Tag Archives: pinot noir

Sass Pinot Noir 2012

31 Sunday Aug 2014

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I took Moxie out for a late supper last night at our local Korean/Cajun fusion restaurant called Mokomandy.  We were deep in conversation when the drink order was up, so I asked the waiter what he would recommend and ended up with this Willamette Valley Pinot to go with our eclectic dinner.

It’s funny how some wines taste a certain way to some people, yet others have totally different opinions.  Here we go…

Pinot Purple in the glass, with the telltale see-through hues of a this fickle grape.  Red fruits and a straw component hit me on the nose, I was excited to discover what shade of ‘New World’ this wine would be.  I immediately got sour cherry, strawberry and cranberries on the initial attack, and when I say sour- yowsah….  This wine is most definitely Oregonian in style with some bracing acidity and melded tannins.  The finish was decent with a lingering note of forest floor and strawberry.  The acidity was a little too much for me, making the wine seem a tad off-balance.  I bet it will hold up well in the cellar though and perhaps come out strong in a few years.  Back to the differing of opinions- the winemaker’s website claims flavors of blackberry and black cherry with peppery notes.  I went the other direction with red fruits and certainly no pepper, interesting.  89 points from me for this tasty effort and 3 stars for it’s $22 price tag.  Salut….

sass pinot noir

Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir Central Otago2012

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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I was given this bottle by a friend who just passed the Sommelier exams and was traveling to New Zealand on holidays.  Several weeks later, her husband passed his exams as well- congratulations to Christine and Tyler!  On their visit they no doubt did some winery tastings and bottle shop visits.  I looked up some pricing and could only find it in New Zealand- NZ$35, about $30 USD.  A generous gift I must say.

Textbook light purple in the glass with cherries jubilee on the nose and some spice.  On the palate I got a whopping mouth full of tart strawberry, cherry pie and some vanilla.  A rather tannic wine with a rather sharp acidic frame makes for an interesting mouthfeel.  The acidity was nigh on piercing when I first opened the bottle but mellowed out after some air.  The backbone is firm on this young wine and it bodes well for long term cellaring.  I would say 2015-2022 for a decent drinking window.  There was some interesting spice notes of clove and cocoa powder on the mid palate.  The question is what to pair it with when it grows up….  Perhaps some plank grilled salmon and roasted rosemary potatoes, I would even go with roast duck and orange glaze.  89 points and 3 stars from me for this decent effort.  Salut….

gibbston valley pinot noir central otago

Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2010

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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My friend ‘The Beav’ brought this out of his locker for our tasting.  I remember him buying it in December for about $15.  It was delicious and started with a strong nose of sour cherries.  The profile continued on the palate with the addition of some herbs and capsicum.  The wine had an intriguing tartness that I really enjoyed and finished with some woody tannins.  The bottle came in at 13.5% alcohol, which is just about right and was very balanced.  I would reckon it is worthy of 89 points and for the price- 4 stars.  I shall be on the lookout for this Marlborough gem again.  I would pair it with pizza for sure and perhaps herbed roast chicken.  Salut….

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Domaine Mazilly Pere & Fils Beaune Vignes Franches Premier Cru 2010

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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I was excited to open this Burgundy with some appetizers last night, it’s been sitting in my ‘to drink’ rack for a few months now.  I was expecting Old World nuances in this Pinot Noir, but was greeted with bright cherries and strawberries on the nose.  Quite light in the glass as to be expected- but it was really light in the mouth as well.  Very delicate flavors of white cherries, some cranberry and floral notes plus a touch of herbs.  I sensed some tannic intrusions and the acidity was crisp yet the wine was very light in mouthfeel.  My mate ‘Johnny’ was over for the feast and he agreed that it lacked any body.  I think this wine needs another 5 years in cellar before it comes around.  I am hoping it gains a few pounds, picks up some funk and rewards me for the patience I am bestowing onto it!  One critic went as high as 92, I’m going with a preliminary 88 points for now and 3 stars for this $29 offering.  Salut….

