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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.1 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 24 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Schwarzer Hund on 2/26/2021: Medium red color, opened an hour before dinner, earthy dark cherry nose, plenty of cherry fruit, some acidity, fairly smooth with a touch of sweetness. Medium length finish. In good shape currently but don't think it will improve much over time. We would say drink it up. (1163 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 7/4/2018 & rated 95 points: In honor of Independence Day with Beef Tenderloin and White Corn. Decanted 30 minutes prior to tasting; cork and fill were perfect. Dark red, little sign of age at 16. Intense and lovely nose of a cornucopia of berries; similar to what I saw 10 years ago. Lovely sweet fruit on the palate with a touch of acidity to balance it out. This has none of the over-extracted, Pinot as Syrah, sense. Never to be mistaken for Burgundy but superb for what it is - an All-American Pinot Noir and likely the best Kistler I have had over more than 20 years. Bravo! (2047 views) | | | Tasted by mnoljo on 7/24/2013 & rated 91 points: seems to be mature. cherry and earth nice finish (4572 views) | | | Tasted by sbeeks on 6/25/2012 & rated 88 points: Sorry to say that I was disappointed. I have been a long-time fan of Kistler Pinot and was looking forward to this bottle. Although it had a promising aroma on opening, it was flat on the palate and stayed closed up for the full 2 hours through dinner -- never opened up at all. (4860 views) | | | Tasted by jeff nowak on 4/14/2012 & rated 94 points: doesn't wine just want to make you pull your hair out? this hasn't demonstrated the slightest hint of what it shows tonight in two previous tastings. great black cherry, earth, red licorice, lavender, purple/violets. nice expansion on the palate, and a deep finish. just short of amazing, but quite compelling. drink now - 2015. (5437 views) | | | Tasted by Didman on 12/14/2011 & rated 94 points: Still young and vibrant. Probably not at its peak yet. (4211 views) | | | Tasted by NY Wino on 6/28/2011 & rated 94 points: When I pulled this from my cellar to drink w/ a couple of buddies who were over, I figured it was ready to drink, being a 2002 pinot...but I didn't realize was a gift I was giving them. Deep ruby red color, a fantastic nose of ripe cherries and cola, the wine had terrific fruit, excellent earthiness and a long delicious finish. Drinking beautifully now and likely to improve over the next 2-3 years (4038 views) | | | Tasted by Racer117 on 4/30/2011 & rated 94 points: A near perfect blend of California and Burgundy. It has the fruit forward and big cola element of a new world PN but the texture and earthiness of a good Burgundy, sans the barnyard funk. Its a big, big wine but not at all palate fatiguing. Fantastic. Thanks to G-A for opening this. (2290 views) | | | Tasted by jeff nowak on 2/17/2011 & rated 88 points: 14.1% alcohol. bottle#723/3,168. from the mailing list. chewy black cherry and dry tannin. i liked the generic sonoma coast from this vintage quite a bit better. i had hoped a couple of extra years of bottle age would flesh out the wine, but that's not gonna happen. somewhat heavy on the palate with a spicy finish and noticable oak. this didn't work that well for me. jane liked it even less (86). (2295 views) | | | Tasted by Beachrooster on 4/25/2010 & rated 93 points: Dark red with no signs of aging. Aromas of raspberry, strawberry, coca-cola, and asian spice. Medium weight and nice feel. Lush big Cali pinot with 14.1% alcohol, but everything is big. Fresh acid and ripe tannins. Long pleasant finish lasting 50 seconds. Worth $90 not $250.... (2337 views) | | | Tasted by Schwarzer Hund on 3/6/2010: dense dark fruit aroma , needs time to expand. medium weight on palette, plenty of dark fruit, balance ok, nice finish but overall not as good as I was hoping. (2256 views) | | | Tasted by jbro on 11/12/2009 & rated 94 points: As much as I want to rate this as extraordinary, I can't. It's not 1990 Echezeaux Dujac or even Aubert UV 05. It is damn good though. Deep purple out of the bottle, fading at the edges. Nose and palate both dumb fresh out of the bottle. With thirty minutes of air, the nose begins to expand to include berry and floral notes. On the palate, great balance of blackberry fruit, cherry, acidity/cola and a finish that lingers on the mid-tongue long after it fades from the back. Wish I had more. (2441 views) | | | Tasted by jeff nowak on 2/23/2009 & rated 91 points: not unlike the marcassin, a strong willed domestic pinot that doesn't have enough silkiness to stand up against some strong french competition. a victim more of placement than the sum of it's parts which comprise a nice guilty pleasure on it's own. (2624 views) | | | Tasted by kstoddard on 2/23/2009 & rated 90 points: G6 (Dave): Dark ruby color. Raspberry nose. Tastes of black cherry, earth and charred oak. Medium bodied. Well balanced. More modern in style. Spicy finish. Unfortunately again not in the same league as the other wines at the table. 