Laetitia Winery Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley Estate Block Q 2009

Soft and heavy and very ripe, with jammy blackberry, cherry, raspberry, plum and cola flavors. New oak adds sweet, smoky barrel notes. Almost Rhocirc;ne-like in weight, it should knit together and become more elegant in a year or two.

Herersquo;s a Pinot that delivers plenty of upfront cherry fruit to the palate, but maintains a dignified elegance and lightness of body. The fruit flavors are complexed by oak, while high acidity adds a clean minerality. Finishes with a real stamp of quality.

Elegant and complex, a perfect blending of dark fruit notes with lighter elements of violets and herbs. There are many layers here, as there should be in a Pinot Noir of this caliber. Lots of good things going on mdash; perfect balance, lush fruit and a long spicy finish mdash; all the marks of a well-made wine.

Tough and weedy, this is Laetitiarsquo;s least Pinot Noir, although it does show fine Central Coast firmness and dryness. Satisfies for its cherry and licorice flavors, enhanced with smoky sandalwood. Drink now.

"A blend of 10 different Pinot Noir clones on the Laetitia property

Tasting Notes - Dark mulberry tones and aromas of cranberry and spiced plum, this wine is rich and medium-bodied. Youthful flavors of pomegrante, sandalwood and red cherries are married beautifully with earthy cola and smoke.

Good deep red-ruby. Aromas of dark raspberry and dark chocolate. Sweet, creamy and easygoing, with smooth flavors of raspberry and smoke. Finishes with very soft tannins and hints of smoke and chocolatey oak.