The label had seen better days, but the wine is still kicking. Nose of dark cherry and strawberry, a definite cinnamon/mineral tick on the initial attack (something I’ve noticed in all of my old PGs) smoked strawberry on the palate, even some tobacco toward the end, which I’m reading as the last gasp of oak as there are zero tannins. Drink now.
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Beautiful showing of a mature, classically styled Pinot Noir. Pretty garnet color, slight bricking at the rim. Bottle funk at first, which blew off within 15 min. A somewhat reduced nose remained until day two. Apart from that, forest floor, a little leather and spice. Savory, cherry on the palate, bright acidity brings liveliness. The smooth tannins are less prominent, but still present. Cork was in perfect shape, only minor penetration. Considerable amount of fine sediment, definitely needs careful decanting.
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Having recently had the '15, this bears a clear stylistic similarity. On the nose, loads of mineral, some slight rust inflections. On the palate, acidity is attenuated, but then lovely mineral notes, and black cherry. Tannin attenuated, but still nice fruit on the finish. Glad I didn't wait any longer. Yummy, but maybe slightly past peak.
Addendum: the above is based on tasting outside at my neighbor's place from a Riedel O style glass. Tasted again from a Schott-Zwiesel stem at my place, and this is not the same wine. The rusty note I mentioned before is nowhere to be found. More funky earth, and wow...
I've read the studies that say there is no difference between tasting from a standard glass and various "finer" glasses, but...
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Drinking very well. Tight at first, but soon opens to reveal lovely floral aromas, bright red cherry fruit with medium body and clean finish. Very light on its feet despite its ample fruit. Early peak for me.
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Women in Wine - Mike G and Nola visit Cleveland; 9/27/2014-9/29/2014 (A Restaurant on Lee Road): This was a harder wine to judge and probably hurt by the setting. The nose is very tight. Some cherries. On the palate, there seems to be much more depth but it takes some coaxing. I would hold these as this bottle seemed to need time. It has more complexity and less fruit than the Croft. Still, it is quite nice now and I bet that later in the night, it was singing, but I never made it back.
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Compared to the Croft this was brighter and juicier. Cherry/earth notes on the nose/palate with medium acidity and tannins and a lengthy, pleasant juicy/earthy finish.
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Casual dinner at Home: No formal notes. Already showing signs of development with nice pinot fruit and hints of secondary notes. Based on this bottle i don't see this being a longterm ager but should be a nice drink over the next few years. Excellent.
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Garnet in the glass. Nose of sour rusty cherry juice and a certain dark funk (not old bookstore but in that arena). In the mouth; acidic tart red fruit (not unpleasant, just a bit sharp and pointy). Hollow on the midpalate (or the attack is so forceful??) Finishes with a medium tightness and a bit of a floral sweet sassifrassness,
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Sour cherry, plum, blackberry, raspberry with a little forest floor and a touch of spice. Even a light cocoa dusting after 2 hours. Just a touch of barnyard at the start, but quickly blew off. Smooth and moderately rich.
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Beautiful dark fruit with some brighter notes of cherries. Didn't get the barnyard mentioned by another reviewer. Drank with friends at Fin Restaurant in PDX. Glad I have a few more in the cellar.
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Notes from day 2. Dark red to purple in color. Nose of red fruit, raspberry, cherry, lots of barnyard and earth, mixed in with a touch of sulfer, a little pine as well as nutmeg. Palate of tart sour cherry, unripe raspberry, little pomegranite going on, cranberry, barnyard earth, little spice. The mouth feel is good for a pinot and the finish is average in length. Good balance overall with good acid, tannin, and flavors noted on the second day, solid bottle for the price. Way too young right now as it is still sort of tight and the nose was better on day 1 as the barnyard was really agressive. Hold. 50+5+12+16+7
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My first glass after being open an hour with a glass poured for the SO. Unusually dark ruby red. Wow! An explosive nose that hits you way before you get the glass close. Beautiful Asian spice with dark tart cherry/berry, maybe a touch of cola and smoke. The wine fills the mouth, not ponderously or heavy but with dramatic opulent, beautiful fruit. The dark color doesn't lie; this is pretty big boned for a Pinot but it wears its scale well, a lusty 17th century bosomy nude not a skinny little fashion district tart. You know you're in for a sweaty roll in the hay with this baby! The fruit is delicious, the flavors a complex melange with a long satisfying finish. It has a bit of 06-style ripeness but it works with the high acid frame of this beauty. Still some tannins but they are fairly well resolved.
