60 Souls Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2014
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is complex and beautiful offering scents of raspberry, blackberry, and cherry with supporting notes of red currants, forest floor, oak, and allspice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a dense but very vibrant fruit-centric core that features both sweet, ripe berries with tart berries and subtle accents of earth, spice, and oak. Medium-bodied with generous fruit, soft, supple tannins, and perfect balance due to a bright dose of fresh acidity. $25 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley 2013
Bright, semi-deep ruby red color. The nose is quite pleasing and complex with fruit in the lead offering scents of red cherry, cranberry, and wild strawberries with supporting notes of mineral, dried herbs, allspice, nutmeg, and wood. The palate echoes the nose delivering a fruit core that's more tart than sweet with layers of red fruits with earth, and brown baking spices and cloncluding with oak. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance with a vibrant dose of acidity and trailing spice accents. $25 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Stephen Ross Estate Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2013
Deep, dense ruby red color. The aromatics are wonderfully compex with scents of ripe raspberry, blueberry and red cherry with supporting notes of mineral, allspice & nutmeg, oak, and fresh herbs. The palate opens with a flood of ripe red berries that soon give way to spicy mix that becomes hot on the finish with hints of green stem as well. Full-bodied with an assertive ripe fruit focus with accents of tart berries and plum brandy. $32 – 3 Stars – 85 points
Tolosa Winery Estate Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2013
Bright, ruby red color. The nose is quite dry with tart, dried red berries in the lead with generous doses of earth, cigar box, and saddle leather with hints of oak and spice. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich tart fruit core with flanking notes of brown spice, and earth with accents of sour cherry and trailing black pepper. This is a full-bodied and sturdy Pinot with a firm but approachable structure and ideal balance with a vibrant dose of acidity. $32 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Effort Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2013
Deep, quite dark ruby red color. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe red berries with waves of brown spice, oak, mineral, black pepper, and green herbs. The palate is in full agreemnt with the nose delivering a lush fruit-driven core with generous waves of green vegetation, oak, brown baking spices, and earth. This is a big and fat Pinot with loads of ripe fruit being equaled by spice and earth notes and assertive tannins. $27 – 3 Stars – 85 points
Kynsi Winery Precious Stone Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2012
Bright ruby red color. The nose is simply beautiful offering waves of ripe and semi-tart red berries with supporting notes of purple flowers, jasmine, raspberry compote, cranberry, and mineral with hints of vanilla soaked oak. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a very sophisticated fruit core with an abundance of spice, oak, and floral notes with long trailing tart cherry notes and sexy oak tones. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance due to a fresh vein of bright acidity that greets you on the first sip and carries through to the finish. $62 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Bogle Pinot Noir California 2013
Brilliant, deep, ruby red color. The nose is quiet fetching with scents of violet, ripe strawberry, and red cherry supported by accents of mineral, subtle leather notes, cigar wrapper, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush but vibrant fruit core with tart cherry flavors offering the perfect foil to the bright, ripe red fruits with trailing spice, oak, and soft earth tones. Ideally balanced with layers of fruit and spice flavors and soft, chewy tannins. $12 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Bargetto Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 2013
Bright ruby red with a translucent center. The nose is complex and deep with scents of ripe and tart black cheery and cranberry supported by generous notes of mineral, plum, toasted oak, allspice, and hints of vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a charming melange of ripe and tart fruit with trailing spice and oak notes that linger on. Perfectly balanced with a vibrant dose of acidity that along with the seductive fruit core keeps you coming back for more. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $28 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Lucas & Lewellen Rosé of Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant salmon color with hints of ruby. The nose is quite floral with waves of fresh, ripe berries and a hint of mineral and citrus zest. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush, fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, strawberry, semi-tart red cherry, and plum with accents of mineral, citrus, and cranberry. It's perfectly balanced with a ripe, full center and vibrant acidty. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $18 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Pietra Santa Pinot Noir Cienega Valley 2012
Bright ruby red color. The seductive nose offers scents of raspberry and black cherry with accents of strawberry, allspice, oak, heather, wild herbs, and hints of vanilla. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering a silky fruit-driven core with flanking notes of brown baking spice, mineral, and toasty oak. Perfectly balanced with a refreshing dose of acidity and subtle tannins. Ideally proportioned and full of charm and style. This beautiful Pinot needs nothing but a glass but it compliments grilled beef tenderloin, braised meats, and charcuterie. A steal at under $20. $18 – 5 Stars – 97 points
