2005 Rusack Pinot Noir Estate

Fruit-scented candle wax and petrol dominate the nose, but there is also some black olive, bacon, ripe plum and tar components. The acidity is still pretty strong in this wine, and on the palate some raspberry jam, blackberry, and rare beef come through, with some asian spice and maybe some green banana peel. Body is quite silky, but the finish doesn't maintain that same silkiness, although it is quite nice also. I get plum, kiwi, oak, and raisins on the finish, and it lasts maybe 20 seconds.

2005 Babcock Chardonnay 'Oasis', Loma Verde Vineyard

Color is a gorgeous golden yellow, crisp fresh water, light citrus, and honeysuckle on the nose - very pleasant. Bodyfeel is very silky all around, and on the palate some lychee, starfruit, and kiwi come through, but it is prominently showing buttered toast and oak (must be a good amount of new oak used). I'm not a huge fan of big oak in a chardonnay, and even though this one is well balanced, it still is too much for me. It's like a beautiful woman wearing perfume - you can smell her from across the room, then when you get close, you realize she dumped half the bottle on herself, and its too much to bear, and ruins the experience of what seemed like a lovely scent. Too much oak ruined this chardonnay from being a huge scorer for me, but the bodyfeel, integrated-ness of the flavors, and the nose earn high marks.

2005 Gainey Pinot Noir Limited Selection

Oaky nose of cherry cola and strawberries - definitely recognizable as a SRH pinot noir. On the palate, it has an unusually full body - not quite like a Sea Smoke, but more than a typical pinot this young - beautiful cola, root beer, dark cherry, plum, and a cherry pits (like cherry, only bitter), with a rather long finish. I'm impressed, as it exceeded my expectations.