Saintsbury Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, 2006

 Cerise, of course, is the French word for cherry. So you would expect a wine from the Cerise Vineyard to smell and taste of cherries. And this wine certainly does.

Medium light Pinot color. Bright and saturated. Gorgeous nose of red cherries and pie spice. Like a cherry pie right out of Grandma's oven. In the mouth, more cherries, ripe and lovely but also pleasantly tart. Now cranberries and a hint of spice. As an Anderson Valley Pinot, though, it's the purity of the fruit that is most noticeable and impressive. Coats the tongue with ripe flavors from front to back. Cerise is obviously a very special vineyard in a very special appellation.