Below is a list of Pinot Noir from the US tasted over the years. The tricky thing with the West Coast Pinot Noir is that a good year is a cool year which is unlike Burgundy where a good year is a warm year. Most of the wines should be found in the Specs wine shop. If they dont have one on the list just ask for another recommendation as there are 100's of Pinot in that shop....The ones in bold are the ones I liked best.
Oregon
Aldesheim, Smooth, smoky raspberries, slightly "cooked", tasty
Archery Summitt Closed nose, long lively cherry taste, big Pinot, great
Drouhin 2003 Light, made by the niece of Drouhin in Burgundy, tasty
Van Duzer Discrete red berries, delicate fruity, tender taste, smooth
North of San Francisco
Carneros
Kent Rasmussen Velvet stuff, great Pinot! 2nd wine is called Ramsay
Schug, German, Beaune style wine, not overcooked, OK
Saintsbury Red berries, fruity, good aftertaste, "warm", reasonable
Russian River
Fritz Beautiful complex nose and long smooth taste wonderful
Merry Edwards Smooth red fruit with medium length elegant, good +
Russian Hill, Very elegant and feminine, just perfect
Oregon
Aldesheim, Smooth, smoky raspberries, slightly "cooked", tasty
Archery Summitt Closed nose, long lively cherry taste, big Pinot, great
Drouhin 2003 Light, made by the niece of Drouhin in Burgundy, tasty
Van Duzer Discrete red berries, delicate fruity, tender taste, smooth
North of San Francisco
Carneros
Kent Rasmussen Velvet stuff, great Pinot! 2nd wine is called Ramsay
Schug, German, Beaune style wine, not overcooked, OK
Saintsbury Red berries, fruity, good aftertaste, "warm", reasonable
Russian River
Fritz Beautiful complex nose and long smooth taste wonderful
Merry Edwards Smooth red fruit with medium length elegant, good +
Russian Hill, Very elegant and feminine, just perfect
Sonoma valley
La Crema, Cherries, delicate, sweet smell warm, disappointing
Flowers 2005 Feminine pinot with floral smell, light, long beautiful
Etude 2003 Red berries, good balance, smooth, silky, not cooked, well done
Napa Valley
Rodney Strong 2003 Red berries but slightly “cooked” warm taste, lack of personality
Chandon 2004 Medium red, nice red berries with medium light body, good
Rodney Strong 2003 Red berries but slightly “cooked” warm taste, lack of personality
Chandon 2004 Medium red, nice red berries with medium light body, good
South of San Francisco
Central Coast
Belle Glos 2003 Clark & Telephone Vineyards, Beautiful aromas smooth fruity silky
Belle Glos 2004 (standard) nice red berries, smooth, light body,
Byron, Discrete chocolate, smooth full body, balanced, delicate
Calera 2006 Mt Harlan Cuvee, Beautiful smell but too young, not Calera's best
Estancia, good value for money and smooth
Talley 2003 Pure Pinot fruit concentrated nice balance silky taste
Tantara 2003 Big musky, animal like smell at first, more body, darker pinot
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