What's good after day one at World of Pinot Noir? Almost everything. What's bad? You can't drink everything.
But if I have to report on some of the highlights, and that truly means some amazing things as so many of the wines are so good, well, here you go....
So many great people, from winemakers to media to industry to drinkers (we need them too, remember). People are just flat out nice when they're drinking good wine. So maybe we all need to do that more.
Balletto from Sonoma across the board, in particularly their 2011 Sexton Hill Vineyard, which came into even clearer focus after tasting the young but on its way 2014 from the same vineyard.
Hilliard Bruce 2009, which was singing, especially out of a magnum.
Lane Tanner pouring a 25 year old Sierra Madre pinot. That still had fruit. SB isn't supposed to age like that. (And her Lumen 2014 showed she's amazing still.)
Montemar pouring 5 different Pinots (vineyards and vintages), pleasing with all, and knocking it out of the park with a 2012 Zotovich, with enticing black pepper on its nose and finish.
Dolin also strong across the board, but especially nailing a 2012 Solomon Hills.
Kynsi's estate/Stone Corral, a wine that could put Edna Valley on the map all by itself.
The Qupe clan nailing Pinot (does that mean someday we get Jim Clendenen's syrah?), particularly with the ethereal 2012 Sawyer-Lindquist.
Alta Maria Vineyard shaking things up with a carbonic Pinot that's light and lovely.
Brewer-Clifton doing their usual amazing work, and is their Machado Santa Barbara's best Pinot?
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