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WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING ABOUT US
~ Stephen Tanzer's International Wine
Cellar
"Medium red. Reticent but lively nose offers raspberry, flowers,
spices and intriguing soil tones. Fat, sweet, creamy and rich, with
good pinot cut and lift to the black fruit flavors. Nicely harmonious
acidity frames and extends the wine's fruit...91." [2008 Dutton
Ranch Pinot Noir]
"Good deep red with ruby highlights. High-pitched, perfumed aromas
of black fruits, eucalyptus, white pepper and flowers. Then juicy and
precise, with bright acidity and a lightly medicinal quality contributing
cut but keeping the wine's dark fruit flavors under wraps today. Finishes
with firm tannins and good verve. A bit youthfully aggressive today,
this wine will merit a higher score if it gains in sweetness and flesh
with bottle age...91(+)?" [2008 Freestone Hill Vineyard Pinot
Noir}
"Bright red-ruby. Reticent, lower-toned nose hints at black cherry
and mocha. Concentrated and chocolatey, but less agreeably fruit and
lively today than the basic RRV bottling. There's an edge of acidity
here but I wanted more lift and cut. Finishes with dusty tannins. I'd
give this wine a year in the cellar...90." [2008 Sanchietti
Vineyard Pinot Noir]
"Good bright, deep red. Aromas of blueberry, cherry vanilla, cola
and tobacco are a bit low-toned. Then moderately dense and fleshy in
the mouth, with good energy but limited sweetness to the black raspberry
and cola flavors. Finishes with firm, dusty tannins...88." [2008
Devil's Gulch Vineyard Pinot Noir]
~~~~~
~ Wine Enthusiast
"This vineyard has proven itself for so many
years that it's practically a guarantee of greatness. This 2008 is a
real stunner. It's so rich and exotic, so balanced and dry, so clean.
Dazzles with pear, pineapple, lychee, roasted hazelnut, creme brulee,
buttered toast, honey and spice flavors, wrapped into a creamy smooth
mouthfeel. Brilliant and compelling...96 points."[2008
Rued Vineyard Chardonnay]
"Extraordinary for how drinkable it is right now, and for how it will
evolve. Shows the crisp acidity and minerality of this cool-climate
vineyard, with rich flavors of raspberries, cherry liqueur, cola, exotic
spices, vanilla, buttered cinnamon toast and smoky sandalwood. Yet the
tannic integrity should help it change in fascinating ways over the
next six years...95 points." [2008 Freestone Hill Vineyard
Pinot Noir]
"Beautiful and likeable for its dryness, crisp minerality, and the sleek,
clean mouthfeel. The fruit suggests oak-inspired pears, oranges and
citrons. This elegant quaff gets better as it warms in the glass...92
points." [2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay]
"Notable for its fine minerality and acidity
and distinguished mouthfeel...offers intricate raspberry, sour cherry
candy, blueberry, cola and sandalwood flavors...92 points."
[2008 Sanchietti Vineyard Pinot Noir]
~~~~~
~ Wine Spectator
"A notably delicate, elegant, richly
flavored wine, with good depth and complexity, while remaining light
on its feet. Offers supple plum, cherry and floral scents that are intense
and persistent...90 points." [2008 Dutton Ranch Pinot
Noir]
"Starts out racy, floral and grassy, yet folds together into a
richer, more complete with, with pretty lemon meringue, mineral and
light cedar touches. Most interesting on the finish. Drink now through
2015...90 points." [2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay]
~~~~~
~ Restaurant Wine
" A pair of excellent Chardonnays.
The Dutton Ranch is full bodied, crisp, and long on the palate,
with a finish tasting of grapefruit, vanilla, candied lemon, peach,
caramel, and orange blossom. Very fine quality.
The Rued Vineyard is fleshy and full bodied; a concentrated yet
balanced wine with intense fruit and oak character, and a long,
lightly oaky finish. It tastes of lime, caramel, roasted nut, lemon
peel, pineapple, and toast."
2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay
- 4 stars
2008 Rued Vineyard Chardonnay - 4+ stars
"Rich, complex, and crisp; a fine Syrah with intense character
(plum, kola nut, clove, black olive, toast, black licorice), and
a crisp, persistent finish. Exceptional."
2008 Cherry Ridge Vineyard Syrah - 5 stars
"A trio of fine 2008 Pinot Noirs. The Dutton Ranch Pinot
is a complex, medium rich, crisp Pinot Noir, with excellent flavor
and length. It tastes of plum, clove, rosehips, pepper, vanilla,
and spicy oak. Very persistent finish.
The Sanchietti bottling is supple and rich; a smoothly textured,
full bodied wine, with layers of complexity (clove, kola nut, orange
peel, dried raspberry, aniseed), and a smooth, crisp finish. Quite
full in style.
The Devil’s Gulch Pinot is near-Burgundian in character: aromatic
and finely flavored, with full body, firm acidity, and a very persistent
finish. It tastes of cherry, orange blossom, toast, raspberry, and
spicy oak.
