Cloudy red out of the bottle. Campfire and some wet leaves come through on the nose. Popped and poured and followed for a couple hours. There's definitely quite a bit of smoke in the mouth but the fruit is there in a complementary sense. Fairly light-bodied with light-medium tannins. Didn't change much in the time we drank it. If you're sensitive to smoke steer clear. If you're not, this is a perfectly enjoyable wine for those seeking to avoid full-bodied new world pinots.
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A gift from a friend who is ITB on the french side of things. Popped and poured. Right out of the gate, you notice that there is none of that cola/funk that is so common in Cali pinots. For me, that's a plus. Thne principal flavor components are spice and minerals, with fruit being a secondary component. There's pepper and allspice with cherry in the background and maybe a tiny bit of strawberry even further behind that. My personal preference is a bit more fruit and that would bring this wine into the outstanding category. Whoever wrote the note in CT that there are $10 Cali pinots that are as good needs to get his taste buds checked for diminished functionality. This is not a fruit bomn, not that I dislike fruit bombs, but its got nice balance and a very pleasant overall taste profile with no negative characteristics.
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Shared this wine with good friends during the first annual Casa de Rose wine tasting extravaganza. Upon opening we all noticed a bit of a funky scent that I can only describe as being barnyard, or more accurately, and this is not all that enticing, but the smell of a pig farm on a warm summer day.
Do you actually think that would stop us from nurturing this little bottle with the cute label into a drinkable state. Hell no! We let this little one breathe for an hour and the funky, skunky stink seemed to dissipate only to be replaced with the typical Pinot fruit scents of bright cherries and a hint of plum.
That cherry component made the trip from the nose to the palate, but there was still what I can only describe as a rustic flavor that while not off-putting, was a bit challenging at times.
This wine, while having outstanding label art, was just a serviceable Pinot Noir that we will probably not add to the cellar in the future.
http://fearnowine.com
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The nose shows cherries and barn yard with a bit of manure making a showing. The palate is light, not overly fruity but definitely shows red cherries, mild tannins.
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Sadly, I must confirm my disappointment with this one after returning to it after a second interrupting bottle. Tart, meaty (like jerky), kinda skunky. The wine was sound... yet simply brutish and unpleasant. Most of this bottle was dumped.
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Blossom, Aria, Las Vegas...Didn't go well with our gourmet Chinese food pairings. This was super tight and it never opened up. Second bottle from Hirsch and there's nothing that stands out about either one. Perhaps Hirsch wines need some patience.
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Mild pinot funk on the nose. Young taut pinot with moderate tartness and limited complexity. Last glass was clearly the best with brighter cherry notes becoming more evident. Acidity complemented baked flounder well. Will benefit from cellar time and score may improve somewhat as well
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Expansive nose of black cherry and Pinot funk. Crisp palate, some plum and hints of spice and lengthy finish of oak, plum, currants and hints of bacon. Good, just not distinctive as it has similarnprofile to many other Cali pinots.
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Not a bad wine for $60 at Ouest in NYC. Light color. Delicious at pop and pour, but no real improvement to talk about over the next 60 minutes. There was a fruity and smokey element to the wine. Everyone (non-geeks of course) enjoyed this. Me too!
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3/30/2013 - capnkirk Likes this wine: 89 Points
this is a fun wine with a burgundian lighter style of winemaking that brings out the richness of pinot noir without the heaviness of other styles.
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11/5/2012 - Ellenkf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful ruby color, smoky but soft and refined. Absolutely hitting its stride.
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11/10/2011 - ggolec wrote: 87 Points
Cloudy red out of the bottle. Campfire and some wet leaves come through on the nose. Popped and poured and followed for a couple hours. There's definitely quite a bit of smoke in the mouth but the fruit is there in a complementary sense. Fairly light-bodied with light-medium tannins. Didn't change much in the time we drank it. If you're sensitive to smoke steer clear. If you're not, this is a perfectly enjoyable wine for those seeking to avoid full-bodied new world pinots.
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8/19/2011 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 89 Points
A gift from a friend who is ITB on the french side of things. Popped and poured. Right out of the gate, you notice that there is none of that cola/funk that is so common in Cali pinots. For me, that's a plus. Thne principal flavor components are spice and minerals, with fruit being a secondary component. There's pepper and allspice with cherry in the background and maybe a tiny bit of strawberry even further behind that. My personal preference is a bit more fruit and that would bring this wine into the outstanding category. Whoever wrote the note in CT that there are $10 Cali pinots that are as good needs to get his taste buds checked for diminished functionality. This is not a fruit bomn, not that I dislike fruit bombs, but its got nice balance and a very pleasant overall taste profile with no negative characteristics.
