1997 PINOT NOIR - MARTINELLI VINEYARD

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91 Points - "Lush and smooth, this pinot carries a delicate, woodsy, stemmy spice from beginning to end. The soft, ripe texture is supported by crisp tannins, a mellow sour cherry roundness in the center then a punch of flavor through a long, earthy finish. Fully energized for dark fleshed roasted game birds stuffed with porcini and wild rice." - WINE & SPIRITS ; June 2000

Second Place- "Light Ruby in color. Aroma & Bouquet: fragrant nose of berry & cherry fruit with tar, leather and vanilla oak. Olives and smoke. Flavor & Finish: Strawberry fruit with smoky oak & berries. Complex & generous. Great structure and mouthfeel. Earthy with some tannin."- VINTNERS CLUB; February 2000

*** (three stars) -"Light-medium-bodied, light complexity, dry, balanced acidity, slight oak impression, soft tannins. Ruby color. Aromas of boysenberry, dried herbs, raspberry. Flavors of cherry. Earthy, lean, pretty."- Leslie Sbrocco, Norm Roby-NEW YORK TIMES ON THE WEB; 04/09/00

Second Place- "Even richer and more powerful than its Carneros cousin, this Pinot offers strawberry rather than cherry fruit, accented by complex notes of light smoke, caramel, leather, vanilla and a wisp of green olive. Round, deep and brimming with succulent strawberry extract, this is a big-style of Pinot that still retains the varietal's silky smoothness enhanced by a fine acid structure that frames a mouth-filling unctuousness." - "STEVE PITCHER'S VINTNERS CHOICE; May 2000"

1996 PINOT NOIR - MARTINELLI VINEYARD

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****(four stars) - Date Reviewed: 4/26/99 by WINETODAY.COM
Comments: Not cheap, but worth the price of admission. Rich, ripe and opulent. General Qualities: Full bodied, ripe, velvety Colors: deep purple Aromas: black cherry, cassis, meaty, smoky Flavors: black cherry, coffee, licorice