Nuggucciet Cellars is owned and operated by my fellow wine writer and pal – note the full up-front disclosure – Russ Briley.   But I guess I have to call Russ a winemaker now too…

(This is something my readers need not ever fear from me as winemaking requires hard work, education, dirt under the nails and wine bloggers reviewing your every, single, move.)

On this fateful night I had just opened a Napa Cab, unsolicited and sent to me to review, that I tasted, noted, recorked to save to make a wine reduction sauce out of as it was that bad. So, even though the last wine threatened to ruin my wine-tasting-mood, I turned to Russ’s first vintage and…read on dear wine friends to see what happened:

Nuggucciet Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir

Santa Maria Valley

14.6 percent alcohol

Color – Pale ruby, slight amber edge, clear, good condition.

Aroma – A welcome surprise to the senses! Bright cherry, vegetal, stemmy, barnyard, clean wet asphalt, with the palest notes of mushroom.

Taste – Bright raspberry fruit, spice, a refreshing light body and pleasant mouthfeel.

Finish – Short, a count of three to be exact.

After five minutes in my glass – Spices still carrying through, fruit throughout as well, and the palate feels it all in a very nice balance.

Conclusion – I would have it again! Next time I’d like it with food, maybe roast beef or roast chicken…

Disclosure – You think my pal Russ would have charged me? Think again, I asked for the bottle and he handed it over.

Russ’s comments – Thanks Eve, your kind words means a lot! I guess I would say that we got great fruit to work with and we tried not screw that up! We wanted to let the fruit express itself and bring out that classic Santa Maria Pinot style. We still need to get together and talk! Thanks again for the review!  Russ

Find Nuggucciet wine – e-mail Russ at nuggucciet@aol.com.