2000 CL Pinot Noir, Armagh Vineyard

Region: Sonoma Coast, California, US

Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

Background: I couldn't find much of anything out about this wine, but I liked it so I want to note it for future reference. It was offered to us as a substitute at dinner the other night (the restaurant was out of the wine we ordered, and the owner recommended this as a substitute, and we figured we would take a chance). As far as I have been able to figure out, "CL" stands for Craven and Lattin: Kendra Craven and David Lattin, a husband and wife team. Lattin has made wine for Acacia in the past and is presently winemaker for Kuleto Estate Family Vineyards (owner Pat Kuleto is the man who brought San Francisco restaurants like Boulevard, Farallon, Jardiniere, and Postrio).

The bottle claims CL has a website at www.clwines.com, but there is no real content there (it looks like the domain is owned by some company in New Orleans, and my attempts to stalk CL via Google failed for the most part). It also says that 191 cases were produced, and I will just trust the bottle on that. It's another one of those hard-to-find wines (sorry about that for anyone who is trying to play along at home, I promise I will drink something not obscure soon)... I know I haven't seen it around.

Notes: This is a fairly intense Pinot Noir... a deep red/purple (it was hard to tell in the restaurant, but dark for Pinot) and has a nose full of brambly dark fruit, along with some barnyard and smoke. It has a lot of black fruit in the mouth, fruit like black cherry, and I am guessing the wine has seen a fair amount of oak from the leathery spiciness that is also present. The finish is almost chocolately, with mocha and a little more leather. As the bottle got some air, the smokiness became more apparent, which I enjoyed. It certainly has a lot going on, something else I appreciate.

Cost: I am not sure, but I think around $27

Overall: A-

Comments

[Kieca]

Good luck finding this one! I get the idea that they are making this as a kind of hobby or something and that they don't have serious distribution (always a problem for smaller winemakers) and that will keep it harder to find. I haven't seen a bottle of it since I had this one!

[Johan]

I have been trying to find this wine online as well. Just drank the 2001 which I bought for $13 a few years back in San Diego. What a great wine! I can't believe I only bought a single bottle back then and now I can't find it anywhere. Would like a case. Must be the best Pinot I have had at this price.