Hilliard Bruce
Moon Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast, California, USA
One of my favorite new Pinot Noirs from the Santa rita hills
One of my favorite new Pinot Noirs from the Santa rita hills
1 person found it helpfulNov 27th, 2014A very similar violet floral notes very rich bouquet black raspberry exotic spices and some bacon fat here very exotic. Wow bigger but still has balance lots of liqueur fruit with a host of exotic spices and still maintains freshness even though it is very big and lush. Most excellent
A very similar violet floral notes very rich bouquet black raspberry exotic spices and some bacon fat here very exotic. Wow bigger but still has balance lots of liqueur fruit with a host of exotic spices and still maintains freshness even though it is very big and lush. Most excellent
1 person found it helpfulAug 9th, 2013One of my favorite new Pinot noir producers from Santa rita hills
One of my favorite new Pinot noir producers from Santa rita hills
Mar 9th, 2014A bit shy on the nose raspberry coulis like fruit with a host of exotic spices and floral notes coming out as the wine opens velvety smooth sexy texture with layers of spice on the finish. Finish 50+ most excellent
A bit shy on the nose raspberry coulis like fruit with a host of exotic spices and floral notes coming out as the wine opens velvety smooth sexy texture with layers of spice on the finish. Finish 50+ most excellent
Aug 9th, 2013This was the first release of Pinot noir produced at the winery black raspberry and exotic spice floral notes has a bit of a minty spice notes. Very smooth and silky texture with a host of exotic spices se tannins a bit hot and spicy a bit closed but you can see the potential here. Most excellent
This was the first release of Pinot noir produced at the winery black raspberry and exotic spice floral notes has a bit of a minty spice notes. Very smooth and silky texture with a host of exotic spices se tannins a bit hot and spicy a bit closed but you can see the potential here. Most excellent
Aug 9th, 2013Dark raspberry fruit estate bottled exotic spices brown spice. Thick and chewy 9. Acres very concentrated and rich a bit hot andsocy velvety texture1500 cases total production planted vineyard in 2004. Exotic spices and fresh finish. Finish 46excellent +
Dark raspberry fruit estate bottled exotic spices brown spice. Thick and chewy 9. Acres very concentrated and rich a bit hot andsocy velvety texture1500 cases total production planted vineyard in 2004. Exotic spices and fresh finish. Finish 46excellent +
Apr 5th, 20132014 opened Oct 2020. Hilliard Bruce was my favorite of the Santa Rita hills Pinot producers. I got an email a while back that they went out of business. So sad.
IMHO the vineyard from which they sourced the grapes for The Moon produced some of the most complex and luscious Pinots in the Santa Rita Hills. Well, here’s my review of a wine we’ll see no more of.
Raspberries and sage on the nose. Lots of bouncy high notes plus a delicate tannic structure that starts on the front of the tongue and that carries through to the mid palate. More of the raspberry fruit comes out on the mid-palate — almost a Crème de Framboise intensity — but it’s offset by slightly smokey finish. Please don’t take any of these descriptors is being negative, because they all work together. This wine has a wonderful balance. Not as fantastic as a 2009 Moon, but this is a worthy vintage indeed.
2014 opened Oct 2020. Hilliard Bruce was my favorite of the Santa Rita hills Pinot producers. I got an email a while back that they went out of business. So sad.
IMHO the vineyard from which they sourced the grapes for The Moon produced some of the most complex and luscious Pinots in the Santa Rita Hills. Well, here’s my review of a wine we’ll see no more of.
Raspberries and sage on the nose. Lots of bouncy high notes plus a delicate tannic structure that starts on the front of the tongue and that carries through to the mid palate. More of the raspberry fruit comes out on the mid-palate — almost a Crème de Framboise intensity — but it’s offset by slightly smokey finish. Please don’t take any of these descriptors is being negative, because they all work together. This wine has a wonderful balance. Not as fantastic as a 2009 Moon, but this is a worthy vintage indeed.
Tasting well. Full bodied Pinot with cherries and strawberries notes, along with some darker red fruit. Has really nice balance of structure and acidity.
Tasting well. Full bodied Pinot with cherries and strawberries notes, along with some darker red fruit. Has really nice balance of structure and acidity.
Mar 14th, 20182010 opened Oct 2017. I gave this wine an 8.7 a few years back, and I didn't think it had much hope for improvement, but either my tastes have changed or its improved quite a bit over the past few years. Leather and unripe cherries on the nose. Tannins are smoother and stronger now. Slightly unpleasant chlorophyll notes on the top of the palate, but they're pretty much extinguished by the velvety finish (dark red velvet). So I don't mind the off-notes. I don't see why this wine gets a 9.4 average rating though unless it's due to grade inflation. ;-)
2010 opened Oct 2017. I gave this wine an 8.7 a few years back, and I didn't think it had much hope for improvement, but either my tastes have changed or its improved quite a bit over the past few years. Leather and unripe cherries on the nose. Tannins are smoother and stronger now. Slightly unpleasant chlorophyll notes on the top of the palate, but they're pretty much extinguished by the velvety finish (dark red velvet). So I don't mind the off-notes. I don't see why this wine gets a 9.4 average rating though unless it's due to grade inflation. ;-)
Oct 14th, 2017Buttery. Delicious! Beautiful nose!
Buttery. Delicious! Beautiful nose!
Jan 26th, 2017