pomegranate. It is medium-bodied and crisp, in a tart, fresh style of Pinot Noir that should drink well for 4-5 years.
I'll keep my tasting notes on Cambria's Pinot Noirs short, since the only wine produced in acceptable commercial quantities is the Bench Break. The rest are experimental, small lots, all of them solidly made wines emphasizing the red currants, strawberry, and sweet and sour cherry notes as well as the minerality of Pinot Noir. I didn't see as much difference in the clonal choices as one might expect, although the alcohol percentages ranged widely.
Scents of red apple skin, beeswax and mossy earth give this pinot an autumnal tone. The raspberry seed tannins tighten it up, needing time or roast beef to mellow.
Smooth and racy, with herb-tinged cherry and berry flavors that turn elegant and supple.
Deep ruby-red color. Cassis and blueberry aromas complicated by licorice and floral notes. Somewhat simple berry flavors in the mouth; not especially fleshy or sweet and a bit lacking in generosity of texture. Finishes firm and rather oaky.
…reveals attractive sweet cassis and black raspberries in its aromatics. Spice and pepper are present in this medium-bodied, pleasant, cleanly made Syrah.
...displays a dnse ruby/purple color, followed by an alluring blackberry and cassis-scented nose with notes of smoke, tar, and pepper. In the mouth, it is medium-bodied and round, with a lush texture and an easy to understand personality. The finish is all silky tannin and ripe fruit. This forward-styled Syrah should be consumed over the next 7-8 years.
Full dark cherry red apperance. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Mildly tannic. Vanilla, earth, black tea, jammy fruits. Full tea-like aromas. Jammy entry contrasts with a citrus-like acidity running through giving this an assertive edge.
Interesting notes on this wine, with one reviewer admiring the lovely fruit and pretty aromas of licorice, blackberry and spice, while another found the oak unintegrated and distracting.