SANTA MARIA VALLEY | CALIFORNIA | $56
Black cherry and ripe strawberry with roasted plum. Back notes of oak, graphite, pepper, sage and bay. Complex flavors throughout. Superb balance, a medium-bodied and well-proportioned Pinot, neither lean nor overripe. Finishes beautifully. What I call an “Aquarius wine” — with all the stars and planets aligned perfectly to reveal an excellent wine. (Reviewed 7/19/11)
