These were still the early years for Joe Swan. Andre Tchelistcheff was consulting and a young Joel Peterson was under Swan’s proverbial wing before he launched Ravenswood. It’s getting harder and harder find these gems so this was a real treat.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1975 pours, a dull ruby color with a translucent core and rust colored rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of bruised and desiccated strawberry, smoked meat, mushrooms, forest floor, and an intriguing mix of spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. At 55+, this is stunning and proof that California Pinot Noir does have the capacity to age gracefully when in the hands of a master. Drink now.
These were still the early years for Joe Swan. Andre Tchelistcheff was consulting and a young Joel Peterson was under Swan’s proverbial wing before he launched Ravenswood. It’s getting harder and harder find these gems so this was a real treat.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1975 pours, a dull ruby color with a translucent core and rust colored rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of bruised and desiccated strawberry, smoked meat, mushrooms, forest floor, and an intriguing mix of spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. At 55+, this is stunning and proof that California Pinot Noir does have the capacity to age gracefully when in the hands of a master. Drink now.
Jan 21st, 2026
Vibrant and fresh, cherry and licorice, mushrooms, lots of lift, surprising life in a wine of this age
Vibrant and fresh, cherry and licorice, mushrooms, lots of lift, surprising life in a wine of this age
Jan 7th, 2019
Sonoma County, California, USA
