Critics Speak

2006 American Beauty Amber Ridge Pinot Noir
91 points

The light ruby-hued 2006 Pinot Noir American Beauty Amber Ridge is a full-bodied, luscious effort offering red currant, sweet cherry, anise, forest floor, and subtle background oak characteristics. Enjoy this opulent, fleshy Pinot for its sheer pleasure and beautiful varietal character over the next several years.

2006 Savage Juliet Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
91 points

The 2006 Pinot Noir Savage Juliet's light ruby color is followed by notions of licorice, sweet cherry and raspberry fruit, and a touch of spring flowers. A sweet core of fruit is at the center of this lush, expansive, fresh Pinot. It possesses much more intensity than its light color suggests. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.

2006 Dandy Brosseau Vineyard Pinot Noir
88 points

From the limestone soils of Chalone's Brosseau Vineyard, the 2006 Pinot Noir Dandy is a straightforward, fruity, soft red lacking the flavor dimensions and character of its siblings. Nevertheless, it is a fine Pinot Noir to drink over the next 2-3 years.

2006 Rebel Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
90 points

The 2006 Pinot Noir Rebel from Santa Maria's Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard displays sweet notes of cherry pie crust, roasted herbs, licorice, and spice. Medium-bodied with a flamboyant personality, it should be consumed over the next 2-3 years.

2005 Vintage:

"I believe this is the debut vintage for the wines from Dain, all of which are creatively packaged with labels composed of old black and white portrait photographs (all family members according to their website). The medium ruby-colored 2005 Pinot Noir American Beauty Amber Ridge reveals attractive aromas of spice box, herbs, and sweet strawberry, plum, and cherry fruit. This seductive, fruit-driven Pinot is not as nuanced and complex as some of its siblings, but there is no doubting its seductive style. The 2005 Pinot Noir Savage Juliette possesses more blue fruit, mineral, and flower characteristics, a racy, elegant style, and a more backward personality. While not as up-front and obvious as the American Beauty, it is a pure, nicely built effort to enjoy over the next 4-5 years. The 2005 Pinot Noir Dandy Brosseau Vineyard, from the Chalone appellation, offers lovely plum, black currant, cherry, forest floor, cola, earth, and spice notes. Plump, fleshy, and medium to full-bodied, it is a luscious Pinot that should drink well for 4-5 years. The 2005 Pinot Noir Rebel Rancho Ontiveros offers lovely sweet fruit along with notes of beet root, currants, plums, lavender, and spice box. This pretty, elegant wine displays good flavor authority. It can be drunk over the next 5-7 years."

"A more backward, denser cuvée, the 2005 Syrah Smart Set White Hawk Vineyard emerges from a well-known Syrah site in the Santa Barbara appellation. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by abundant aromas of blackberries and cassis, good acidity, a backward, tart style, and impressive purity as well as structure. It will benefit from another 1-2 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 5-7 years. More seductive, open knit, and obvious is the expressive, dark ruby/purple-hued 2005 Syrah Las Madres. Scents of blackberries, pepper, flowers, and earth emerge from this round, generous Syrah. It is ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years."

Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Savage Juliet Hein Vineyard 2005
Score: 92

"Sleek and focused, with complex spice, wild berry and blackberry fruit that's elegant, supple and delicate, ending with a pleasant, rich aftertaste that shows a hint of smoke and mineral. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases made."

Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Rebel Rancho Ontiveros 2005
Score: 90

"Floral wild berry, lavender and black cherry aromas are clean and supple on the palate, turning smooth and polished while keeping a focus on the fruit. Drink now through 2010. 75 cases made."

2006 Savage Juliet Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
90 (+?) points

Medium red. Cherry and pungent botanical herb aromas, with dark chocolate and violet building with air. Fleshy, deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors are given a bitter edge by licorice and cured meat. Finishes with impressive chewy persistence. Very young but possesses impressive material.

2006 American Beauty Amber Ridge Pinot Noir
91 points

Light, bright red. Sexy red berry and floral aromas are enlivened by dusty minerals, baking spices and fresh rose, with a subtle blood orange quality adding complexity. Silky strawberry and raspberry on the palate, picking up dusty tannins with air, along with Asian spices and smoky minerality. A light-bodied, extremely elegant and understated style, with no excess fat.

2006 Dandy Brosseau Vineyard Pinot Noir
91 points

Bright red. Tangy red berries, cherry and incense on the nose, with a suave floral quality building with air. Sweet raspberry and cherry preserve flavors are enlivened by gentle minerality, picking up refreshing bitter herbs and smoky minerals with air. Fine-grained, elegantly styled pinot with a long, sappy finish.

2006 Abner Las Madres Syrah
90 points

Ruby-red. Explosively perfumed, varietally accurate scents of dark berries, bacon, tapenade, flowers and minerals. Supple blackcurrant and cherry preserve flavors are complemented by olive and smoked meat, with gentle tannins carrying into the finish. Became sweeter with air, leaving behind a suave kirsch impression. This is already complex.

Pinot Noir Amber Ridge Russian River Valley 2005
Score: 90

"American Beauty" Light red. Vibrant and alluring scents of wild strawberry, redcurrant and raspberry, with subtle smoke and fresh floral accents. The crisp red berry flavors display impressive energy and are braced by racy acidity. The long, pure finish shows no obvious tannins. This delicate and balanced pinot offers an impressive expression of pure red fruit.

Pinot Noir Juliet Hein Vineyard Anderson Valley 2005
Score: 91

"Savage" Light red. Suave red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by licorice, musky underbrush and sweet mocha. A medium-bodied wine with a gently chewy texture; bright, juicy raspberry and blackberry flavors are supported by firm but well-integrated tannins. Gains sweetness on the long, sappy finish, which echoes the blackberry tone. This is flat-out delicious.

Pinot Noir Rancho Ontiveros Santa Maria Valley 2005
Score: 90

"Rebel" Dark red. Powerfully aromatic nose features deep kirsch, cassis and mocha scents and a lively floral accent. Deep and rich, with strong cherry and dark berry flavors given an exotic twist by floral pastille and licorice notes. Finishes with a burst of ripe cherry and espresso and impressive breadth as well as length.