Had this tonight with Filet Mignon, risotto, and sauteed spinach. Wine was open, but not decanted, for 1 hour prior to tasting. This wine threw a fair amount of sediment in the neck and I stuck my pinky in there it pick it out.

Color is a ruby red core to slightly bricked rim. Pronounced nose of red fruits and spice. Light to medium bodied, but nice flavors of cherry and some vanilla. Finishes a bit short of moderate. Drink up. jb Rating 86 pts.

This wine had nice fruit and was not tart at all, but it was not terribly complex. Good balance and should definitely be consumed soon.

jb

I have the Mailer in front of me. But, do Not see this as part of the Mailer. How much?

LCC - this is the '99, it won't be in any mailer. I also believe this was Brian's first release. I purchased one a while back from K&L for, IIRC, $28.00.

I guess then he stopped making this 1. OK.

From what people tell me is that the 2001-release is Best effort yet.

It is. IMO the 2001 Clos Pepe is the finest Pinot Brian has yet produced.

The '99 Sharon's was the first wine I made. I bought the fruit from my buddy at Cottonwood Canyon (Sharon's is one of his estate vineyards). I made 150 cases and ended up pricing it at around $25. 1999 was the only year I got that fruit. Norm at Cottonwood wanted to increase his production, and since I had lined up Garys' and Clos Pepe, I "gave up" the fruit he'd promised to me.

This wine was very good, but the '01 releases (I have just tasted them all) are much better. My favorite is the '01 Garys'. Detailed notes on Feb 1st.

jb

ah.. the old pinky techique. Well done sir