Tasted last night with friends these are all new vintage releases in our market.
2006 Brewer Clifton Rio Vista Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir- This wine was so light in color that I mistook it for a Rose in the glass. Pale pink and a bit watery in the glass. Nose of strawberry and flowers with typical pinot cola notes. Much bigger on the palate than the color would suggest much like a Volnay. Red cherry, vanilla, apple pie spice, a firm minerality and a fair amount of acidity on the palate. Slightly tannic on the finish. This one needs a few years. B +2005 Cliff Lede Stag's Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon-Very dark purple in the glass. Heavy nose of cassis, roasted meat, mint, and oak. Fruit forward and lush with a somewhat heavy use of oak. Plenty of black currant, fig, plum and black coffee on the palate. Medium heavy on the palate the wine could use a few years to come together. Very soft ripe tannins. "B"
2005 Bodegas El Nida Jumilla "Clio"-70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet. A real inky black whopper of a wine. Nose of blueberries, espresso and black dirt. Huge mouthful of wine. Very ripe blackberry, blueberry, spice, black pepper and black coffee. Everyting about this wine is black including your teeth after drinking it! Smooth tannins with a fair amount of oak on the finish. Needs a number of years. "A"