Tasting Note                         

89+(?)  2005 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir  1/18/08 ($37)

14.1% alc
Color: Light golden-ruby. Pretty, but almost looks like a rosé. (2.0) Bouquet: Cherry cola and strawberry fruit with brown sugar and a cilantro-like spiciness. Very aromatic. (3.5) Body: Middleweight with excellent acidity and fruit. Light and subtle, more like a white wine in the mouth. (2.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but more restrained. Crisp and tasty. (2.5) Finish: Parallels bouquet. Lingering and acidity driven, but could be bigger. (3.0)
Overall: A very tasty, elegant, aromatic Pinot Noir. The disparity between the technical score (13.5, low side of very good) and the overall score (89+, bordering on excellent) can be explained by the paradoxical nature of the grape. P.N. can be rich, aromatic, complex and racy without being dense in body or deep in color. This wine is a characature of these paradoxes. A beautiful expression of the grape that shows its close relationship to Chardonnay. At its best now and in the next few years. Certainly not a bargain, it is a bit lacking in body and structure, but still worth the price. (13.5)