in a beautiful spot. vibrant and punchy - there has to be some whole cluster ferm going on. The balance is spot on and it has a resonant depth to it. Just a touch of medicinal cherry (that I tolerate), but other than that an excellent showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kutch Verticals--Trout Gulch, McDougall and Falstaff: Vertical (non-blind) of McDougall, 2010 -2021. We did not taste the 2011 (no one owned it) nor 2014 and 2018 (stupid COVID forced the owners to have to miss the tasting) and the 2021 was a tank sample that Jamie pulled for us and shipped down for the tasting (being bottled next week so it's the final composition). I notice that I have had this many times now since release but that the most recent bottle didn't suit me. I kind of feel the same way here, although the bottle last night seemed fresher to me. It does have the astringency of the previous bottle, and is a touch peppery. The cherry fruit just seems a little old in tone and honestly I would rather drink the newer releases.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like it. Elegant structure and flavor profile. A Burgundian feel — in fact, lighter than a premier cru Volnay I tasted last night. Pleasing flavors of red cherries and roasted sesame oil. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite Burgundy-like, but a little more pebbery and dark. Actually more Baden-like than Sonoma-like on the nose. Very smooth and elegant. Fully mature now. Great bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravined one glass to pair with a medium rare rib eye. At the 30 min mark, an elegant nose of cherry and rich cola waft with an even strength portending a wine in mid-stride. The smooth mouthfeel melts into wonderful meaty notes of apple and dark cherries gliding into a long savory finish and full-body deliciously balancing the tasty rib-eye. As pairings go it is an enjoyable change of pace versus the more traditional Napa Cab. No question to it age-worthiness, this wine is in a great place right now with many more years to run. A wine in full.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2010 was popped and poured immediately following the ‘11 Sonoma Coast and drank fabulously. Deep, rich black raspberry nose, meaty full-body mouthfeel with rich texture of dark fruit flavor. This wine showed a measured strength and structure that was a joy to drink. Everything about this wine was a joy to drink: a great bouquet on the nose, full-body and smooth enjoyment on the palate and a nice long savory finish. Fantastic at 10 years, there was so much in this pour that I would have no problem checking in on this beauty at another 5 or 10 year interval.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (T&L's): Double blind. The lightest color of the wines in this flight- must be TLV's pinot, lol. Aromas of cherry, cola, rhubarb and clay (yes, it's TLV's pinot). Spice, cherry and cranberry with a long finish and nice underlying acidity. This has an elegance to it which had me thinking WesMar. In a very good spot right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This 9 year old is sensational! Also, I thought I had more and drank all but the last one. I'll have to save it for a special day. This has purple/red fruit. It is rounded but not soft in any way. It has aged well and taken on secondary traits well. There is plush bright purple/red fruit, some holiday spice perceptions, and maybe some forest floor. It drank so easy... I loved it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
July 2019 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): Tasted over two days. 50% whole cluster, and just under 14% ABV. On Day 1, this seemed riper to me, with a bit of syrup (referring to palate weight/feel), with dark berry and some maple. On Day 2, pretty similar, with some riper quality alongside the density that doesn't feel balanced to me. Finishes astringent, too. This bottle was not nearly as good as the one I wrote up a year ago, and I suspect that bottle may have had some cooler chill added to it. This may be the way to approach this wine. Overall, this bottle is not of the style and touch that Jamie now uses for McDougall.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened by LostVerse. A consistently fine Pinot Noir (I've had the 2007 and 2009 vintages before). 18 months in oak. Firm tannins with an oaky backbone. Notes of earthy fruit, sweet red berries and leather. Silky finish. 92 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby color. This bottle began its day with little fruit but plenty of earthy, mushroom notes and structure when opened. With air, red fruits erupted from the glass with red raspberry and cherry dominating. The crisp acidity in this medium-bodied wine was complimentary to the fruit and accentuated the silky mouthfeel. There was solid length on the earthy, red-fruited finish. Overall, this was a very complex wine that displayed two different personalities throughout the night. It was earthy and a little stern to begin, but it morphed into a lovely pinot as the night moved forward. It was a lovely match with Trader Joe’s black bean soup and various cheeses.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened but not decanted. Open for an hour prior to dinner. Still dark in color with no apparent bricking. Very feminine nose with dark red fruits and earth/forest floor. The cherry has lost a bit of tartness and the tanins are nicely integrated. It's been almost six years since my first bottle and this has aged very gracefully. I don't think there is any hurry here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Tasted without food. Opened this up at cellarvtemps to enjoy as a rain storm rolled in to help cool the hot streak of westher the past week. Deep ruby red color. No sign of bricking. Clear. Nose offers uo some savory, herbal notes, with a hint of cedar and vanilla extract. Good fruit flavors of dried cherries with orange peel. There is an inviting floral element as well - think violets. Did not getbthat violet note on the nose but it shows up on the mid-point. Light mouthfeel. Alcohol shows uo a bit on the back end. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose: plum, red fruits, it seemed well into middle age with a touch of obvious alcohol palate: neither as refined nor as lively as the Kutch Savoy 2011 tasted earlier this week. The palate was soft and full, but the flavors were muted and while tasty, not particularly delicious. Some chalky cranberry and a lingering finish of old raspberry jam. While nowhere near old age, I wouldn't say this wine has a whole lot of evolution ahead of it. I'm glad I drank it now, in other words, instead of carting it across the country in a month.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We opened this about Noon, finished it around 6PM (amongst several other things and I didn't take any formal notes). What I do recall was a more feminine version of McDougall, with a tart core and red fruits. In addition, the wine seemed to be well in tact, aging right along, not tired or anything of that sort. Really just humming right along, very similar in energy to the 2008 Clos Pepe VS Pinot Noir we drank alongside it. Both are passing 10 years and remain terrific.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was unexpected. Even though I have not much experience with American Pinot Noir this wine is much more evolved than I would have assumed. Lots of sous bois dominating the nose and palate, in additional cola, some herbal aromas and underneath rather dark fruit. It got rounder and more integrated after an hour in the glass. Not faulty at all but not overly exciting either and definitely not was I was looking for.
