2006 August West Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard

I let this wine breath for about 6 hours.

The nose had lots of black cherry, with hints of cloves and a bit of cinnamon underneath. It ended with some toasty oak. The palate was silky and a little sweet, and had cherry and grapefruit, a little spice, and a very good earth and oak finish.

2005 San Simeon Pinot Noir

I decanted this wine about 6 hours.

The nose had lots of earthy tones, especially forest floor aromas. It also had black cherry, a bit of strawberry, and some spice. The palate was smooth and juicy, and had sour cherry, forest floor, and a nice spice finish.

2006 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Aubaine Vineyard

I decanted this wine about 5 hours.

The nose had a whole lot of black cherry and strawberry, some asian spice in the middle, and a little earth and vanilla at the end. The palate was really smooth, with juicy black cherry, forest floor and spice on the mid-palate, and a creamy oak finish.

2005 Cenay Cabernet Sauvignon Blue Tooth

A nose of vanilla coated oak, raspberry, cinnamon, and floral notes at the end. The palate had black cherry, black currant, plus a spice and violet finish.

2004 Bodegas Sonsierra Rioja Crianza Vendimia Seleccionada

I decanted this wine about 6 hours.

The nose had strong aromas of bittersweet chocolate and cherry. There was also a bit of pepper and fresh cream at the end. The palate was smooth and had a bunch of black cherry and pepper. It finished with a good amount of oak.

2003 Schrader Cellars Charbono Vieux-Os Old Vine Tofanelli Vineyard

The nose had a dirty spice aroma and a mixture of black cherry and black raspberry. The palate had an interesting black raspberry and weeds taste, and finished with cherry and spice.

2006 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard

I decanted this wine about 5 hours.

This wine has a very spicy nose. Beneath the spice was a good amount of black cherry, a touch of earth, and some vanilla on the finish. The palate started off with sour cherry and strawberry, moved to spice and tree sap, and then finished with a little oak.

I had this with a Spinach Veggie Wrap from Jason’s Deli. All the veggies gave the wine a real old world flavor, which I liked.

2005 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

I decanted this wine about 4 hours.

This was probably the best of the ‘05 Lorings that I tasted. The nose was full of black cherry wound around some very good forest floor aromas. Underneath was some pumpkin spice and vanilla that rounded out the nose very nicely. The palate had good acidity and some tasty sour cherry fruit. It also had a delicious earth flavor, and finished with a spice and rock taste.

I had this with homemade quesadillas, jalapeño peppers, and hot sauce. I really liked the combination of food spice and wine acidity, and, of course, the richness that the cheese brought to the table.

2005 Susana Balbo Malbec

The nose had very explosive aromas of black cherry and violets. The palate had the same flavors as the nose, but also added some plum, a hint of bittersweet chocolate, and finished with a little oak.

2004 Rutz Cellars Pinot Noir Maison Grand Cru Russian River Valley

It was hard to find anything too exciting about this wine, but it really didn’t have any flaws either. The nose had some nice black cherry and plum fruit, and ended with some herbs and wood. The palate had cherry and herbs, and finished with a little vanilla.