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2009 was an almost magical year in California. There was a short heat spike at the beginning of September that caused some winemakers to pull the trigger early, but our patience and willingness to wait paid off handsomely. After the heat wave, we had 6 weeks of the most perfect weather imaginable. We saw flavors develop with virtually no sugar movement. Seriously epic stuff.

For a while, it looked like the 2009 Oregon vintage might never happen, given how cold it was in spring and summer. But Mother Nature came through and brought the heat in September and October - while leaving the rain faucet turned off. Almost the polar opposite of the pattern in California, but virtually the same result. Definitely some of the best fruit we've ever gotten from Shea Vineyard.

The wines in barrel aren't quite as big as the 2008s, but they have an amazingly bright, focused, and precise feel to them. Super rich without being too heavy. Great texture and mouth feel. Dare I say the "iron fist in the velvet glove" ideal that I think all Pinot Producers secretly hope for. Super seductive and "brainy" at the same time :) These wines will be great right out of the gate, but will have the potential to age well for at least 6-8 years, and maybe more! Hide this content.

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This wine is all about the interplay of big tropical fruit and buttery, toasty oak. But there's enough acidity to keep everything in check. Just damn tasty.

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This is Gary Franscioni's new vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands. It's located south of Garys' vineyard and is waaaaayyyy up on the hillside. It must be one of the highest elevation vineyards in SLH. The wine is really rich and shows great fruit with a touch of butter and toasty oak, but it's the minerality that stands out in the wine.

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Dark and spicy, with density to the blueberry and plum flavors, remaining light on its feet as it dances through the increasingly clove- and mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2013. 500 cases made. - H.S. 91 Points

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Fairly rich and dense, offering deeply perfumed and concentrated dark berry flavors that are tightly wound and framed by notes of mineral and fresh-turned earth. Well-structured tannins. Flavors build and gain depth on the long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2020. 150 cases made. - J.L. 93 Points

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Firm, intense and concentrated, displaying loamy earth and fresh, racy raspberry flavors as well as wild berry, plum and violet notes. Full-bodied, focused and persistent, this is very appealing now and in the immediate future. Drink now through 2018. 400 cases made. - J.L. 92 Points

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Fresh and vibrant, offering snappy wild berry, cherry, plum and floral-lavender scents that are rich, complex, elegant and full-bodied. This fleshy and supple Pinot is most impressive on the finish, where the flavors retain their refreshing juiciness. Drink now through 2019. 200 cases made. - J.L. 94 Points

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Ripe and fleshy, with a gorgeous and generous array of wild berry, raspberry, plum and spice flavors that are full-bodied, and at points both firm and delicate. The finish unfolds to reveal touches of mineral and spice. Drink now through 2020. 500 cases made. - J.L. 94 Points

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Serves up a rich, layered array of spicy wild berry, black cherry, wilted rose and raspberry flavors that are fresh and vibrant. Full-bodied, gaining depth and richness on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 450 cases made. - J.L.
93 Points

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Full-bodied, dense and concentrated, featuring a rich, pure mix of dark berry fruit built around blackberry and wild berry jam, cherry and plum flavors. This is a jam-packed, extracted Pinot, but also one of measurable finesse. Drink now through 2020. 250 cases made. - J.L. 94 Points

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A bold, ripe, vivid and jammy style that teeters on racy (if not balsamic), this nonetheless delivers a zesty mix of wild berry flavors that are rich and extracted, with a long, complex finish. Drink now through 2017. 500 cases made. - J.L. 90 Points

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Firmly tannic, well-structured and deeply concentrated, with a complex mix of dark berry, spice, plum and blackberry. Full-bodied and well-balanced, this is one of the most backward and promising of the young new Lorings. Best from 2011 through 2020. 1000 cases made. - J.L. 93 Points

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Supple, elegant and generous, with fleshy plum, black cherry and blueberry fruit that is delicate and full-bodied. Retains its graceful balance, firming on the persistent finish. Drink now through 2017. 175 cases made. - J.L. 92 Points

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Firm and spicy, taut with lively acidity and tannins. The core flavors of berry, black cherry and spice, while tannic, are pure and focused, expansive and layered on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 125 cases made. - J.L. 91 Points

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Weaving together a complex array of earthy berry, spice and floral scents, this is full-bodied and deceptively firm and muscular. The core of ripe plum and blackberry flavors builds, sustaining depth and momentum. Drink now through 2018. 600 cases made. - J.L. 93 Points

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Displays a wonderful purity of flavors built around ripe plum, wild berry, blackberry, raspberry and spice, as well as floral and wilted rose hints. This is full-bodied, plush and jammy on the long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2016. 600 cases made. - J.L. 93 Points

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Firm, dense and chewy, with muscular tannins wrapped around a core of mineral, dark berry, spice and sage flavors. The most tannic and gripping of the Loring appellation wines. Drink now through 2017. 600 cases made. - J.L. 88 Points

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