1999 Steele Pinot Noir Carneros

[RAD]

I am by no means a pinot noir expert, but I call 'em like I see 'em.

Clear medium ruby. Fruity cherry nose with a touch of raisin and lead pencil notes. Fruit-driven. Creamy mouthfeel, with medium tannins, a touch of oak, and a lingering finish that unfortuantely morphs into something somewhat woody and cardboardish. Light to medium bodied. Decent, and nicer ex the somewhat woodsy finish, but still nice. 87/88 on Bucko's Jerry Mead rating scale; about $19 here in NYC.

I like it.

RAD

PS Bucko's gonna have to tighten the restraints, because I have not slept this one off. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Bucko]

It's the leather restraints for you, Buster! These wines that tend to have a woody quality in the background often have this quality decrease with aging, unlike big tannins - they don't mysteriously disappear with age IMHO.

Bucko

[winoweenie]

Steele is making some fine juice. Shows he mite have had a case agin ole' Jess. WW