Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Drier and firmer than the '04, this year's Lee shows a slightly dense texture, and even a dusting of tannins that contribute to ageability. The flavors are deep, of red cherries, coffee and smoky oak, with a meaty chewiness. It's a young wine, cellar it for a year before opening, and it should provide elegant drinking through 2011 or so.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.