Pigs fly

I would never have guessed:

2007 Castle Rock, Pinot Noir Mendocino County:
13.8% alcohol and about $12. A young, well-made, balanced pinot noir that is not only varietally correct but also of its place; it has that crackling black fruit scent and flavor I associate with the Anderson Valley and Mendocino; very light touches of milk chocolate and spice; this is clean, ripe, graceful, distinctive and will likely last several years in the cellar. In weight and texture this reminds a little of a village Chambolle from a good producer.

2006 Moon Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County:
13.9% alcohol and about $19. A young, very pure Bordeaux blend that smells and tastes like it has never seen oak. However, it has 18 months in barrel, 20% French, 80% American and 30% new – which proves to me that a good winemaker knows how to use barrels without over-using them. It’s intense, concentrated, varietally correct, has some complexity, good depth and substantial grip. I think its structure requires five years or so in the cellar to resolve but I am semi-shocked to find this exceptional a cabernet from CA.

Best, Jim

What a fantastic title for a post. I felt like I knew what the post was going to be about before I even read it--and it pretty much held true. Nice!

Thanks for notes. The Moon Mtn sounds like something to look for. I haven't tried the Castle Rock PN in a few vintages. I used to think it a very good value when it first appeared in my market (maybe 2001 or 2002 vintages?). Then they started bottling about 5 different appellations, and I had very varied luck with them. Haven't tried in a while, but will look for '07 Mendocino

Thanks for notes. The Moon Mtn sounds like something to look for. I haven't tried the Castle Rock PN in a few vintages. I used to think it a very good value when it first appeared in my market (maybe 2001 or 2002 vintages?). Then they started bottling about 5 different appellations, and I had very varied luck with them. Haven't tried in a while, but will look for '07 Mendocino

The website reveals that the Mendocino is 20% syrah. Still, it tastes like pinot so who cares.
Best, Jim

Fun thread. I have a Castle Rock P Sirah lined up for the Open Mike currently running on main forum here. Will look for the other wine mentioned.

Pretty hard to disagree with the proposition that most of the Castle Rock bottlings, regarless of varietal, provide pretty awesome value. I have thought their Chard quite good. And at least in terms of the technological possibility, no reason pigs couldn't fly. Like humans.

If all one wants to do is to have wine as a beverage, then Castle Rock would be a great choice a good percentage of the time.

The website reveals that the Mendocino is 20% syrah. Still, it tastes like pinot so who cares.
Best, Jim

Par for the course for $12 Pinot Noir, I would say. Although with the Pinot Noir boom, there are now people planting it in the Central Valley again. You can only hope those will be least 20% Syrah. >:^)

Thanks for notes. The Moon Mtn sounds like something to look for. I haven't tried the Castle Rock PN in a few vintages. I used to think it a very good value when it first appeared in my market (maybe 2001 or 2002 vintages?). Then they started bottling about 5 different appellations, and I had very varied luck with them. Haven't tried in a while, but will look for '07 Mendocino

The website reveals that the Mendocino is 20% syrah. Still, it tastes like pinot so who cares.
Best, Jim

Not too uncommon nowadays. Syrah is cheaper than PN, and it adds a valuable componet to those who don't understand PN: deeper color.

An awful lot of people won't pick PN, or consider it to be worthwhile, simply because it doesn't have as much color saturation---it's light and it's red, not dark and purple. And as the Burgundians have had occasion to know, adding Syrah to PN can work out quite well.

I've thought Castle Rock to be a good inexpensive Pinot. Haven't tried it for a while but will look for the Mendocino one.

Nice notes and a QPR winner to boot. This only issue for me is if I can get these wines locally, DC or MD, with MD preferred so I don't have to schlep them home on the subway.

Nice notes and a QPR winner to boot. This only issue for me is if I can get these wines locally, DC or MD, with MD preferred so I don't have to schlep them home on the subway.

One of the mysteries of distribution in this country is how few of the genuine values from California (in particular those made by small-medium sized producers) make it to the East Coast. My Dad in NYC is always asking me what he should look out for in the $10-12 range, I'll rattle off a dozen names, and he rarely can find any of them.

Jon,
Have you looked for Castle Rock in the grocery stores?

Jon, Have you looked for Castle Rock in the grocery stores?

JC - The grocery stores in my neck of the woods do not carry wine, or beer for that metter. As a metter of facxt, one town I drive through on my daily commute (Damascus, MD) is completely dry.

One of the mysteries of distribution in this country is how few of the genuine values from California (in particular those made by small-medium sized producers) make it to the East Coast.

This is too true, CM, too true. There's also some wine that I can get that my brother, who lives in San Francisco, cannot! Go figure.

Picked up a half box of the Moon Mountain and popped one this afternoon and your notes are right on Jim. Very nice cab that I'm gonna purchase more of and lay some down. Lot's of drying, fine grained tannins now that I think will subside with a few years. Very nice cab for the $.

Drew