The 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve Carneros is a bold, juicy wine bursting with candied red berries, flowers and mint. It comes across as fairly forward and quite fat. The 2009 is best suited to near-term drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016. One of the most important wines of my formative years was a sublime bottle of the 1976 Georges de Latour. Today Michel Rolland consults on that wine, but frankly this is a very strong set of wines across the board, with a number of bottles that offer excellent value.Tel. (800) 373-5896

With the ’06 Reserve, Beaulieu has crafted a dry, herb-tinged Pinot of great style and sophistication. The cherry, cocoa and tobacco flavors are restrained by California standards, resulting in a wine whose structure stars. Should age, too. Best now through 2012.——S.H.(12/1/2008)—— 90