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5/1/2011 - 4iron wrote: 88 Points
pretty darn good
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2/18/2011 - 4iron wrote: 90 Points
Very good, just a touch more complex and this would be serious juice.
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10/20/2010 - Jack wrote: 88 Points
Quench 2010 (W Hotel): Fruity,fun. Light and soft. Easy to like.
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10/13/2010 - Geo58 wrote: 83 Points
Cherries but thin. Ok but not for the price
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9/14/2010 - chefpete wrote: 75 Points
I don't like - just as good as a $10 bottle of pepperwood
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9/13/2010 - smokeshowing Likes this wine: 84 Points
Shared this wine with good friends during the first annual Casa de Rose wine tasting extravaganza. Upon opening we all noticed a bit of a funky scent that I can only describe as being barnyard, or more accurately, and this is not all that enticing, but the smell of a pig farm on a warm summer day.
Do you actually think that would stop us from nurturing this little bottle with the cute label into a drinkable state. Hell no! We let this little one breathe for an hour and the funky, skunky stink seemed to dissipate only to be replaced with the typical Pinot fruit scents of bright cherries and a hint of plum.
That cherry component made the trip from the nose to the palate, but there was still what I can only describe as a rustic flavor that while not off-putting, was a bit challenging at times.
This wine, while having outstanding label art, was just a serviceable Pinot Noir that we will probably not add to the cellar in the future.
http://fearnowine.com
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7/26/2010 - PSUSteve wrote: 86 Points
I can't really decide if I like this or not. It needs a ton of air. I think I will wait some time before the next bottle.
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7/23/2010 - Minkey wrote: 88 Points
The nose shows cherries and barn yard with a bit of manure making a showing. The palate is light, not overly fruity but definitely shows red cherries, mild tannins.
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7/7/2010 - Jimbot wrote: 84 Points
Sadly, I must confirm my disappointment with this one after returning to it after a second interrupting bottle. Tart, meaty (like jerky), kinda skunky. The wine was sound... yet simply brutish and unpleasant. Most of this bottle was dumped.
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6/28/2010 - smphelps wrote: 87 Points
Light to medium ruby red. Lighter feminine floral style dominated by cherry pie, vanilla and light spices. Not complex, but pleasant.
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6/27/2010 - Tiborones wrote:
Blossom, Aria, Las Vegas...Didn't go well with our gourmet Chinese food pairings. This was super tight and it never opened up. Second bottle from Hirsch and there's nothing that stands out about either one. Perhaps Hirsch wines need some patience.
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6/25/2010 - nrau wrote: 89 Points
Medium-bodied, with a richer earthiness to it, touch of spice
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5/25/2010 - kennyg wrote: 85 Points
Mild pinot funk on the nose. Young taut pinot with moderate tartness and limited complexity. Last glass was clearly the best with brighter cherry notes becoming more evident. Acidity complemented baked flounder well. Will benefit from cellar time and score may improve somewhat as well
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4/10/2010 - amateurwino wrote:
Tasted but notes lost; I don't think I was that enamored with this one.
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4/9/2010 - Nutty08 wrote: 89 Points
Expansive nose of black cherry and Pinot funk. Crisp palate, some plum and hints of spice and lengthy finish of oak, plum, currants and hints of bacon. Good, just not distinctive as it has similarnprofile to many other Cali pinots.
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2/1/2010 - dhammer53 wrote:
Not a bad wine for $60 at Ouest in NYC. Light color. Delicious at pop and pour, but no real improvement to talk about over the next 60 minutes. There was a fruity and smokey element to the wine. Everyone (non-geeks of course) enjoyed this. Me too!
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11/14/2009 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Pinot Days Chicago (Navy Pier, Chicago): Aromas of baked cherry and allspice. Baked cherry tones on the palate, with an odd musty quality on the finish.
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11/14/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 88 Points
Chicago Pinot Days-2009 (Navy Pier, Chicago IL): nose: nice and soft nose of dark red cherries, red berries, some spice tones as well as red fruits
taste: very good medium feel with pretty tones of dark red cherries, red berries, and a good amount of red fruits
overall: a real nice pinot. Good aromatics with a nice feel and tones, this is perfect for drinking right now
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11/13/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 86 Points
Pinot Days 2009 (Navy Pier - Chicago, IL): Lean and tart. One of my least desireable wines of the day.
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10/30/2009 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Big bright cherry nose; Bright fruit
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10/3/2009 - sarlyb wrote: 91 Points
Apparently Obama's favorite Pinot is also now one of mine...wonderful light red fruits with a bit of spring spice.
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