When we tried this at the winery I thought it had potential but wasn't sure where it would go. Now I know and the fact that we have only one left will send me on the chase for more. I'll bet it ages well but I might have trouble keeping my hands off it.
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Popped, poured & consumed over an hour. Massive FUNK explosion on the nose right out of the bottle-sulfer/barnyard? This characteristic stayed with the wine, but muted over time. Picked up a lot of earth on the nose & palate with black & red fruit. Hefty dose of acidity kept it fresh/clean. Enough tannin & structure to keep in balanced. Some will run for the hills with the nose on this - I kind of liked its uniqueness. 87-88 points overall so nice wine, but not for a $30+ pricetag.
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2/20/2024 - ptaylor2112 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The label had seen better days, but the wine is still kicking. Nose of dark cherry and strawberry, a definite cinnamon/mineral tick on the initial attack (something I’ve noticed in all of my old PGs) smoked strawberry on the palate, even some tobacco toward the end, which I’m reading as the last gasp of oak as there are zero tannins. Drink now.
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10/22/2022 - Max S. Likes this wine: 89 Points
Denver Wine Group Round 3 (Max's House): We enjoyed it, but it came in 3rd after the 2004 and 2012 for most participants. No formal notes. Ready to drink.
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7/24/2021 - uli_k Likes this wine:
Beautiful showing of a mature, classically styled Pinot Noir. Pretty garnet color, slight bricking at the rim. Bottle funk at first, which blew off within 15 min. A somewhat reduced nose remained until day two. Apart from that, forest floor, a little leather and spice. Savory, cherry on the palate, bright acidity brings liveliness. The smooth tannins are less prominent, but still present. Cork was in perfect shape, only minor penetration. Considerable amount of fine sediment, definitely needs careful decanting.
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9/7/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Having recently had the '15, this bears a clear stylistic similarity. On the nose, loads of mineral, some slight rust inflections. On the palate, acidity is attenuated, but then lovely mineral notes, and black cherry. Tannin attenuated, but still nice fruit on the finish. Glad I didn't wait any longer. Yummy, but maybe slightly past peak.
Addendum: the above is based on tasting outside at my neighbor's place from a Riedel O style glass. Tasted again from a Schott-Zwiesel stem at my place, and this is not the same wine. The rusty note I mentioned before is nowhere to be found. More funky earth, and wow...
I've read the studies that say there is no difference between tasting from a standard glass and various "finer" glasses, but...
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4/28/2019 - neilsforest Likes this wine: 88 Points
Has aged well. Good balance, plenty of fruit and long finish.
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5/10/2018 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well. Tight at first, but soon opens to reveal lovely floral aromas, bright red cherry fruit with medium body and clean finish. Very light on its feet despite its ample fruit. Early peak for me.
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6/13/2016 - godx wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous note on 9/12/2013 - drinking well now.
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9/27/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Women in Wine - Mike G and Nola visit Cleveland; 9/27/2014-9/29/2014 (A Restaurant on Lee Road): This was a harder wine to judge and probably hurt by the setting. The nose is very tight. Some cherries. On the palate, there seems to be much more depth but it takes some coaxing. I would hold these as this bottle seemed to need time. It has more complexity and less fruit than the Croft. Still, it is quite nice now and I bet that later in the night, it was singing, but I never made it back.
