2013 Benoni Pinot Noir Petit Grains Arroyo Grande Valley
Medium red, light-to-medium body, bright, juicy, minerally and seemingly unoaked. Gamay-ish so not what most people want from California pinot but I loved it.
2011 Owen Roe Pinot Noir Sojourner Eola - Amity Hills
Owen Roe's big/modern/sappy overtly New World style is usually not in my wheel house, but it comes off well in lean years like 2011. This one is all bright red fruit and spice--so much so that in a blind tasting in which I bought all the wines, I mistook it for a Russian River (California) entry.
2012 Emeritus Vineyards Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley
This would be the one I mistook the Owen Roe for. Beguiling nose of classic Russian River spice and fruit. Some oak, but it dials back with air time. Very very nice. And I'm probably unduly influenced by the elegant, minimalist label--a big E painted in gold on the bottle. Bought before the Speck ranked it in the 20's on their 2014 Top 100 list.
2009 Vogelzang Vineyards Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills
Shows a bit of oak and some bigness I don't associate with Fiddlestix fruit, but overall this pinot shows beautifully. Great balance, good concentration and complexity; best with an hour of decanting. I put it in the neighborhood tasting last Friday night and it handily won first place with 16 First place votes, including mine, from 47 tasters. Great buy from Last Bottle at $26 and currently avail for restock from K&L at $30. Current vintage at the winery is $50.
2013 Rôtie Cellars Southern White Columbia Valley
Loved this. Very pale straw color, stone fruit, vibrant acidity and good concentration--feels bigger and more elegant on the palate than it looks. A standout among WA whites.
2013 Le Roc des Anges Côtes du Roussillon Effet Papillon Grenache Blanc
Sweet, artificial floral nose with white stone fruit and dishwashing detergent on the palate. Finish a bit bitter and cloying, not uncommon for me with grenache blanc. Some may enjoy this wine, it wasn't flawed, but for us the flavors were too unusual and we couldn't finish a glass.
2009 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py
Last of the Griegsby bottles, and an outstanding one. Has evolved wonderfully, bright medium red fruit with light peppery and mineral notes that became more pronounced with each new pour. The first glass was good but the third was even better--I love it when that happens.