
United StatesCalifornia/Pinot Noir
Vintage | Anderson Valley | Carneros | Santa Barbara | Santa Lucia Highlands | Sonoma | Drink Window | Description | ||
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Vintage2019 |
Anderson Valley91–94 |
Carneros92–95 |
Santa Barbara91–94 |
Santa Lucia Highlands92–95 |
Sonoma94–97 |
Drink WindowNYR |
DescriptionModerate conditions yield structured wines of power and finesse, with vineyards escaping smoke taint from fires |
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DescriptionModerate conditions yield structured wines of power and finesse, with vineyards escaping smoke taint from fires |
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Vintage2018 |
Anderson Valley94 |
Carneros93 |
Santa Barbara92 |
Santa Lucia Highlands93 |
Sonoma95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionNearly perfect conditions; full-flavored wines backed by crisp acidity, especially from coastal vineyards |
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DescriptionNearly perfect conditions; full-flavored wines backed by crisp acidity, especially from coastal vineyards |
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Vintage2017 |
Anderson Valley90 |
Carneros92 |
Santa Barbara90 |
Santa Lucia Highlands94 |
Sonoma92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSpring rains, a warm summer and a September heat wave; showy up front, but many wines lack structure |
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DescriptionSpring rains, a warm summer and a September heat wave; showy up front, but many wines lack structure |
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Vintage2016 |
Anderson Valley92 |
Carneros90 |
Santa Barbara91 |
Santa Lucia Highlands92 |
Sonoma94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWinter rains helped alleviate drought; vintners pleased by early showings |
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DescriptionWinter rains helped alleviate drought; vintners pleased by early showings |
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Vintage2015 |
Anderson Valley87 |
Carneros87 |
Santa Barbara91 |
Santa Lucia Highlands89 |
Sonoma92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSanta Barbara and Santa Lucia shine in a year marked by a large crop of tannic wines |
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DescriptionSanta Barbara and Santa Lucia shine in a year marked by a large crop of tannic wines |
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Vintage2014 |
Anderson Valley88 |
Carneros88 |
Santa Barbara89 |
Santa Lucia Highlands93 |
Sonoma92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionEven higher yields than 2013, with fleshy, forward and showy wines; many approachable now |
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DescriptionEven higher yields than 2013, with fleshy, forward and showy wines; many approachable now |
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Vintage2013 |
Anderson Valley87 |
Carneros88 |
Santa Barbara86 |
Santa Lucia Highlands94 |
Sonoma91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAnother huge crop of uniformly exceptional quality; slow to open and ageworthy |
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DescriptionAnother huge crop of uniformly exceptional quality; slow to open and ageworthy |
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Vintage2012 |
Anderson Valley89 |
Carneros87 |
Santa Barbara85 |
Santa Lucia Highlands91 |
Sonoma90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionRecord-size crop with atypically firm and structured wines; best in Santa Lucia Highlands |
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DescriptionRecord-size crop with atypically firm and structured wines; best in Santa Lucia Highlands |
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Vintage2011 |
Anderson Valley86 |
Carneros87 |
Santa Barbara87 |
Santa Lucia Highlands93 |
Sonoma87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionRain wreaked havoc at harvest, resulting in lighter wines of uneven quality |
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DescriptionRain wreaked havoc at harvest, resulting in lighter wines of uneven quality |
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Vintage2010 |
Anderson Valley88 |
Carneros88 |
Santa Barbara94 |
Santa Lucia Highlands92 |
Sonoma94 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionWeather extremes tested growers, yet vintage is strong, with structured wines |
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DescriptionWeather extremes tested growers, yet vintage is strong, with structured wines |
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Vintage2009 |
Anderson Valley92 |
Carneros91 |
Santa Barbara90 |
Santa Lucia Highlands94 |
Sonoma97 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAlmost perfect, with scores of ripe, polished, deeply flavored wines |
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DescriptionAlmost perfect, with scores of ripe, polished, deeply flavored wines |
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Vintage2008 |
Anderson Valley80 |
Carneros90 |
Santa Barbara89 |
Santa Lucia Highlands90 |
Sonoma89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionUneven year; top wines are complex and delicate |
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DescriptionUneven year; top wines are complex and delicate |
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Vintage2007 |
Anderson Valley93 |
Carneros88 |
Santa Barbara87 |
Santa Lucia Highlands91 |
Sonoma95 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionExcellent year; ideal warm, early season, with ripe, complex wines |
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DescriptionExcellent year; ideal warm, early season, with ripe, complex wines |
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Vintage2006 |
Anderson Valley88 |
Carneros82 |
Santa Barbara84 |
Santa Lucia Highlands87 |
Sonoma87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA cool year with a large crop; uneven ripening and some diluted wines |
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DescriptionA cool year with a large crop; uneven ripening and some diluted wines |
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Vintage2005 |
Anderson Valley93 |
Carneros84 |
Santa Barbara87 |
Santa Lucia Highlands90 |
Sonoma88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSleek, balanced and elegant; ripe at lower alcohol levels |
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DescriptionSleek, balanced and elegant; ripe at lower alcohol levels |
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Vintage2004 |
Anderson Valley94 |
Carneros85 |
Santa Barbara93 |
Santa Lucia Highlands94 |
Sonoma93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionExcellent year; warm, early year, with ripe, concentrated, deeply flavored wines |
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DescriptionExcellent year; warm, early year, with ripe, concentrated, deeply flavored wines |
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Vintage2003 |
Anderson Valley94 |
Carneros83 |
Santa Barbara88 |
Santa Lucia Highlands89 |
Sonoma91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good if mixed; best are rich, supple and harmonious |
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DescriptionVery good if mixed; best are rich, supple and harmonious |
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Vintage2002 |
Anderson Valley86 |
Carneros84 |
Santa Barbara88 |
Santa Lucia Highlands90 |
Sonoma88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery good; dark, complex wines that have aged well |
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DescriptionVery good; dark, complex wines that have aged well |
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Vintage2001 |
Anderson Valley84 |
Carneros84 |
Santa Barbara86 |
Santa Lucia Highlands88 |
Sonoma85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA solid year with elegant, delicate, concentrated wines |
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DescriptionA solid year with elegant, delicate, concentrated wines |
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Vintage2000 |
Anderson Valley85 |
Carneros81 |
Santa Barbara81 |
Santa Lucia Highlands83 |
Sonoma83 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionLean, crisp wines of good quality, with few stars |
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DescriptionLean, crisp wines of good quality, with few stars |
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Vintage1999 |
Anderson Valley84 |
Carneros82 |
Santa Barbara81 |
Santa Lucia Highlands85 |
Sonoma86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSonoma and Monterey set the pace in a cooler year,with ripe, fleshy wines |
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DescriptionSonoma and Monterey set the pace in a cooler year,with ripe, fleshy wines |
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Vintage1998 |
Anderson Valley80 |
Carneros81 |
Santa Barbara81 |
Santa Lucia Highlands84 |
Sonoma84 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionLean and austere statewide; highly variable |
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DescriptionLean and austere statewide; highly variable |
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Vintage1997 |
Anderson Valley83 |
Carneros82 |
Santa Barbara82 |
Santa Lucia Highlands82 |
Sonoma85 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionExcellent in Sonoma, with ripe, forward wines; leaner elsewhere |
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DescriptionExcellent in Sonoma, with ripe, forward wines; leaner elsewhere |
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Vintage1996 |
Anderson Valley82 |
Carneros81 |
Santa Barbara80 |
Santa Lucia Highlands84 |
Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR