A beautiful Pinot Noir notable for sheer lusciousness, which is partly due to high alcohol. The flavors are remarkably rich and ripe in cherries, currants and cola, with savory hints of mint and cocoa. Displays a great balance of acids, tannins and oak. Great now and for a decade.——S.H.(5/1/2009)—— 93

Tasted in December, this Pinot was going through an awkward phase. It’s like the cherry and currant fruit, new oak, acids and tannins are groping for each other in a dark room. Need time to show its complexity, and should begin to resolve well into 2009.——S.H.(5/1/2009)—— 92

Showing quite a bit of tannins and acids, this is a very young wine, of a kind that isn’t seen all that much in Russian River Valley these days. Swan makes their Pinots the old-fashioned way, for aging. Dry and astringent, the wine has a deep core of cherry and blackberry fruit, almost like a Merlot, except for the silkiness. Stick this in your cellar until 2008, at least.——S.H.(8/1/2007)—— 90