Pinot Noir

Emeritus has long had a love affair with Pinot Noir, always seeking new ways to let grapes and ground express what’s in the bottle. This 2020 offers bright fruits of wild cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, plum with back notes of light green tea leaf, very light cola, and light earthiness and minerality - notes that Sonoma coast fruit is known for. There is a nice velvety viscosity to this as well as mild tannins that support the fruit and mellow out the overall feel of the wine.

A bit bigger and riper than a "typical" Charmes but quite enjoyable.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright, showing no bricking.  The nose is great.  Earthy with cherries and spice along with a nice minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is vibrant and drinking well.  Cherries, some black cherries and underlying minerality.  Some complexity.  Good acidity.  This is getting close to peak.  While it may never be ethereal, it is very enjoyable.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  It would work well with coq au vin, of course.  

This was really special.  One of the best Pinot Noir's I have had in a long time.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and a bit on the flat side.  The nose has sour cherries, cherries, spice with loads of minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has layers of complexity.  Black cherries, sour cherries, minerals and earthiness.  Delicious.  Lively acidity.  Long finish.  At age 15, it still has some youth but starting to show good development.  This would be great with a bean casserole.  Drink over the next ten years.  This bottle was bought on

This is a Pinot Noir from the folks who make Schrader.  14.5% abv.  Ruby in color, darker at the core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, black cherries, and spice with a nice earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and plums with some spice.  This is a huge Pinot with tons of fruit.  Some may find that off putting while others may finally have found a Pinot they love.  It drinks great on its own and will pair for food similar to a Napa Cab (i.e steak, etc.)  Drink over the next ten years.  

This is a barrel selection of the best barrels of various vineyards and bottle exclusively in 375ml bottles.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, slight nutmeg and slight char.  Medium bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, sour cherries, some cherries with a lovely texture.  Good finish.  This could use another five to ten years of cellaring but is enjoyable now.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with grilled chicken breast.  

Bought on release at the winery.  This bottle has held up quite well and while mature, did not seem like a 24 year old Oregon Pinot.  Ruby in color with no browning and a bit of purple-ish at the core.  The nose features cherries, sour cherries, some earthy funk and a bit of char.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins are there but wispy.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cherries and some dried cherries with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drinking well but still, I wouldn't sit on these for too much longer.  Good on its own but better with food.  This would be perfect with gril

Ruby in color, some browning at the edges.  The nose has cherries, spice, dried flowers, and slight liqueur notes.  Medium bodied with a lovely, smooth texture.  On the palate, there is some fresh cherries but this is teetering at the edge.  Dried, macerated cherries with spice and a bit of earthy funk.  Slightly drying at the finish.  This is complex and contemplative but still would be better with food.  Maybe some crusty beread and Epoisses cheese?  Drink up.  

This wine is aged in American oak for six months. Note - this is not aged in Bourbon Barrels like many of this wineries wines.  Ruby in color, maybe a bit deeper, clear and bright.  The nose is a bit smoky with cherry cough drops in the background.  Medium bodied with soft tannins.  On the palate, cherries, cranberries and slight char.  Some alcohol especially on the finish.  This drinks better for people who like a bit more of a bigger Pinot.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

One sip and you realize this is a different kind of Pinot Noir than the norm. If you know Sonoma Coast Pinot’s, they all have a rustic quality to them; a brambly component that sets them apart from the overt fruity Pinot, and this is a good thing. This certainly offers red raspberry and wild cherry, touches of huckleberry and gooseberry, but it is that resin/bramble/wild berry note that makes this a unique and fun wine. Certainly this wine is not for everyone, the acidity is higher than most Pinot’s, but it immediately begs for food.

A plush wine, this is a rather decadent Pinot Noir, offering Rainer cherry, plum, raspberry, rhubarb, a slight earthiness as well as light vanilla, campfire smoke and pomegranate. The acidity keeps the bright fruit balanced and the light touches of oak influence (14 months in French oak of which just over half was new) creates a velvety easy drinking smooth wine. Some wines are built for deconstructing and some wines and made for the pure enjoyment of drinking them, and the latter is the case here. ORIGIN: Sonoma, Russian River Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.5%