Last minute Pinot tasting

8 drinkers and 2 non-drinkers went to Kevin's for an impromptu "mostly Pinot" tasting. The food was great, and the wines were almost as good.

• NV Charles Ellner Champagne Grande Réserve Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  A small pour at a tasting. Stylistically, it takes the middle road. Good yeast, toast, citrus, acidity, minerality, spice, white fruit, slightly floral. All of these things in check, none of them dominating.

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• 2010 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A small pour at a tasting. Lemon curd, creamy, an oily texture followed by a tingly acidity makes for a winning combination. This is quite complex, and impresses without any excesses. My WOTN, but overall #2 WOTN (of course, the reds always win). I am tempted to give it a 94, but will stick with 93 today with hopes that the next bottle will be even better.

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• 2010 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Quite full bodied. Butterscotch. The nose and palate is enticing, but the finish on this bottle is rather hot. This was significantly worse than a bottle from the same source a couple weeks ago. Too bad.

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• 2008 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  A 2 hour decant, drank a medium-sized glass at a tasting. Fruit and acidity balance quite well together. Cranberry, very floral, some earth. This is a great bottle of pinot. WOTN by the group, and my #2 of all the wines.

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• 2008 Inman Family Pinot Noir Thorn Ridge Ranch 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Pop and pour. Drank a glass at a tasting. Fruity, lots of spice, bramble, random alcohol. This seemed like a cocktail wine to me, others did not agree with that statement. Slightly candied fruit.

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• 2009 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Pop and pour. Drank a glass over an hour. Sweet, oaky, but an herbal quality also. Definitely California, but not crazy over the top. I prefered this over the 2010 Sangiacomo that I opened a few months ago, because it wasn't crazy big.

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• 2009 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan

  1 hour decant, had a glass over about an hour. Dark and brooding. Bold, spicy, brambly, orange. Good complexity. Tannins are strong for a pinot. Dark dark cherry for fruit.

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• 2012 Martinelli Pinot Noir Bella Vigna 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Pop and pour, drank one glass over an hour. Liqueurish. Some nice earth on the nose along with other complexities, but the palate is so "in your face". Alcoholic, ripe candied fruit. Unabashedly California and flavorful.

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• 2001 Château Nairac 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Pop and pour, drank a glass from a 750 over an hour. Good and sweet. Fairly middle of the road stylistically but just hits the exceptional level in my judgment. Reasonable complexity, a little more spice and nuance would be much appreciated.

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WOTN was the 2008 St Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard. While it was my favorite pinot, my favorite wine was the 2010 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard. I might be biased though, because I brought the Rhys. It just had so much complexity, it deserved the nod.