Sonoma Pinot Noir tasting

Nurit & Asher invited 14 wine connoisseurs to enjoy a tasting of Sonoma PN.
two Chardonnay started the evening.

Nurit & Asher prepared a great table of excellent french cheese (about 10 different cheese types), cold-cuts & delicious salads.

• 2012 Williams Selyem Unoaked Chardonnay 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  pale light yellow
  pleasant fruity-mineral aroma & flavours, with buttery hints,
  med bodied, well balanced, structured, high acidity, savoury flavours, nice minerality, medium length finish.

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• 2011 Black Cordon Vineyards Chardonnay Block L Ritchie Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  though the aroma was 'ok' - on the palate it was somewhat off-white diluted juice with no structure and complexity.
  quite disappointing.

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• 2011 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  couldn't recognise this is Pinot Noir
  as it could be another classic New World Cab
  but I wasn't impressed from this wine
  surely doesn't merit the high score it enjoys…
  even though I'm new to CA Pinot Noir

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• 2012 Littorai Pinot Noir The Haven 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  not only because I'm new to CA Pinot Noir - but I wasn't impressed from this wine.
  After all the Burgundy is the real PN for me….

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• 2010 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  high alcohol fruity wine, that didn't impress me as a quality PN, being experienced with the real Burgundy PN till today

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• 2011 Aubert Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  this was my 4th CA PN - but the first to show some PN quality, though still cannot compare it to the real Burgundy PN, so I was quite generous with the score here….

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• 2009 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  this was my 5th CA Pinot Noir on the tasting and first to be appreciated as it had some of the 'real' PN (i.e. Burgundy) in it, well balanced, nice structured with similar to the classic flavours.

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• 2009 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  transparent red with some brown in it
  fine elegant classic quality fruity-spicy-floral aromas
  med bodied, semi integrated tannins, good acidity, well balanced, feminine style, delicate fruity flavours, some earthiness, subtle layered flavours, pleasant medium length finish.

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• 1993 Chateau Kurucz Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 92 Points

  Hungary, Tokaji

  translucent red-brown
  pleasant old ripe sweet tertiary fruity aromas with spicy hints
  med-full bodied, balanced sweetness, savoury flavours, enjoyable, not too sweet, a wine to take the time with and enjoy slowly.

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luckliy we ended with a 'real' PN from Burgundy…
and an excellent aged Tokaji… with two high-calories cakes...

bottom line: I wasn't impressed from any of the CA PN; and many of my colleagues as well...