Arista

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Arista 2005 Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)

Price $54

Showing the superb structure of the vintage and the spectacular way this great vineyard can ripen Pinot Noir, this polished wine is not only delicious from the get-go, but ageable. Floods the mouth with lush black cherry, red currant, cola, sweet oak, anise, vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors that go on and on. A memorable wine that should slowly gather steam and… — S.H. (10/1/2008)

points

Arista 2003 Toboni Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Price $50

This bottling is the richest, most complex and most accessible of this new winery’s four single-vineyard bottlings, a textbook example of luscious Russian River Pinot. With its cherry, cola, coffee and spice flavors, and rich but delicate tannins, it’s delicious. Will hold several years, but best now in its sexy youth. — S.H. (2/1/2006)

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Arista 2005 Mononi Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Price $54

A polished, elegant and delicious Pinot. New, smoky oak frames ripe, jammy blackberry, cherry, black raspberry and orange flavors, with richer notes of chocolate, figs and grilled meat. Impeccably balanced with acidity, this wine should hold and develop over the next six years. — S.H. (12/1/2008)

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Arista 2003 Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)

Price $50

A tight, young Pinot, currently dominated by toasty oak aromas. It?s dry and complex, with a mé¬¡nge of cranberry, cherry, cola, blackberry and oaky, wood-spice flavors that are deep and satisfying. In its structure and balance, it?s the most classic of Arista?s four Pinots. Drink now through 2007. — S.H. (2/1/2006)

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Arista 2009 Two Birds Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $68

All kinds of fantastic things swirl together in this complex, intricate Pinot Noir, but it’s too young to touch for a while. The ’09 vintage was a great one for Arista’s Pinots, and this bottling is their best, a small-production blend of four vineyards. Purists will object that it’s a little too forward in sweet fruit, but the raspberries and cherries have… — S.H. (3/1/2012)

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Arista 2003 Mononi Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Price $50

Compared to the winery’s Toboni bottling, this wine is slightly more tannic, with more body, but the two wines are similar. It’s dominated by cherry and cranberry flavors, and feels soft and creamy. Seems likely to improve with a few years in the bottle. — S.H. (2/1/2006)

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Arista 2004 Longbow Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $38

This is the driest, most austere of Arista’s current Pinots. It’s not a hedonistic wine. It offers a mouthful of acidity and earthy, truffly tastes, with a hint of cherries and cranberries. It doesn’t slap you with fruit, but it’s a wine you’ll return to for a third glass when the fruit bombs have palled. Best now, but will hold for five years. — S.H. (10/1/2006)

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Arista 2005 Longbow Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Price $48

Here’s a young, hedonistic Pinot that captures the essence of RRV from a perfect vintage. Although it’s ripely forward in cherry, pomegranate, Dr. Pepper, red licorice and cinnamon spice flavors, it shows a structural sophistication that elevates the score. Beautiful now, and should improve over the next 6 years. — S.H. (9/1/2008)

Most Reviewed Designations

Bacigalupi Vineyard Ferrington Vineyard Harper’s Rest La Cruz Vineyard Longbow Mononi Mononi Vineyard Perli Vineyard Toboni Vineyard Two Birds Two Birds Estate

Most Reviewed Varietals

Gewürztraminer Pinot Noir

2010 Westerly

Give this brisk, young Pinot 5–6 years in the cellar to mellow. It’s…

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