Tasted with a dinner in the Twist at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. Already rich with secondary aromas with an underlying fruit leaning towards ripe and maybe a bit darker than you would expect from a pinot. Not quite harmonic on the palate, no additional complexity and no real evolution in the glass, even though admittedly glass time smoothes the edges a bit. It was ok overall but hard to imagine this one getting any better with additional bottle age, probably already well into the second half of its wine life.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Over 2 days... The color is a deep brick red. Medium(+) body. On the nose, dark red fruit, vanilla, white pepper, graphite, dust. Day 1 was much more forward. Day 2 is more reserved, the graphite and earthier notes are more present. The front is loaded with black cherries, mixed with a fun dip tart with that non-existent-vanilla stick thing. Day 2 was more earthy and some lighter raspberry notes evolving. Mid-palate has great acidity, more pepper. Then the finish is long and deep with velvety tannins providing a great texture; its a thing of beauty and made me up my rating. My 94.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mmm...goodness in the glass. Nose of strawberries, cherries, and dusty mountain blackberry with sandalwood, and a nice mineral note. Palate is tart red fruits and savoriness from the acidity. Great stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is still a pretty big wine. Young and big fruit. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is dark cherries, some cherry juice drink mix and sandalwood. On the palate, juicy black cherries. Goes well with a Mushroom Burger. Still very young and will mature and get less up front I think, but great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured medium garnet in the glass. Took about 30 minutes for the fruit to reveal itself. On the nose, there are gentle strawberries, cherries, earth and minerals. On the palate this is on the light side of medium, with cherries, white pepper and nice easy finish. My wife called this beautifully integrated. Lovely with our vegetable chowder. Nice to not be punched in the face with a big extracted wine. Plenty of life left here. Highly enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not showing much age yet. Raspberry and sour cherry aromas and flavors. A little spice. On the tart side with good acid and a nice finish. Probably still needs a few more years to hit its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't keep detailed notes but this is showing well and true to the recent Kutch style - definitely California fruit here but not overripe, with the lightness and silkiness of pinot captured here as well. Delightful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very pretty! young, but delicious already. ripe berry, black and red fruit. very California to me but excellently balanced. ripe but serious and complex in the mid with a lovely refreshing finish. this should be pretty in a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Largely consistent with previous notes, but just a little bit more of everything with this bottle, after 1.5 hours in the decanter - aromatics, length on the palate, complexity. Best bottle yet...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still young, but I really like this. Red fruited with undertones of darker blackberry fruit, fine tannins, and bright acids. Crunchy texture. Perhaps a little foursquare, but this should get deeper with time. Well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WineFest in Toronto (Mike Grammer); 7/10/2016-7/12/2016 (Mike Grammer's (parents home) in Toronto): This has really improved since I tried it last. Dark cherries on the nose with spice. On the palate, cherries and dark cherries. Some powdered cherry drink. Medium tannins. Lovely texture. Spry and light on its feet. This is the tightest of all the bottle IMO but should continue to improve IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red berries and savory spice notes on the nose and palate with tart cherries and acidity on the moderate finish. Approachable but with a long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple fruit flavored with a beautiful nose of same and spice and oak. Very well integrated and drinking super well right now. Don't see a need to wait further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A leisurely bottle over a few hours. Nice contrast between the deep, somewhat brooding, fruit and an element of berries that danced in a flirty way across the palate. All packaged in classic Kutch style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This one was still pretty consistent in flavor profile compared to the first bottle sampled in Nov'12, with the notable exception of currently needing a lot of air to showcase dark cherry and spice notes. The last third of the bottle, which was consumed on day 2, was the best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, then consumed over two hours. Red and black berries throughout with a charming savory spice from start-to-finish and springtime floral hints. That's all good, but the balance and textural elegance here is what I most admired. If this were served blind, I could have been convinced it was a top Chambolle Villages wine. Kept opening up (and lengthening) for the first hour open, so I expect this will be getting better with more cellar time. Well done!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We polished off this bottle pretty fast and it left me a little disappointed early on. However, the lesson learned and I should have known this for McDougall, was allow it to air. The stems and balance were out of whack, ultimately resolving well, with the fruit evolving to a really nice darker cherry. Just give this wine time if you open at this stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped & poured with a artisanal pizza. Dark garnet color. This wine shows all to love in Sonoma Coast PN. Dark, rich cherry notes, but in beautiful balance with impressive structure and whole cluster spicy complexity. Kutch has that WC as a trademark and he coaxes loads of complexity in his wines. Fuller bodied & showing plenty of power and grip. The acidity is a bit of a secondary player at first, but emerges beautifully on the mid palate.
I fear I may not have given this enough air as four of us made pretty short work of it and I know from other vintages that this settles into a quiet beauty with airtime. On the whole, just delicious Pinot Noir.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the young side but showing well. Black cherry color. Initially closed up nose that unfolded with some air, revealing pretty red and black cherry notes and earthy undertones. Classic Sonoma Coast here. In the mouth, racy and linear, with tangy cherry fruit, bright acidity, and the earthy notes more wound up in the background. Needs time, but all the pieces are there. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Charming earth and spice quality from the stem inclusion. Cola and fruit on the palate. My main gripe is this was just a touch thin and dilute for me. Hopefully, these will pick up weight with age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light cola nose; early great earthy texture and complexity; roses and licorice; layered and complex with nice but tannic finish; after 2 hrs flattened.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some nice fruit, but quickly overwhelmed by oak. A little better 30 minutes later, but really needed a couple of hours to breathe. Not a pop and pour wine at this point.
1/23/2014 Not much different from last time. I'll leave a couple of bottles for another year or two.
10/4/2019 Tart cherry and cranberry fruit, but still overwhelmed by the oak.
3/20/2015 Decanted for a couple of hours. Fruit is still a little muddled. Pleasant amount of earthiness. Tannins are still the defining character.