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9/26/2014 - David_T wrote: 90 Points
Compared to the Croft this was brighter and juicier. Cherry/earth notes on the nose/palate with medium acidity and tannins and a lengthy, pleasant juicy/earthy finish.
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7/15/2014 - theharve wrote: 93 Points
1st b tried. big dark mild tannins mod acidity, gon be a very good wine. try in 1 yr.
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9/12/2013 - godx wrote: 90 Points
Casual dinner at Home: No formal notes. Already showing signs of development with nice pinot fruit and hints of secondary notes. Based on this bottle i don't see this being a longterm ager but should be a nice drink over the next few years. Excellent.
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12/11/2010 - Chrisinroch wrote: 87 Points
Garnet in the glass. Nose of sour rusty cherry juice and a certain dark funk (not old bookstore but in that arena). In the mouth; acidic tart red fruit (not unpleasant, just a bit sharp and pointy). Hollow on the midpalate (or the attack is so forceful??) Finishes with a medium tightness and a bit of a floral sweet sassifrassness,
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11/28/2010 - WinePT wrote: 90 Points
Sour cherry, plum, blackberry, raspberry with a little forest floor and a touch of spice. Even a light cocoa dusting after 2 hours. Just a touch of barnyard at the start, but quickly blew off. Smooth and moderately rich.
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9/29/2010 - BHP1994 wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful dark fruit with some brighter notes of cherries. Didn't get the barnyard mentioned by another reviewer. Drank with friends at Fin Restaurant in PDX. Glad I have a few more in the cellar.
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9/16/2010 - manonthemoon wrote: 90 Points
Notes from day 2. Dark red to purple in color. Nose of red fruit, raspberry, cherry, lots of barnyard and earth, mixed in with a touch of sulfer, a little pine as well as nutmeg. Palate of tart sour cherry, unripe raspberry, little pomegranite going on, cranberry, barnyard earth, little spice. The mouth feel is good for a pinot and the finish is average in length. Good balance overall with good acid, tannin, and flavors noted on the second day, solid bottle for the price. Way too young right now as it is still sort of tight and the nose was better on day 1 as the barnyard was really agressive. Hold. 50+5+12+16+7
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8/27/2010 - ChrisBeacham wrote: 93 Points
My first glass after being open an hour with a glass poured for the SO. Unusually dark ruby red. Wow! An explosive nose that hits you way before you get the glass close. Beautiful Asian spice with dark tart cherry/berry, maybe a touch of cola and smoke. The wine fills the mouth, not ponderously or heavy but with dramatic opulent, beautiful fruit. The dark color doesn't lie; this is pretty big boned for a Pinot but it wears its scale well, a lusty 17th century bosomy nude not a skinny little fashion district tart. You know you're in for a sweaty roll in the hay with this baby! The fruit is delicious, the flavors a complex melange with a long satisfying finish. It has a bit of 06-style ripeness but it works with the high acid frame of this beauty. Still some tannins but they are fairly well resolved.
When we tried this at the winery I thought it had potential but wasn't sure where it would go. Now I know and the fact that we have only one left will send me on the chase for more. I'll bet it ages well but I might have trouble keeping my hands off it.
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2/17/2010 - gbbwino wrote: 88 Points
Popped, poured & consumed over an hour. Massive FUNK explosion on the nose right out of the bottle-sulfer/barnyard? This characteristic stayed with the wine, but muted over time. Picked up a lot of earth on the nose & palate with black & red fruit. Hefty dose of acidity kept it fresh/clean. Enough tannin & structure to keep in balanced. Some will run for the hills with the nose on this - I kind of liked its uniqueness. 87-88 points overall so nice wine, but not for a $30+ pricetag.
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11/18/2009 - manonthemoon wrote: 89 Points
Nose of grape, cherry, cedar, cinnamon. Palate of sour cherry, adhesive, wood, and hay.
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