Tag Archives: pinot noir

Chateau Genot-Boulanger Mercurey 2005

06 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I bought this bottle several years ago when a local wine shop was closing down.  I had no clues, ideas or preconceptions.  I just knew it was Burgundy, and it was on sale for 50% off.  I can’t imagine this village level wine being more than $25.  It was a pale purple with very light intensity, I was expecting that from a Pinot Noir based Burgundy wine.  It had a nose of funk, cherry and straw which was interesting.  Delightful yet light strawberry and cherry notes with a crisp and delicious acidity, mouthwatering.
I could sense a tinge of melded tannins which is atypical for me and Pinot.  If you read my other notes on this varietal you will know I have a difficult time detecting tannins in Pinot.  This is a very serviceable wine that gets 88 points from me and 3 stars.  I don’t think I would search for it but if there are any still in the cellar I know what to pair them with; grilled Salmon and boiled potatoes with a herb butter sauce, yum.  Salut….

genot-boulanger mercurey

Domaine Mazilly Pere & Fils Pommard ‘Les Noizons’ 2011

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I hate it when I open a bottle way too young.  It’s such a waste, yet I feel compelled to begin my tasting cycle at an early stage so I can watch a wine evolve.  This bottle was unfortunately way too young for my amateur palate to really discern what the pro’s talk about.  It offered textbook color and shade in the glass with a nose of cherry and cranberry.  My initial taste was of tart cherries and crunchy pomegranate.  I tried to coax more out of it but alas, it is in slumber.  I will not delve too much deeper into the wine, saving it for a later date for a follow up.  Right now I’m going with 90 points vs. the pro’s at 92.  My drinking window would be in the 2017-2023 range.  I made note that it was not Burgundian right now, but more primal and Pinot like.  I really hope it evolves with some earth and funk, perhaps a touch of dark fruits would be nice.  I paid around $25 for it making it a 3 point effort.  Salut….

mazilly pommard les noizins

 

Sass Pinot Noir 2012

31 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,


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

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,


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

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


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….

IMG_0670

Domaine Mazilly Pere & Fils Beaune Vignes Franches Premier Cru 2010

12 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


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….

IMG_0616

Keller Estate ‘Casa de la Cruz’ Pinot Noir 2010

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


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….

IMG_0569

Tudor Pinot Noir 2006

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


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….

IMG_0541

Villa Wolf Pinot Noir 2009

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


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….

IMG_0554

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Pinot Noir 2009

14 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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….

IMG_0545