Reviews

IRReVƏRƏNT Pinot Noir

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, 2017

Tasting Notes: “CRU9 9th Power Cabernet 2016 has a medium purple color and offers a beautifully penetrating nose of cherry cola, vanilla cream, fresh tobacco leaf, wet stone and hints of cinnamon.  An incredibly balanced palate that is concentrated without being cloying, focused with a slight tension along with a broad shouldered structure and linear style. Flavors of Bing cherry, red currant, pipe tobacco combine beautifully with slightly dusty tannins and a finish that lingers for over a minute. Drink now through 2029.”

96 Points — Master Sommelier Kevin M. Vogt

[hr color=”#aa3333″ style=”line” size=”1px”]

As Ever Chardonnay

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, 2016

Tasting Notes: “This lovely, graciously styled Chardonnay has a beautiful nose of orange marmalade, lemon blossom, citrus oil, wild flowers and chamomile tea. The palate follows through with a mouth watering array of ripe pear, toasted hazelnut, butter cream, subtle toasted oak notes, combined with lively acidity. Nuanced, sumptuous and nicely layered, it has a beautifully soft-textured finish. Drink this classically styled Russian River Chardonnay now and over the next few years. 100 cases produced.

93 Points —  Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

 

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, 2017

Tasting Notes:  “A beautifully perfumed Chardonnay with a compelling, complex nose of dried pineapple, ripe pear, rich butterscotch, fresh green herbs, Spring flowers and a touch of sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate, it is supple and lush with more dried pineapple, crisp apple, buttered caramel, chamomile tea, and a beautifully long finish that goes on and on.  An exceptional effort that balances the palate richness with perfectly zingy acidity that brightens and lifts the palate just enough so it doesn’t come off as heavy.“

93+ Points — Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

[hr color=”#aa3333″ style=”line” size=”1px”]

See You In Your Dreams Pinot Noir

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, 2015

Tasting Notes: “A sweetly perfumed Pinto Noir with a compelling sultry nose of dried violets, ripe raspberries, tart red cherries, spiced cola beans and dried green tea. On the palate, it is supple and lush with crushed blueberries, tart cranberry, candied lime peel and an exceptionally long finish that lasts for over a minute. An exceptional effort that drinks great now, but will age gracefully for years. Drink now through 2024.

94+ Points —  Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

[hr color=”#aa3333″ style=”line” size=”1px”]

Stop Talking Cabernet Sauvignon

2016

Tasting Notes: “Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2016 has an intense purple color offering a powerful nose of ripe blackberries, black cherry, dried currants, crushed rocks, cigar box and hints of cinnamon.  On the palate, it is intensely penetrating and focused with concentrated wild mountain blackberries, cassis and velvety tannins. It finishes in a linear style that’s so focused and penetrating, it brings an immediate smile to your face and is exceptionally satisfying. In a world where hundred plus dollar Napa Cabs are the norm, this is the ultimate ‘Bang for your Buck’ wine. Superb! Drink now through 2029.”

97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

 

2015

Tasting Notes: “CRU9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2015 has a deep purple color offering a penetrating nose of crushed blackberries, bing cherry, deep black currants, scorched mineral earth and hints of cinnamon spice box. A stunning example that is penetrating and focused with a taught, broad shouldered structure and linear style, balanced with concentrated red and black fruits and dusty tannins that cut a swath across your palate and liners on and on. Drink now through 2028.”

95 Points — Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

 

2014

Tasting Notes: “Cru9 Stop Talking is a full-bodied, rich Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from one of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. Complex aromas of Bing cherry, red plum and crushed blackberries perfectly complement the wine’s deep ruby hue. The palate is rich and long with great depth, showing balanced red and black fruits, bakers chocolate, spice box, dried green herbs and finishes with youthful dusty tannins. Drink from 2019 through 2028.

93 Points — Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

[hr color=”#aa3333″ style=”line” size=”1px”]

Cole Sisters Chardonnay

RUSSIAN RIVER, MARTINELLI VINEYARD , 2014

This Chardonnay has a deep, bright, golden color that could come from barrel aging, but almost deceives as an older white wine. A very pretty sight.

Subtle aromas with hints of green apples, melon and citrus, a touch of white pepper in the nose and great mineral quality that adds delicate flavors and complexity. Reminds me of some French Chardonnays from the Mâconnais sub-region like Pouilly-Fuisse.

The taste is not overwhelmingly fruity. It has great acidity which balances well with the fruit and there is, definitely, a mineral character that makes this wine a wonderful company with food. At the time of this tasting, a combination of linguini pasta with shrimps, topped with aged parmesan cheese, made an incredible match for this wine.

A Chardonnay of particular elegance, even for a wine with high alcohol, which is noticeable but not disagreeable, made an astounding impression among the tasters.

A rather short finish in the beginning, consistent with the age of the wine, was very pleasant and, I have to say, memorable. A fine Chardonnay from my favorite region.

– – Victor Orozco, Wine Master

[hr color=”#aa3333″ style=”line” size=”1px”]

Marion Pinot Noir

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY , 2014

A light, bright wine, with a pretty intense red color, undoubtedly the color most commonly associated with seduction, sexuality, eroticism and, perhaps, immorality.

Aromas of raspberries, strawberry, soft wood, slightly flowery and spicy. Some cooked raspberry with a touch of beets.

The flavors of this medium body wine are consistent with the delicate minerality in the nose. Its interesting and well-structured composition, and its short to medium finish talk about great age potential where this wine will exhibit the greatness that still lacks at this early age.

Improving with breathing time, this Pinot Noir, 12 hours after was displaying great spicy nose and rich fruity flavors with a fascinating bright acidity. Mushrooms, truffles, almonds, and an incredible rich, medium to full body that wasn’t there the day before. I’d like to try it 2 – 4 years from now.

A great recommendation to let this wine age for a few more years (hopefully 5 years) to get the best of it. A very identifiable Pinot Noir.

— Victor Orozco, Wine Master

 

Tasting Notes: “This is a prodigious Pinto Noir that offers an awesome nose of wild Spring flowers, cherry cola, fresh crushed raspberries, tart red plum and sweet vanilla spice. It is concentrated, structured, amazingly balanced and follows through on the palate with black bing cherries, wild berries and dried orange peel intermixed in an elegant, seamlessly graceful style that is absolutely stunning to drink now, but will cellar through 2024.”

95 Points — Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier