If Toyota can charge more for a Lexus that’s mostly still a Camry, Castle Rock can charge more for a Russian River Valley pinot.

And if you thought the features on a Lexus were good, check out the leather package on this wine! You’ll get cola, black cherry, a hint of cinnamon and oak that linger for minutes after you swallow it down.

But, buyer beware: There is a break-in period. When first opened this red did not perform like the model speeding around corners in the ads. To be honest, I was ready to return it, citing a lemon law or that new 24-hour “I-changed-my-mind-and/or-my-spouse-won’t-let-me-keep-it” law that pertains to new car purchases (and could maybe be extended to new wine purchases). Thankfully, it quickly opened up and proved itself about as far from a lemon as Country Time lemonade. (Come on… I don’t know what that is, but it’s not lemon!).

And at $15, my wife let me keep it, so long as I promised to buy more and only drink it when she was home.

Cheers,
TSW

It wasn’t long ago that I was raving about Castle Rock’s line of pinots from all over California, and somewhat lamenting the lack of a bottling from the Russian River Valley. It had been my favorite from them in previous years, and at $10 a bottle, one of the best values in pinot noir, period.

Now I know where that bottling has gone, and it’s great to have it back!

I don’t really know if the new “reserve” designation means this is any different than its predecessors and, more to the point, I don’t care. The price is still lower than most other pinots anywhere near this in quality, so who cares if they ask a little more for it.