Dec 30, 2022
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RN Estate Vineyard & Winery
| Owner(s) | Roger Nicolas |
| Web site | www.rnestate.com |
| Link to this site |
RN Estate is a winery in Paso Robles that specializes in Pinot Noir, red Rhone and Bordeaux varietals. Owner and winemaker, Roger Nicolas, is a Frenchman who grew up on a farm in Brittany, France, and came to the United States at the age of 20. During his years of working at and owning prestigious restaurants, he dreamed of crafting his own wines. The 2005 vintage marked his inaugural releases. The wines show a restraint reflecting a French sensibility.
The small production is sold primarily through the winery. Contact Roger by e-mailing him at rnicolas@rnestate.com or phoning 805-610-9802. Private tastings are available by appointment.
Articles About RN Estate Vineyard & Winery
2009 Pinot Noir Summit (7.16 4/18/2009)
2014 Pinot Noir Shootout and Summit (9.36 1/20/2014)
Adventures on the Pinot Trail: World of Pinot Noir: The Tastings (9.39 3/29/2014)
Along The Pinot Trail: 2013 World of Pinot Noir (9.23 4/13/2013)
Blast from 2011 World of Pinot Noir (8.33 3/12/2011)
Fiddlestix Vineyard (7.3 10/1/2008)
On the Pinot Trail: WOPN 2010 (8.13 4/8/2010)
Tastes of World of Pinot Noir (10.7 4/6/2015)
Reviewed Wines
2012 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., 195 cases, $55. 113, 115 and
667. 35% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in French oak, 100% new.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the
glass. Extravagant aromas of cherry, strawberry, red rose petal and sandalwood. Uplifting and vibrant with
bright red fruit flavors enhanced by exotic spices from whole cluster inclusion. The tannins are well managed
and the refreshing finish has good length. Still young but hard to resist now.
Score: 92-94.
Reviewed April 4, 2015
ARTICLE »
2011 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
195 cases. Bottled 8/12.
·
Still very young but
showing the best features of 2009 and 2010. Wines from Fiddlestix are often tannic but the tannins are
beautifully tamed in this vintage. Look for this release soon. Very special.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 RN Estate Solomon Hills Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 205 cases, $55. Clones 115, 667
and 5. Aged 10 months in 40% new French oak barrels.
·
Drinking beautifully now with aromas and flavors of
fresh red berries, spice and earth. Very elegantly styled with gossamer tannins and complimentary tobacco
oak in the background. Very good.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
240 cases.
·
Because of the heat spike at
harvest, this is a riper, showier and bolder wine with a very long finish. Very California in style. Good.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2009 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
270 cases.
·
Very elegant, restrained and
charming with impeccable balance. Very good.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2008 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.7% alc.,
170 cases, $49. Dijon clones 113, 115, 667. Aged 14 months in 45% new
French oak barrels.
·
Lovely mix of dark red cherries and berries on the nose with
toasty oak playing a supporting role. Soft in the mouth with moderately intense
flavors offering welcoming charm. My only nit would be a touch of heat that
peaks out. Good (+).
Reviewed March 12, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.4%
alc., 120 cases.
·
A chameleon in the glass starting off with aromas of cherries,
summer herbs including sage, and oak ramping up in fruit intensity with notes of
good barnyard. Soft and delicate in the mouth but possessing a richly flavored
core of cherry and berry fruit. A tame style of Fiddlestix with very supple tannins.
This wine seduces more than it attacks. Very good.
Reviewed April 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., 120 cases, $55. French immigrant Roger left a distinguished
career in the restaurant industry to start RN Estate in 2005 in
Paso Robles. He crafts a number of varieties including Pinot
Noir from Fiddlestix Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills and Maridel
Vineyard in Avila Valley. This wine is composed of Dijon clones
113, 115 and 667. It is aged 12 months in French oak. Nicolas
has a gifted touch with Pinot Noir and I have been an admirer
since the first release. The wines may be ordered online and are
distributed to fine wine shops and restaurants in California.
·
Floral
and confected dark red fruit aromas. Tasty sweet red plum and
black cherry flavors matched to toasty oak. Beautifully composed with healthy tannins and admirable restraint.
Drinkable now but will benefit from a year in the bottle.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 145
cases, $48. Whole cluster fermentation, aged 14 months in French oak.
·
The
nose is reticent but coaxing reveals pleasant aromas of brambly cherry and
strawberry with a sniff of alcohol. Restrained, tasty cherry and berry flavors with
echoes of spice and oak. Lighter and elegantly styled with bright acidity. This
wine should be a knockout with another year in bottle.
Reviewed October 1, 2008
ARTICLE »
2012 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., 195 cases, $55. 113, 115 and 667. 35% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in French oak, 100% new. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Extravagant aromas of cherry, strawberry, red rose petal and sandalwood. Uplifting and vibrant with bright red fruit flavors enhanced by exotic spices from whole cluster inclusion. The tannins are well managed and the refreshing finish has good length. Still young but hard to resist now. Score: 92-94. Reviewed April 4, 2015 ARTICLE »
2011 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
195 cases. Bottled 8/12. · Still very young but showing the best features of 2009 and 2010. Wines from Fiddlestix are often tannic but the tannins are beautifully tamed in this vintage. Look for this release soon. Very special. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 RN Estate Solomon Hills Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 205 cases, $55. Clones 115, 667 and 5. Aged 10 months in 40% new French oak barrels. · Drinking beautifully now with aromas and flavors of fresh red berries, spice and earth. Very elegantly styled with gossamer tannins and complimentary tobacco oak in the background. Very good. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
240 cases. · Because of the heat spike at harvest, this is a riper, showier and bolder wine with a very long finish. Very California in style. Good. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »
2009 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
270 cases. · Very elegant, restrained and charming with impeccable balance. Very good. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »
2008 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 170 cases, $49. Dijon clones 113, 115, 667. Aged 14 months in 45% new French oak barrels. · Lovely mix of dark red cherries and berries on the nose with toasty oak playing a supporting role. Soft in the mouth with moderately intense flavors offering welcoming charm. My only nit would be a touch of heat that peaks out. Good (+). Reviewed March 12, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., 120 cases. · A chameleon in the glass starting off with aromas of cherries, summer herbs including sage, and oak ramping up in fruit intensity with notes of good barnyard. Soft and delicate in the mouth but possessing a richly flavored core of cherry and berry fruit. A tame style of Fiddlestix with very supple tannins. This wine seduces more than it attacks. Very good. Reviewed April 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., 120 cases, $55. French immigrant Roger left a distinguished career in the restaurant industry to start RN Estate in 2005 in Paso Robles. He crafts a number of varieties including Pinot Noir from Fiddlestix Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills and Maridel Vineyard in Avila Valley. This wine is composed of Dijon clones 113, 115 and 667. It is aged 12 months in French oak. Nicolas has a gifted touch with Pinot Noir and I have been an admirer since the first release. The wines may be ordered online and are distributed to fine wine shops and restaurants in California. · Floral and confected dark red fruit aromas. Tasty sweet red plum and black cherry flavors matched to toasty oak. Beautifully composed with healthy tannins and admirable restraint. Drinkable now but will benefit from a year in the bottle. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 RN Estate Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 145 cases, $48. Whole cluster fermentation, aged 14 months in French oak. · The nose is reticent but coaxing reveals pleasant aromas of brambly cherry and strawberry with a sniff of alcohol. Restrained, tasty cherry and berry flavors with echoes of spice and oak. Lighter and elegantly styled with bright acidity. This wine should be a knockout with another year in bottle. Reviewed October 1, 2008 ARTICLE »