2005 Benton-Lane Pinot Noir

Another good bottle of this consitently well crafted Oregon pinot noir, just don't let the screw top fool you! Nice nose of cherry, wildflower, and other non-desript red fruits. On the nose, more of the cherry comes through, with hints of raspberry, spice, and mushroom. Simple tasty finish garners 88 points for this wine! Cheers!

1988 Château Cos d'Estournel

We enjoyed this wine very much tonight at our friend Dee's house, on the Bordentown Garden Tour night.

Nice dark ruby color in the decanter and glass, with a nose of pencil lead, earth, anise, leather, dirty black fruits, and cedar. This wine has a nice balance, and is drinking well now, but I wouldn't be surprised if this wine would last another 10-15 years in the bottle under proper storage conditions.

Unfortunately, the fruit was not as prevelant on the palate as it was the nose. I thought for sure this would be a very fruit forward fruit bomb, but not the case. Don't get me wrong, it was still there, and there was still a ton of fruit in the mouth, but not like the explosive nose. This wine got better and fruitier with time in the glass. Tons of blackberry and black cherry, with hints of oak and subtle tannins made this wine a true treat!

A nice medium finish ended this wine, and I would give it 93 points, with more points possible in time perhaps. Time will tell! Cheers!

1995 Château La Louvière

Another fun bottle to go along with the 1990 opened previously! This was decanted and filtered for sediment, and spent a good couple of hours in the decanter breating. Nice ruby color with signs of bricking. Similar nose of cassis, slate, herb, and cigar. Some dark fruits on the nose, but nothing really stood out. On the palate, this wine was showing very mature, with slight hints of raspberry and boysenberry. Medium length finish, but nothing really to write home about. This wine is either getting past its maturity, or this was an off bottle. Based on this wine, I would say drink now! 88 points. Cheers!

1990 Château La Louvière

A great bottle opened at Dee's party tonight, and what a treat! How can you not absolutely love a good Bordeaux with some age on it?

.

A great nose of soil, pencil lead, graphite, tobacco, and slate, with some cassis and blackberry. This wine still looked and smelled very young in the glass. On the palate however, this wine really shined, blueberry, blackberry, and cherry jam. The fruit was definitely there for a 17 year old wine, and I think this will hold up for another few years. Is this wine at it's peak now, it is really hard to say, however, it is drinking very nicely, and the fruit is very much still alive, making the wine worthy of 92 points.

2004 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley

Another great pinot noir, and in the glass it had a gorgeous pinot color. Nose with tons of sweet candied cherry, strawberry, and cranberry. Gorgeous palate giving a more fruit forward vibe, with more cherry and strawberry, with the slightest hint of cola. A nice supple finish made this wine worthy of 90 points. Look forward to finding more of this!

2005 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir Highliner

This is yet another outstandingly tasty Santa Barbara County pinot noir, this one of course made famous by "Sideways." Nice, deep color in the glass, with hints of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry on the nose. Absolutely gorgeous hints of red fruits, with a subtle hint of earth as well. Ah yes, that Santa Barbara County soil! On the palate, some great, fruit forward candied cherry, and plum, with a nice medium body to it. The finish is short and sweet, with just the slightest bit of heat and spice. All in all, a fun wine to drink, and sure to be a crowd pleaser worthy of 90 points in my book! Cheers!

2005 Calera Pinot Noir

A fun wine to drink tonight at Delo's on Hudson Street! I let this wine breath for almost an hour before we left, and once poured it was a bright ruby red color in the glass. The nose was filled with cherry, strawberry, and raspberry tones, with the slightest hint of earth and spice. On the palate, more of the same bright red fruits, served up in a light and refreshing manner. The finish showed a tiny bit of tartness and mineral, along with a bit of spice, as well as tannins a bit more showing than with most pinot noir. For the price, this is a great wine, and even shows at bit of terroir. 90 points! Cheers