2004 Sanford Pinot Noir (Central Coast, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills)

This was quite possibly our favorite Sanford pinot noir for years, and I hate to say it, but I think that it may just finally be on the decline.  Storage conditions on this bottle, as well as the others have been perfect since release.

Popped and poured today at Manila Bay on Castor Avenue in Philadelphia, as we celebrate 15 years of faithful service to the neighborhood. Today however, Manila Bay opens its doors for the last time, and we bid Cherrie and Bob a fond farewell. They are the closest thing I have to Filipino family on the East Coast, and it's sad that this is our last visit.

Gorgeous ruby red color in the glass, but the nose is starting to fade compared to when we last had this wine 2 1/2 years ago. Some cherry and strawberry on the nose, with hints of cola and spice, but these are all
fading and subdued. Some herbal notes round out the nose.

On the palate, the first thing you notice is a bit of sour cherry, where the cherry used to be fresh, lively, and forward. More strawberry on the palate, with a hint of black cherry, raspberry, and cranberry. A little spice and caramel round out the palate, and the alcohol and tannins are nicely integrated at this point.

Plenty of nice flavors still on this wine, but it's not nearly as fruit forward as it used to be. I actually chose this wine after seeing almost a case of the 2004 between two different stores here in Jersey last Monday. I figured I could re-visit this wine, and if it was still showing well, I'd go back and pick up the case.

This wine has always had a special place in our hearts, and it definitely has a few years left. Unfortunately for me, I don't see it getting any better, so I think I will just sit on our last bottle, and try it again in a few years. Maybe this is a mistake, maybe it's not. We'll see! For now however, this is worthy of 87 points. Cheers!

1995 Sanford Pinot Noir Barrel Select Sanford & Benedict

A 15 year old Sanford pinot noir! Wow what a treat! This wine is definitely on the down slope, but could be one of the best '95's we've had in the last few years. The fruit is now lacking, but there are still some subtle raspberry and strawberry hints there, although the flavors are much more sour now than I am sure they were 5-8 years ago. A bit of sour cherry, the faintest hints of spice, and a bit of brett. On the palate, I wasn't sure that this was going to be drinkable, but it was plenty drinkable. Again, the fruit was lacking, but there was definitely a bit of cherry, black cherry, and some other dark mixed berries. The finish was nicely integrated, but a bit on the dirty/earthy side. The tannins are gone, the alcohol is gone, and the finish is short, but really, want do you want for a 15 year old pinot from Santa Barbara County? We purposely left about a 1/2 glass in the decanter, vacuumed and threw it in the fridge overnight. Needless to say, on day two this wine was definitely finished, flat, and undrinkable. My suggestion is to drink these up now if you have them, and I wouldn't recommend decanting. Pop and pour these bad boys, and free up some room in the cellar! All in a all, a nice blast from the past, and very enjoyable to drink during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games. This may not be a 95 pointer, but was definitely worthy of 87 points. Cheers!

2004 Sanford Pinot Noir

Another great bottle of this lovely 2004, so I won't bore you with more of the same tasting notes. Drinking very well now, and I don't see this wine getting any better. Thankfully, we still have a few more as this is getting hard to find. Great wine, highly recommend. Second to last vintage from Richard Sanford and his old crew. From 2006 on, buy the Alma Rosa insead of the Sanford as it is more like this wine.

2004 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir

Santa Rita Hills soil at its best once again! Hints of black cherry, cola, spice, candied cherry, and vanilla on the nose. I love the smell of this wine, but it is possible that the fruit might be slightly starting to fade.

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More red fruits on the palate, with more hints of vanilla on the finish. This is a fruit forward wine, but I am not sure how much longer the fruit is going to be the shining star. This may have been an off bottle compared to others, but even so, it would blow away a lot of the other pinot that we have been drinking. How is this possible on a wine under $25? I have no idea, but you can taste the love that Richard and Thelka Sanford are putting into their wines. All in all, still very enjoyable, and happy that we still have a few more in the cellar. Need to pick up some more '05's and '06's now that they are out. 90 points. Cheers!

2004 Sanford Pinot Noir

What can we say, other than "YUM" about another great bottle of this '04 Sanford Santa Rita Hills? This is the wine that changed our thoughts on pinot noir forever, and is just such a darn good bargain! Unfortunately, stock on the 2004 is starting to run a little thin, so lets hope some similar pinot releases are soon to come. With the thousands of pinot out there, I am sure we will find one, but for now, this is just so darn enjoyable!

Tonight we brought this along with us to Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, NJ, and as always, it was a pleasant treat! Popped and poured at this "new to us" BYO, this wine showed the usual hints of the '04 Sandford. Great ruby color in the glass, thinning ever so slightly near the rim. Tons of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry on the nose, with the faintest hints of cola and spice. Lots of candied cherry on the palate, and a finish that likes to linger pleasantly for 20-30 seconds.

There is something so special about the '04 that the '05 lacked, mainly in the fruit department. Was this because the harvest was that much better in 2004? What the fruit harvested earlier? Later? I wish I knew the answers to these questions, but I don't.

Unfortunately, I do not see this wine improving at all any further, but I think it will hold steady for another 2-3 years with proper cellaring. I have a local hot spot with a few more bottles, and maybe I'll have to clean out their inventory so we can enjoy one a year for the next few years...hmmm. Another consistent 90 point Sanford! Cheers!

2004 Sanford Pinot Noir

This is one of the wines that changed our wine world forever. The '04 is still such a good wine, and I love the fact that we still have a 1/2 case left in the cellar.

Nice ruby color in the glass, with great hints of red fruits, mainly cherry and strawberry on the nose, with hints of cola and herb. More of the same on the palate, and a finish that is absolutely delicious.

This wine is much better than the 2005 in my opinion. Maybe it is attributed to the weather in 2004 versus 2005. Maybe the fruit was just that much better. Or maybe the '05's just need some more time in the bottle. Regardless, I still swear by the '04's, and look forward to getting my hands on some more! 90 points consistently from 5 bottles thus far. Great pinot for sub $25! Also check out Richard's new project, Alma Rosa!