4/9/2017 Much the same as last time. Muddled fruit, some earthiness and oak. Drink up--not going to get better
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lot of Wines at Tommy's Clambake (again) (Tommy K's.): Opened late, this is drinking very well. A nose of dark cherries, macerated cherries and some leather. Deep. This unwinds in the glass to show a lot of complexity. Needs time, but again, drinking well now. The crowd loved it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was closed and quite simple on day 1... but by day 2 it tasted like a completely different wine! Dark ruby, medium bodied, cherry and spice, long finish. Very nice!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with and following dinner over 5.5 hours after decanting through the Vinturi for 1.5 hours and then again through Vinturi when poured back into bottle. Bouquet was the highlight of this bottle...attractive nose of wild red berries, raspberry, cranberry, orange zest, pine needle, mineral, and hints of spice. Palate was light in texture & body, restrained with loads of minerality and acidity, but slightly lacking depth in the mid-palate. Notes of tart cherry and red berries, pomegranate, and a touch of vanilla. Fine silky tannins are evident, and ends with a dry, clean & moderate finish. Bright, delicate and feminine overall, that is best consumed with food IMHO. (90+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
just not a fan of the unripe fruit style. Kutch is a member of the In Pursuit of Balance group who are adherents to this approach to wine making. RP 91-93, WS 87, HD 86
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red; sweet nose with slight hint of vanilla and pepper; nice, round, easy-going, good balance, some licorice, straightforward, although limited depth and complexity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Jamie Kutch Visits The OC For Dinner (Luciana's In Dana Point (South OC)): This was my CA pinot of the year in 2013. When we poured this last night, it was blind but I knew it was one of two wines. Yet, the wine's quality and pedigree was easy for me to spot and by now, this wine has reached a special place for me as it shows with class each time I have it. Such great balance with a spicy, hard cherry candy quality. Simply pure, dynamite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light nose; light blueberry, blackberry, cherry and some sweet apple; smooth and balanced; soft and elegant with long semi-sweet light cherry finish; excellent old world style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour day 1; clear, ruby colored; nose of tart red fruits and minerals; similar palate; overall muted and reticent compared to previous bottle a little less than one year ago. Similar reaction 24 hours later. Day 4, as the wine warmed to slightly cooler than room temperature, both the nose and palate began to push forward and show more than the first two days. In addition to the tart red fruits and minerals, the nose and palate both included light oak and floral undertones; even more, there is now an incredible balance here and a bright, pureness overall. This is a very pretty and feminine wine and so nicely balanced....it just took 4 days to get there.
13.9% alcohol. A very pretty floral nose. Red fruit and roses on the palate accompanied by a bit of spice. The palate impression is light, but balanced. This wine is not deep or long, but is very attractive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Moderate garnet color. The nose is geared toward the red fruited end of the spectrum and was coupled with floral notes and spice. The palate echoed the nose and provided a sophisticated package with a refined mouthfeel. The acidity was high and highlighted the brightness of the fruit. The finish was long and pure. Overall, this was a lovely wine that clearly displayed Jamie's winemaking evolution to wines with bright fruit, lower alcohol, and silkier mouthfeel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finishing my WOTY march through the short list, opened one of these tonight. My son in law and I finished off about 2/3rds and I saved a good size glass for tomorrow, where I will do a final weigh in. This shows very well on Day 1, offering black cherry, raspberry, truffle and some mineral. Terrific balance, too. Tomorrow is the finishing glass but putting that aside, this is a great bottle of CA pinot....with about a day of air, this picks up some plum flesh/skin, showing the same raspberry and mineral tones as yesterday, with some conifer/pine notes on the aromatic. The finish has a soily, shroomy character and really I'd want to drink this all day, man. WOTY? Ah, so close. I'll have to finish my WOTY finalist list over the next 2 weeks,which really only has a couple left to go, and it just might take it, for sure in my Top 3 for 2013. Really delicious, reminding me a little of the 2011 Anthill Campbell Ranch. This wine should age and sing for many more years--just fantastic.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, opened this with the help of a friend as I could not pick out a Pinot to have. Boy am I glad I picked this. red cherries, floral, with just a hint of earth. structure & balanced wonderfully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium dark. Awesome crunchy red and blue fruits, spice and some earth. Great mouth feel with perhaps just a hint of cola. Decanted for 2 hours, continues to get better with air.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The long awaited opening of the McDougall Ranch!! Opened in honor of us finishing our wine "cellar". Well worth the wait. Good news there's more on the way!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over lunch, about 1 hour of total air. Very compact on opening. With time in the glass this reveals nice high toned notes of raspberry, Rainer cherries and great lift from the whole cluster. The palate is vibrant with good balance. Needs time in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Raspberry, cherry, and cranberry on the nose. Tart cranberry, vanilla, spice, oak in the mouth. Structurally, This medium-bodied wine has high acidity and youthful, drying tannins. With air, this wine begins to unwind and increases its midpalate richness. The finish is short initially, but after a couple of hours it really fleshes out. Overall, this was young and tight early, but after a couple of hours, it builds into something with lovely richness and depth. It paired beautifully with flank steak in a red wine marinade, as it needed some fattiness to offset the tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby color. Floral notes, spice and red small fruits emerge with time in the glass (1+ hour). The body is sleek and refined with nice structure from the stems. Red raspberries and baking spices flow into a cranberry finish that persists nicely. Drink with much air or age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red; fruity nose, raspberries; soft round body, somewhat acidic detracting somewhat from the experience; a bit burning aftertaste; gains from overall ripeness and roundness
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind Tasting Kutch Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Tight nose, not showing much. Great palate intensity, with a mix of tart and ripe red berry fruits, dried flowers and a touch of fruit skin tannin. Great acid and nice structure. I have no idea why the group ranked this last! (my 2nd, group's 9th)
Decanted for about an hour. I really, really enjoyed this. Bright, crunchy red fruits, spices, and a brambly streak. Great concentration, and pretty deep. Ripe tannins are hiding in the background. Nice acidic verve. A winner.
OK, so 2nd bottle and note, with the previous having been one that left a real mark on my pleasure scale. For this bottle, I'll remove the "it's like Burg" reference, as while I think the wine is more made with that impression or style in mind, it's more like 'here' than 'there'. The color shows darker this time, not as pale as I remember, and as a reference point it was more dark than the 2010 Windy Oaks we put next to it, which was indeed lighter colored. My drinking notes this time say bright cherry, mineral, suave with a shading of vanilla, with really nice acid in the finish. This is a really excellent bottle of pinot, one that I enjoyed again. Will do another later in the year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 1: slow ox for 2 hours; clear, lighter ruby in color; nose of light cherries, citrus, lemon zest, crushed slate, tart cranberry; very vibrant but contolled nose; palate of tart cranberry, cherry, light citrus, slate, wet rock, some slight herbal notes; tight acid
Day 2 ( actually 48 hrs later): brought close to room temperature which really allowed the flavors to layer and balance the acid; definitely recommend doing this for future comsumptions; light strawberry and tangy cherry were dominant; great balance.
Decanted for 30 minutes before service. In the glass, a clear, deep red, with a very slight lavender tint at the rim. On the nose, crushed cherries, nutmeg, and (I know it sounds a bit crazy) salty rainwater? On the palate, lean but not austere, trading some of the sweeter notes typical of Sonoma and RRV pinot for more mineral driven flavors, with moderate tannins on the finish. Jamie's style continues to evolve in a Burgundian direction. Very curious to see how this one ages...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great nose right from the time the bottle was open - very expressive florals with ripe cherry. You could stick your face in this wine for hours. Palate took a lot longer to open up and never did fully, even with an hour+ of air. Some cherry and cranberry on the weightless palate, showing lots of finesse but a strong bitter note leading into the finish showing the tannins still need to resolve. Overall a really great pinot but definitely give these a few years as there is so much more they are going to deliver.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a very high site above the fog line with 50% whole cluster fermentation and 50% new oak. Light floral nose. Lovely pure fruit with nice grip and a fine chalkiness, finesse and a lovely freshness to the palate. With time in the glass the fruit feels a little more textured and savoury. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Flowered light black cherry nose; black cherry on palate with complex flavors of light raisen, blackberry and cherry with undertones of vegatables; light tannins that are already nicely integrated but show promse of a great future.
