Steele
Steele 2003 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County)
- $35
Rich and dry, with a wealth of flavor that immediately takes over and doesn’t let up. Raspberries, cherries, mocha, vanilla and crushed hardspice notes are wrapped in a silky texture leading to a long, refined finish.
— S.H.
(12/1/2006)
Steele 2005 Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County)
- $35
Here’s a supple, delicious Pinot Noir. The wine is elegantly silky, with satisfying flavors of cherries, currants, Dr. Pepper, smoky vanilla and fresh Provençal herbs. It has a good edge of tannins.
— S.H.
(8/1/2008)
Steele 2003 Black Bubbles Syrah (Lake County)
- $16
Yes, it’s sparkling Syrah, made famous by the Aussies. As dark as a red wine, it’s so deliciously aromatic in cherry pie, chocolate fudge and caramel scents, it makes your mouth water. Once in that mouth, it has the dry effervescence of a sparkling wine, with the weight of, well, Syrah. A curiosity, but a good one.
— S.H.
(9/1/2007)
Steele 1998 Pacini Vineyard Zinfandel (Mendocino)
- $22
Minty raspberries and chocolate light up the nose. Classy winemaking, with the plump fruit leading into a smooth, rich and extended finish with distinctly minty highlights.
— P.G.
(3/1/2001)
Steele 1998 Parmelee Hill Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)
- $30
If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the—oh…I mean…coladas and ripe banana, caramel and pear aromas and flavors, then this wine delivers. There’s an undeniable coconut quality here, and nice acid zip that keeps the fruit in the mix. The oak tannins need a bit of time to smooth out—they’re a little edgy on the back end.
— W.E.
(7/1/2001)
Steele 1998 Lolonis Vineyard Chardonnay (Mendocino)
- $32
Thyme and lavender notes mingle with orange, tangerine and banana aromas and flavors in this exotic, stylized wine. An ample dose of spicy new oak brings dimension, but also adds a dry, slightly austere note to the long finish. Appealing now; may integrate better with short-term cellaring.
— W.E.
(7/1/2001)
Steele 1999 Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir (Carneros)
- $28
. “Overblown,” “full-throttle” and “juice-ball” are three words tasters used to describe this wine. But no one said it wasn’t tasty. The black cherry flavors are almost overripe, but they are undeniably deep. Tons of spicy oak complements the fruit, adding to its almost Port-like quality.
— W.E.
(10/1/2002)
Steele 1999 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir (Carneros)
- $32
There’s delicious fruit behind the copious wood. The lavish, toasty oak yields a pine-and-dill patina that not everyone will like, but the deep, dark cherry fruit is a solid presence. The tart plum and espresso-tinged close is long, with even tannins. Drink now–2005.
— W.E.
(10/1/2002)
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