Three interesting pinot noirs connected by their artisan approach and meticulous winemaking.  Spanning three different years, three different regions and three different styles, these wines showcase the talents of their winemakers.  The first wine is the 2004 El Molino pinot from Rutherford.  Founded in 1871, El Molino was one of the first wineries in the Napa Valley and operated until Prohibition. The wine is bottled by hand via gravity and then rests for a year in bottle to further enhance complexity and to ensure silky tannins.  Average annual production continues to hover around 900 cases of each. The second wine is Sean Capiaux's 2005 Pisoni pinot.  Capiaux Cellars is dedicated to producing single-vineyard bottlings of Pinot Noir, blending traditional Burgundian techniques with a modern flair of knowledge. The philosophy is to produce wines that express the unique terroir from which they came and to have the inherent flavors of the grape and land be the leading attributes rather than new oak, unnatural additives, and influences. This selection is from the famed Pisoni vineyard.  An instant success, this vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands just south of Salinas is producing some amazing wines from an array of top Pinot Noir producers. The bud wood for the Pisoni vineyard came from the famous "La Tache" vineyard in Burgundy. The third wine is the Alder Springs 2006 pinot from Relic Wines Made by Mike Hirby. 2006 marks the first vintage at Alder Springs with the new blocks from the 2,500-foot high Desmond parcel. The wine is deeper, darker, and even more supple than in any years past. 115 cases produced.  This wine is big and rich, yet lithe and very smooth, with vivid raspberry and smoke flavors and a beautifully soft structure.