2008 Peay Vineyards Estate Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

Tanzer, 92 points
Vivid red. Pungent raspberry, licorice and wilted rose on the nose, plus a zesty note of white pepper. Sweet, smooth and nicely focused, with tangy red berry, cherry and tarragon flavors complemented by a hint of cola. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and lingering spiciness. This lively wine is drinking well right now.
Source: International Wine Cellar

International Wine Review, 90+ points
The Estate Pinot Noir offers a medium ruby hue and aromas of high toned cherry and raspberry fruit that are mirrored on the palate along with white pepper and toasted oak. It has a silky smooth texture with moderate fruit intensity, medium plus acidity, good balance, and a lingering finish. Destemmed and fermented whole berry in small open top fermenters and aged in French barriques 23% new for 11 months.

2008 Peay Vineyards Scallop Shelf Estate Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

Tanzer, 93+ points
Deep red. Expansive bouquet of red and dark berry liqueur, Asian spices, dried violet and minerals. Lush, seductively sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors stain the palate, picking up peppery spice and smoky mineral qualities with aeration. The gripping finish strongly echoes the cherry note and clings tenaciously. Shows surprising vivacity and clarity for its power; this is really promising.
Source: International Wine Cellar

2008 Peay Vineyards Pomarium Estate Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

Tanzer, 93 points
Saturated red. Redcurrant, cherry-cola, cocoa, potpourri and star anise on the nose. Velvety, layered and intense, with a seamless texture to the sweet red berry and exotic floral flavors. The fruit becomes spicier on the sharply focused, impressively long finish. Very sexy, and balanced to age.
Source: International Wine Cellar

International Wine Review, 92 points
This Pinot Noir exhibits a lovely dark ruby hue with rich cherry fruit aromas and nuances of loam. On the palate it displays beautifully delineated cherry and raspberry fruit flavors with toasty oak and spice. Long lasting on the palate with firm round tannins, this is undoubtedly the finest Pinot Noir produced by this estate in 2008.  

2007 Peay Vineyards Estate Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

Tanzer, 93 points
Vivid red. Sexy, intensely perfumed aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, cinnamon, mace and minerals. Impressively energetic and pure, offering spicy red berry flavors and a suave floral quality. The finish repeats the red fruit and spice notes and lingers seductively.
Source: International Wine Cellar

Vinography, score around 9.5
Medium garnet in the glass this wine has a gorgeous aromas of cranberry, wet earth and violets. In the mouth it is above all, juicy, with incredibly lush, soft textures that envelop cherry, plummy flavors that deepen and resonate the longer the wine stays on the palate. Great acidity and poise last through an incredibly long finish. A bit less structured than the single vineyard Pinot Noirs, this third addition to the Pinot lineup is bound to find lots of fans.

2007 Peay Vineyards Scallop Shelf Estate Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

Wine & Spirits, 95 points
Scallop Shelf takes its name from the fossils found in the soil at this old fruit orchard, a vineyard site four miles from the Pacific. It's a blend of six clones, emphasizing the spicy red fruit character of the Pommard clone, which, when it hits on the far Sonoma Coast, makes some of the region's most distinctive pinot noirs. The wine is transparent in color and in its strawberry-like fruit, bright and intense against the smoky conifer minerality of the soil. There's a weave of energy to it, tart and brash as a young wine, growing more focused and refined with air. Cellar this for five years, then serve with grilled arctic char and hen of the woods mushrooms.

Tanzer, 94 points
Vivid red. Ripe black raspberry and cherry aromas are brightened by sexy mineral and floral qualities. Energetic, juicy red and dark berry flavors are impressively pure and framed by silky tannins. Gains weight with air and finishes with excellent clarity and sweet persistence. I really like this wine's marriage of richness and vivacity.
Source: International Wine Cellar

2007 Peay Vineyards Pomarium Estate Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

Wine & Spirits, 90 points
This selection is named for the apple and pear orchard where the Peays planted their far-coast vineyard. It's blended predominantly from Dijon clones, which give dark berry flavors along with a pinesap character at this particular site. It's black, supple and rich, more overtly powerful than Peay's 2007 Scallop Shelf Pinot Noir. The tannin and acidity need some time to meld. For the cellar.