Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
***
2008 Snosrap Pinot Noir Monterey County (by Parsonage Winery).
This pretty and focused Pinot Noir is a wonderful secret, made by Parsonage Winery in Carmel Valley from grapes Bill Parsons has found from cool sites with ex-Morgan winemaker David Coventry consulting. Sold mainly through the tasting room only a tiny amount comes on the market each year and sells out fast. The 2008 vintage is a beauty with lovely floral notes, dried flowers and tea spices, with plenty of cream fruit on the lush palate. The core of red cherry and plum really comes alive in the mouth and the texture is silky. There is hints of crème de cassis, mocha and vanilla that give a long full finish and stay with you a good long time, but the wine is fresh still and vibrant with nice balance, making it great with food as well as just being enjoyable to sip on its own. * I tasted this wine prior to bottling twice, and it is getting richer each time and is much better now in bottle.
($28 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
www.parsonagewine.com
***