Community Tasting Note

wineshlub wrote:

Sunday, October 23, 2011 - Opened an hour ahead of time. Spice and a bit of barnyard in the aroma. Rich, earthy flavors of blackberries and spice. Chocolate overtones in the slightly sweet finish. This is not bad at all, though I doubt I would ever identify it as Pinot Noir if I was tasting blind. I do get a taste that I can best describe as "spiced earth" (I know what I mean by that, I'm not sure anyone else will) which I experience in many Oregon Pinot Noirs, and this would probably clue me in if I was told it was a West Coast wine. However, the heaviness of the palate and the sweetness of the finish seem to me to be more typical of Syrah or Grenache than of Pinot Noir.

That said, this is a well balanced, enjoyable wine that is devoid of the worst excesses of New World pinot noir. Not exactly in my wheelhouse, and I certainly wouldn't pay up for this again in the $30 range, but definitely an example of New World done right.

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