Baldacci Family Vineyards
Elizabeth Carneros Pinot Noir
Carneros, North Coast, California, USA
Dark garnet. Inviting nose and medium full palate of anise and tarry dark red cherry with a hint of menthol hovering over mid palate to finish. Medium acidity. Medium minus-minus tannins that barely assert at the moderate finish. Smooth and almost Southern California feel from this classic Carneros Pinot Noir. I prefer more structure in my PN, but if you like them softer, this is a great upgrade to your everyday California wine. Drink now through 2026.
Dark garnet. Inviting nose and medium full palate of anise and tarry dark red cherry with a hint of menthol hovering over mid palate to finish. Medium acidity. Medium minus-minus tannins that barely assert at the moderate finish. Smooth and almost Southern California feel from this classic Carneros Pinot Noir. I prefer more structure in my PN, but if you like them softer, this is a great upgrade to your everyday California wine. Drink now through 2026.
Jul 16th, 2022Bright ruby garnet with a dark purple core. Inviting nose of Marasca cherries and a hint of vanilla. Medium palate echoes the nose with classic Carneros medium minus acidity and low tannins. Moderate finish. While I prefer PN with darker fruit and better structure, this is definitely a classic example of the California style that should more than satisfy those who favor it. The low acidity makes it work well with spicier fare like blackened salmon or Mediterranean duck. Drink now through 2024.
Bright ruby garnet with a dark purple core. Inviting nose of Marasca cherries and a hint of vanilla. Medium palate echoes the nose with classic Carneros medium minus acidity and low tannins. Moderate finish. While I prefer PN with darker fruit and better structure, this is definitely a classic example of the California style that should more than satisfy those who favor it. The low acidity makes it work well with spicier fare like blackened salmon or Mediterranean duck. Drink now through 2024.
Jul 28th, 2021
Loads of fruit expand on the nose -mostly strawberry with a little bit of cranberry. Not much spice, but some mild toasted oak. This is medium to full-bodied for a pinot noir. Acidity was medium low, and perhaps for that reason I wasn't getting the more tart fruits, like pomegranate, that the description was touting. The oak gives it a nice custard note on the palate. Tannins are low and smooth. At 14.5% ABV, I was surprised; the alcohol is very well concealed going down. Overall, it's a good wine. Fruity and smooth; a crowd pleaser. Nothing to complain about, but I would have liked a little more acidity and complexity perhaps.
Loads of fruit expand on the nose -mostly strawberry with a little bit of cranberry. Not much spice, but some mild toasted oak. This is medium to full-bodied for a pinot noir. Acidity was medium low, and perhaps for that reason I wasn't getting the more tart fruits, like pomegranate, that the description was touting. The oak gives it a nice custard note on the palate. Tannins are low and smooth. At 14.5% ABV, I was surprised; the alcohol is very well concealed going down. Overall, it's a good wine. Fruity and smooth; a crowd pleaser. Nothing to complain about, but I would have liked a little more acidity and complexity perhaps.
Nov 28th, 2020