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Keller Estate ‘Casa de la Cruz’ Pinot Noir 2010

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

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I am a fan of this winery and have had many bottles of their regular Pinot.  I brought this particular wine from home, all the way to Asia and opened it on Christmas day with the fellas before dinner.  The wine is labelled a Sonoma Coast product yet it merges Old World Pinot with New World fruitiness.  A great cherry component with underlings of earth, iodine and strawberry.  The cherry fruit becomes a bit muted on the mid palate and is replaced with red currants and some cola.  The mouthfeel is good and the acidity is present but not biting.  Perhaps this particular bottle is suffering some jet lag. I think it is somewhat muted and could use a few days to settle down after the journey.  I paid $20 for it and am going with 88 points right now.  It potentially could go to 90 if it balances out after some cellaring.  3 Stars from me, Salut….

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Tudor Pinot Noir 2006

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

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From the Santa Lucia Highlands comes this modern styled Pinot Noir.  Bright cherries and gobs full of green pepper swirled around in some decent acidity with a nice finish. Not exactly my style of Pinot, but certainly well made and delicious.  I would bet this wine is popular with New World fans as it offers upfront fruit and a touch of the wood.  It is very smooth at 7 years of age and will probably go for another 5 years.  I don’t see much evolution a’la Burgundy but it will retain its freshness.  WS gave it 91, I’m going with 90.  I believe it can be found for $42 now which makes it a solid 3 star wine for me.  I would drink this with Roast Chicken or by itself, keeping a watch on the sneaky 14.2% alcohol so it doesn’t sideswipe you.  Salut….

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Villa Wolf Pinot Noir 2009

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

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This is a German Pinot Noir that we ordered on my last night in Hong Hong, dining at a  German restaurant on Roasted Pig’s Knuckle and Sauerkraut.  Notes of Kirsch and cherry were found on the nose and palate.  A very basic wine and serviceable at $12 retail, yet lacking in any depth or complexity.  Unlike Burgundy and definitely not a New World wine, it was out there on it’s own for style.  The German’s are well known for Riesling, not Pinot.  It went well with the Pork and Kraut with it’s own acidity to match and enough fruit to balance the meat that I slathered with hot mustard.  84 points and 2 stars,  Salut….

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Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Pinot Noir 2009

14 Saturday Dec 2013

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A cross between Old World elegance and New World charm for this delicious Pinot Noir.    I have had some really good wine from the Marlborough region of New Zealand lately and this is no exception.  Pale in color as a Pinot should be, the nose was very bright with cherry and strawberry notes.  Old world funk on the palate with bright fruit made for an interesting taste profile.  Cherry spritz comes to mind with some green peppers mingling about.  Hints of strawberry daiquiri and some cedar came through on the back end and the acidity was great.  This was a very interesting wine and we thoroughly enjoyed it with some Pate and cheeses.  I would also pair it with Turkey and cranberry sauce.  $20 and 90 points make this an outstanding 5 star wine for me. Ps. I love the label, very classy.  Salut….

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Kate Radburnd Vines Velvet Pinot Noir 2011

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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From New Zealand comes this stunning Pinot Noir.  Delicate in the glass, it had notes of cherry and cranberry with some earthy mix in there.  On the palate, extremely smooth and luscious with white cherry and raspberry flavors.  Balanced and tart at the same time it was refreshing and medium in body.  The tannins in Pinot are difficult for me to discern, but I felt that this wine was well made and would go the distance.  Made in a New World style that appeals to me I’m going with 91 points and for about $15 this is a must find 5 star wine.  Amazing stuff.  Salut….

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Greyrock Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2012

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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A new world version of Pinot from New Zealand.  Pinkish red in the glass, it exploded with strawberry and cherry on the nose.  I usually prefer the Burgundian style of this varietal but every so often I come across a refreshing new world bottle that I appreciate.  This varietal never offers up tannins in the usual sense, making it hard for me to discern and predict aging potential.  This wine seems like it could go the distance yet it offers immediate bing cherry, strawberry and red currants.  The whole package is well balanced and easy to drink.   I found it for $20 and it gets 89 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

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