456 cases. 50% destemmed with 50% new French oak. The nose is stunning with upfront cherry and pomegranate, floral elements, minerals, and a touch of stems added on day 2. The fruit is pure cherry and cranberry with an occasional flash of strawberry that wraps up with a mineral edge. Structurally, this wine has lovely acidity and a silky mouthfeel that is very appealing. The finish is long and pure with great fruit and minerals. On day 2, this wine firmed up, so I believe it has some legs left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened last night for a New Year's dinner with my wife at home. Enjoying again tonight with what would be a day of slow ox air. Damn, this could pass for Burgundy if it was placed into a blind tasting. Paler in color, with a dark rose color. Has a cool, shy nose that hints at spice, along with mineral. The palate is lean, but not astringent, instead showing a polished cherry note, silky smooth. When I let the wine get closer to room temp, it allows a strawberry note with a creamy edge to come out. The finish contains a sour cherry, herb, lots of rocky mineral. Good luck finding any black fruit here, with only a hint of blue. Damn, this could be Burg, with the flavor profile, elegant weight and balance, mineral and pure red fruits. I just can't believe this is a CA pinot noir from the Sonoma Coast. This won't appeal to CA big pinot drinkers but I like it a lot.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Right now it is aromatically a little reserved. With air, you get red stone fruit and some element of spice on the nose.. The palate is silky in the mouth with a burst of cherry fruit on the finish. Great texture. Lively. Plenty of structure here. A mineral type firmness on the finish. Perfect density to me. Love this! Great job Jamie.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened a bottle as soon as we got delivery. Noticeably young, but infanticide never tasted so good! Will let the remaining bottles age a couple years and try again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first Kutch and knew I was baby killing, but thankfully, this was a very enjoyable drink. The robe was a glimmering ruby red, and the nose offered a strong scent of fresh dark cherries and some spice, which carried through to the palate. The palate was tight at first, opening up more over the course of 2 days, but still made a delicious pairing with broccoli beef. Overall, just a lovely and pure expression of pinot; will be interesting to see how this one develops over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Even young and travel weary this is a shining example of purple fruit done right. The nose is spiced and lingering. Baking and slight savory spices intermix with white and brown mineral. The pleasing mouth is loaded with fine, slightly sweet, lively purple fruit. Did I mention how pleasing the mouthfeel is?
I notice that for 2009, I thought the fruit was more toward the red spectrum. I did however drink that wine after more settle down time from bottling and shipping. It will be interesting to try them side by side in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/17/2023 - lolo66 wrote: 93 Points
in a beautiful spot. vibrant and punchy - there has to be some whole cluster ferm going on. The balance is spot on and it has a resonant depth to it. Just a touch of medicinal cherry (that I tolerate), but other than that an excellent showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2022 - Grape_ape Likes this wine:
This drank really well last night, and held its own in a side by side with a 2010 Bouchard Volnay
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2022 - Floyd77 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not showing obvious signs of age, but this 2010 McDougall was muted -- both on the nose and palate. A pleasant pinot noir, but not much more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2022 - MindMuse wrote:
Somewhat better with some aeration, but overall pretty faded and disappointing given that I took it to a lunch with some Pinot lovers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Kutch Verticals--Trout Gulch, McDougall and Falstaff: Vertical (non-blind) of McDougall, 2010 -2021. We did not taste the 2011 (no one owned it) nor 2014 and 2018 (stupid COVID forced the owners to have to miss the tasting) and the 2021 was a tank sample that Jamie pulled for us and shipped down for the tasting (being bottled next week so it's the final composition). I notice that I have had this many times now since release but that the most recent bottle didn't suit me. I kind of feel the same way here, although the bottle last night seemed fresher to me. It does have the astringency of the previous bottle, and is a touch peppery. The cherry fruit just seems a little old in tone and honestly I would rather drink the newer releases.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2021 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 91 Points
I like it. Elegant structure and flavor profile. A Burgundian feel — in fact, lighter than a premier cru Volnay I tasted last night. Pleasing flavors of red cherries and roasted sesame oil. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2021 - KristianT Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite Burgundy-like, but a little more pebbery and dark. Actually more Baden-like than Sonoma-like on the nose. Very smooth and elegant. Fully mature now. Great bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2020 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Coravined one glass to pair with a medium rare rib eye. At the 30 min mark, an elegant nose of cherry and rich cola waft with an even strength portending a wine in mid-stride. The smooth mouthfeel melts into wonderful meaty notes of apple and dark cherries gliding into a long savory finish and full-body deliciously balancing the tasty rib-eye. As pairings go it is an enjoyable change of pace versus the more traditional Napa Cab. No question to it age-worthiness, this wine is in a great place right now with many more years to run. A wine in full.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2020 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
The 2010 was popped and poured immediately following the ‘11 Sonoma Coast and drank fabulously. Deep, rich black raspberry nose, meaty full-body mouthfeel with rich texture of dark fruit flavor. This wine showed a measured strength and structure that was a joy to drink. Everything about this wine was a joy to drink: a great bouquet on the nose, full-body and smooth enjoyment on the palate and a nice long savory finish. Fantastic at 10 years, there was so much in this pour that I would have no problem checking in on this beauty at another 5 or 10 year interval.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2019 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (T&L's): Double blind. The lightest color of the wines in this flight- must be TLV's pinot, lol. Aromas of cherry, cola, rhubarb and clay (yes, it's TLV's pinot). Spice, cherry and cranberry with a long finish and nice underlying acidity. This has an elegance to it which had me thinking WesMar. In a very good spot right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2019 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 94 Points
This 9 year old is sensational! Also, I thought I had more and drank all but the last one. I'll have to save it for a special day. This has purple/red fruit. It is rounded but not soft in any way. It has aged well and taken on secondary traits well. There is plush bright purple/red fruit, some holiday spice perceptions, and maybe some forest floor. It drank so easy... I loved it!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2019 - brigcampbell wrote:
Got a bit of tomato and Joanne agreed so I have that going for me... Hint of Carmel and vanilla.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
July 2019 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): Tasted over two days. 50% whole cluster, and just under 14% ABV. On Day 1, this seemed riper to me, with a bit of syrup (referring to palate weight/feel), with dark berry and some maple. On Day 2, pretty similar, with some riper quality alongside the density that doesn't feel balanced to me. Finishes astringent, too. This bottle was not nearly as good as the one I wrote up a year ago, and I suspect that bottle may have had some cooler chill added to it. This may be the way to approach this wine. Overall, this bottle is not of the style and touch that Jamie now uses for McDougall.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2019 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Opened by LostVerse. A consistently fine Pinot Noir (I've had the 2007 and 2009 vintages before). 18 months in oak. Firm tannins with an oaky backbone. Notes of earthy fruit, sweet red berries and leather. Silky finish. 92 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2019 - Meerlust wrote: 91 Points
456 cs. 50% destemmed. 16 months in 50% new oak.
