PINOT NOIR WINE REVIEWS
2006 Bella Luna Pinot Noir
2006 Leepin Pinot Noir
2006 Priscilla Pinot Noir
2005 Bella Luna Pinot Noir
2004 Bella Luna Pinot Noir
2004 Russian River Valley Blend Pinot Noir
REVIEWS: 2006 BELLA LUNA PINOT NOIR
Score: 91
While attractive and fairly well-focused, this wine is a little low-keyed in the nose, but it ups the ante in terms of richness and depth once in the mouth. It is never a big wine, but it is well-balanced one and its racy flavors are charged with loads of pretty young fruit that seem to build and gain in substance. Exceptionally long, neatly polished and a sheer joy to drink, it will be hard to resist in the near term even if capable of growing for a few years.
Connoisseur's Guide to Wine 10/08
Score: 87
Medium-bodied yet offering lots of cherry, raspberry and wild berry flavors that are pure and persistent
James Laube, Wine Spectator Magazine
REVIEWS: 2006 LEEPIN PINOT NOIR
Score: 87
Rich, root-beer-like spice in the nose immediate separates this one from its siblings, and, unlike its mates, it draws up just a bit short at the finish. Fairly firm and showing acidy angles and edges just now, it has enough well-defined fruit at its heart to invite a few years of comfortable keeping.
Connoisseur's Guide to Wine 10/08
Score: 87
Offers a touch of racy sour cherry and wild berry. Zesty, vibrant and medium-bodied, this ends with a citrusy edge that's mouthwatering.
James Laube, Wine Spectator Magazine
REVIEWS: 2006 PRISCILLA PINOT NOIR
Score: 91
Very much cut from the same cloth as its finesseful partner from the Bella Luna Vineyard, this sleek, well-ripened Pinot starts out on the slightly delicate side and builds as its crosses the palate. Highlighted with hints of sweet cream and fresh toast and tenaciously fruity in character, it finishes on a bright, mildly acidy, tart-cherry note that bids one to wait for a couple of years.
Connoisseur's Guide to Wine 10/08
Score: 86
Offers modest richness and complexity, with spice, floral, wild berry and black cherry flavors that are pure and lively.
James Laube, Wine Spectator Magazine
REVIEWS: 2005 BELLA LUNA PINOT NOIR
Score: 93
Medium ruby color; subtle red cherry and spicy aromas; rich and ripe red cherry flavors with subtle spice and earthy notes; silky texture; good structure and balance; long finish.
Gregory S. Walter, Wine Reviewer/Author, The Pinot Report
Score: 91
Better than the '04 due to its greater structure, Bella Luna's '05 Pinot has complex acids and tannins. They provide the architecture for the extremely ripe cherry, raspberry and cola flavors that have been liberally aged in new oak. Best now in its flashy, seductive youth.
Steve Heimoff, Wine Reviewer, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Score: 87
Ripe and rich, with cherry-rhubarb pie flavors that fan out nicely on the finish. Ends with a spicy berry and anise note. Drink now through 2011.
James Laube, Wine Spectator
Score: 89
Straight forward and nicely focused scents of cherries, toast and cocoa with hints of a reedy, tight edge are the opening act of this well-played effort, and it follows through nicely on the palate with mid-volume flavors wrapped by velvet and a touch of finishing firmness. As with many wines from this cool vintage, it will grow with age.
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
I keep coming back to your Pinot and each time I do it is better than I remembered. When we make a dinner for our guests to remember, I
always serve Churchill Cellars and your wine always makes the evening.
Richard Finley, Partner 34 North Street Wine Merchants, Healdsburg
Right in step with the luscious 2004 edition. Terrific aromatics featuring candied cherry, spice, and newly-sawn wood. Easily approachable with layers of sweet red Pinot fruit, leather, mocha, oak and herbs. Fine and creamy in texture with integrated tannins and impeccable balance. The future looks bright for this young vineyard.
Rusty Gaffney, M.D. Wine Reviewer/Author PinotFile Newsletter, Tustin
REVIEWS: 2004 BELLA LUNA PINOT NOIR
Here's a riper style of Pinot. It's rich in gooey pastry-filling cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and vanilla flavors and there's not much acidity, but there sure is a lot of smoky new oak.
Steve Heimoff, Wine Reviewer, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
"The aromatics in this wine are to die for: ripe cherries, vanilla and Xmas spice. Tasted over a few hours, the wine kept pumping out these terrific aromas and I was thoroughly content just to sniff. I am convinced that this type of perfume is distinctive and typical of great Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. The wine is full-bodied and rich with red and black fruits and tea flavors. The mouth feel is luxurious. The vineyard is a star in the making."
Rusty Gaffney, MD, Wine Reviewer/Author of Pinot File Newsletter, N.Tustin, CA
"This wine is just dreamy!"
Donna Martin, Manager, Sports on the Green, Windsor, CA
"We think its the best Pinot we've ever had. I love the taste of berries in it! We have found that it goes well with most any food pairing. We especially love it with desserts!"
Debi & Gary Pope, Real Estate Developer, Santa Rosa, CA
"I was greeted by a saturated dense ruby/purple-tinged color. On the palate it exploded with layered flavors of black raspberry. currants, blueberry, cherry liqueur, and some of that forest floor earthiness I love from this appellation,touches of cinnamon, coriander and nutmeg. All of that was followed up by wonderful aromas of brown sugar, cola, and I swear I smelled sarsaparilla as well. Kudos to Tony Austin and the Churchill's for a very special bottle of Pinot Noir from the famed Russian River Valley .
This wine is intense, full bodied and rich with a wicked long finish. Put this bottle away for 2 to 5 years and enjoy over the next decade."
Perry Rankin, Proprietor, Thirty Four North Wine Merchant, Healdsburg CA
"WOW. What a wine! The aroma skyrockets out of the glass. And what an aroma. This raises the standard for classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Great fruit and spice on the palate carries through to the finish. Bella Luna could be the future Romanie-Conti of Sonoma County."
Rick Theis, Founder - Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy
and former Wine Writer for the Minneapolis Star, Graton CA
REVIEWS: 2004 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY BLEND
PINOT NOIR
SCORE: 92
Deep, ripe and outgoing with lots of sweet oak and dried grape nuances supporting its early themes of concentrated red cherry fruit, this wine is full but not heavy on the palate and surprises a bit with its substantial fruitiness. Its finish runs away from typical Pinot polish and will require several years of cellaring to smooth out, but, make no mistake, this is a supple, very tasty wine and will stay that way for years.
Charles Olken, Connoisseurs' Guide to Wine
SCORE: 88
Appealing for its juicy, vibrant black cherry and raspberry fruit that's firm and intense. Gains depth and richness on the palate.
James Laube, Wine Reviewer, Wine Spectator Magazine
It's all about flavor in this tremendously fruity Pinot. Huge flavors of cherry cola, raspberry, pomegranate, licorice and rhubarb pie with a buttery, baked crust flood on the mouth.
Steve Heimoff, Wine Reviewer, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
This wine simply exudes the character of the region with a style all its own. On the nose: Meaty, trace of vanilla, mushroom, nutmeg, chocolate and blueberry. On the palate: Sweet tannins from ripe fruit with flavors of dark plum, blackberries, and ripe cherries. A serious value in the all important category of quality vs. price.
Perry Rankin, Proprietor, Thirty Four North Wine Merchant, Healdsburg CA