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February, 2008
| vintage: |
2005 |
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rating: |
92 pts. |
It looks like a big-time return to form for a wine that has often rated very highly with us. The first inviting sniff of sweet cherries is immediately joined by notes of pie crust, creme brulee, smoke and hints of violets, and the wine follows on the palate with full and balanced impressions of ripe cherries, creamy oak and the elusive hint of tea leaf smoke that first showed up in the nose. Tannins rise rather starkly in the latter palate, but time is on this wine's side, and a wait of some three to six years will bring it a more inviting, velvety texture.
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September 30, 2007
| vintage: |
2005 |
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rating: |
92 pts. |
Shows aromas of ripe cherry and dusty berry, mixed in with notes of herb, espresso and nutmeg. Rich, elegant and stylish on the palate, turning delicate and supple. Drink now through 2011.
January/February 2007
| vintage: |
2005 |
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rating: |
91 pts. |
Good deep red. Complex and pure on the nose, with aromas of raspberry, flowers, pepper and subtle blood orange.
Suave and energetic, with restrained pinot red fruits nicely framed by a positive peppery/herbal element. Firmly built but not austere.
Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins. Structured, nuanced pinot that should blossom with a bit of bottle aging.
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October 23, 2006
| vintage: |
2004 |
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rating: |
91 pts. |
Firm, ripe and complex, with intense plum and blueberry fruit that's rich and focused, with a long, persistent aftertaste that keeps repeating the dark fruit themes.
Drink now through 2009. |
May/June, 2006
| vintage: |
2003 |
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rating: |
92 pts. |
Bright, deep cherry-red color. Exotic red berries, spun sugar, blood orange, licorice, spices and rose petal on the nose. Suave, silky and graceful, with unforced flavors of red fruits and flowers. Understated, pure and light on its feet. Finishes very fresh, with fine tannins and subtle persistence. Extremely stylish California pinot with a restrained sweetness.
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Issue #33
| vintage: |
2002 |
|
rating: |
93 pts. |
Medium-deep ruby purple color; deep, slightly closed, black cherry, spice notes; full, deep and rich black cherry flavors with spice and slight earthy notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Great structure, deep flavors make this a Pinot for the cellar. Let this wine breathe at least an hour or so after you open it—it gets better and better.
May/June, 2005
| vintage: |
2002 |
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rating: |
92 pts. |
Full, deep red. Deep but wound-up aromas of wild cherry, mocha and spices, lifted by rose petal and mint. Then dense, sappy and bright but dry in the mouth, with very intense, primary flavors of dark raspberry and spices. Juicy, structured pinot, finishing firmly tannic, pure and very long. |
May/June, 2004
| vintage: |
2000 |
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rating: |
89 pts. |
Full, deep red. Slightly reduced aromas of strawberry and blueberry grew sweeter with aeration.
Broad, spicy and sweet, with a lovely velvety texture enlivened by juicy acids. In a drier style than the 2000 Reserve showing less complexity today and perhaps more marked by its oak.
But this also boasts excellent material.
December 23, 2003
| vintage: |
2000 |
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rating: |
88 pts. |
Another broad, deep ruby/purple-colored offering is the tannic, firmly-structured, sweet black cherry, herb, smokey 2000 Pinot Noir Brown Ranch. Give it another year of cellaring and drink it over the next 5-7 years.
May 2003
| vintage: |
2000 |
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rating: |
91 pts. |
A worthy, slightly less compelling version of Brown Ranch Pinot than the preceding vintage, this attractive wine more than holds its own from first ripe and rich aroma of cherries, toast, flower petals and quiet spice to its fairly full-bodied, somewhat tannic and tight palatal impressions. Clearly wanting more bottle aging than most Pinots, this one will reward half a decade or more of patient cellaring.
April 2003
| vintage: |
2000 |
|
rating: |
90 pts. |
SMART BUY! " A big, extracted style..." Medium-deep ruby purple color, some berry, black cherry and plum aromas, slightly earthy nose; big and tannic, some berry nice fruit is currently buried underneath tannin and oak; long, full finish. This is a big, extracted style of Pinot that is good for what it is but I'd love to see a bit more fruit.
February/March 2003
| vintage: |
2000 |
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rating: |
90 pts. |
January 9, 2003
| vintage: |
2000 |
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rating: |
90 pts. |
Tightly wound, with a firm structure of dense tannins and chewy, rich, mineral and berry-laced Pinot Noir flavors. Needs cellaring for the core of black cherry and blackberry fruit to fully emerge. Drink now through 2008. |
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March 2003
| vintage: |
1999 |
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rating: |
95 pts. |
Saintsbury’s flagship bottling delivers the goods again, and is, if anything, noticeably deeper in fruit and considerably richer than the winery’s Reserve model. It is also better balanced from front to back and is never quite so brawny in manner, and it displays uncommonly fine proportion for a wine of its considerable size. It takes on a bit of firmness due to its nicely placed tannins, and it shows its riper side without bowing to heat or coarseness. It is, in short, a genuine winner on every count, and, considering the lifelines displayed by this month’s centerfold wines, it can be expected to improve for a many years.
May/June 2002
| vintage: |
1999 |
|
rating: |
91 pts. |
Deep red with ruby tones. Spicy aromas of raspberry, cherry, minerals, mint and earth. Silky and rich, with very good breadth and depth and a chewy texture. Seamless and suave pinot, finishing with ripe tannins, a subtle oakiness and excellent length.
© 2006 Saintsbury
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