Sweetly caramelized, smoky oak, with all of its vanilla and wood sap flavors, dominates this wine, although it does have a considerable framework of raspberries and cherries. Feels a bit one-dimensional, but it’s a pretty Pinot Noir, from a good address.——S.H.(9/1/2010)—— 87

There’s no denying that this is a lusciously delicious wine, with its array of melted black cherry jam, milk chocolate, anisette, vanilla cream and peppery spice flavors. But the alcohol is very high, giving it a burn, and the acidity is too low. Drink now.——S.H.(8/1/2009)—— 86

To me this is the least of La Rochelle’s current Pinot lineup. It shows plenty of ripe Pinot fruit and silky tannins, but there’s a baked, one-dimensional character to the cherries. The wine is excessively soft. ——S.H.(7/1/2006)—— 85