David Bruce Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley 2005

Pinot Noir Shootout: Male: Strawberry, plum and toasty oak aromas that replicate on the palate, delivering more fruit on the finish than expected. A wine with a great future. Female: Fresh strawberry, light fresh foresty notes and a touch of spice of the nose. The palate is fresh cranberry with well integrated oak accents 1485 cases

Very light smell of prunes and brambles, with a touch of vanilla. Sour cherry, fennel and vanilla palate. Medium length finish.

Please note that I don't consider myself an expert ... The most evident thing about this wine when we had it was definitely the long finish and the tannins. I was (pleasantly) surprised with how strong it was. My novice taste buds could not really discern the different fruit tastes, but I did think it tasted good.

Hard to call anything perfect......but this is the best pinot noir that I have ever had. The experience is worth the price. The wine was so good....I do not remember the meal that accompanied it.

Quite possibly one of the most easily pleasing pinots in this price range, actually I'd rank this the top of its price range. Very full, well balanced large red, light and inoffensive on the woodiness and spiciness, all in all you find a pinot that does not try to overcompensate by attempting to heighten one particular flavor in aiming for a "distinctiveness" altogether too common with many common Californian pinots these days. Although David Bruce was always more traditionally known for their petite sirah but at the moment their pinot have become quite notable if not definitive altogether. One thing to be said about this is its impressive consistency.