14.1% alcohol. (3181 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 7/16/2008 & rated 93 points: Burgundies at the St. Clair Club (St. Clair Club, San Jose, California): Dark red violet color; sexy ripe raspberry, cherry, black cherry nose; black cherry, raspberry and vanilla oak palate; medium-plus finish 93+ pts. (2563 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 7/3/2008 & rated 94 points: Very dark red. Initially rather reticent on the nose but a gusher of blackberries on the palate. Over the
evening a confectionery of berries; blueberry, currant, as well as blackberry. Excellent
lift and acidity made this wine though clearly very extracted seem light on its feet. Towards the end of th e
bottle the palate lightened and developed a more satin texture. I don't think this will get any better; one
of the best Kistler Pinot Noirs in my experience. (2690 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 8/13/2007 & rated 93 points: Deep dark color. Intense nose of black cherry fruit, metallic slate and carbon minerals. Needs lots of air to show its stuff but then reveals a gorgeous sleek texture and intense dark fruit flavors. Made in more of a vin de garde style, it's lean but weighty with this incredible black mineral infused finish. Powerful and grippy with a real real masculine intensity. I'm beginning to see the beauty of this wine which is usually not so easily revealed. Would seem to benefit from a few more years of aging as the balance is pure and the alcohol is in check. (2985 views) | | | Tasted by Pool Boy on 8/4/2007 & rated 96 points: Raspberry caramel buttercream, Hay, Violets, Rich fresh slightly overripe cherries, Cocoa powder, Roses, Caramel, Hints of vanilla and twig mash. Magnificent! One of the best Pinots I have ever had. Too bad the meal did not quiiiiiite match this outstanding wine. 96 points.
Consumed by my wife and I for my 40th at CityZen in Washington DC (2837 views) | | | Tasted by yanik on 1/30/2007 & rated 95 points: One of my favorites as always. Sensous tannins (3389 views) | | | Tasted by beachnic on 11/23/2006 & rated 95 points: Thanksgiving Dinner very frustrating as a bunch of people decided not to drink tonight (not big wine drinkers). They have no idea what kind of wine this is so I got 3/4ths of the bottle myself. Here I am Drunk on one of the best Pinots I've ever had and watching the Bronco's...could be worse. Beautifully sweet pinot flavors and great balance. the nose opens up after a little air time. Super concentration and good acidity. This crosses the line between New world and Old World for me. Reminds me very much of a fine Burgundy.
Much better than the 2000 Marcassin Blue Slide Ridge Pinot that I had in September. (3360 views) | | | Tasted by YankeeClipper on 5/27/2006 & rated 95 points: An absolutely stunning effort. A very dark red/purple color and reticent nose contributed to the mystery of this wine initially. Virtually shrouded in secrecy until the first taste, dark berries, clove, hints of vanilla reveal a complex, outstanding new world pinot noir. Unlike many other Kistler pinot noirs tasted by this long time customer, this wine possessed balance yet was forcefull given a stated 14.1% alcohol. No over-cooked fruit bomb here. Finesse and finish are memorable. Just wish I could get my hands on more bottles at the release price. Drinking very well now, this wine should continue to evolve at least another 3-5 years. (3676 views) |
| By Allen Meadows
Burghound, 3rd Quarter, 2005, Issue #19
(Kistler Vineyards Pinot Noir Cuvée Elizabeth Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (7/16/2008)
(Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Elizabeth Occidental Vineyard) Dark red violet color; sexy ripe raspberry, cherry, black cherry nose; black cherry, raspberry and vanilla oak palate; medium-plus finish 93+ pts. 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Burghound and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Kistler Producer websitePinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountySonoma Coast * Sonoma Coast AVA (Wikipedia)
* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wine Institue) |
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