Laura Volkman Vineyards St. James Pinot noir 09

This is the richest and plushest of Laura's last three vintages of St. James. She took advantage of the riper 2009 vintage to make a balanced wine with big, upfront juiciness and smooth tannins. The St. James has her trademark aroma of incense, roses, and spice. It's a bigger style than her usual Pinot -- almost California big -- and with plenty of acid to lift and round out the succulent blackberry, raspberry and cherry fruit flavors. - Jean

200 cases made.

Laura's St. James Pinot noir is a blend of grapes from the Rachel and Jacob blocks of her estate vineyard. It's a bargain, and a chance to try her "drink now" Pinot while saving the other two for cellaring and special occasions.

From the winery - A blend of both the Jacob and Rachel blocks of the vineyard, this full bodied cuvee shows the intense fruit aromas and flavors integrating nicely from both blocks. Production: 320 cases Alc. 13.7%

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

Put the glass to your nose and experience a complex, perfumed scent of roses, blue and black berries, and sweet spices. This fine example of the 2008 vintage is concentrated and round, with a sense of expansion on the palate. Gushing with flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, briar, herbs, and roses, it finishes with lots of fruit and a refreshing lilt that counters and balances the big, rich flavors. An amazing wine for the price. - Jean

2008 Wine Advocate - 90 points - The 2008 Pinot Noir St. James Estate, as noted above, was made from fruit that did not make the cut for the upper tier wines and was aged in neutral oak. The result is a superb value for consumers because there is little or no drop-off in quality. Medium ruby red, it gives up an aromatic array of Asian spices, incense, cherry blossom, and raspberry. Medium-bodied, elegant, and sweetly-fruited, it is a relatively forward offering that can be enjoyed now and over the next 6 years. - Jay Miller

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

Laura Volkman Vineyards Pinot noir St James 07 is a blend of barrels from the Volkman Estate Vineyard. Originally priced at $30, Laura reduced the price to get the word out about her wines.

Scents of raspberry and a hint of sweet fruit toast. Flavors of sweet red cherry and raspberry, fresh, sweet, balanced. Finish has a nice hint of anise spice, more red fruit, and balanced acidity. Price/value ratio is high - a lot of Pinot for the price.