Kutch Verticals--Trout Gulch, McDougall and Falstaff: Vertical (non-blind) of Falstaff, 2010 -2021. We did not taste the 2011 (no one owned it) nor 2014 and 2019 (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). Tangy cedar, blackberry and cherry. Light browning at the rim yet the berry notes are still fresh. Overall, this is holding together well but I'm glad I was able to share this from my cellar, as it's my final one and it's more appealing to those who liked aged wines than someone like myself.
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Wow my last one! This is great. It’s showing dark cherry and blueberry. There are some flower petals, along with some secondary traits of dried leaves and hint of forest floor. I also am picking up some perceptions of brick dust, and spice. Quite honestly, it has some similar qualities of the Lignier Chaffots 2017, less complex. It is really smooth and lovely. 93
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Color: bright ruby Nose: cherries, earth and cedar and flowers Taste: lots of cherry and raspberry with floral taste and a dash of citrus Very lovely and feminine with fruit upfront but not cloying or sweet then opening up to floral and a dash of citrus. The finish was tart (in a good way) but not overly long. I have no idea how much longer this has but it is in a sweet spot right now.
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What? I've never tasted this wine before? Cool. It definitely looks it's aging based on the color, light bricking. Strawberry and rhubarb nose. Love the sandelwood and cedar flavors. Feminine and balanced. Graceful wine.
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July 2019 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): Drank as part of a 5 bottle flight of Falstaffs (2010 non-blind, with the 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018 tasted blind). 13.25% ABV with 50% whole cluster. Red cherry, sweet pomegranate, cinnamon (like a red hots candy) and red apple. This wine is approaching a decade old and is holding up well and drinking with a good balance, too. No rush on these if you have any remaining.
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Lots of bright red cherry, a little cranberry, and some pomegranate. A touch of baking spice, and then a nice earthy finish with notes of cedar. Plenty of acidity and characteristic of the restrained fruit I've come to expect from a Kutch wine. Excellent with our rich lamb stew.
4/30/2019 Color trending to brickish now. Fruit was muted, but back half still nice spices and earthiness.
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This one showed a lot of pinot crunchiness right out of the gate. Fanned out nicely to show a nose and palate of dark cherries complemented by sweet and savory spices. Also had a light body and well-integrated acidity. Seemed a bit short on the finish but otherwise a pretty pinot.
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Decanted for 30 minutes before service. In the glass, violet-tinted red at the rim, shading to dark clear ruby red at the core. On the nose, an intriguing mixture of floral, spice, and citrus notes. On the palate, lush and inviting, with ample spice and fruit, but without any hint of syrupy cola. Just a really nice wine.
Delicious red cherries, raspberries, and floral notes on the nose and palate with tasty spice and acidity culminating in a moderate finish. Drinking well!
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Lovely, berry bouquet followed by sweet cherry entry that went on for 45 seconds to a minute or more. Terrific with grilled salmon but so appealing I kept drinking it after dinner. Very light on its feet, well-balanced, wish I had more. Just a delicious Pinot.
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Still a bit early to have this wine but after a few nights recorked in the fridge, this showed very well. Nice floral aromas, silky mouthfeel, good fruit with a balance of generosity and crunch. Has potential to be really exceptional in maturity, maybe in 3-5 years? 92+
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Light-bodied for a Cali PN. Beautifully perfumed nose preceded a juicy, delicately nuanced flavor profile. There isn't a hint of Cherry Coke to be found in this. Really nice, an excellent example of the evolution of Cali PN.
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Jamie Kutch Visits The OC For Dinner (Luciana's In Dana Point (South OC)): Tasted blind. It's hard to have a fair fight when I tasted next to this wine the other Kutch 2010, the McDougall. That wine I hold in such high regard and see it as one of the best pinot noirs I have drank in some time. So to measure this Falstaff against that wine, it's a little skewed. Here there is the same fresh berry note that I found in the 2011 Falstaff, yet the overall tone of the fruit here in this 2010 comes off one dimensional to me, lighter bodied. The acidity is nice, present in all of Jamie's wines over the entire evening, but this Falstaff just seems a little riper and less complex for me.
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Tasted at a gathering of friends. Six bottles of California Pinot placed in brown bags and labelled with names of some of the favorite movies. The favorite movies named (not mine, mind you),were Twister, Risky Business, Seven, The Usual Suspects, Moonstruck, and Princess Bride.
Notes are from the blind tasting: The Kutch Falstaff Pinot was "Princess Bride."
Good nose of fruit and spice, with a touch of the Pinot funk. This is an inviting wine with approachable fruit and enough acidity to keep it from being too rich. Could have used some time int he decanter or another year or two in the cellar.
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Blind Tasting Kutch Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Tight, spicy nose. So tight I questioned whether it was corked for awhile. Tight, spicy, tart fruited, leather palate. Thought this was the Burgundy but was less sure than in the first flight. Needs lots of air or time sideways if this bottle is representative. (my 8th, group's 5th)
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7/10/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Kutch Verticals--Trout Gulch, McDougall and Falstaff: Vertical (non-blind) of Falstaff, 2010 -2021. We did not taste the 2011 (no one owned it) nor 2014 and 2019 (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). Tangy cedar, blackberry and cherry. Light browning at the rim yet the berry notes are still fresh. Overall, this is holding together well but I'm glad I was able to share this from my cellar, as it's my final one and it's more appealing to those who liked aged wines than someone like myself.
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2/1/2021 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 93 Points
Wow my last one! This is great. It’s showing dark cherry and blueberry. There are some flower petals, along with some secondary traits of dried leaves and hint of forest floor. I also am picking up some perceptions of brick dust, and spice. Quite honestly, it has some similar qualities of the Lignier Chaffots 2017, less complex. It is really smooth and lovely. 93
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10/17/2020 - smahk wrote: 91 Points
Color: bright ruby
Nose: cherries, earth and cedar and flowers
Taste: lots of cherry and raspberry with floral taste and a dash of citrus
Very lovely and feminine with fruit upfront but not cloying or sweet then opening up to floral and a dash of citrus. The finish was tart (in a good way) but not overly long. I have no idea how much longer this has but it is in a sweet spot right now.
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9/1/2019 - brigcampbell wrote:
What? I've never tasted this wine before? Cool. It definitely looks it's aging based on the color, light bricking. Strawberry and rhubarb nose. Love the sandelwood and cedar flavors. Feminine and balanced. Graceful wine.
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7/27/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
July 2019 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): Drank as part of a 5 bottle flight of Falstaffs (2010 non-blind, with the 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018 tasted blind). 13.25% ABV with 50% whole cluster. Red cherry, sweet pomegranate, cinnamon (like a red hots candy) and red apple. This wine is approaching a decade old and is holding up well and drinking with a good balance, too. No rush on these if you have any remaining.
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8/25/2018 - underwds wrote: 93 Points
Lots of bright red cherry, a little cranberry, and some pomegranate. A touch of baking spice, and then a nice earthy finish with notes of cedar. Plenty of acidity and characteristic of the restrained fruit I've come to expect from a Kutch wine. Excellent with our rich lamb stew.
4/30/2019 Color trending to brickish now. Fruit was muted, but back half still nice spices and earthiness.
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9/30/2017 - Grape_ape wrote: 92 Points
still a little youthful, but showing some nice secondary characteristics... really nice taut red fruit, some earthiness, delicious
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5/13/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light and earthy; acidic undertones; light cherry with earthy cedar.
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2/13/2017 - wineaux2 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This one showed a lot of pinot crunchiness right out of the gate. Fanned out nicely to show a nose and palate of dark cherries complemented by sweet and savory spices. Also had a light body and well-integrated acidity. Seemed a bit short on the finish but otherwise a pretty pinot.
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8/5/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes before service. In the glass, violet-tinted red at the rim, shading to dark clear ruby red at the core. On the nose, an intriguing mixture of floral, spice, and citrus notes. On the palate, lush and inviting, with ample spice and fruit, but without any hint of syrupy cola. Just a really nice wine.
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3/29/2016 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious red cherries, raspberries, and floral notes on the nose and palate with tasty spice and acidity culminating in a moderate finish.
Drinking well!
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7/26/2015 - sfwineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely, berry bouquet followed by sweet cherry entry that went on for 45 seconds to a minute or more. Terrific with grilled salmon but so appealing I kept drinking it after dinner. Very light on its feet, well-balanced, wish I had more. Just a delicious Pinot.
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6/3/2015 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
Still a bit early to have this wine but after a few nights recorked in the fridge, this showed very well. Nice floral aromas, silky mouthfeel, good fruit with a balance of generosity and crunch. Has potential to be really exceptional in maturity, maybe in 3-5 years? 92+
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2/22/2015 - Stumpy wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyable if not a bit more simplistic than expected. Went very nicely with dinner but didn't hold any special place.
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5/18/2014 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Light-bodied for a Cali PN. Beautifully perfumed nose preceded a juicy, delicately nuanced flavor profile. There isn't a hint of Cherry Coke to be found in this. Really nice, an excellent example of the evolution of Cali PN.
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3/15/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Jamie Kutch Visits The OC For Dinner (Luciana's In Dana Point (South OC)): Tasted blind. It's hard to have a fair fight when I tasted next to this wine the other Kutch 2010, the McDougall. That wine I hold in such high regard and see it as one of the best pinot noirs I have drank in some time. So to measure this Falstaff against that wine, it's a little skewed. Here there is the same fresh berry note that I found in the 2011 Falstaff, yet the overall tone of the fruit here in this 2010 comes off one dimensional to me, lighter bodied. The acidity is nice, present in all of Jamie's wines over the entire evening, but this Falstaff just seems a little riper and less complex for me.
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1/20/2014 - BradE wrote:
Quite beautiful, sweet, surprisingly approachable for a youngster. Liked it.
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11/15/2013 - t_moderne wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at a gathering of friends. Six bottles of California Pinot placed in brown bags and labelled with names of some of the favorite movies. The favorite movies named (not mine, mind you),were Twister, Risky Business, Seven, The Usual Suspects, Moonstruck, and Princess Bride.
Notes are from the blind tasting:
The Kutch Falstaff Pinot was "Princess Bride."
Good nose of fruit and spice, with a touch of the Pinot funk. This is an inviting wine with approachable fruit and enough acidity to keep it from being too rich. Could have used some time int he decanter or another year or two in the cellar.
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8/2/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent
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8/1/2013 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Really enjoyed this. Lots of spice and red fruit. I do, however, think two or three years of cellar time will be rewarded here.
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6/20/2013 - zscheiner wrote: 86 Points
Blind Tasting Kutch Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Tight, spicy nose. So tight I questioned whether it was corked for awhile. Tight, spicy, tart fruited, leather palate. Thought this was the Burgundy but was less sure than in the first flight. Needs lots of air or time sideways if this bottle is representative. (my 8th, group's 5th)
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