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Matrix 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
- $47
Extraordinarily delicious. Earns its reserve citation for the sheer power and audacity of fruit. Masses of ripe raspberry and cherry tart, vanilla and cola flavors dazzle the palate. The all-important tannins are softly refined, and the acids are crisp. Designed to dazzle now, and does, but should gain traction and age in interesting ways over the next six years.
— S.H.
(3/1/2012)
Matrix 2009 Reserve Buoncristiani Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
- $48
A big, ripe, opulent and oaky Pinot Noir, forward in fruit and needing a little time to knit together. It’s massive in raspberry and cherry pie filling, milk chocolate, vanilla oak and smoky butter flavors, spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Absolutely delicious now, with a good decant, and should develop additional bottle complexities over the next 6–8 years.
— S.H.
(3/1/2012)
Matrix 2009 Reserve Nunes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
- $56
Deeply flavored in raspberries, cherries, red licorice and exotic dusty spices, this Pinot Noir has a tannin-acid tightness that makes it aloof and hard. Although it’s dry, it’s so rich in fruit, it tastes sweet. A very fine wine, but needs some time to come around. Give it four or five years to mellow.
— S.H.
(3/1/2012)
Matrix 2007 Stuhlmuller Vineyard Chardonnay (Alexander Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $36
The vineyard is one of the better Chardonnay sources in Alexander Valley, and in this fine vintage it lends ripe pineapple, pear, Key lime pie and Mandarin orange flavors to the wine. Lots of toasty new oak adds buttered toast and vanilla, but the wood influence is in balance. Classic Burgundian-style California Chardonnay, rich and opulent.
— S.H.
(12/22/2011)
Matrix 2009 R. Buoncristiani Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
- $36
A succulent Pinot Noir, rich and ripe in cherries, tart cranberries, orange zest and Dr. Pepper cola, with sweet, smoky notes from oak barrel aging. The tight tannins and zesty acids together suggest midterm aging. Should hit its stride after 2013.
— S.H.
(3/1/2012)
Matrix 2005 Red (Sonoma County)
- Online Exclusive
- $40
This Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend highlights Dry Creek Valley at its best. At the age of four-plus years, the wine is rich and complex, offering tiers of black currants, blackberries, plums, cherries and cocoa, wrapped into rich, dusty tannins. It drinks well now, with a round, soft full-bodiedness.
— S.H.
(4/1/2010)
Matrix 2009 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $38
A soft, delicious Pinot, although you should give it an hour or two in a decanter to let it breathe. It’s rich and sweet in raspberry, cherry, brown sugar and cinnamon flavors, showing the warmth of its vineyard origin. Drink now.
— S.H.
(3/1/2012)
Matrix 2009 Nunes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $42
Oak dominates, with caramel, vanilla and buttered toast currently overshadowing the underlying fruit. The wine is rich in raspberries and cherries, and has firm tannins and acids. A very good Pinot that needs decanting, and possibly could develop bottle nuances over the next six years.
— S.H.
(3/1/2012)
Showing items 1
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