The 2007 Pinot Noir Edna Valley has to be one of the strongest Edna Valley Pinot Noirs that Talley has ever made. An authoritative nose of rose petal and other floral notes intermixed with boysenberry, black cherry, spice box, and forest floor notes is classic Pinot Noir at its best. With no hard edges, this wine displays wonderfully silky tannins, medium to full-bodied flavors, plenty of personality, and beautifully pure fruit. This is an outstanding Pinot Noir to drink over the next 5-8 years, possibly longer where pristinely stored. The one superstar for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Edna Valley is Talley Vineyards. Interestingly, they make most of their money growing vegetables rather than grapes. Yet Brian Talley and his team continue to turn out extremely elegant, European styled wines from this micro-climate at the southern end of the Edna Valley, not far from Arroyo Seco. The production of the single-vineyard Pinot Noirs is slightly lower than the Chardonnays, with about 500 cases of the Rincon and Rosemary’s, and only 225 of the Stone Corral. Kudos to Brian Talley. He has always made wonderful wine, but these are among the very best I have ever tasted from him.Tel. (805) 489-0446

Raw in mouthwatering acidity, this Pinot is rich enough in black cherries, currants, plums and oak, but the harsh, tart texture is a turnoff. Has a prickly, peppery feeling of sandpaper that’s not likely to age away.——S.H.(6/1/2010)—— 85