Tag Archives: pinot noir

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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Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark and Telephone’ 2012

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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I loved the 2008 Belle Glos and was looking forward to this updated version.  It was dark purple in the glass and had a strong nose of cherry and vanilla.  On the palate, very extracted and plush.  This wine is huge in stature and offers a certain level of complexity yet goes against the grain.  In addition to the primary cherry flavors I got plums and berry with some spice on the mid palate.  The oak is well integrated and the tannins are very smooth.  This wine is neither Old World or New, it goes against the rules and strikes out in a new direction.  The extraction bothered me and detracted from the essence of the varietal.  Pinot is supposed to be seductive, intricate and restrained.  This wine was a like a bull, strong and in your face with the 14.6% alcohol cleverly hidden.  I believe it can be had for about $36 and only gets 88 points from me making it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

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Alouette Pinot Noir 2012

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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A Sonoma Pinot Noir made in a New World style.  And I disliked it.  Sorry, but the flavor profile was not to my liking with Strawberry and Cherry Kirsch on the palate mixed with a cloying component.  My first impression when I saw the dark purple wine in the glass was that it was over-extracted.  Pinot Noir is supposed to be delicate, pale and complex yet this wine was extremely fruit driven and in my face.  This varietal almost never shows off tannins like other reds do, but the acidity was decent.  If you are a fan of this style you can certainly give it a go for $25.  86 points from me and 2 stars.  I probably would not buy it for my cellar.  Salut….

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Domaine des Monts Luisants Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Monts-Luisants 2009

20 Sunday Oct 2013

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That’s a helluva label to tell you that this is a Burgundian Pinot Noir.  Supposedly from a 1st cru vineyard (Burgundy still boggles me), denoting a high quality and from the amazing 2009 vintage.  That is why I bought this bottle which retails at about $55 today.  I don’t think I got a good deal.

This wine was atypical of the Burgundian profile.  I got strawberry and cut grass on the nose.  The wine is very pale in color which is expected of the varietal.  On the palate, more strawberries but unripe.  Sour cherries and cut grass mingle with graphite and some earthiness.  I am not digging this profile.  Very tannic and with tremendous acidity, this is probably a lurker.  I hope so.  It has the potential to be great lived.  Not ready for drinking until at least 2016, and hoping that it will get out of the sour stage it is sitting in.  87 points and 2 stars for now.  I will need to re-visit this one at  much later date.  Salut….

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Maison Champy Gevrey-Chambertin Vielle Vignes 2008

20 Sunday Oct 2013

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Gevrey-Chambertin is supposed to be a structured and bold Pinot Noir from the Burgundy region.  This is my second try at this bottle.  The first was in 2011, I hated it and decided to cellar the rest for potential improvement.  Nothing here folks.  A major dud from this producer who used ‘old vines’.  Sour cherries and pencil lead.  Some strange funk going on, but not the kind that I like.  Very sharp acid and some ingrained tannins but no real finish.  The lead component took me a while to pinpoint.  It really is unpleasant.  This was not a cheap wine, and can be found now for $40.  WS gave it 90 points.  I reckon it is an 84 pointer and a major pass.  1 star and moving on.  #dissappointed.  Salut….

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Domaine Louis Latour Corton Grand Cru 2007

09 Wednesday Oct 2013

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If you have read my rather lengthy post about the Paleo Diet, this is the wine that I mentioned.  It was overcome by the Collard Greens I prepared as they are very pungent.  I left it alone for a while and had a revisit once dinner was over.

2007 was not a stellar Burgundian vintage so I was taking a chance on this wine.  I have had this negociant’s wines before and have been very pleased so I took the punt and dove into it.  Burgundy is never cheap, so at about $46 this is a stretch for most.  I just happened across it at a better price.

Textbook in color, smell and flavor profile.  Cherry, earth and strawberry are the initial flavors.  Very smooth texture, but a hint of tannin sneaks in.  You may recall that I have a hard time discerning this component in Pinot Noir.  At six years of age, it is still primal in fruit makeup and has not taken on any secondary flavors.  I doubt that it will.  Never mind, it is a tasty wine that is giving me lots of enjoyment, its finesse is amazing and the cherry component exquisite.  I can take a guess that it could last another 10 years in the cellar but will it improve?  Drinking nicely now I reckon it is a 90 pointer.  I give it 3 stars for the QPR (Quality Price Ratio) but don’t let that stop you.  This company produces consistent wines and if you want a foray into Burgundy, they will provide solid footing- at a price.  Salut….

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Calstar Cellars Anderson Valley ‘Londer Estate’ Pinot Noir 2007

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

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I was lucky to snag 4 bottles of this delightful Pinot Noir.  With a stonking huge smoked Turkey drumstick, some roasted potatoes, beets and a dollop of Scharfer Senf (German hot mustard) I was all set to get busy with this 6 year old wine.  The pairing was near perfect.  A very pretty light purple in the glass as expected,  I had some cork crumbles that I needed to sort out.  On the nose; strawberry, cherry, pepper and oak shavings.  Unfortunately I could also whiff the 14.2% alcohol.  Never mind, the initial attack on the palate was delicious.  Typical of New World Pinot Noir, yet somewhat reserved.  Cherries Jubilee meets strawberry swirl.  Delicious undertones of white pepper and a touch of vanilla came through.  I prefer Old World Burgundian style Pinots, but every once in a while New World stuff excites me like this one.  I think it has to do with the finesse versus the new stuff with the ‘in-your-face’ fruit.

If you have read my other Pinot posts, you will know that I have a hard time discerning the tannins in this varietal.  I did notice a decent acidity that was focused.  With 6 years of age, it is drinking beautifully and I reckon it will last another 4.  Pricey at $50, you get what you pay for.  Pinot is never cheap if it is any good (think Burgundy).  It is a very finnicky grape that challenges every winemaker.  I get it…  So, I reckon it is a 91 pointer, and worthy of 4 stars.  Glad I still have 3 more and will look for a different pairing next time.  Salut….

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Argyle Pinot Noir 2011

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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I have had this wine in previous vintages and bought it on reputation…. Mistake.

I was bewildered by it’s pale red color, it appeared watered down.  On the nose, strawberries and cherry got me excited, only to be let down by the thinness of this wine.  It really was not what I had hoped for.  It provided some enjoyment as we fired up the grill on a hot and humid evening, but I could not imagine it standing up to the grilled meats we were about to devour.  Luckily we had a Shiraz waiting in the wings….  83 points and 1 star.

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Firesteed Pinot Noir 2006

19 Sunday May 2013

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Served at a party last night, I was somewhat surprised that they still had any 2006 vintage left.  I have probably had this wine, years previously and well before I started to take notes.

A decent reddish hue in the glass showed off some strawberry notes in the nose.  On the palate, I got some strawberry and plumish notes, pretty un-Pinot like.  Perhaps the bottle was trying to further develop after 7 years, but in what direction?  The wine did not taste over-the-hill, yet I sensed it has seen its peak.  Still tasty, just in a different way. I did notice good balance and there was a slight tannic content still lurking.  This wine is not expensive, yet delivers good value and is generally a decent Pinot Noir.  I hesitate to rate it but think in its day it would have been a solid 3 star wine.

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