($75) Bright ruby. Assertive aromas of raspberry, iron and Asian spices. A broad, palate-staining midweight, with silky flavors of red berries, musky brown spices, candied rose and smoky minerals. The gentle tannins add focus to the finish but don't get in the way of the sexy fruit. This is delicious now.

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The brilliant 2008 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard is one of the finest Pinots I tasted from the 2008 vintage. Made from the Pommard and Calera clones, it exhibits a dark, saturated plum/ruby/purple-tinged color as well as an enormous bouquet of plums, soy, forest floor, black cherries and black currants, stunning, full-bodied, rich fruit and a supple, luscious finish. This decadent, full-throttle Pinot Noir can be consumed over the next decade or more.

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Shows the vintage at a peak'ripe, intense and savory, with layers dried berry, currant, herb, mineral and sage. Full-bodied, focused and persistent, this is rich and expansive on the finish, where the flavors unfold and gain complexity.

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This is a very nice larger-scaled Pinot Noir. I found this typical of Carneros, with beautiful strawberry flavors and some darker fruits on the finish. This is ripe and full-bodied, yet elegant and refined. A wine of great complexity, that really shows the quality of the vineyard and the excellence of winemaker Paul Hobbs. This should drink well for at least another 5 years, probably longer.