Killer Cali Pinot and Petit

Tasted at the winery's tasting room in Rutherford:

2006 Elizabeth Spencer Anderson Valley (Mendocino) Pinot Noir.

Unlike last year's "Reserve" E/S bottling, (Sorry, JC! ) this lovely wine is not extracted at all.

Good garnet color. Great Pinosity on the nose. Wine attacks with delightful sour cherry and a bit-just a bit-of cola. Bracing, mouthwatering, lovely acidity-it was criminal to drink this without food! Definitely juicy red cherry on the palate with a fantastic cedary? brambling, earthy mushroomy character that really adds to the mouthwatering character of this wine. Delightful-and a very fair $30. 93 points!

Also-tried again the 2003 Freemark Abbey Petit Sirah. Blueberry, blackberry, bergamot tea???? Very light and elegant on its feet, this is not a hot jam bomb at all. It's not thick... It doesn't burn my throat...I'm not drinking home-made preserves with moonshine added. Instead, can there actually be a "Claret-Style" Petit Sirah? The tasting room employee admitted that this is her favorite wine in their lineup. Still...as there was some of this left and only eight bottles of Gravel Bench Chardonnay left...I picked up the Chard, which I also love. The 1990 Sycamore Vineyard Cab was also showing a lot of graphite and earthyness, too.

Brian, I have never seen the Freemark Abby PS here in Kentucky, but I will keep my eyes open for one. The best PS I have ever had was the 1984 Mirassou. the 84 was pure blackberry compote when I drank my last around 89. The tannin had all resolved as had the oak, but the fruit was still strong and the backbone right there to support the fruit! Of course that was way, way before it was sold to Gallo.

It may be winery only, Bob.

I've never tried a pre-Gallo Mirassou. I always just assumed that the brand was supermarket wine.

[Jenise]

Brian, this is the third or fourth pinot noir you've said something nice about recently. Are you feeling okay?

LOL.

Shows the perils of generalizing pontifications, Jenise. Heck...I even liked one last night-the Schug Sonoma Coast 2005???. While nowhere near as interesting as the Elizabeth Spencer, had nice light cherry fruit and that bracing acidity I love. (Except for that weird Sky Zinfandel....I'm not sure cranberry, 13% abv and bracing acidity works in Zinfandel!)

[Jenise]

(Except for that weird Sky Zinfandel....I'm not sure cranberry, 13% abv and bracing acidity works in Zinfandel!)

Sounds underripe. Zinfandel can be voluptuous without being over-endowed, and I think we're all a bit disappointed when it's not.

(Except for that weird Sky Zinfandel....I'm not sure cranberry, 13% abv and bracing acidity works in Zinfandel!)

Sounds underripe. Zinfandel can be voluptuous without being over-endowed, and I think we're all a bit disappointed when it's not.

Big time!. Which is fine, when you are drinking Poulsard or even cool year Loire Cab Franc. Zinfandel??? Not so much