Good red-ruby. Exotic, very ripe aromas of cherry, raspberry, cola and orange peel. Broad, lush and fat, with expressive flavors of strawberry, minerals and spices along with some loamy earth tones. Finishes with lush tannins and lingering sweetness. A classic Russian River Valley pinot made mostly from fruit from the Allen, Riverblock, Flax, Bucher and Bacigalupi vineyards.

There is plenty of rich fruit in the nose of this nicely filled wine, but, if obviously extracted, it is a little less generous with its cherry-like flavors than promised. Bound up and tightened by a bit of pushy, slightly piquant acidity at the moment, it should benefit by a few years of time in the cellar in which to settle down and expand.

Rating: (88-90) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 162 on Dec-05

Rating: 87/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 10/31/06

Rating for United States-California: 89 (slightly better than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: unpredictable<br/>

Enjoyed a Marty ok birthday 2009 at Donavan restaurant.