From the Santa Rita Hills appellation, the 2004 Pinot Noir Sea Smoke Vineyard’s ruby/purple color as well as its intense, glorious perfume of sweet kirsch, black currants, flowers, and underbrush suggest a wine built for the long haul. Tremendous opulence, richness, and intensity in addition to a dazzling finish with great flavor precision emerge from this riveting Pinot Noir. One of the finest Central Coast Pinots I have ever tasted, it can be consumed over the next decade. (not yet released) As the back label says, this wine was bottled “delicately ... without fining or filtration.” Bravo to proprietors and winemakers Bill Wathen and Dick Dore. Tel. (805) 937-4251

Huge Pinot, dark and extracted, with enormously ripe flavors of baked cherry pie, blackberry jam, cola and chocolate. As delicious as this may sound, the wine suffers from being too soft. Finishes with white sugary sweetness. ——S.H.(11/15/2006)—— 82