Medium ruby color. This bottle began its day with little fruit but plenty of earthy, mushroom notes and structure when opened. With air, red fruits erupted from the glass with red raspberry and cherry dominating. The crisp acidity in this medium-bodied wine was complimentary to the fruit and accentuated the silky mouthfeel. There was solid length on the earthy, red-fruited finish. Overall, this was a very complex wine that displayed two different personalities throughout the night. It was earthy and a little stern to begin, but it morphed into a lovely pinot as the night moved forward. It was a lovely match with Trader Joe’s black bean soup and various cheeses.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2019 - Miceri Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium to dark red; rich deep fruity nose; soft, a bit flat, slightly dry, some sharpness, long aftertaste; fine, but guess it is time to drink up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2018 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Opened but not decanted. Open for an hour prior to dinner. Still dark in color with no apparent bricking. Very feminine nose with dark red fruits and earth/forest floor. The cherry has lost a bit of tartness and the tanins are nicely integrated. It's been almost six years since my first bottle and this has aged very gracefully. I don't think there is any hurry here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2018 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. Tasted without food. Opened this up at cellarvtemps to enjoy as a rain storm rolled in to help cool the hot streak of westher the past week.
Deep ruby red color. No sign of bricking.
Clear.
Nose offers uo some savory, herbal notes, with a hint of cedar and vanilla extract.
Good fruit flavors of dried cherries with orange peel. There is an inviting floral element as well - think violets. Did not getbthat violet note on the nose but it shows up on the mid-point. Light mouthfeel. Alcohol shows uo a bit on the back end. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2018 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 88 Points
nose: plum, red fruits, it seemed well into middle age with a touch of obvious alcohol
palate: neither as refined nor as lively as the Kutch Savoy 2011 tasted earlier this week. The palate was soft and full, but the flavors were muted and while tasty, not particularly delicious. Some chalky cranberry and a lingering finish of old raspberry jam. While nowhere near old age, I wouldn't say this wine has a whole lot of evolution ahead of it. I'm glad I drank it now, in other words, instead of carting it across the country in a month.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
We opened this about Noon, finished it around 6PM (amongst several other things and I didn't take any formal notes). What I do recall was a more feminine version of McDougall, with a tart core and red fruits. In addition, the wine seemed to be well in tact, aging right along, not tired or anything of that sort. Really just humming right along, very similar in energy to the 2008 Clos Pepe VS Pinot Noir we drank alongside it. Both are passing 10 years and remain terrific.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2018 - Cailles wrote: 90 Points
This was unexpected. Even though I have not much experience with American Pinot Noir this wine is much more evolved than I would have assumed. Lots of sous bois dominating the nose and palate, in additional cola, some herbal aromas and underneath rather dark fruit. It got rounder and more integrated after an hour in the glass. Not faulty at all but not overly exciting either and definitely not was I was looking for.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/21/2018 - sirpat00 wrote: 89 Points
Tasted with a dinner in the Twist at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. Already rich with secondary aromas with an underlying fruit leaning towards ripe and maybe a bit darker than you would expect from a pinot. Not quite harmonic on the palate, no additional complexity and no real evolution in the glass, even though admittedly glass time smoothes the edges a bit. It was ok overall but hard to imagine this one getting any better with additional bottle age, probably already well into the second half of its wine life.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light raisen raspberry; light with some earth; layered; light finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2018 - LotionInTheBasket wrote: 94 Points
Over 2 days... The color is a deep brick red. Medium(+) body. On the nose, dark red fruit, vanilla, white pepper, graphite, dust. Day 1 was much more forward. Day 2 is more reserved, the graphite and earthier notes are more present. The front is loaded with black cherries, mixed with a fun dip tart with that non-existent-vanilla stick thing. Day 2 was more earthy and some lighter raspberry notes evolving. Mid-palate has great acidity, more pepper. Then the finish is long and deep with velvety tannins providing a great texture; its a thing of beauty and made me up my rating. My 94.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2017 - Floyd77 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Balanced, elegant -- incredibly long finish. Beautiful wine -- drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2017 - mulder wrote:
Mmm...goodness in the glass. Nose of strawberries, cherries, and dusty mountain blackberry with sandalwood, and a nice mineral note. Palate is tart red fruits and savoriness from the acidity. Great stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
This is still a pretty big wine. Young and big fruit. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is dark cherries, some cherry juice drink mix and sandalwood. On the palate, juicy black cherries. Goes well with a Mushroom Burger. Still very young and will mature and get less up front I think, but great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
More or less consistent with previous bottles - but perhaps a bit muted this time around?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2017 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Red berry fruit. Very fresh and lively, I'd describe this as medium bodied for California Pinot. There is a nice cardamom spice note on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2017 - WineGold Likes this wine: 93 Points
Poured medium garnet in the glass. Took about 30 minutes for the fruit to reveal itself. On the nose, there are gentle strawberries, cherries, earth and minerals. On the palate this is on the light side of medium, with cherries, white pepper and nice easy finish. My wife called this beautifully integrated. Lovely with our vegetable chowder. Nice to not be punched in the face with a big extracted wine. Plenty of life left here. Highly enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2016 - gharter Likes this wine:
Not showing much age yet. Raspberry and sour cherry aromas and flavors. A little spice. On the tart side with good acid and a nice finish. Probably still needs a few more years to hit its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2016 - Miceri Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium red; raspberry nose; lean, slightly acidic, mildly sour, some fruit; nice, easy-going
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2016 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
Didn't keep detailed notes but this is showing well and true to the recent Kutch style - definitely California fruit here but not overripe, with the lightness and silkiness of pinot captured here as well. Delightful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2016 - Mlermontov wrote: 93 Points
