New Release Review

By Kerry Winslow

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2009 August West Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands.
Another star offering from Gary Franscioni and winemaker Ed Kurtzman, the early release Santa Lucia Highlands 2009 shows rich and vibrant flavors and creamy texture. This vintage is from 100% Rosella’s Vineyard, Roar’s home estate vines, and done in mostly 1 year used French barrels that still have plenty of toasty char to soften and give that vanilla and smoky note. While this wine will really gain with another year in bottle, it is remarkably easy to love and enjoy now with the big youthful flavors standing out. The nose is fresh berries, baking spices, mixed flowers and very seductive, before racing into the palate with plum, cherry, strawberry jam, mountain wild berry and red currant layers. Toasty oak and unfiltered, slightly cloudy depth show up in your face, but given time everything should settle nicely and the lengthy finish is heaven. This is a wine that is fun and a super value so stock up, 2009 looks set to be another awesome vintage for the Santa Lucia Highlands! ($30 Est.) 92+ Points, grapelive


*Coming out soon.

www.sfwtc.com

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