The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2003 Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard (6,370 bottles produced) possesses a meaty/beef blood-like character in addition to its impressively pure, deep, floral, sweet cherry and raspberry notes. Velvety-textured and seamless, it offers a beautiful display of fruit with subtle wood, decent acidity, and a long, 40-second finish. This is an elegant, authoritatively rich Pinot Noir to consume over the next 5-8 years. Kudos to the Talley family for its impressive dedication to high quality wines.Tel. (805) 489-0446

Talley is at the top of its Pinot game. This is a stunning wine, rich and complex, and true to Pinot’s typicity, with bold acids and an elegantly silky texture framing nuanced flavors. It straddles that dangerous line of ripe cherry fruit with tomatoes on the other side, but comes out victorious. That is what makes Pinot Noir exciting. ——S.H.(12/31/2005)—— 93