1999 Marcassin Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard

Medium red. Superripe, rather advanced aromas of raspberry, chocolate, mocha, smoked meat and underbrush. At once thick and penetrating, with complex flavors of raspberry, strawberry, minerals, smoke and spices framed by bright acids. Finishes dense, powerful and long. This held up reasonably well in the glass, but it's far more evolved than a 1999 pinot noir should be today.

The 1999 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge is composed of pure black fruits mixed with floral overtones. It is dense, opulent, and nearly viscous with extraordinary purity and concentration. It comes across as a New World version of perhaps Domaine de la Romanee-Conti's La Tache or Richebourg, or a Claude Dugat or Dugat-Py grand cru. It is an awesome effort that falls just short of perfection. (Release date 1/03) Tel. (707) 258-3608; Fax (707) 942-5633

The 1999 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge is composed of pure black fruits mixed with floral overtones. It is dense, opulent, and nearly viscous with extraordinary purity and concentration. It comes across as a New World version of perhaps Domaine de la Romanee-Conti's La Tache or Richebourg, or a Claude Dugat or Dugat-Py grand cru. It is an awesome effort that falls just short of perfection. Aug 2002, www.robertparker.com