The 2007 Pinot Noir Julia’s Vineyard exhibits notes of beef bouillon, root vegetables, earth, and a hint of cherry cough syrup. The softest of these single vineyard offerings, it is a round, attractive, medium-bodied Pinot to consume over the next 3-4 years. Consistent with their Syrah program, Byron’s current releases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the finest examples I have yet tasted. Tel. (805) 934-4700; Fax (805) 938-1581

A brilliant wine, massively sculpted and monumental, that shows how great this vineyard is. The wine shows densely concentrated flavors of blackberries and licorice, with the loveliest accent of sweet worn leather and rhubarb, flourished with the dusty spices that always characterize a fine Santa Maria Pinot Noir. Best now–2013.——S.H.(4/1/2010)—— 94