Tag Archives: pinot noir

Domaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir 2016, Willamette Valley, USA

28 Sunday Jun 2020

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This was the star of the 4th Virtual Wine Tasting.  I would normally taste a Pinot Noir right after the whites/Rosès and well before a hearty Merlot- but this wine was the ringer.  I knew it would be the overall favorite so I wanted it to come last and stand on it’s own merits.  It was stunning.  It showed very nicely in the glass, see through with medium shades of purple.  On the nose I immediately got the telltale cherry.  Others noted cinnamon, chocolate and strawberry.  It was not heavily tilted on any one component, rather a very nice melangè of all the smells.  On the palate it showed off black cherry, spice box, cedar in the form of cigar box.  Fine grained tannins and a very balanced acidity made this wine very balanced and gave it a nice crisp mouthfeel.  Many in the group did not like some of the tannic wines- this one was right up their alley.  Pinot, being such a delicate and light grape is difficult to grow and make into a balanced and delicious offering- once again this winery has done it very nicely.  This cuvee is their lower priced offering that hits on all cylinders.   I am going with 91 points and 5 stars for this $45 beaut.  Drink till 2028 with lighter fare.  Salut….

Louis Latour Corton Grand Cru 2007, Cote de Beaune, France

29 Friday May 2020

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It’s a really nice reddish shade and totally see-through.  The nose is gorgeous- strawberry, cherry, earth and game.  On the initial palate I get rich red cherry reduction, leather, mushroom, forest floor- all flavors I was hoping for in an aged Pinot from Burgundy.  The mid palate shows me red currants, more cherry, crisp acidity and a very fine grained tannic structure.  There is a green streak on the finish that gives it a bit of zing but is dominated by tart cherry and pomegranate.  This wine is very complex and layered.  The finish is long and mouth watering.  I am really enjoying it and think it is at peak, drinking well for at least another decade.  Filet Mignon is on tap for the pairing.  92 points from me but I have no pricing info.  New vintages are going for over $85.  I would give it 5 stars, the cellaring has rewarded me well.  Salut….

Angela Estate Pinot Noir 2015, Yamhill-Carlton District, USA

28 Thursday May 2020

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This Pinot is quite dark, and barely see-through in the glass.  The nose gives me gobs of New World cherry, strawberry and licorice.  On the palate I get cherry, a woodsy, earthy note and some spices, cinnamon in particular.  The mid palate is quite smooth with rhubarb, cherry and crunchy acidity.  The finish is fruit driven with red berries and cherry carrying gentle tartness to a medium length ending.  It has a decent flavor profile and is typical of the region- somewhat more full bodied than say Burgundy, more red fruit, a touch of earthiness and it’s growing on me.  I would go 90 points for this $35 offer that gets 4 stars from me.  I’m pairing with rack of Lamb and grilled Zucchini.  Drink till 2025.  ps. this was the 4th bottle from my Splashwines delivery.  Salut….

David Noyes Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2007, Sonoma County, USA

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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This wine is 13 years old and I just found it in my cellar. The cork did not look good and I feared for the worst.  In the glass it’s very dark, almost fully opaque but it shows nice legs.  The nose is mature- earthy, with mushrooms, forest floor, game and a hint of black cherry reduction.  On the palate this is stunning- fully developed with a boatload of tertiary flavors.  Umami, dried shiitake, garigue and stewed cherry.  This wine is at peak.  The midpalate is super smooth- rich fruitcake, secondary flavors and a lithe dose of acidity.  The tannins are fully melded and give me a great mouthfeel.  The finish is lovely if somewhat curt.  Rich fruit reduction, trace tannins and those delicious secondary players we hope for after extended cellaring.  20 plus seconds. I love this wine and am stoked it turned out so nicely.  Drink till 2022.  93 points.  I paid under $20 back into the day, I doubt you can find any of this 5 star wine these days.  Salut….

Loveblock Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago, New Zealand

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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This was the opener at my first virtual Wine tasting.  It was pretty full bodied and New World in it’s fruit forward approach.  Delicious but somewhat atypical for the varietal.  Very meaty and gamey with some interesting minerality.  I went with 90 points.  3 stars for this $29 Pinot Noir.  Salut….