2008 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir - 4 stars
2008 Sanchietti Vineyard Pinot Noir - 4+ stars
2008 Devil's Gulch Vineyard Pinot Noir - 5 stars
~~~~~
~ Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine
"A mannerly and measured wine, it sports
plenty of Gala apple and Meyer lemon fruit yet that fruit always stays
within itself and shows a certain youthful restraint at this point in
its development. A slightly rounded palatal impression is buttressed
at every stop by firming acids, and it is the wine's crisp balance that
ultimately propels it and defines its style. Put some away and watch
it fill out...90 points." [2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay]
"Very keenly focused aromas of blackberries and stone fruits are
joined by enriching notes of roasted vanilla beans and a touch of caramel
in the youthfully tight yet very much on-point aromas. Fairly full and
well-balanced on the palate at entry, then drifting into a crisp, pert
finish and tightening up some as it goes, this is a wine that should
unfold handsomely with three to five years of bottle age and could last
longer still...90 points." [2008 Morelli Lane Vineyard
Zinfandel]
"While all of the Dutton-Goldfield pinots sport a fair streak of
acidity and are built along slightly leaner lines, this sleek, firmly
balanced effort shows the keenest sense of pure varietal fruit. Its
insistent themes of well-ripened cherries are accented with subtle oak
spice and a hint of violet, and, if admittedly still a touch tight,
it has the vitality and balance to age famously...90 points."
[2008 Freestone Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir]
~~~~~
~ Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences
"The aroma is deep and fairly concentrated...hints
of Corton indicate it could be Burgundian in some years...Amazing depth
and balance...Exceptional." [2008 Devil's Gulch Vineyard
Pinot Noir]
"Wild, rustic sort of aroma...Grenache-ish sort of pomegranate
aroma now, and should age well...Exceptional." [2008
Freestone Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir]
"...faint toast, cinnamon and toffee notes, and a shy personality
emanating from strawberry and cherry...Exceptional." [2008
Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir]
"Broad, ripe and layered wine that is as big and chewy as a light
red. But with lemon, tangerine, and a lot less oak than many wineries
offer in their top-of-the-line whites...Exceptional." [2008
Rued Vineyard Chardonnay]
"Amazing aroma of rose petals, grapefruit, and jasmine with a lichee
nut note. Bone dry, but still rather succulent. A remarkable wine in
that it is bone dry yet does not have any bitterness, a drawback often
with such wines...Wine of the Week." [2008 Green Valley
Vineyard Gewurztraminer]
~~~~~
~ Ken's Wine Guide
"This dark ruby colored Pinot opens
with very fragrant ripe red raspberry bouquet. On the palate, this
wine is medium bodied, very nicely balanced, and savory. The flavor
profile is a very tasty red raspberry jam with delicate oak nicely
blended in. the finish is dry and its well managed tannins are delicate
and drift along nicely. This wine would be a perfect match for veal
marsala...91." [2008 Freestone Hill Vineyard Pinot
Noir]
"This very opaque and dark purple colored Pinot opens with an
attractive and mild black raspberry bouquet with a slight hint of
oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, well balanced, elegant
and silky. The flavor profile is a delicious blend of mild black raspberry
and black cherry with a touch of spice. The finish and its well managed
tannins drift away nicely. This very refined Pinot is super food-friendly
and would pair perfectly with a butterflied filet mignon...90.5."
[2008 Sanchietti Vineyard Pinot Noir]
"This light colored Chard opens with very fragrant tropical fruit
bouquet. There are hints of pineapple, baked apple, mild oak, and
spice peaking through. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced,
and has a round mouthfeel. The flavor profile is a mild oak influenced
ripe green apple with a hint of pineapple and butterscotch. The finish
is quite dry and it is very refreshing for a Chard. It would pair
well with chicken, penne, and peas in a thick white cream sauce...90."
[2008 Rued Vineyard Chardonnay]
~~~~~
~ Newspapers, Websites, Blogs and More
"This syrah really comes together so
perfectly. It has a deep rich red color and a concentrated richness
of cherries and spice with a pleasing woodiness. It's lush on the palate,
with a splendid balance of rich fruit and soft tannins. Here's a wine
that can be consumed now with rich grilled meats, pasta with meat sauces,
etc. I just enjoyed a glassful, but you ought to age some for a few
years. Fine price at $35." [2008 Cherry Ridge Vineyard Syrah]
~ Narsai David, KCBS
"...powerful for a pinot, with dense, chewy tannins and bright
tart acidity. It's an intensely flavored and concentrated wine, with
rich blackberry and pomegranate flavors. This spicy wine has notes of
slate and black pepper, and it brings out the herbal character of Thanksgiving
stuffing beautifully. This wine is a "wow"...Best Wine for
Thanksgiving-Pinot Noir Stars [2008 Devil's Gulch Vineyard Pinot
Noir] ~ Serious Eats
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