2003 Ken Brown Clos Pepe Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.7% alc., 122 cases, $45. Initially this was a very intense and heady wine resulting from scant yields (1 ton per acre) and the typically robust fruit from this vineyard. · A few years in the cellar has tamed the beast. Dark ruby in color. Complex aromatics of dark fruits, freshly baked cookies, toast and smoke. Darker Pinot fruits carry the theme to a lengthy and tangy finish. Silky in texture with gossamer tannins. An argument for aging Pinot Noir a few years before popping the cork. The website is www.kenbrownwines.com. Reviewed --/--/--

Winery: Ken Brown Wines