This bottle was outstanding. We had it with oven poached salmon fillet and it matched very well Rich fruit without being heavy. Still vibrant acidity. Mature tannins. My last bottle but drinking great.
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My last of the two bottles picked up at auction. Showed pretty much the same as the last bottle which is to say that it was a pure pleasure to drink! California Pinot for sure, but made with a slightly lighter touch with clean, pure fruit and detailed flavors.
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13.95% abv. 1/3rd new french oak. No stem inclusion. Recent purchase from WineBid. This showed incredibly well from the pop 'n pour - no decanting needed. Nose was expansive and very pleasing, with ripe fruit bowl and holiday spices. On the palate, a good acidic spine but well integrated and a nice complement to the maturing fruit flavor profile. This is Cali all the way, but I did not get any Cola notes, and this was on the lighter side even though the flavor intensity and focus was there. Not a great deal of depth, but not hollow either. Perfect style and weight for my middle-of-the-road palate. Definitely not trying to be Burgundy - no need to be - it is excellent California Pinot.
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Last of a six pack and still drinking beautifully. Core of red and black cherry. Plenty of spice (cloves, five-spice) and herbs. Fresh acids keep it long and lively.
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I'm very glad that I gave this wine some more cellar time. This was a much better showing than my previous bottle. No sign of smoke. Pure black cherry notes and great cool climate Sonoma Coast character with darker notes and a touch of baking spice.
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Full, tasty wine with a nose that I loved. There were the obvious red fruits on the nose but there was something behind that, dried leaves.... The palate was a bit darker in fruit than I typically like.. deep dark cherry with a bit of tart acidity that lifted it up and didn't let it round out. It have more time in the cellar if you like age on your wines but is drinking well now.
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A solid SC pinot with good black cherry fruit and taut acidity. This bottle never picked up a ton of flesh with the acid more prominent. Simple but a tasty sipper. Nice drink for an appellation Pinot.
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nose has baking spice and a whiff of smoke; palate is weightier (13.95% alc) and lacks the lift of other Kutch vintages (such as the 2007), though some acidity still makes for a pleasant, unmistakably Sonoma Coast pinot
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This was a lovely bottle of wine that is ruby red with no orange at this point. The nose expresses pure cherry and raspberry with occasional wisps of smoke. The palate is spherical with lovely cherry and raspberry, a touch of earth, smoke, and spice. There is higher acidity in this medium-bodied wine, which gives freshness, to go with its plush mouthfeel. Overall, I really enjoyed this wines unabashed fruit purity as well as its acidity that balanced out the entire package. Well done.
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Pinot March continues. As I popped this recalled meeting Jamie years ago at the Slanted Door. Terrific guy. Fantastic dinner that evening. This 2008 is nice. In an elegant place. Soft red fruit. Cherry pop. Perhaps black cherry. Velvety. Easy. 90
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This wine in my opinion is at it's peak right now. If tasted blind, it could have passed for a Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir with same flavors and aromas typical of that region. Wine was elegant and balanced. Here is why I say drink now. Day 2 the wine had a different unrecognizable nose and the palette seemed tired and different, not fresh (this was sealed with a vacu-vin). My wife and I both also could sense a slight hint of smoke from a wood fire in the background on day 2. Day 2-88 pts.
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Medium-full nose of tart red fruit -- cranberry, cherry, raspberry with a fresh cut herb note. Medium bodied and round in the mouth. Fresh acidity provides lift and persistence. This has a nice edge to it on the mid-palate. Flavorful, lively finish.
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Only 2008 I have drank from Jamie's craft. I've had this around for a few years, picked it via WineBid a few years back. Been open about a 1/2 hour. Has a # of varied things going on, such as pine needle, cranberry, candied cherry and a gamey note in the finish. Probably a bit jumbled up at this stage so maybe some additional air over dinner will give it a hand....at dinner, this fleshed out as it warmed up. Much of the early acidity faded from when it was first opened and it became more ripe in tone, showing what to me also seemed like barrel spices--clove, 5 spice.....i.e. oak. While this didn't capture me as present day Kutch, the table did like it who had joined me and I would recommend this be a drink now/soon candidate.
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My wife and I both detected a bit of a smoky note in the wine, but it didn't detract all that much. Silky and nicely balanced with sweet cranberry, raspberry and smoky notes. Nice, satiny finish with no heat. Drink up over the next 3 years.
I was concerned of hints of smoke which was the rap on the 2008. None here. Very well integrated fruit. Lots of cranberry and raspberry. Nice loam and forest floor in mid palate. Finished with nice bright acidity. Drinking well now.
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PnP. Similar impression to last bottle 2 years ago with a couple of differences. One is that the texture is a bit softer and the fruit has moved from cranberry to add some plum. Also, smoke is now detectable. I thought it might have been the power of suggestion, but I had my supertaster wife give it a go blind when she walked in the room. After about a minute of focussed concentration she said, "there's ash and charcoal in there". Wine is drinking well and I did not find the touch a smoke a distractor.
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This didn't "wow" me. Granted, it was served in subpar stems and amidst a flurry of wines. Light garnet, clear. A clear beam of red cherry on the nose. On the palate, a bit linear, but with good life to the cherry and raspberry/rhubarb notes. Lacks the earthiness I like in OR Pinot and, for this, it's fruit and spice and not much else. Good, not great. No danger of decline, however, for 5+ years.
