Winery - Fort Ross
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Shows amazingly ripe fruit, offering a blast of pineapple jam, apricot, tangerine, papaya and lime flavors. The acidity is crisp and tart, and the oak is rich and flamboyant, yet in keeping with the size of the underling wine. Super-rich and decadent, this Chardonnay is at its best soon.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Released unusually at the age of nearly five years, this Chardonnay is losing its primary fruit. It’s developing a toasted cashew and hazelnut character, and the pineapples are transmogrifying to chewy dried fruits and even Christmas fruitcake. Meanwhile the sweet, caramelized oak is fully integrated. Bravo to the winery for holding this back and letting us see what an older Sonoma Coast Chardonay does.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dark for a blush wine, with a crimson hue, and forward and heavy in flavor, too. Shows red cherries, root beer and spices that are accented with brisk acidity, and finish dry. Not very complex or subtle, but easy with all kinds of summer fare.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
What a beautiful Pinot Noir for drinking now with lamb chops or maybe a rich, exotic Ahi tuna tartare. Brilliantly crisp in acidity, with a clean, bracing mouthfeel, it offers dazzlingly rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, orange zest, Dr. Pepper cola and Asian spices, with smoky oak adding elaborate tiers of vanilla char. For the price, it’s a very great buy.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
What a beautiful Pinot Noir for drinking now with lamb chops or maybe a rich, exotic Ahi tuna tartare. Brilliantly crisp in acidity, with a clean, bracing mouthfeel, it offers dazzlingly rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, orange zest, Dr. Pepper cola and Asian spices, with smoky oak adding elaborate tiers of vanilla char. For the price, it’s a very great buy.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
At a time when so many California rosés are blah, Fort Ross’ is the real deal. Dry and crisply structured, it shows raspberry, cherry, lavender, thyme and pepper flavors that have an edge of mouthwatering bitterness.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Nice, classic coastal Pinot Noir, showing a solid structure of acidity and tannins that frame opulent flavors of red and black cherries, cola and spice. Should hold and improve for up to five years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Quite rich and full-bodied, this dry young Pinot is loaded with oodles of red currants, cherries, mocha and cola. It’s a little hard and angular in tannins, suggesting midterm ageability. Best now, with decanting, and through 2011 or so.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A truly succulent, opulent Chardonnay. Tastes quite oaky with char and butterscotch flavors, but not too oaky. The barrel regimen is precisely in keeping with the ripe tropical fruit and honeysuckle flower flavors. Feels rich and dramatic.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Marked by softness and firm tannins, this Pinotage has the weight of a Cabernet Sauvignon. The flavors are of cherries, red currants, licorice, cocoa, violets and smoky oak. The finish is a little candied. Drink now.
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