very pretty! young, but delicious already. ripe berry, black and red fruit. very California to me but excellently balanced. ripe but serious and complex in the mid with a lovely refreshing finish. this should be pretty in a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Largely consistent with previous notes, but just a little bit more of everything with this bottle, after 1.5 hours in the decanter - aromatics, length on the palate, complexity. Best bottle yet...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Austere but with texture and complexity; sweet textured finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Structured; cherry; complex; tannic; needs time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2016 - rc@ughey wrote: 91 Points
Still young, but I really like this. Red fruited with undertones of darker blackberry fruit, fine tannins, and bright acids. Crunchy texture. Perhaps a little foursquare, but this should get deeper with time. Well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
WineFest in Toronto (Mike Grammer); 7/10/2016-7/12/2016 (Mike Grammer's (parents home) in Toronto): This has really improved since I tried it last. Dark cherries on the nose with spice. On the palate, cherries and dark cherries. Some powdered cherry drink. Medium tannins. Lovely texture. Spry and light on its feet. This is the tightest of all the bottle IMO but should continue to improve IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberry with depth; balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2016 - Miceri Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium red; strawberry, red cherries; lean peppery attack, nice fruit, nice body, drying tannins at the end, sweet undertones; nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2016 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry-blackberry; textured with depth; flowered; long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2016 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Dark red berries and savory spice notes on the nose and palate with tart cherries and acidity on the moderate finish. Approachable but with a long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light and earthy with some cherry and nice finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Flowered and mushroom nose; semi sweet cherry-raspberry-blackberry; complex; sweet smooth finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2016 - Jbird73 wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple fruit flavored with a beautiful nose of same and spice and oak. Very well integrated and drinking super well right now. Don't see a need to wait further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2016 - Miceri Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium red; wonderful raspberry/strawberry nose; smooth, delicious, slight tannic bite (in a good way), rounded, soft, full of sun, very nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Austere and earthy; light cola with some cherry; light finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Austere with good acidity; balance but light; some cherry-cola; light finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2015 - BradE wrote:
A leisurely bottle over a few hours. Nice contrast between the deep, somewhat brooding, fruit and an element of berries that danced in a flirty way across the palate. All packaged in classic Kutch style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2015 - wineaux2 wrote: 91 Points
This one was still pretty consistent in flavor profile compared to the first bottle sampled in Nov'12, with the notable exception of currently needing a lot of air to showcase dark cherry and spice notes. The last third of the bottle, which was consumed on day 2, was the best.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2015 - Miceri Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red; lots of ripe raspberries; nice balanced attack, light bite of tannins, sweet long aftertaste, not many nuances or complexity; likeable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured, then consumed over two hours. Red and black berries throughout with a charming savory spice from start-to-finish and springtime floral hints. That's all good, but the balance and textural elegance here is what I most admired. If this were served blind, I could have been convinced it was a top Chambolle Villages wine. Kept opening up (and lengthening) for the first hour open, so I expect this will be getting better with more cellar time. Well done!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
We polished off this bottle pretty fast and it left me a little disappointed early on. However, the lesson learned and I should have known this for McDougall, was allow it to air. The stems and balance were out of whack, ultimately resolving well, with the fruit evolving to a really nice darker cherry. Just give this wine time if you open at this stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Too green and young; austere with good balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2015 - Anthony Lombardi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Popped & poured with a artisanal pizza. Dark garnet color. This wine shows all to love in Sonoma Coast PN. Dark, rich cherry notes, but in beautiful balance with impressive structure and whole cluster spicy complexity. Kutch has that WC as a trademark and he coaxes loads of complexity in his wines. Fuller bodied & showing plenty of power and grip. The acidity is a bit of a secondary player at first, but emerges beautifully on the mid palate.
I fear I may not have given this enough air as four of us made pretty short work of it and I know from other vintages that this settles into a quiet beauty with airtime. On the whole, just delicious Pinot Noir.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2015 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
1 hour decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2015 - ptelgenh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicate yet a full bodied, balanced Pinot. Strawberries and tart cherries. This is one that is very enjoyable with food or on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry, raisen, blueberry and earth; semi-sweet fruit; still tannic and young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2015 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great sonoma pinot. acidic backbone to hang the copious red fruits. Very foot friendly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2015 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
On the young side but showing well. Black cherry color. Initially closed up nose that unfolded with some air, revealing pretty red and black cherry notes and earthy undertones. Classic Sonoma Coast here. In the mouth, racy and linear, with tangy cherry fruit, bright acidity, and the earthy notes more wound up in the background. Needs time, but all the pieces are there. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2015 - EhrlichDY wrote: 89 Points
Charming earth and spice quality from the stem inclusion. Cola and fruit on the palate. My main gripe is this was just a touch thin and dilute for me. Hopefully, these will pick up weight with age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light earthy blackberry with light earthy raisin; semi sweet fruit; nice balance; good texture and length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light cola nose; early great earthy texture and complexity; roses and licorice; layered and complex with nice but tannic finish; after 2 hrs flattened.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2014 - underwds wrote: 88 Points
Some nice fruit, but quickly overwhelmed by oak. A little better 30 minutes later, but really needed a couple of hours to breathe. Not a pop and pour wine at this point.
1/23/2014 Not much different from last time. I'll leave a couple of bottles for another year or two.
10/4/2019 Tart cherry and cranberry fruit, but still overwhelmed by the oak.
3/20/2015 Decanted for a couple of hours. Fruit is still a little muddled. Pleasant amount of earthiness. Tannins are still the defining character.
