The SOMM Journal

February / March 2017

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{ SOMMjournal.com } 39 PHOTO: OLIVERA MARKOVIC SEA SMOKE 2007 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Tealeaf and fresh plum skin, tighter and slightly more alcohol expression. Dusty barrel tannins and a big grippy attack. Anthony Dias Blue: Exuberant with great structure. Big, juicy and generous. Lush and ripe cherry and raspberry. Youthful! Paul Coker: Bold nose of bursting ripe strawberries. The palate shows aggressive tannins and the fruit gets darker, more concentrated. Finish is still driven by tannins. This wine will benefit from more time to integrate. Karen Moneymaker: Cherry tart and dried rose petals. Big, ripe and warm with teeth gripping fruit tannin. Drink: 2022–2030 Group rating: 94 SEA SMOKE 2008 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Floral and elegant with blue and black fruits. Rounder attack, slightly tight with soft tannins picking up in the mid palate. Ends with a bit of dry fruit. Anthony Dias Blue: Savory and generous, with intense and concentrated red fruit. Elegant, racy and long. Paul Coker: Candied cherry and balsamic reduction on nose. Bing and Morello cher- ries for days on the palate and finish. Firm tannins and bright acidity that freshen the cherries on the palate. Karen Moneymaker: Bursting with floral notes (violet, lilac and acacia), with dense, just-ripe purple fruit (plum, blackberry, blueberry). Cedar and tobacco on the mid palate and finish. Drink: 2020–2025 Group rating: 94 SEA SMOKE 2009 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Earthy, with less fruit present. Slight toast from the oak. Complete structure and very solid. Tannins are firm but not prickly. Anthony Dias Blue: Graceful and bright, with hints of earth. Savory, racy and silky with oak toast on the finish. Paul Coker: Tart and sour black and red cherries with a minty mid palate. Finishes with candied rhubarb that fleshes out the fruit. Karen Moneymaker: Pink flowers and Bing cherry on the nose. Strawberries and toasted oak round out the palate, with a bright lively acidity the draws out the finish. Drink: 2019-2025 Group rating: 93 SEA SMOKE 2009 TEN PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Darker fruit than the Southing; good complexity with some spice cabinet mixed in. Slightly more viscous on attack with the structure picking up in the middle. Good length, with more tannin grip than the Southing. Anthony Dias Blue: Full and lush with round, dark fruit. Tannins are mature, with a fleshy and structured finish. Paul Coker: Big and juicy on the nose and palate. Really focused fruit (dark cranberry, cherry and strawberry juice). Karen Moneymaker: Reserved on the nose, not too giving on the fruit. Creamy and elegant on the palate, with darker fruits rounding out the finish. Drink: Now–2028 Group rating: 94 SEA SMOKE 2010 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Pretty red aromas, juicy, with a lot going on. Complex opening into florals with a touch of anise. Very round and juicy with some raspberry reduction, currant and late arrival of oak (but not aggressive). Anthony Dias Blue: Full, lush and juicy, with a balanced, long and generous finish. Lively and fresh. Ready to drink. Paul Coker: Black tealeaf and blackberries match up with the cherries on the nose. Saturated palate that coats the mouth and carries a long finish. Karen Moneymaker: Brambly, black cherry and very well integrated dark fruit. This wine is powerful, fleshed out and muscular. Drink: Now–2030 Group rating: 95 SEA SMOKE 2010 TEN PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Fruit darkens up a bit, still dusty oak, but integrated well. Not as floral as Southing but earthier complexity. Slightly less viscosity on the attack but the "fat" carries well into the mid and finish. Anthony Dias Blue: Intense black cherries wrapped in vanilla. Smooth and savory, with a powerfully lush finish. Concentrated, tangy, with just a hint of mint. Paul Coker: Green mint (spearmint) on the nose. Grape tannins get you up front and then fade into spiciness and cola tones. Karen Moneymaker: Peppery and plush (rounder than the Southing), with ripe red fruit and a touch of smoke and toast. Zippy and bright, with notes of Earl Grey tea, sage and lavender. Drink: Now –2035 Group rating: 96 SEA SMOKE 2011 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: A little shy, showing more earth tones, some rose petals, tea leaf and a small hit of white pepper. Soft tannins, great length, less broad than past vintages. Delicate and elegant but needs time to bloom in the glass. Anthony Dias Blue: Tea leaf and lush fruit on the palate, with a deep and generous profile of juicy red fruit and meaty notes on the finish. Paul Coker: Sour cherry and pomegranate on the nose. Floral and earthy on the palate, with a finish of refreshing cranberry and pomegranate. Karen Moneymaker: Raspberry leaf, flint, ripe strawberry and hibiscus. Creamy, with a nice acid/tannin/fruit balance. Lip-smacking. Drink: 2020–2035 Group rating: 93 SEA SMOKE 2012 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Very slight reduction that blew off quickly. Balance of dusty red fruit and earth notes. Solid attack with some viscosity and a touch of pepper and spice. Anthony Dias Blue: Luscious and smooth with deep, ripe, rich fruit. Finishes with spice, chocolate and ripe cherry. Paul Coker: Ripe raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry, rounded out by aromas of deep rose. A touch of chocolate and berry confection on the finish. Karen Moneymaker: Cocoa powder, dusty red fruit (cranberry, rhubarb and pomegran- ate). Dense, tart and chewy. Drink: 2020–2035 Group rating: 95 SEA SMOKE 2013 SOUTHING PINOT NOIR Don Schroeder: Very tight and shy; needs time to open up. Great juicy attack; soft but full tannins; good length with a touch of dusty oak on the finish. Anthony Dias Blue: Warm and racy but not even close to being ready! Juicy and very youthful. Paul Coker: Big savory nose, with notes of blackberry cola, black cherry and sage. Massive on the palate, finishing with cherry sweet tannins. Karen Moneymaker: Purple flowers, lingonberry, blueberry and plum skin. Heady, tight and young. Drink: 2023–2038 Group rating: 95

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