It's a pretty common belief that it is tough to find a good cheap Pinot Noir. It is a delicate thin skinned grape that is tough to grow and usually produces small yields, therefore more expensive to produce, and that usually equates to a higher price point for a quality bottle. The Russian River brings up thoughts of iconic wines like Rochioli, simply a fantastic region for growing Pinot. The 09 TJ Grand Reserve is about 4/5 Pinot Noir with the balance being a mix of Syrah and Zin. At first taste I got a nice hit of red fruit cherry, but also a nice bite of spice and pepper, probably from the Syrah. Oak and vanilla also started to show itself as well. I also got a bit of earthy fleshiness. The fruit certainly wasn't overpowering so the wine does not resemble some of the extremely fruit forward pinot noirs made today, which I also enjoy. This wine is a bit more of a Burgundian style bottle - mediuim bodied with restrained tannins. Have no idea how the Zin comes into play, because I'm not tasting any of it. A very well balanced and enjoyable wine, with plenty of complexity and a variety of flavors that will most likely have me picking up a few more bottles. VERDICT: Get it!!!
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