2006 ZD Wines Pinot Noir Rosa Lee

(USA, California, North Coast, Carneros)

Tasted this Reserve Pinot Noir at the winery in Napa and this wine first hit me with “I want more.” I felt it was a solid syrah and a better quality than most Pinot Noirs I had. Lots of plumb and sour cherries but it did also have a healthy level of oak. On the verge of too much oak. The palate definitely exploded right away and it was crisp with the fruit coming through strong. I liked the overall quality but it was bordering on industrial and fake. It is limited and its worth a try but on the high side for price. 70 bucks a bottle. If you are a pinot fan this is one you should try.

The winery was nice. Very professional and clean and it was a new feel and not the feel of an older chateaus type of place. I did feel a little un-special in the tasting room though. It was kind of like “movem in movem out” and they really pushed the sale.

Tags: pinot noir, Red wine, Wine Reviews, ZD Pinot Noir Rosa Lee

Goldeneye (Duckhorn) Pinot Noir 2005

(USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley)
Nice Pinot. The wine jumped right out at you because it was very hot and bothered. The nose was leathery with chocolate and espresso. It was fun to smell and very different in a quality way. The palate was better than most pinot noir because it was not thin and weak. I’m not a huge pino fan but this Pino Noir was exciting to me and I can’t wait to open another. This Goldeneye really had some life to it except it was a little disjointed and the tannins over powered the taste with the spice. Lots of oak, black liquorish, leather, Plum vanilla and some coke. It’s definitely an experience but overall not a super quality wine, just good. I would try it just for the experience of a different pino Noir.  Other duckhorn

Tags: anderson valley, duckhorn wine, Goldeneye wine, pinot noir, Wine Reviews

Very musty on the nose. Green peppers and veggies are prominent. Hints of sour cherry and lilacs. Some people mention oak but I don’t get any oak at all. light purple and a little thin. Definitely a young new world feel to this wine. Medium body and light on the tannins. This wine has a quick transition to the mid pallet and is decent until the finish. The finish is long but a little bitter. Hits right in the middle of the tong. Little hints of vanilla and black liquorish. Overall a decent wine for 20 bucks but I will not rush out for another.

Tags: mac murray, pinot noir, Red wine, Wine Reviews

Plum and apricot nose. Really like the nose and it is very soft. Nice start on the taste but quickly goes to very dark and disjointed. Transition is so fast you really can’t get a good read on the start. No mid paletteand the finish is extremely bitter.  Sorry folks.  This is not my type of wine.  Too weak and industrial.

From Castle Rock’s Website:

Our Castle Rock Pinot Noir was produced from grapes grown in Northern California’s beautiful Mendocino County, where vineyards were first planted in the early 1860’s. Here, the headwaters of the Russian River carve a fertile and rugged landscape. The warm summers, cool springs, crisp falls and wet winters make ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir grapes, in a climate similar to that of the Burgundy region of France, where the grapes were first established. This elegant and medium-bodied wine has delicate aromas of violet and rose petals, complex flavors and long silky textures, with layers of strawberry and raspberry leading into a long refined finish.

Tags: pinot noir, Red wine, tasting