Cali Pinot at Think Cafe

Think Cafe, Chicago, IL
Tasted Tuesday, September 30, 2008 by cobbpa with 358 views

Introduction

Originally planned as a 2006 tasting, the 2005s that showed up were also quite nice. My first time tasting multiple Pinots and I was surprised at the contrast some of these Cali bottlings brought.

Flight 1 (8 Notes)

  • 2006 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Dried spice box, dark red vibrant fruit on the nose and something that reminds me of brown sugar very faintly buried. Front end is laid back / elegant but gives good tasting dark fruit & dark red fruit. Finish of crushed dried cherries with some nice spices. The finish is sort of casual and elegant yet very compelling.

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  • 2006 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Dark nose...just dark. Plum, cherry, crushed dark pepper...D A R K. Front end brings those fruits with a big grip. While powerful it's kind and does not rip the mouth but just firmly grabs it. Peppercorns reappear with the dark fruit in the mid. Again, powerful but elegant through the finish.

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  • 2005 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clark & Telephone Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

    Interesting nose with cherries, dark fruit and some brown mustard / mustard seed action and it has a sense of weight to it. Front end of blackberry & red fruit is interesting, but the mid doesn't offer any highlights. The finish brings interesting Asian spices, good acid, and an interesting dynamic. It starts out very faintly and almost unnoticeably then climbs up the throat to present the dried spice and fruit flavors, hanging and pulsing for quite a while.

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  • 2005 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Flax Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    A fragrant, pretty nose that presents some faint blackberry but is mostly dominated by candied cherries. The front end gives a hint of dark fruit, a bit of dried flowers. The mid is slightly candied and reminds me of cherry bubble gum and that hangs around on the finish that has bits of dried spices in it.

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  • 2006 J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Cherries, candied plums and a hint of dried herbs on the nose...almost autumn leaf-like. Dense fruit on the front end with a very spice mid and spicy/dried herbal finish. Seems well made, each segment is nice, and this excellent wine is the sum of its great parts.

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  • 2006 Phillips Hill Pinot Noir Toulouse Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Bright candied cherry, hint of dried cherries, a sort of dry herb / dry leaf thing there too. Tastes of candied cherry but very fresh--becomes more dried cherry with air. Light mixed spices, black pepper, and a finish that sticks well with tannins that envelopes the mouth with a good grip and nicely layered flavors. This bottle was pleasant and elegant while also being very strong.

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  • 2006 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Strong cherry, black pepper, strong spices, waft of brown sugar, hint of black pepper, and a tinge of candiedness along with some pure black fruit. Great layers in this nose. Spices and herbs up front, dark fruit and pure cherry, finish ebbs and flows with some dark spices, herbs, dried cherries, a slight hint of something that reminds me of maple syrup. Excellent complexity, yet dense in its youth...this is going to open up beautifully over the next few years.

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  • 2006 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Very slight oak hints that disappear pretty quickly, nice grapefruit, lemon, strong pear--just an impressive bouquet of quite depth. Crisp and vibrant lemon on the front along with other fleshy white fruits, good acid with just enough weight (only a kiss of creaminess) to provide rich flavors. Finish hangs on quite a while...each part of the experience presents well-woven flavors and meld together perfectly. Certainly an outstanding bottle.

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Closing

My first time to think, with some of the WineLibrary crowd...a few friends and a few new people for a great time and the food was very impressive.

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