Voluptuous, lush, a wine of great power. Packed with cedar-inspired flavors of blackberry and cherry jam, currants, cassis, cola, licorice and spice, wrapped into a texture of velvet and silk. Delicious and compelling. Only 126 cases produced.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
Shows all the richness you could want in a Chardonnay, with smoky, buttery flavors of pineapples, lemons and pears, wrapped into a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. A scour of minerals gives the wine a steely grounding, while brilliant acidity makes the finish ultraclean. Really beautiful, a top Russian River Chardonnay at a fair price for the quality. The vineyard is in…
— S.H.
(9/1/2010)
This is from the cooler, southern portion of the valley, and the climate shows in the notable tannins and acids that put the wine in lockdown. Yet it’s a very fine Syrah, rich and classy in meaty blackberry and coffee flavors and a luscious finish of blueberry tart. You could enjoy this single-vineyard wine now, but it should soften and develop additional bottle…
— S.H.
(10/1/2006)
This bottling from Lost Canyon is one of California’s best-kept Syrah secrets. Year after year, it’s a rich, tannic, dramatically structured wine of impressive depth and deliciousness. Packed with dry berry, cherry, leather, mocha and toasty oak flavors, it’s beautiful now, with decanting, and should hold and even improve for up to six years.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
Grown in the cool heart of the valley, but in a hot vintage, this beautifully ripe Pinot combines fruity power with elegant harmony to produce a delicious, complex wine. It’s sturdy in acids and tannins, and bone dry. While the alcohol is high, it feels balanced and graceful. Best in its youthful flamboyance.
— S.H.
(9/1/2006)
A beautiful Pinot Noir, although it’s a bit brusque in acidity. Still, it’s enormously rich and dry, with long-lasting flavors of raspberry tart and cherry-cinnamon granola. Give it a brief decant, and drink with rich, umami-inspired fare, like teriaki salmon or cured meats.
— S.H.
(9/1/2010)
Shows a beautiful balance of all its parts. The fruit is forwardly ripe, showing cherries, blackberries and rich dark chocolate. But the tannins are firm and supportive, and there’s gorgeous acidity that makes the tastebuds sing. This is a really delicious young Syrah for the most upscale foods, and it’s at its best now.
— S.H.
(8/1/2007)
The vineyard is in the southern, cooler part of the valley, and you can taste the chilling effect of the fog in the peppery aroma and brisk tannins of this lovely wine. Lost Canyon has a very good track record with this bottling, and the ’06 is among their best. Dry and full-bodied, the wine offers deep, complex flavors of black currants, licorice, mocha, leather…
— S.H.
(6/1/2008)