2004 Reserve Pinot Noir

We have been striving for the last five years to make every vintage of Pinot Noir better than the last, and after our wine panel evaluations a week ago I am happy to report that the 2004 Reserve Pinot Noir has exceeded our expectations.  This is a truly wonderful Pinot Noir in the Burgundian tradition, and my warm congratulations to Winemaker Dave Heiber for an excellent job.  In the glass, the wine shows a medium-dark ruby color with the slight purplish edge of a young Pinot Noir.  Aromas of rich fruit and earthy forest are framed by floral hints and light oak.  Flavors are full, rich and complex, with prominent dark cherry, plum and cassis.  This wine presents a full, complex, lingering finish with tobacco, bittersweet cocoa and faint hints of clove or allspice.  More concentrated and robust than our previous Reserve Pinot Noirs, with good tannic structure and an excellent intensity of flavors; this wine should be allowed to breathe or be carefully decanted into your best crystal when sharing with friends.  This wine is drinking very well right now, but will improve with another 3 to 5 years in the bottle.  Save for very special occasions.