Preferred Pinot noirs

Cheers, Sept, 2007

Flavors of red fruit and spice and a certain earthiness abound in these Pinot Noir selections tasted by our panel. Terrior is evident in some, while many are extremely food-friendly. Oregon and California are well-represented among the selections, with New Zealand and France also making appearances.

Our panel presents brief tasting notes, a rating and suggested retail price for each wine. Prices may vary by market.

FIVE STARS

*****(95) Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2005 (Oregon). Complex and rich with a dose of oak and plenty of jammy strawberry and deep blue fruit with good length. Perfect with swordfish, veal dishes and chicken grilled moist. ($55)

*****(95) Au Bon Climat La Bauge Audessus Santa Maria Valley 2005 (California). Full and rich flavors of plum and spice with hints of vanilla and cinnamon with fresh fruit and aromas of fragrant flowers. ($30)

*****(95) ZD Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2005 (California). A finely crafted wine with fantastic balance; the silky texture exhibits plum and black cherry on a bed of spiced toasty oak. Firm tannins; great alone or pair with grilled tuna or salmon and even a Beef Bourguignon. ($60)

*****(94) Adelsheim Elizabeth's Reserve Pinot Noir 2005 (Oregon). Sweet strawberry syrup aromas, with an underlying cedar, forest-floor quality. Full, with dark cherry and spice, great power and length; would be amazing with Beef Wellington. ($41)

*****(94) Martin Ray Russian River Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2005 (California). This wine is smooth, ripe and generous with waves of fresh raspberry and black cherry; the flavors are harmoniously balanced with hints of spice and well integrated tannins on the long finish; has the elegance and power of some of the better Premiere Cru Burgundies. ($60)

*****(94) Landmark Grand Detour Pinot Noir 2003 (California). Fascinating and unique confluence of flavors featuring blackberry, raspberry, white pepper and cherry with hints of licorice, spice and smoke; lean, elegant and more complex than most California Pinot Noirs. ($30)

*****(94) Ken Wright Willamette Valley Angela Pinot Noir 2005 (Oregon). Possesses a rich violet/purple color and the bouquet leads off with rich, loamy earth tones showing hints of mineral, but soon gives way to rich, ripe blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry aromas with the perfect hint of spice. Full-bodied and forward on the palate, the ripe, rich dark fruit flavors lead off with a bang, taking their time to fade and let the acidity take its grip. The finish is long and lush, with cassis and spice notes lingering and even gaining intensity with time. ($45)

*****(93) Leaping Lizard Los Carneros Pinot Noir 2005 (California). Crafted with care and balanced harmoniously with vanilla, oak, cherry and plum flavors with a bright strawberry finish that lingers enough for a good match with chicken savoy, grilled pork dishes and veal chops. ($17)

*****(93) Stringtown Pinot Noir 2005 (Oregon). An excellent value among Oregon Pinots, this one's got plenty of ripe cherry and blackberry aromas; the lush, deep texture is layered with fruit and woodsy flavors, and the finish is long and smooth with a spicy, just-picked berry dimension. ($20)

*****(93) Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir 2005 (California). Beautiful earthy and red fruit, cherry and spicy on the nose; rich flavors of raspberry and red currant balanced with oak and tannins with a focused, long finish. ($47)

*****(93) Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir 2006 (New Zealand). Black cherry and currant on the nose; beautiful ripe cherry and red fruit; well balanced with light but sturdy tannins and a hint of oak. A great bottle alone or pairs well with roasted duck or partridge. ($16)

*****(92) Domaine Serene Winery Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir 2004 (Oregon). Perfectly balanced with blackberry and red cherry flavors; brown spice notes persist in this wine's elegant finish. ($47)

*****(92) Stephen Ross Edna Valley Pinot Noir 2005 (California). Elegant, smooth and silky; round, ripe fruit lasts from start to finish; mouth-filling. ($26)

*****(92) River Road Vineyards Russian River Pinot Noir 2005 (California). Generous aromas of strawberry and Bing cherry lead to flavors of ripe raspberry, aforementioned cherry and a hint of anise; the finish is long, supple and fruity, echoing berry and green tea. ($18)

*****(92) Fred's Hands Vidmar Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir 2003 (California). A subtle bouquet of roses and cherry leads to lovely sweet/tart cherry and strawberry flavors with a touch of spicy oak; lots of length on the finish. ($30)

*****(92) Bogle Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2004 (California). Ripe, round and ready; delicious ripe strawberry flavors on the palate. With subtle but firm tannins, perfect with a fully-adorned turkey or game-style entree. ($14)

*****(92) Dutton Goldfield Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2005 (California). Beautiful balance of acidity and mouthfeel, with aromas of red cherry and strawberry with bright black cherry flavors and hints of nutmeg. ($40)