Wine Recommendation
  Sign In
Subscribe to our newsletter
Bookmark and Share  
print this review   PDF version of review     

Wine Recommendation

David Bruce Winery 2004 Pinot Noir  (Santa Cruz Mountains)

David Bruce Winery

2004 Pinot Noir
(Santa Cruz Mountains)



Much of the Boomer Plus generation identifies with David Bruce as one of the original houses of Pinot Noir in the Santa Cruz Mountains. That’s not surprising, as the young Dr. David established his eponymous vineyard and winery in 1964 to dedicate his life to producing the best Pinot in the land. Inspired by brilliant Burgundy examples from Domaine La Romanée Conti and La Tâche back in the 1950s, he sought tips and tricks from mentor Martin Ray to get off to a decent start. He’s had many vintages over the decades to work on this elusive, enlightening and often frustrating goal: and some of those vintages have been darned close to perfect. So many factors come into play in the Pinot game. And sometimes Mother Nature is a cruel umpire: even when you think you’ve got the perfect swing, she might call you OUT.

Here in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 2004 vintage, especially for Pinot, was a challenge for many. When you see an alcohol of 14.9%, you can well expect those babies came in north of 26-27° Brix (probably more like 28) and the cellar did not cheer their arrival. Still and all, this is a solid, appealing Pinot Noir that wears its alcohol well, owing mostly to its nice range of cherry and citrus flavours. Highlights are dark cherries, orange peel, nutmeg, ginger, cranberry, pomegranate and black pepper.

Reviewed June 19, 2008 by Laura Ness.




Other reviewed wines from David Bruce Winery

 

The Wine

Winery: David Bruce Winery
Vintage: 2004
Wine: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains
Grape: Pinot Noir
Price: 750ml $35.00

Review Date: 6/19/2008

The Reviewer

Laura Ness

A wine writer and wine judge for major publications and competitions around the country, Laura Ness likens wine to the experience of music. She is always looking for that ubiquitous marriage of rhythm, melody, and flawless execution. What is good music? You know it when you get lost in it. What is good wine? It is music in your mouth.