Domaine des Monts Luisants ‘Les Monts Luisants’ 2009, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru, France

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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A bright shade of red and see through.  The nose rings of pomegranate, sweet cherry and clove.  The palate is very smooth and soft- the fruit is vibrant and the acidity is very gentle. It’s all primary flavors for now, loads of red fruit and some backend tannins.  The midpalate is tart, with more pomegranate and some rhubarb.  The finish is very sleek and easy going- more lingering flavors from the midpalate and a nice spike in the very fine-grained tannins.  This wine is young and has many years to go.  I’m thinking it will be very nice as a mature Burgundy.  91 points for this very lithe Pinot Noir.  Drink till 2033, but cellar if you like some secondary flavors.  At over $100 it’s a pricy addition to the cellar, but then again- Burgundy is never cheap.  3 stars.  Salut….

Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013, Santa Cruz Mountains, USA

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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I love this wine btw, having had older vintages in the past.  This one shows see-through dark purple in the glass.  The nose is ethereal- raspberries, rooibos tea, cinnamon and some oak.  The palate is very much New World.  Tart, crispy and loaded with red fruits.  The cinnamon and raspberry components are very much accentuated. There is a bit of heat from the alcohol, which I kinda like.  It’s only showing 13.5%, but I can sense its presence.  The mid palate is more earthy with some wild game and mushroom notes along with some red berries.  The finish is warm, with a raspberry reduction and charcoal note.  It’s quite long and a touch tart, making me lick my chops.  Overall this is a well made wine that is in a mid-life crisis.  It’s lost some fruit yet doesn’t quite have tertiary flavors developed fully.  I would give it another 3 years and drink from 2023-2030.  92 points and 4 stars for this $70 Pinot.  I’m pairing with Chicken Kabobs.  Salut….

Maison Michel Picard Le Clos Micot 2005, Pommard Premier Cru, France

12 Sunday Apr 2020

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I’m afraid for this wine, the cork was very dry when I put the screw in and the sides were wet when I started to pull it out.  I only got halfway before the cork broke.  Luckily I have other tools to retrieve the broken half.  In the glass it looks okay, dark red, with no signs of bricking and barely any legs on the glass.  The nose is gorgeous, earthy, full of tertiary flavors- forest floor, mushrooms, bacon and a whiff of rich cherry compote.  The palate is sublime, smooth and a mix of fruit, acidity, those tertiary flavors and a warm mouthfeel.  The cherry component is backed up by rooibos tea, some nutmeg and leather.  This wine has aged nicely and thank goodness the cork held out.  The finish is long with a nice streak of acidity that delineates the fruity red berries from the secondary evolution that I get.  Nice ingrained tannins are holding it together but I feel it is peaking so drink till 2027 .  I am serving it with Baked Ham and mashed potatoes for Easter dinner.  93 points for this $100 Burgundian Pinot Noir.  4 stars.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 703 Pinot Noir 2017, Alexander Valley, California

05 Sunday Apr 2020

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Nice shade of dark red, see-through.  The 14.1% alcohol evident by some nice looking legs.  On the nose it is somewhat atypical.  Violet, strawberry compote and cherry cola.  The palate is a touch sweet with some nice stewed rhubarb notes. Cherry comes along eventually as do some nice fine grained tannins.  There’s a nice acidic bite on the finish that balances it out without making me wince.  It’s a very interesting wine that has a warm mouthfeel, that nice touch of sweetness countered by the acid on the back end.  This wine will appeal to the novice and also provide tasting groups with an interesting mix of flavors.  I’m baking up some Brisket that will pair nicely.  91 points and 5 stars for this $15 bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Peach Brisket, crisped to perfection

Cameron Hughes Lot 678 Pinot Noir 2017, Willamette Valley, Oregon

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Absolutely see-through and a very pale shade of red. The nose gives me bing cherry, wild strawberry and clove.  The palate is quite intriguing.  A muted red fruit presence with a touch of cinnamon and mushroom. Raspberries represent on the mid palate alongside rooibos tea and sour cherry.  The acidity slides in nicely, not overdone nor abrupt.  It’s a nice mouthfeel with a touch of heat on the finish.  There is a cedar component as well that I’m enjoying.  Overall it’s a decent Pinot that I’m giving 89 points.  4 stars for this $16 effort.  Salut….