4/9/2017 Much the same as last time. Muddled fruit, some earthiness and oak. Drink up--not going to get better
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Earthy and herbaceous; some raisen and light licorice; textured; tannic and still young; decent finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2014 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
No decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
A lot of Wines at Tommy's Clambake (again) (Tommy K's.): Opened late, this is drinking very well. A nose of dark cherries, macerated cherries and some leather. Deep. This unwinds in the glass to show a lot of complexity. Needs time, but again, drinking well now. The crowd loved it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light with some blackberry and raspberry; tannic backbone; rather light elegant finish; needs time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2014 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was closed and quite simple on day 1... but by day 2 it tasted like a completely different wine! Dark ruby, medium bodied, cherry and spice, long finish. Very nice!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2014 - DRS-Inc wrote: 90 Points
Had with and following dinner over 5.5 hours after decanting through the Vinturi for 1.5 hours and then again through Vinturi when poured back into bottle. Bouquet was the highlight of this bottle...attractive nose of wild red berries, raspberry, cranberry, orange zest, pine needle, mineral, and hints of spice. Palate was light in texture & body, restrained with loads of minerality and acidity, but slightly lacking depth in the mid-palate. Notes of tart cherry and red berries, pomegranate, and a touch of vanilla. Fine silky tannins are evident, and ends with a dry, clean & moderate finish. Bright, delicate and feminine overall, that is best consumed with food IMHO. (90+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2014 - Wine_in_HD Does not like this wine: 86 Points
just not a fan of the unripe fruit style. Kutch is a member of the In Pursuit of Balance group who are adherents to this approach to wine making. RP 91-93, WS 87, HD 86
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2014 - Miceri Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium red; sweet nose with slight hint of vanilla and pepper; nice, round, easy-going, good balance, some licorice, straightforward, although limited depth and complexity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Jamie Kutch Visits The OC For Dinner (Luciana's In Dana Point (South OC)): This was my CA pinot of the year in 2013. When we poured this last night, it was blind but I knew it was one of two wines. Yet, the wine's quality and pedigree was easy for me to spot and by now, this wine has reached a special place for me as it shows with class each time I have it. Such great balance with a spicy, hard cherry candy quality. Simply pure, dynamite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light nose; light blueberry, blackberry, cherry and some sweet apple; smooth and balanced; soft and elegant with long semi-sweet light cherry finish; excellent old world style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2014 - tcufletch wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour day 1; clear, ruby colored; nose of tart red fruits and minerals; similar palate; overall muted and reticent compared to previous bottle a little less than one year ago. Similar reaction 24 hours later. Day 4, as the wine warmed to slightly cooler than room temperature, both the nose and palate began to push forward and show more than the first two days. In addition to the tart red fruits and minerals, the nose and palate both included light oak and floral undertones; even more, there is now an incredible balance here and a bright, pureness overall. This is a very pretty and feminine wine and so nicely balanced....it just took 4 days to get there.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/18/2014 - robertek wrote: 93 Points
This is a great and very drinkable Pinot at this stage with a nice nose and good balance on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 89 Points
13.9% alcohol. A very pretty floral nose. Red fruit and roses on the palate accompanied by a bit of spice. The palate impression is light, but balanced. This wine is not deep or long, but is very attractive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2013 - Meerlust wrote: 91 Points
Moderate garnet color. The nose is geared toward the red fruited end of the spectrum and was coupled with floral notes and spice. The palate echoed the nose and provided a sophisticated package with a refined mouthfeel. The acidity was high and highlighted the brightness of the fruit. The finish was long and pure. Overall, this was a lovely wine that clearly displayed Jamie's winemaking evolution to wines with bright fruit, lower alcohol, and silkier mouthfeel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Finishing my WOTY march through the short list, opened one of these tonight. My son in law and I finished off about 2/3rds and I saved a good size glass for tomorrow, where I will do a final weigh in. This shows very well on Day 1, offering black cherry, raspberry, truffle and some mineral. Terrific balance, too. Tomorrow is the finishing glass but putting that aside, this is a great bottle of CA pinot....with about a day of air, this picks up some plum flesh/skin, showing the same raspberry and mineral tones as yesterday, with some conifer/pine notes on the aromatic. The finish has a soily, shroomy character and really I'd want to drink this all day, man. WOTY? Ah, so close. I'll have to finish my WOTY finalist list over the next 2 weeks,which really only has a couple left to go, and it just might take it, for sure in my Top 3 for 2013. Really delicious, reminding me a little of the 2011 Anthill Campbell Ranch. This wine should age and sing for many more years--just fantastic.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - lsnider wrote: 93 Points
PnP, opened this with the help of a friend as I could not pick out a Pinot to have. Boy am I glad I picked this. red cherries, floral, with just a hint of earth. structure & balanced wonderfully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2013 - Dale B. wrote: 93 Points
Medium dark. Awesome crunchy red and blue fruits, spice and some earth. Great mouth feel with perhaps just a hint of cola. Decanted for 2 hours, continues to get better with air.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant and herbaceous; earthy and light; too young; smooth and lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2013 - jlmaz Likes this wine: 93 Points
The long awaited opening of the McDougall Ranch!! Opened in honor of us finishing our wine "cellar". Well worth the wait. Good news there's more on the way!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2013 - fdub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over lunch, about 1 hour of total air. Very compact on opening. With time in the glass this reveals nice high toned notes of raspberry, Rainer cherries and great lift from the whole cluster. The palate is vibrant with good balance. Needs time in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better than the 09, a very round, focused and complete Pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 92 Points
The wine is classic sonoma coast pinot. Bright fruits with a firm acidity. Elegant lovely wine....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2013 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
No decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2013 - Meerlust wrote: 90 Points
Raspberry, cherry, and cranberry on the nose. Tart cranberry, vanilla, spice, oak in the mouth. Structurally, This medium-bodied wine has high acidity and youthful, drying tannins. With air, this wine begins to unwind and increases its midpalate richness. The finish is short initially, but after a couple of hours it really fleshes out. Overall, this was young and tight early, but after a couple of hours, it builds into something with lovely richness and depth. It paired beautifully with flank steak in a red wine marinade, as it needed some fattiness to offset the tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2013 - fdub Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ruby color. Floral notes, spice and red small fruits emerge with time in the glass (1+ hour). The body is sleek and refined with nice structure from the stems. Red raspberries and baking spices flow into a cranberry finish that persists nicely. Drink with much air or age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2013 - Miceri wrote: 89 Points
Medium red; fruity nose, raspberries; soft round body, somewhat acidic detracting somewhat from the experience; a bit burning aftertaste; gains from overall ripeness and roundness
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2013 - Floyd77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine has depth, complexity, elegance -- and a finish that goes on and on. Love it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2013 - brianofthevine wrote: 88 Points
Red cherry, subtle spice, short finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 91 Points
WCC California Pinot Noir Blind Tasting II (Milestone Restaurant, Glenmont, NY): Lightest in color in this flight. Bright sweet cherry nose. Silky and elegant in the mouth. Great class. Really comes into focus on the finish. Could use a few more years to really show itself. 90-92 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2013 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blind Tasting Kutch Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Tight nose, not showing much. Great palate intensity, with a mix of tart and ripe red berry fruits, dried flowers and a touch of fruit skin tannin. Great acid and nice structure. I have no idea why the group ranked this last! (my 2nd, group's 9th)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/19/2013 - rc@ughey wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about an hour. I really, really enjoyed this. Bright, crunchy red fruits, spices, and a brambly streak. Great concentration, and pretty deep. Ripe tannins are hiding in the background. Nice acidic verve. A winner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/6/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OK, so 2nd bottle and note, with the previous having been one that left a real mark on my pleasure scale. For this bottle, I'll remove the "it's like Burg" reference, as while I think the wine is more made with that impression or style in mind, it's more like 'here' than 'there'. The color shows darker this time, not as pale as I remember, and as a reference point it was more dark than the 2010 Windy Oaks we put next to it, which was indeed lighter colored. My drinking notes this time say bright cherry, mineral, suave with a shading of vanilla, with really nice acid in the finish. This is a really excellent bottle of pinot, one that I enjoyed again. Will do another later in the year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2013 - tcufletch wrote:
Day 1: slow ox for 2 hours; clear, lighter ruby in color; nose of light cherries, citrus, lemon zest, crushed slate, tart cranberry; very vibrant but contolled nose; palate of tart cranberry, cherry, light citrus, slate, wet rock, some slight herbal notes; tight acid
Day 2 ( actually 48 hrs later): brought close to room temperature which really allowed the flavors to layer and balance the acid; definitely recommend doing this for future comsumptions; light strawberry and tangy cherry were dominant; great balance.
