Belle Glos - Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004

This pretty bottle of Santa Barbara County wine from a Rutherford winery is easily found at many stores including Safeway or (I assume) Vons Markets in Southern California. At just under $40 it isn't cheap. But most fine Pinot Noir is not. It is difficult to grow, and from my experience with all sorts of Pinot, requires careful vine management to get the strong flavors and smell associated with good wine.

Cheaper wines are usually lacking in good fruity smells (the "nose") and vivid flavors. The pricier wines can have both in spades.

The Belle Glos has both. It has a wonderful potent nose, good color, and that unique Pinot characteristic fruitiness that can be illusive.

I only have two complaints. The plastic dip used on the top of the bottle is pretty to look at. And it has a unique pull string to peel it away. However, the plastic appears to be from the same substance fighter jet windshields are made of, and the mess it can make exploding around the room will keep you entertained finding the little red bits everywhere. I would suggest opening outside. And if you are over 60, have arthritis, or are a weakling, get someone else to open it for you. I think this would have been better served by a Zork!

The winemaker is Chuck Wagner and according to wine.com produced Pinot Noir for Caymus prior to 1990. He took over the vineyard in 2000, (planted in 1972) and introduced Belle Glos in 2001. The wine I have is a 2004 and the current production appears to be the 2005, available at wine.com for $39.95.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable wine. Similar in taste and body as the best from the region. Enjoy.

Thanks to my wine buddy/stock broker, Jeff Pierce at A.G. Edwards in Southern California (phone number on request) for this one!! :)

[Don't bother with the Belle Glos web site link. These people have obviously got other things on their minds. The web site is a one page reference. You can find more info about it elsewhere.]