Region - California
* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Very sweet and perfumed nose, an interesting hint of marigolds in this wine mixed with field grass, tree bark, green herbs after more time; light color and a light texture, the initial taste of this wine is lots of sweetness and not much else; its initial flavors disappoint and it has the character of many of the overly sweet and “cooked” pinots from California; more time in the glass allows the wine to pick up more complexity, and while the wine is still quite sweet and in some respects shallow, it also has nice secondary flavors of earth and truffle, good citric acidity, soft flavors of perfumed fruit and flowers; nice balanced dry finish; this needs more time before it can be properly evaluated; it is designed to be a lighter style, having spent only eight months in oak, and I think it will pay for that with a lack of complexity as it matures; owned by Charles Wagner. (16/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Very soft and sweet nose, a bit diffuse, but loaded with ripeness, earthen but also with good aromatics; soft and sweet, now with soft but noticeable tannins; ripe fruit, a bit faded but pleasant in the mouth; lacks the structure of the present-day California cabs, but still elegant and classy; an aged dowager of a wine, but with good definition still. (16/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Opens with a huge sweet, rich, ripe nose of black cherry jam, soft perfume, and floating floral scents, a bit thick and over-the-top; sweet and rich in the mouth, a bit too young now, this wine is all about rich, jammy fruit; a classic New World product, with loads of sweetness and ripe black fruits; light acidity, soft and rich; long finish; smooth and unctuous; no one will ever confuse this with Burgundy, but will anyone recognize it as pinot noir; more bottle time will answer that question. (17/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Sweet and soft nose, but surprisingly complex, aromas of wood, licorice, eucalyptus, mint, green herbs; soft and sweet in the mouth, very evolved fruit, ripe and rich; black cherry juice; dry tannins, dusty and finely grained; slightly unbalanced acidity; this is aged now but still very sound; a bit flabby and frayed at the edges but good wine and a nicely aged older cab. (17/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Heavy sweet nose at the outset, dense and sweet with a cloying aroma, later in the glass more details, with earthen and spice tones emerging, but pretty elemental; same in the mouth; there is a lot of jammy sweet fruit, but this is New World pinot without the finesse; thick and sweet, woody fruit in the mouth later with some more spices and soft tannins, but this is a simple wine and shows little in terms the complexity and depth that even the California pinots can have. (13/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Very aromatic and perfumed, chocolate, caramel, tar, sweet black fruits, floral with scents of oleander and acacia blossoms; sweet and round in the front of the mouth with red cherry flavors dominant; hot and spicy, peppery wine, nicely constructed with good balance of tannins and light acidity; could use more fatness and a longer finish, but well-turned wine, particularly in this format. (17/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Big sweet nose loaded with dense aromas of sugar, sweet fruits, earth, lilacs, coffee, and blueberry; big and blowsy on the palate in the beginning with ripe, sweet fruit, powerful and intense flavors, roasted and earthen in the mouth; still very young and un-evolved; this becomes evident in the finish which is laced with dry tannins and chewy wooden textures; should age well if it doesn’t become too sweet in the process. (17/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Overly ripe nose with very sweet fruit, oaky, perfumed and aromatic, touch of exotic spices and herbs; sweet and round in the mouth with a big, ripe set of flavors; sweet and spicy; powerful acidity emerges in the middle of the mouth; spicy and lemony at the end; big finish. (19/20)
Tags:
Marcassin Gauer Vineyard, Upper Barn Napa Valley - 1997
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Lighter style of nose but complex and deep, smoky and earthen with black fruits, tar, touch of caramel, quite perfumed; sweet but slightly dilute in the front of the mouth; lots of sugar, caramel, taffy flavors; the center of the wine is loaded with searing tannins at this time, but these should moderate with more bottle age; long, sweet finish, a bit harsh and clumsy now, but should smooth out with age. (17.5/20)
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* Expert NoteDecember 19, 2005
Elegant and complex nose, herbal and spicy with layered aromas of black cherries, cassis, extracted black fruits, earth, pepper; sweet and round in the front of the mouth, concentrated and dense, rich with subtle textures and flavors of berries and cassis, tar; in this format there are still big, dry tannins that dominate the finish, creating a dry and woody finish, but there is so much depth in this wine that in smaller format bottles, the balance is no doubt more resolved. (19/20)
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