From the southern end of Napa Valley, the 2009 Pinot Noir is one of Beringer’s finest Pinots made to date. About 10% is vinified in a carbonic manner and it has 30% whole clusters. The wine does not reveal a lot of color, but that’s never that important for Pinot Noir. Elegant, sweet notes of strawberries, black cherries, loamy soil and forest floor emerge from this stylish, medium-bodied Pinot. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. As always, Beringer sells all their single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons that make up the blend for the Private Reserve to their VIP customers at the winery or through their mailing list. Interestingly, each year when I taste through these wines, the sum of the individual parts is always the best wine. In short, the Private Reserve always seems to outscore and show more complexity than most of the single vineyard Cabernets. Nevertheless, it is an exercise in single vineyard terroirs and is an interesting process. Usually there are around 250 cases of each of these single vineyard offerings. The single vineyard offerings are all noteworthy, and analytically, they are more similar than dissimilar. The alcohols range from a low of 14.5% to 14.9%. Not surprisingly, one of my favorites, the Bancroft Ranch, was the largest component part of the Private Reserve.Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735

Ed Sbragia is the first to admit that Pinot Noir has been a weak spot, and certainly the 2004 Napa is nothing to get excited about. Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735

There’s an accessible sweetness to this medium-weight wine’s cherry, plum and spice elements. On the tongue, it displays a slick, almost cough-drop feel. Finishes with some mild tannins, tangy acids, and cherry and pepper notes; some tasters found an odd aftertaste.——W.E.(10/1/2002)—— 83

Another wine that has been mixed in quality is Beringer's Pinot Noir. There are now two cuvees, a Stanly Ranch and a North Coast offering. There are 10,000 cases of the medium ruby-colored 1996 Pinot Noir North Coast, an attractive wine made in the style of Saintsbury's successful "Garnet" Pinot Noir. It is a soft, fruit-driven example with hedonistic levels of black cherry fruit. Low acidity, subtle toasty notes, and jammy fruit make for a luscious style of Pinot. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735