Marimar Torres Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 1999

[dinwiddie]

This CA pinot is made in a restrained style that is atypical of PNs from most CA wineries. Dominant flavors of black cherry and plums with hints of chocolate and rosemary(?) on the nose. It is extremely well-balanced with enough acids and tannins to keep for a few years. I would think that it could improve for at least 5 more years. Glad I have more.

[stevebody]

Whoa, Dude...The Marimar Torres is a bit restrained but that certainly isn't a characteristic of Cali Pinots. Quite the opposite. Brian LOring, one of the new up-and-coming Pinot makers from CA has regaled me with stories of being set upon by hoardes of Burgundy and Oregon Pinot freaks who called him everything but a gentleman because California Pinots are so freakin' big. Ditto for David Bruce who told me he almost stopped going to wine shows because he had such moronic conversations from the OR/Burgindy maniacs over his "ruining" of the varietal. Drink a few of the better Oregons up next to that Torres - Archery Summit, Ponzi, Adelsheim, etc. - and see if the Torres doesn't look right HUGE in that context.

[winoweenie]

The good Dr. Bruce not only was ducking the Pinot crowd but also the Cab Cultists, the Zin Zealots, and the Chard Crazies. He was IMHO the most adventurous winemaker who ever put grape to crusher. Back in the 70s' when you bought a bottle of Bruce it was, as Tom said, "like opening a box of Chocolates " WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Georgie]

Steve, I believe you misread Dinwiddie's post. He said that the restrained style was ATYPICAL, not typical of CA PN's. I'm a little confused by your response. But I'm often a little confused in general...