This IS Santa Barbara County Pinot! First taste was a big burst of fruit. Not too sweet, not simple and unsophisticated, not a jammy Zin bomb, mind you. Instead, more like a zing of bright, pure, winey fruit. Remarkable and memorable. We had the 2022 vintage in a magnum bottle so perhaps that helped preserve its freshness and purity. We enjoyed this Big Mama at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating my daughter Rachel’s graduation from UCLA Law School. Congratulations, Rachel! — 12 days ago
Very fruit forward with a hint of oak. Aged. — 13 days ago
Excellent Bordeaux probably one of the most approachable examples despite its young age. Bright red and dark fruit with good crescendo balanced by velvety tannins and soft notes of vanilla, nutmeg and wet dirt. Medium bodied and medium alcohol with balanced acidity. Cheers. — a day ago
2015 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately. Very little sediment. Medium-medium-heavy body. Structure and both ample grip and fruit in a beautiful balance currently and for the foreseeable future. No rush to crush. Revisit in a decade. Wowzers. 5.17.24. — 6 days ago
This should cellar longer. Maybe another 5 yrs before I try again. Decanted over 3 hrs. Tight in first hour. It needs a lot air now. Many layers and complex fruit. It lingers. Meaty after taste. Dark fruit. Earthy. I liked it very much and look forward to the next one. — 20 days ago
Byron Hewett
I liked this quite a bit. Cleaner than the ‘82. Nice fruit. Tannins are mostly resolved. — a day ago