WTN: Great large production Pinot-Cambria

Yes...I like a large production, modest priced wine. This 2006 Pinot from Cambria Winery, a project of the Jackson family (Barbara, Jess Jackson's wife, is the propritor) makes a surprisingly restrained and elegant Pinot from Santa Maria fruit! Less than $25! Light cranberry and restrained cherry fruit with a very nice hint of earthyness on the palate. What really intrigued me was a delicious black pepper note on the finish. I liked this better than some over-extracted cult Pinots that are twice as expensive. Very impressive. Is there hope for me now that I prefer a "mainstream" wine to the cult wines?

http://www.cambriawine.com/wines/julia_pinot.html

Wow...the tasting notes over at Cellartracker are about as widely divergent as I have seen. Even granted vintage variation-scores range from 50 to 90+


Also sampled the 2002 Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet. A very distinct green note that seems to be prevalent in 2002 California cabs??? Still..this wine had such wonderful mouth feel and tannic strucutre. An extremely long finish complemented the cherry and currant fruit. Very enjoyable.

[Jenise]

Brian, Cambria's a decent wine. Nothing fancy, but not a wine one would ever turn down a glass of. Always has a bit of soft edges from the oak though--I'm surprised that met your approval.

Brian, Cambria's a decent wine. Nothing fancy, but not a wine one would ever turn down a glass of. Always has a bit of soft edges from the oak though--I'm surprised that met your approval.

Hmmm. Interesting. A lot of people mention oak when discussing the various and multiple wines from the Kendall-Jackson Empire, yet I don't seem to ever find their wines all that oaky.

What sold me on this particular wine was the restraint and lightness, even elegance. No cherry cola!