Wines to Make You Forget Burgundy

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94 points
Capiaux Cellars 2005 Pinot Noir Wilson Vineyard (Sonoma Coast)

The impressive 2005 Pinot Noir Wilson Vineyard smells like great Burgundy, especially from the Côte de Nuits. Black raspberries, cherries, forest floor, and spring flowers soar from the glass of this unctuously textured, rich, full-bodied pinot noir that is just gorgeous. Unfortunately, there is very little of it. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. $45

94 points
Chasseur 2005 Pinot Noir Freestone Station (Russian River)

The deep ruby-hued 2005 Pinot Noir Freestone Station (from Dijon clones 115, 777, and 23) boasts a striking chocolate, sweet cherry, spice, and floral-scented nose. It is an elegant, cool climate pinot with loads of flesh, intense strawberry and black cherry fruit on the palate, and abundant glycerin as well as richness. Enjoy this stunning 2005 over the next 5-6 years. $60

94 points
Paul Hobbs 2005 Pinot Noir Lindsay Estate (Russian River)

The deep ruby/purple-hued 2005 Pinot Noir Lindsay Estate offers up aromas of spring flowers, forest floor, pomegranate, kirsch, and raspberries. With good acidity and ripe tannin, this medium- to full-bodied, pure pinot should drink nicely for 7-10 years. $90

94+ points
DuMOL 2005 Pinot Noir Finn (Russian River)

The 2005 Pinot Noir Finn is another impeccably well-made wine, revealing a slightly darker ruby hue to it than its siblings. Displaying notes of sassafras, black fruit such as currant, and deep, very ripe raspberries, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with terrific acidity and a smoky meatiness on the palate. The wine should drink nicely for at least 7-10 years. $78

95 points
Aubert 2005 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard (Sonoma Coast)

The 2005 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard, another wine made from the Calera clone of pinot noir, and named after the superb viticultural manager Ulises Valdez, has a deep ruby/purple-tinged color and an exceptional nose of sweet raspberry, pomegranate, and currants intermixed with some spring flowers, underbrush, and forest floor notes. The wine has dazzling stuffing, expansive texture, sensational purity, and well-integrated acidity and tannin. It is a stunningly complex, grand cru pinot noir that should drink nicely for 10-15 or more years. $75

95 points
Roar 2005 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands)

The 2005 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard reveals that grand cru site's considerable complexity in its forest floor, spring flower garden, black currant, sweet dark cherry, chocolate, and earth-scented bouquet. The complex aromatics are matched by the broad, flavorful palate. With full body, superb purity and texture, fine acidity and harmony, and silky tannin, it should drink beautifully for a decade. These brilliant pinot noirs are among the finest produced in California. $50

96 points
Calera 2004 Pinot Noir Selleck Vineyard (Mt. Harlan)

The 2004 Pinot Noir Selleck Vineyard possesses a deep, dark garnet/ruby color in addition to dense, forest floor aromas reminiscent of a DRC Richebourg or Grand Echézeaux. Extraordinarily complex notes of truffles, berries, and damp forest are both enticing and profound. This full-bodied, rich, long, compelling pinot noir can be drunk now, but it will be even better with 2-4 years of bottle age. It should keep for 12-15 years. It is stunning stuff! $75

99 points
Marcassin 2003 Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard (Sonoma Coast)

The 2003 Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard borders on perfection. Gorgeous floral notes intermixed with steak tartare, black raspberry, sweet cherry, plum, earth, and spice characteristics almost overwhelm the olfactory senses. Full-bodied with good acidity, sweet but present tannin, and a long, 50-second finish, this is a magnificent pinot noir. $125.00+

Robert Parker is the world's most influential wine critic. Visit www.eRobertParker.com to see tens of thousands of tasting notes, buy his books, or subscribe to his newsletter, The Wine Advocate.