Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Alfaro Family Vineyard 2009 and Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee des Terrasses 2007

Grabbed a bottle of the '09 Big Basin Alfaro along with an '07 Pesquie Terrasses to take to dinner recently.  Popped and poured at the restaurant. 

This was my first experience with the Big Basin Santa Cruz Pinot from winemaker Bradley Brown.  The 2009 Alfaro was a beauty right from the start... really an uneven playing field for the Terrasses to play on... The Alfaro is made with some whole clusters (not sure what he is using regarding specific clonal selections).  I am increasingly drawn to pinot from the Santa Cruz Mtn appellation.  This bottling shows excellent purity of fruit, overall balance and a gorgeous nose.  It is eminently drinkable now but easily has another 8 to 10 years prime time enjoyment.  It's really nice to find a new (for me) California pinot that is so appealing.

It's been a while since I have had a Pesquie Terrasses ... despite being a higher-end bottling (Grenache and Syrah blend) from Cotes de Ventoux, it just seemed a bit coarse and perhaps one-dimensional compared to the recent slate of great CdP we have enjoyed.