2005 Dierberg - Pinot Noir Estate Pinot Noir - USA - California - Santa Barbara - Santa Maria Valley - Red

(14.9%; $40) Here the nose is even riper with notes of mocha and cola that accompany the red and blue fruit aromas that dissolve into round and very rich flavors that offer impressive volume and fine concentration on the sweet and mouth coating finish where there is relatively little undue warmth. The sap buffers the majority of the structure and while this could be approached now, I would give it a year or two in the cellar.

($42) Deep red. Bitter cherry and raspberry aromas display a medicinal concentration, with a good lashing of oak spice. Ripe cherry and red berries on the palate, taking a sweet turn on the close. I'm impressed by the depth and sweetness but would have liked just a bit more vivacity.

Vinfolio's best selling Pinot Noir in history is the remarkably perfumed Dierberg Estate made by Nick De Luca. Jim Dierberg has one of the most impressive vineyard operations I have seen, with limitless potential to keep the viticulturist and winemaking team busy for years coming up with new wines to tempt us with. Shows dusty black cherry and black raspberry nose with subtle dried lavender, (there is some whole cluster fermentation), and vanilla sprinkled sea salt. The palate is round and ripe leading to vibrant, mouth-coating flavors of black cherry, cola and violets. The finish comes through with silky violet-laced tannins.