Producer Wine Name Varietal Reviewer Rating Vintage Cost
ProducerCrichton Hall Vineyard  Wine Name  VarietalPinot Noir  ReviewerMike Taylor  RatingExcellent  Vintage1999  Cost$32.00 
Crichton Hall not only does Chardonnay well, but they've also produced some very nice Pinot Noir as well.

Following tradition, Crichton Hall's 1999 Carneros Pinot Noir comes from the very same ten rows of vines since their first Pinot Noir was produced in 1991. The wine has been equally blended with two clones of Pinot Noir: Pommard that offers Burgundian attributes and heirloom Martini, which contributes excellent fruit character.

The wine's appearance is a clear garnet core with a mahogany rim. The color has a medium intensity and a few swirls around the glass produce medium viscous legs. The wine is clean on the nose with pronounced jammy strawberry and ripe black cherry fruit. These harmonize well with the spice and hints of chocolate.

The palate is distinct giving consistent flavors with low acidity and silky tannins. Along with glycerin, the ample body treats the mouth to a rich almost fleshy experience. The wine comes in at 14.8% alcohol, which boasts intensity relative to the fruit, and contributes to the warm spicy finish, which tends to linger. Overall, the wine has rich flavors and a sensuous mouth feel. It's a good quality Pinot Noir that is drinking quite nicely.
Color Type Maturity Appellation Country State County Region
ColorRed  TypeTable  MaturityReady  AppellationLos Carneros  CountryUnited States  StateCalifornia  CountyNapa  RegionNorth Coast (CA) 
Date added: June 21, 2005
Superb: 95-100 | Excellent: 90-94 | Very Good: 85-89 | Good: 80-84 | Ordinary: 75-79 | Undrinkable: 50-74