David Bruce
1996 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley
$27. / 13.0% alcohol

Very dark ruby; sweet, intense strawberry, cherry, raspberry fruit aroma with hints of cedar, orange peel, cola, coconut, vanilla, spice, bubblegum, cinnamon, leather, peppermint, tar, smoke, earth, mushroom, and alcohol; big, rich, ripe, deep fruit, with an attractive but exotic, somewhat non-typical (dill) flavor; full-bodied, chunky body, with very good balance; oaky, big tannins, yet well proportioned to fruit; long finish. Slightly over-the-top style is still appealing.

Adelaida
1998 Pinot Noir
Paso Robles
"Hoffman Mountain Ranch"
$40. / 13.5%

Medium-light ruby; attractive, complex, cherry, rhubarb, and ripe tomato aroma, with green tea, perfume, smoke, oak, meat, leather, popcorn, cinnamon, spice, barnyard, and barbecue sauce notes (too herbal?); rich, smooth, beefy, beety, big, strawberry, cherry fruit "bomb" flavors with complexities of earth, mint, and herbs; very well balanced; medium tannins in a long finish with faint heat. Another big, full-blown wine.

Napa Ridge
1998 Pinot Noir
North Coast
$9. / 13.1%

Medium ruby; youthful, light, pomegranate, grapey, strawberry, cherry aroma with hints of gunpowder, dried mint, cola, vanilla, peppermint, and caraway; good, soft mouthfeel (slightly chalky?), slightly rich; light, clean, simple, fruity, tart flavors ; medium body; slightly tart balance and a little youthfully harsh in the medium-length finish.

Robert Sinskey
1997 Pinot Noir RESERVE
Napa Valley
$38. / 14.0%

Medium ruby; young, intense black cherry aroma with complex touches of rose petals, perfume, rhubarb, candy, cinnamon, spice, bubblegum, vanilla, citrus, peppermint, and terpine; smooth entry; attractive, light, slightly rich, young tart black cherry and strawberry fruit flavors with a hint of almond or rose water; medium-body; good balance (sweet?); soft tannins and a long finish. Very charming.

Gary Farrell
1997 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley
$22. / (table wine)

Light crimson; lovely, subdued, lightly floral, raspberry, cherry fruit with oak, spice, charcoal, cola, a rhubarb, bell pepper, or herbal component, and a hint of leather, earth, or barnyard; light (weak?), but attractive and deep flavors with a silky mouthfeel; seamless, excellent balance (low acid?); medium-full body; very long, complex finish with very soft tannins. Drinks well now.

Estancia Reserve
1997 Pinot Noir
Monterey "Pinnacles"
$22. / 14.1%

Medium ruby; fresh, intense aroma of beet, tomato, cherry, berry, and slightly raisined with hints of vanilla, candy, caramel, olives, smoke, and tar; sweet entry with pleasant, tight, simple, cherry fruit flavors that are somewhat spicy, cola, smoky, toasty, and oaky; slightly rich, medium body with good balance; pleasant, but somewhat tannic finish. Drinks well with food.

Domaine Drouhin
1994 Pinot Noir
Oregon
$30 [at release] / 13.5%

Medium garnet and a little dull; subtle cherry aroma with a developed nose of flowers, barnyard, earth, leather, mushroom, smoke, tar, cheese, cinnamon, and cocoa, showing maturity and bouquet (some thought "Burgundian"); very light, tart cherry, complex, attractive flavors; light body (hollow middle?); good balance, quite tart (sour?); slight heat in a short, slightly tannic finish. Ready to drink up.

Gary Farrell
1994 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley
$15.50 [rel.] / (table wine)

Medium garnet; violet scents over vaguely dried cherry fruit aromas, hints of sage, orange, plum, leather but definitely mature; slightly sweet entry leads to smooth, ripe sour cherry, coffee, and cola flavors with good depth and a slightly earthy note (rubber?); mouth-filling, medium body, needs richness; slightly tart, faintly hot finish.

Hartford Court
1995 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley
"Dutton-Sanchetti"
$38. [rel.] / 13.5%

Medium ruby; complex, bright, ripe aroma of tomato and black cherry with violet, vanilla, oak, smoke, pepper, leather, and cinnamon hints and a green, tea-leaf note (stemmy?); earthy, gamy, smoky, dried cherry flavors are quite tight, lean, austere; good balance, slightly tart; medium-to-full body; chalky tannin with faint heat in the long finish. Noticeably better with food. Still youthful, could age longer.

Dehlinger
1994 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley
$20. [rel.] / 13.5%

Medium ruby with some sediment; musty, funky, (possibly corked?), mature big, tarry, leathery aroma with touches of spice, pepper, cinnamon, red currant, cherry, coconut, and mint; big, rich, ripe, extracted flavor has a slightly spicy, saccharin-like, or green quality; medium body; balance slightly flat; long slightly tannic finish (slightly bitter?). Drinks better than it smells.

---

This Panel included REGULARS Mark, Deanna, Glenn, Roy, Marlene, Jon, Ray, Jim, Ron, and James and GUESTS Kevin, Tammy, and Patrick Previous Pinot Noir • About Pinot Noir