Dryness and acidity mark this terrific wine. It’s one for connoisseurs, a Pinot that requires some understanding to fully appreciate, as it’s not a hedonistic seducer. The cherry and blackberry flavors have a fruit-skin bitterness, and there are additional nuances of violets, cola, leather, balsam and smoky oak. This is certainly one for the cellar. Drink now, with decanting, and over the next eight years.——S.H.(7/1/2008)—— 94

An opulent Pinot, and despite the volume, it never loses elegance. Rich in cherry pie, cola, pomegranate and oak flavors, backed up by firm tannins and acids, it’s ripe to the point of supermaturity, with an edge of raisins. Should develop well over five years.——S.H.(4/1/2007)—— 91

Monumental, magnificent. Russian River Pinot hardly gets much better. Huge flavors of blackberries, tart red cherries, coffee, cola, cherry tomato and generous Asian spices, all of it well-oaked, and the acidity is crisp and cleansing. Layered and never stops changing in the glass. This is beautiful now, and should hold and improve through 2008.——S.H.(5/1/2005)—— 94