Ruby purple colour.
Nose of cola and dark fruit with nice oak aromas which are not over done.
Lovely attack and nice mid palate with dark cherry and spice. Very well structured, more 'classic' than 02 version...I loved 02, I think I like this better.
Long finish with just a hint of a bitter note on the end, makes for an interesting bit of complexity.
If you open this now you will not be disappointed. If you wait two years you might also be delighted IMHO!

Sante,

Dain

Goes well with deer sausage!

I agree completely with Dain's review, except to say I didn't find the bitter finish note to be appealing. I thought perhaps some air time would help, but this persisted even on day two. I'll definitely wait a while before I open another.

My guess is the bitter note will resolve itself with some age. A year should do the trick.

Upon further review, I should have pulled a Rosella's. Consensus seems to be that one is drinking very nicely now.

Popped the cork and let it sit in the bottle for an hour before pouring the deeply colored pinot into the glass. Initial aromas were of bright, fresh lively fruit.
The first taste yielded the dark berry and cherry fruit flavors. The wine was fresh with good balance and a long finish. It was a fun, enjoyable drink. We left about half the bottle for the next day.
The next night, this wine evolved into a blockbuster. It still had good fruit flavor while gaining depth and structure. A great pinot.

I opened my first '03 Loring Clos Pepe a few nights ago too.

Initially I wasn't terribly impressed as compared to the '02 Clos Pepe. It's was good, but it didn't wow me. I had decanted it for about 1/2 an hour before trying. It steadily got better over the evening.

I had saved 1/2 the bottle for the next night and, like Al mentioned, it was amazing! Definitely the case that the last glass was by far the best. I've got 2 or 3 remaining, and if I open another one soon, I'm going to extend the decanting time by several hours. Excellent wine!

-J

We had this wine tonight and I was relatively disappointed. It had a beautioful cherry nose, but was quite simple on the palate. It was a solid PN, but unremarkable when compared to the 2002s and a myriad other CA PNs. 88

Board O,

Brian's 2003's are more structured than previous vintages.
The Clos Pepe is the most austere wine in Loring's lineup.
It's still young. Give a couple of years to flower.

TTT

I had this now because of Brian's posthere.

Brian likes ALL of his wines young.
Vintage date plus three works for me.

TTT

2003 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills (9/29/2007)
WIML88

Tasted September 29, 2007. Opened and decanted about 30-45 minutes before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Up front a slight whiff of “brett” on the nose followed by some Robitussin, black cherries and black berries. Fairly simply flavors of black cherries and berries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Somewhat short finish. Drink over the short term. (88 pts.)

Had a bottle amongst many others on Friday. I would definietly agree wit your descriptors, but would place it more around 85.

I was being generous. Trust me. I was giving it the benefit of the doubt. My initial reaction was to not even rate it.

Several years ago I drank 2001 Brewer Clifton Clos Pepe alongside a Loring Clos Pepe, either 01 or 02. There was no comparision, the BC was way better.