2010 Etude Pinot Noir Carneros Estate

Bright medium cherry-red. Aromas of raspberry, cola and licorice, plus a whiff of stewed fruits and earth. Broad, fat and sweet on the palate, showing some superripeness but also good freshness to the flavors of raspberry, sassafras and earth. Nicely silky and welcoming but I'd like to have seen a bit more verve from this perennial restaurant-list favorite. (A second bottle, which I rated 87, showed a strong mocha, underbrush and woodsmoke character and less in the way of bright fruit.)