I've enjoyed several bottles of this wine and it's one of my favorites. One thing I learned-the wine is drinking beautifully now, but still requires, at least, a 1 1/2 hour decant for the secondary characteristics to emerge. Intense ruby red color. Complex nose featuring tart cherry and cola, clove spiciness, the deepest note is tea leaves, no mushroom funkiness, maybe foresr floor. Unique characteristic-mouth-watering juiciness on a texturally soft, velvety frame that finishes long with a pleasantly bitter finish. Mendo pinot all the way.
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Just an all around pleasant California Pinot Noir. Not too fruit forward and nice silky finish. Not complex, but well balanced otherwise. Ready to drink now.
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This wine needed two full days before it opened and allowed the fruit to come through. While still not super expressive on night three, I could at least get a sense for the fruit on offer - pinot on the dark end of the spectrum. I would guess that bottles would benefit from at least another 12 months of age. QPR at $30.00 from K&L is decent if you are prepared to wait for bottles to mature.
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I am a Black Kite Chardonnay fan. I think their Chard is one of the RRV's best, so I was delighted to find the same quality and sense of place in their pinot, here from Anderson Valley. Definitely cool climate Pinot with a savory, higher acidity edge to the tart cherry, cranberry, and baking spice flavors. Lovely texture on a lighter frame still lively at a surprizing 14.5 ABV. and quite dark in color. I think that a few years in the cellar will bring out the deeper forest floor aromas.
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One off ($29.99) from the big box wine store about 3 months ago. Fairly muted nose, but what’s there and on the palate, strawberries, dry earth, cinnamon, piquant spice, cedar, black tea and lighter black raspberry and cherry notes. Medium ruby, medium bodied and medium legs. Medium+ tannins, medium acidity, no heat. Good complexity, persistence and intensity. First BK I’ve bought after had several vintages of several bottlings at tastings and being generally impressed. This wine was very much constant from the pour and over two nights, balanced and largely integrated. What I really liked: surprisingly vibrant tannic backbone, savoriness and no sweetness or booziness (I’d have guessed the abv at more like 13.5-14 rather than 14.5%). But what could have lifted it from the realm of the very good to closer to excellence would have been more vibrant fruit and more acidity, which would have given it welcome lift. Very solid complement to chicken orzo and seared salmon, as well as enjoyable on its own. Seems unlikely to make a big move up or down in the next few years. Compelling value at this price point, would buy again. CT consensus bang on. 92+
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Pale ruby color. Offers dried strawberry, smoke, chocolate, white pepper and forest floor. Medium bodied, with a lush satin texture. Red fruit, pepper and a dry earthiness to the palate. Plush tannins support this elegant Alexander Valley Pinot Noir.
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The cooler climate from Anderson Valley is coming through - bright acidity accompanies the predominantly black fruit. The 14.5% alcohol is higher than I expected and I would like to see in a Pinot like this, but I have to say the wine never feels overheated or too alcoholic. In general, the wine shows a nice balance and I am looking forward to seeing how the ‘17 evolves as well as trying other vintages.
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Deep clear dark bing cherry colored in the glass. 5
Nose is clean and sound. Trending towards darker fruit black pepper and vanilla bean. Rich enough to cover off the 14.5 alcohol. 11
Palate is braced and juicy. Lots to like here. Confirming darker fruits, vanilla caramel, black pepper, some evergreen, muted spices and orange. Will hold off for a year to see what happens here. Nice! 17
Overall enjoyment was pretty high. Finish picked up steam as the night went on. Starting pretty grippy and gaining complexity an subtlety with a few hours of air. Probably quite a bit to come. May not ever meet the expectation of the WE 95. 8
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Black Kite Pinots: Ripe but cool cherries on the nose, juicy raspberries, spiced cranberry jam, with rose petals, rhubarb and white pepper. Full-bodied but fresh, with round tannins, chewy texture is balanced with fresh acidity. Lots of delicious, deep, but fresh raspberry, red plum, black cherry fruit. Elements of spiced tea, black pepper, cola, coffee, earth, add complexity. Very expressive and pretty now, but this could use some air or two to three years. Aged 17 months in 2/3 new French oak, 14.5% alcohol.
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3/25/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 94 Points
I've enjoyed several bottles of this wine and it's one of my favorites. One thing I learned-the wine is drinking beautifully now, but still requires, at least, a 1 1/2 hour decant for the secondary characteristics to emerge. Intense ruby red color. Complex nose featuring tart cherry and cola, clove spiciness, the deepest note is tea leaves, no mushroom funkiness, maybe foresr floor. Unique characteristic-mouth-watering juiciness on a texturally soft, velvety frame that finishes long with a pleasantly bitter finish. Mendo pinot all the way.
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3/22/2024 - wetlandwino wrote: 91 Points
Just an all around pleasant California Pinot Noir. Not too fruit forward and nice silky finish. Not complex, but well balanced otherwise. Ready to drink now.
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11/17/2023 - Dnacabernet Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine needed two full days before it opened and allowed the fruit to come through. While still not super expressive on night three, I could at least get a sense for the fruit on offer - pinot on the dark end of the spectrum. I would guess that bottles would benefit from at least another 12 months of age. QPR at $30.00 from K&L is decent if you are prepared to wait for bottles to mature.
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11/2/2023 - Janstan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red raspberries. Went well with pork tenderloin
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9/25/2023 - Muels wrote: 77 Points
Medium body- no real distinction in berries or flavor
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8/18/2023 - zenaida21 Likes this wine:
Good. Quite aromatic, with raspberry and earth/mineral notes, fairly robust tannins for a pinot, somewhat bitter finish.
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7/30/2023 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
very tasty. Nice dark berry fruit and a large peppery finish
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7/2/2023 - Rond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright fruit, with notes of raspberry and cherry, but also earth. Very pleasant.
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6/29/2023 - Janstan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red raspberry, cola. Nice Pinot. Went well with pork roast
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5/14/2023 - Rond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nicely balanced with notes of raspberry and earth.
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4/21/2023 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with my notes of other bottles of this wine, it has a very nice balance of fruit and earth.
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4/6/2023 - wetlandwino wrote: 91 Points
Good pinot.
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3/26/2023 - wetlandwino wrote: 92 Points
Great nose and palate. Easy drinking. We'll see how it develops.
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1/15/2023 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Notes of raspberry, allspice, and earth. Very nice.
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1/6/2023 - wabi47 wrote: 89 Points
plenty of stuffing; purple fruit; masculine and has not fully integrated to my taste; some heat on the finish.
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10/10/2022 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 92 Points
I am a Black Kite Chardonnay fan. I think their Chard is one of the RRV's best, so I was delighted to find the same quality and sense of place in their pinot, here from Anderson Valley. Definitely cool climate Pinot with a savory, higher acidity edge to the tart cherry, cranberry, and baking spice flavors. Lovely texture on a lighter frame still lively at a surprizing 14.5 ABV. and quite dark in color. I think that a few years in the cellar will bring out the deeper forest floor aromas.
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9/25/2022 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Notes of cherry, raspberry, and potting soil. Nice balance of fruit and earth.
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8/21/2022 - Rond wrote: flawed
Cork taint
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7/12/2022 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
One off ($29.99) from the big box wine store about 3 months ago. Fairly muted nose, but what’s there and on the palate, strawberries, dry earth, cinnamon, piquant spice, cedar, black tea and lighter black raspberry and cherry notes. Medium ruby, medium bodied and medium legs. Medium+ tannins, medium acidity, no heat. Good complexity, persistence and intensity. First BK I’ve bought after had several vintages of several bottlings at tastings and being generally impressed. This wine was very much constant from the pour and over two nights, balanced and largely integrated. What I really liked: surprisingly vibrant tannic backbone, savoriness and no sweetness or booziness (I’d have guessed the abv at more like 13.5-14 rather than 14.5%). But what could have lifted it from the realm of the very good to closer to excellence would have been more vibrant fruit and more acidity, which would have given it welcome lift. Very solid complement to chicken orzo and seared salmon, as well as enjoyable on its own. Seems unlikely to make a big move up or down in the next few years. Compelling value at this price point, would buy again. CT consensus bang on. 92+
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7/9/2022 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Strawberry and black cherry notes, with tobacco and tea. Nicely balanced, with soft tannins and moderate acidity.
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6/26/2022 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Notes of strawberry and cherry and black tea. Nicely balanced.
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6/12/2022 - Rond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes of black cherry, tobacco, and a bit of barnyard. Nice balance of fruit and earthiness.
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6/4/2022 - daveyk39 wrote: 92 Points
Pale ruby color. Offers dried strawberry, smoke, chocolate, white pepper and forest floor. Medium bodied, with a lush satin texture. Red fruit, pepper and a dry earthiness to the palate. Plush tannins support this elegant Alexander Valley Pinot Noir.
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5/14/2022 - Explorateur Likes this wine: 91 Points
The cooler climate from Anderson Valley is coming through - bright acidity accompanies the predominantly black fruit. The 14.5% alcohol is higher than I expected and I would like to see in a Pinot like this, but I have to say the wine never feels overheated or too alcoholic. In general, the wine shows a nice balance and I am looking forward to seeing how the ‘17 evolves as well as trying other vintages.
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4/23/2022 - Rond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Notes of black cherry, spice, and black tea. Nice balance of fruit and earth. Acidity and tannins are also nicely balanced. Exceptional.
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4/10/2022 - Rond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Notes of black cherry, tea, and spice. Firm tannins balanced nicely with good acidity. Very nice.
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4/8/2022 - WineKnut Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep clear dark bing cherry colored in the glass. 5
Nose is clean and sound. Trending towards darker fruit black pepper and vanilla bean. Rich enough to cover off the 14.5 alcohol. 11
Palate is braced and juicy. Lots to like here. Confirming darker fruits, vanilla caramel, black pepper, some evergreen, muted spices and orange. Will hold off for a year to see what happens here. Nice! 17
Overall enjoyment was pretty high. Finish picked up steam as the night went on. Starting pretty grippy and gaining complexity an subtlety with a few hours of air. Probably quite a bit to come. May not ever meet the expectation of the WE 95. 8
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12/31/2021 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
very good. Spicy and peppery. Full-bodied with loads of black cherry fruit
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3/6/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Black Kite Pinots: Ripe but cool cherries on the nose, juicy raspberries, spiced cranberry jam, with rose petals, rhubarb and white pepper. Full-bodied but fresh, with round tannins, chewy texture is balanced with fresh acidity. Lots of delicious, deep, but fresh raspberry, red plum, black cherry fruit. Elements of spiced tea, black pepper, cola, coffee, earth, add complexity. Very expressive and pretty now, but this could use some air or two to three years. Aged 17 months in 2/3 new French oak, 14.5% alcohol.
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