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Drink it now or cellar for up to 5 years. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Grayson Cellars has been run by the O'Connell family for 15 years. Their wines are a splendid representation of what the Californian market has to offer. Block Nine is an extension of Grayson Cellars born to create wines at an affordable market price. This wine was indeed created to respond to a market need for affordable and carefully made Pinot Noirs from relatively small productions. The flying winemaker in charge of the production is Larry Levin with a degree in enology from UC Davis. After spending seventeen years at Dry Creek Vineyard he began working in various countries around the world, including New Zealand, Chile, and Australia, and produced wines for prestigious brands such as Franciscan, and Mt Veeder Robert Mondavi Estancia, Ravenswood, and Quintessa. In the glass, the wine shows a beautiful garnet color. The aromas are intense and include both berries (raspberries, strawberries) and notes of chocolate and tobacco. In the mouth, there are hints of strawberries followed by notes of sweet spices. The wine is characterized by a medium body and smooth acidity and has a persistent and pleasant finish. It is a great food wine. It goes well both with duck and fish, especially salmon!