My first Kutch and very excited to be on board!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/28/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sweet, rich with nice cola, cherry and sweet blackberry; round and supple and minerally; long and sweet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2013 - Griffin5416 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Pinot but not worth the price nor the adulation IMHO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/22/2013 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes before service. In the glass, a clear, deep red, with a very slight lavender tint at the rim. On the nose, crushed cherries, nutmeg, and (I know it sounds a bit crazy) salty rainwater? On the palate, lean but not austere, trading some of the sweeter notes typical of Sonoma and RRV pinot for more mineral driven flavors, with moderate tannins on the finish. Jamie's style continues to evolve in a Burgundian direction. Very curious to see how this one ages...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2013 - kultcha Likes this wine:
Great nose right from the time the bottle was open - very expressive florals with ripe cherry. You could stick your face in this wine for hours. Palate took a lot longer to open up and never did fully, even with an hour+ of air. Some cherry and cranberry on the weightless palate, showing lots of finesse but a strong bitter note leading into the finish showing the tannins still need to resolve. Overall a really great pinot but definitely give these a few years as there is so much more they are going to deliver.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2013 - Biggsy wrote: 91 Points
From a very high site above the fog line with 50% whole cluster fermentation and 50% new oak. Light floral nose. Lovely pure fruit with nice grip and a fine chalkiness, finesse and a lovely freshness to the palate. With time in the glass the fruit feels a little more textured and savoury. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Flowered light black cherry nose; black cherry on palate with complex flavors of light raisen, blackberry and cherry with undertones of vegatables; light tannins that are already nicely integrated but show promse of a great future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/19/2013 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
456 cases. 50% destemmed with 50% new French oak. The nose is stunning with upfront cherry and pomegranate, floral elements, minerals, and a touch of stems added on day 2. The fruit is pure cherry and cranberry with an occasional flash of strawberry that wraps up with a mineral edge. Structurally, this wine has lovely acidity and a silky mouthfeel that is very appealing. The finish is long and pure with great fruit and minerals. On day 2, this wine firmed up, so I believe it has some legs left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2013 - Floyd77 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Took a long time open up, but when it did -- phenomenal. Ripe cherry, cranberry ... enticing ... intense ... big but elegant. Bravo Jamie Kutch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2013 - Griffin5416 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice wight and structure. Smooth but a shortish mineral driven finish. Perhaps not my style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/4/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Very light color. Sour cherry and spice with a creamy edge. Much upside potential here with some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened last night for a New Year's dinner with my wife at home. Enjoying again tonight with what would be a day of slow ox air. Damn, this could pass for Burgundy if it was placed into a blind tasting. Paler in color, with a dark rose color. Has a cool, shy nose that hints at spice, along with mineral. The palate is lean, but not astringent, instead showing a polished cherry note, silky smooth. When I let the wine get closer to room temp, it allows a strawberry note with a creamy edge to come out. The finish contains a sour cherry, herb, lots of rocky mineral. Good luck finding any black fruit here, with only a hint of blue. Damn, this could be Burg, with the flavor profile, elegant weight and balance, mineral and pure red fruits. I just can't believe this is a CA pinot noir from the Sonoma Coast. This won't appeal to CA big pinot drinkers but I like it a lot.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2012 - bonedocnine wrote: 94 Points
I love this wine. Classic sonoma Pinot. Bright red fruit with lovely structure. This wine has it all. Kudos to the Kutch crew!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2012 - DCornutt wrote:
Right now it is aromatically a little reserved.
With air, you get red stone fruit and some element of spice on the nose..
The palate is silky in the mouth with a burst of cherry fruit on the finish.
Great texture. Lively.
Plenty of structure here. A mineral type firmness on the finish.
Perfect density to me. Love this! Great job Jamie.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - Miceri Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium red; nice fruity nose with some licorice; soft, velvety attack, nicely balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2012 - Murf130 wrote: 95 Points
Opened a bottle as soon as we got delivery. Noticeably young, but infanticide never tasted so good!
Will let the remaining bottles age a couple years and try again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2012 - wineaux2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
My first Kutch and knew I was baby killing, but thankfully, this was a very enjoyable drink. The robe was a glimmering ruby red, and the nose offered a strong scent of fresh dark cherries and some spice, which carried through to the palate. The palate was tight at first, opening up more over the course of 2 days, but still made a delicious pairing with broccoli beef. Overall, just a lovely and pure expression of pinot; will be interesting to see how this one develops over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2012 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Even young and travel weary this is a shining example of purple fruit done right. The nose is spiced and lingering. Baking and slight savory spices intermix with white and brown mineral. The pleasing mouth is loaded with fine, slightly sweet, lively purple fruit. Did I mention how pleasing the mouthfeel is?
I notice that for 2009, I thought the fruit was more toward the red spectrum. I did however drink that wine after more settle down time from bottling and shipping. It will be interesting to try them side by side in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2012 - Griffin5416 wrote: 89 Points
Perhaps was too eager. Opened as soon as it was delivered. A bit tight. Nice subtle flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2012 - cpsmith33 wrote: 90 Points
In Pursuit of Balance (NYC): Similar to the 2009's dark fruit and spice. Tighter. Very nice though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2012 - amateurwino wrote: 91 Points
Showing more structure than the 09 Falstaff, but similarly light and energetic, more open than I'd expect. 91-92 now, but should show better with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment