Pw/2 hr splash decant. Clear, deep dark ruby/purple. Big, rich nose of black fruit. High octane Pinot but nicely integrated and well balanced. Mix of black/red/blue with earthy notes and a very long finish. Great wine not over extracted or for the meek. Good drinking window, nothing off. $87
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Deep raspberry notes on the nose along with high-toned cherry and earthy, spicy qualities. Medium bodied and opened and drunk over almost 4.5 hours, which allowed it to integrate quite well. All blackfruit upfront with a mix of black cherry, deeper black raspberry and even adding some plum. Shows excellent mid-body density and must have been a huge pinot in it's youth. Glad I didn't get to try it until this stage where you can see where it's been, but enjoy a more balanced expression. Earth, spices and mineral notes on the finish with just a slight touch of heat. Based on others notes versus how this bottle showed today, it clearly has moved away from it's more fruit-forward youth. It showed good integration with the extended time open, but I would drink these over the next 12-18 months to avoid any possibility of it falling out of balance as it ages further.
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One Big Pinot. All Blackfruits and a touch of super dark chocolate (like 80% cacao) with a short dry finish. Dusty floral nose followed by a bold black cherry core with a hint of caramel.
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1 hr. decant. Very minor fine sediment. Clear, Bright purple/ruby color. Nice Pinot nose. Was a bit concerned after a reviewer suggested a bit over the top but my bottle, that was not the case. Excellent drinking window, plenty of good red/black fruit with ideal balance and integration. A big Pinot but not over extracted. Definitely CA with it's typical traits. Drink now or in the next few years. Nothing off. $87
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A wonderful wine. Smooth to the end with wonderful balance. Dark cherry and dark chocolate aromas and flavors dominate. I enjoyed this wine with beef meatballs. Beautiful wine.
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Decanted for an hour, which was a definite plus. This pinot is very reminiscent of Black Kite pinots in that at it reminds me of a pinot on steroids. Showing lots of nice black fruit on the nose, and big rich flavors that are enjoyable to drink. The balance isn't quite what I would have expected for what is Black Kite's pinnacle of pinot's in Angel Hawk Reserve. The heat was showing through a little too much on the back, but for one who likes the big bold pinot this is for you. Clearly very well made, fun to drink, and full of flavor; it just does not have the typicity of an elegant pinot.
Decanted 2 hours and rebottled. This has improved quite a bit in just a few months. Big pinot with lots of dark cherry fruit. This showed a little more acidity giving the wine a nice balance. Tannins have subsided a little and the green, stemmy notes have also receded. Long finish with just a hint of spice. This is pretty good already but seems to be headed in a good direction. (91+ pts).
Decanted 3 hours and rebottled. Dark cherry fruit along with some black raspberry notes. Still pretty tight even after the decant. A little green and stemmy on the mid palate and a touch low in acidity. Medium plus finish with a touch of spice. This was just a little disappointing for me but it is clearly young and somewhat backward so there is every chance this will improve with a few years in the cellar.
PnP w/30 min decant. Clear, deep red/purple color. This was the 4th bottle of the night and so, can not truly score this fairly. Best of the BK portfolio. Med/full body of clean, intense Pinot fruit with nothing off. Superb balance, long finish. Best guess considering my taste buds were shot, 93. Nothing off. $80
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Impressive, long finish and well developed tannins for a young wine. Clean dark fruit with some well balanced spice - complex. One of the best pinots I've drank in a long time.
Tasted at the Black Kite fall release event. This is still pre-release, but it is already the best Black Kite I've tasted. Fantastic structure, and complexity. Chocolate, spice, and forest fruit.
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9/6/2022 - ShadowIII Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very aromatic, dark cherry, spice notes, balanced acidity, well integrated tannins, long finish, still a crowd pleaser
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9/7/2018 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pw/2 hr splash decant. Clear, deep dark ruby/purple. Big, rich nose of black fruit. High octane Pinot but nicely integrated and well balanced. Mix of black/red/blue with earthy notes and a very long finish. Great wine not over extracted or for the meek. Good drinking window, nothing off. $87
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6/16/2018 - RGCM Gananda wrote: 92 Points
Deep raspberry notes on the nose along with high-toned cherry and earthy, spicy qualities. Medium bodied and opened and drunk over almost 4.5 hours, which allowed it to integrate quite well. All blackfruit upfront with a mix of black cherry, deeper black raspberry and even adding some plum. Shows excellent mid-body density and must have been a huge pinot in it's youth. Glad I didn't get to try it until this stage where you can see where it's been, but enjoy a more balanced expression. Earth, spices and mineral notes on the finish with just a slight touch of heat. Based on others notes versus how this bottle showed today, it clearly has moved away from it's more fruit-forward youth. It showed good integration with the extended time open, but I would drink these over the next 12-18 months to avoid any possibility of it falling out of balance as it ages further.
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11/8/2017 - StraightnoChaser Likes this wine: 92 Points
One Big Pinot. All Blackfruits and a touch of super dark chocolate (like 80% cacao) with a short dry finish. Dusty floral nose followed by a bold black cherry core with a hint of caramel.
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8/7/2017 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 93 Points
1 hr. decant. Very minor fine sediment. Clear, Bright purple/ruby color. Nice Pinot nose. Was a bit concerned after a reviewer suggested a bit over the top but my bottle, that was not the case. Excellent drinking window, plenty of good red/black fruit with ideal balance and integration. A big Pinot but not over extracted. Definitely CA with it's typical traits. Drink now or in the next few years. Nothing off. $87
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7/23/2017 - Normones wrote: 91 Points
DRINK. a tad past its prime. Should have been smarter. 7 years is too long. Complex but flabby.
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2/17/2017 - RobertB321 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A wonderful wine. Smooth to the end with wonderful balance. Dark cherry and dark chocolate aromas and flavors dominate. I enjoyed this wine with beef meatballs. Beautiful wine.
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1/22/2017 - khunchris Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic balance and finesse.
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1/21/2017 - SMZ wrote: 93 Points
Liked this much more than the last bottle. Rich and succulent.
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11/10/2016 - SMZ wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine but not a good QPR. Had this at a restaurant alongside a 2010 Kosta Browne Gaps Crown and the KB blew it away
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12/6/2015 - ElAyWine wrote: 95 Points
DUH
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4/5/2015 - corka Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour, which was a definite plus. This pinot is very reminiscent of Black Kite pinots in that at it reminds me of a pinot on steroids. Showing lots of nice black fruit on the nose, and big rich flavors that are enjoyable to drink. The balance isn't quite what I would have expected for what is Black Kite's pinnacle of pinot's in Angel Hawk Reserve. The heat was showing through a little too much on the back, but for one who likes the big bold pinot this is for you. Clearly very well made, fun to drink, and full of flavor; it just does not have the typicity of an elegant pinot.
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4/28/2014 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 94 Points
PnP w/15 min decant. Clear, deep ruby/purple. Rich, full body, powerful. Plenty of shelf life left. Nothing off. $78
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3/19/2014 - Yamadori wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours and rebottled. This has improved quite a bit in just a few months. Big pinot with lots of dark cherry fruit. This showed a little more acidity giving the wine a nice balance. Tannins have subsided a little and the green, stemmy notes have also receded. Long finish with just a hint of spice. This is pretty good already but seems to be headed in a good direction. (91+ pts).
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2/9/2014 - Edclr Likes this wine: 91 Points
A pinot for cab lovers. Big, rich, high alcohol, dark fruit, tight still, not a bad wine just not the style I prefer, and not worth the money.
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11/12/2013 - Yamadori wrote:
Decanted 3 hours and rebottled. Dark cherry fruit along with some black raspberry notes. Still pretty tight even after the decant. A little green and stemmy on the mid palate and a touch low in acidity. Medium plus finish with a touch of spice. This was just a little disappointing for me but it is clearly young and somewhat backward so there is every chance this will improve with a few years in the cellar.
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11/4/2013 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP w/30 min decant. Clear, deep red/purple color. This was the 4th bottle of the night and so, can not truly score this fairly. Best of the BK portfolio. Med/full body of clean, intense Pinot fruit with nothing off. Superb balance, long finish. Best guess considering my taste buds were shot, 93. Nothing off. $80
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8/29/2013 - Neverodb wrote: 96 Points
Impressive, long finish and well developed tannins for a young wine. Clean dark fruit with some well balanced spice - complex. One of the best pinots I've drank in a long time.
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7/22/2013 - DMerrill Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious, with bright cherry and strawberry fruit. This wine was perfectly balanced with a soft lingering finish.
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6/16/2013 - Rafili wrote: 95 Points
Needs a couple of years to lay. Had it opened for about 3 hours and still needed some more time. This was amazing!
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2/9/2013 - jhieb Likes this wine: 96 Points
Just fantastic. Great complexity and flavor. Can't wait to see how this develops over time.
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11/3/2012 - jhieb wrote: 96 Points
Tasted at the Black Kite fall release event. This is still pre-release, but it is already the best Black Kite I've tasted. Fantastic structure, and complexity. Chocolate, spice, and forest fruit.
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