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winner winner--chicken dinner! We love our Armenian brother's wine. It was a fresh strawberry hit out of the bottle and smooth on the palate; roast chicken just seems to be the pairing of choice for Jamie's pinots. While not a recent customer, the Wife wants me to get back on board and load the boat...
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Very enjoyable. Decanted for about twenty minutes and enjoyed over about two hours. It has lost some of the smokey notes it had a few years ago, and the lush fruit with a little pepperiness has come forward more. Very nice. Drink now with some air or hold.
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Consistent with our previous bottles, but for whatever reason, this one just showed particularly well. More body, more fruit, more minerality, still in balance.
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Blind Tasting Kutch Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Nice berry fruit melange on the nose. Balanced in the mouth with raspberries, dried flowers and fruit skin tannin. Delicious now and seems likely to improve. (my 1st, group's 6th)
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Very nice. The nose is showing a complexity with a bit of earthy funk and also plenty of cherries. Lovely soft texture. Easy to drink. A fun drink right now with lots of development left.
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Excellent pinot. Bright red fruit (cherry, strawberry) with earth and spice elements. I slight note of smokey earth resolved within 30 minutes of opening. Nice earth (forest floor, mushroom) backdrop.
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Kutch's style is becoming less new world like which is a good thing. Very nice balance, some earthy notes, strawberry, rhubarb and some cloves. Terrific wine.
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Nose of red fruits and mineral and spice. Palate followed with red raspberry, strawberry, and other tart red fruit. Great acidity making the finish savory. Love Kutch.
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Really good with dark fruit, savory herbs and a firm texture. Stems are evident and pleasing. A bit short on the finish, which may be some tannins, but this is still drinking well.
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All sweet perfumey cherry on the nose. Talcum powder, lilac and clove. Really sweet on the palate too. Too rich for my blood right now but I think there is potential for it to settle down and integrate.
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Decanted for about 1 hour. Darker color than I expected. Pretty aromatics of ripe red berries, faint earth and spice, ripe, almost candied smells, but not quite. Palate belies the nose, coming across more taut and lean than I would have expected. Tart red berries, earth and spice on the palate as well, but with high acidity, some minerality and firm tannins on the finish. A nice balanced, more food frienldy expression of CA pinot noir.
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PnP. Red fruit and dark cherry aromas with soy and spice. Medium intensity fruit with cranberry tartness. Nicely balanced, crisp. Good tension. Not complex. Very nice. Difficult to answer whether to hold for aging or drink near term.
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13.9% alcohol. This wine is just trucking along. Black cherry and baking spice on the nose. In the mouth, this has become more refined and seamless, with focused cherry fruit, lively spice and minerality, a good acidic note, and a solid finish. A-
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Sonoma Pinot Noir: Excellent wine. Ruby in color, clear and shimmering bright. The nose has cherries and powdered cherry drink mix. Thick and voluptuous. Cherries, rhubarb with a slight menthol note on the finish. The nose was slightly tight, but the palate by far the best. Another year or two and this should be ready. Delicious now.
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This was a very fine bottle of Pinot Noir! Best Kutch I've had yet. Notes of cherry, cranberry and currents in a well balanced glass. If Burgundy was this consistently balanced, I would sell all my Bordeaux! Well done!
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light medium ruby. A lovely restrained and fresh nose. Not much of any smoke noticeable. Cooler pinot flavors, with lovely perfume and asian spices. Clean, pure and focused. Understated and elegant, with what I guess Meadows would call inner mouth perfume. Very pure and elegant with great length. Well done. I just need to keep my hands off the rest to see how it develops. Beautiful. Well done Jamie.
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Another great Kutch pinot. Bright red fruit and savory notes on the nose. The palate had a nice acid profile with cred fruits and particularly some tart boysenberry as it opened up ending with savory finish.
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Drank over a span of 5 nights/days. The showing over the previous 4 nights (in particular night 3) was drinking well. Bright fruit with a tart bing cherry profile. Firm acid backbone that continues to be a plus+... However, lost steam on last day. Suprised it showed well as long as it did.
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Ruby red. Straightforward nose showing off mostly red fruit and an interesting mix of lemon zest and orange peel. Medium bodied and interesting palate showing a nice blend of savory notes- cured smoked meats and acidic tart fruit. The conflict between the competing components is something to behold. As interesting as the flavors are, I'm dying for some strucutre. Medium acidity, but tannins are barely present. The finish is medium to long.
A very nice bottle of wine, but I'm left wanting a bit more. Great components are there, but not in harmony.
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The nose is redolent of vanilla and cherries. The palate has cherries, vanilla and some cola with a sweeping streak of acid. Not very complicated, and a bit less i your face than I prefer, but enjoyable wine.
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After an off Alesia, I decided to try this. I know its very young, but I have more and I thought this would give me a good place to check in. Very nice nice, fruity nose. Lots of sour cherry fruit. Perhaps some sandalwood. I noticed no smoke. Very nice texture. Not much complexity on the palate and I wonder if it ever gets there. That said, it is very enjoyable. I think a few more years and this is going to be about as good as it gets but should hold for a while after that. It faded a bit on Day 2.
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Opened alongside the '07. This vintage does not have quite the aromatic complexity or depth of its older sibling, but it also seems more ready to drink and provides an admirable sip right now. Despite higher listed alcohol (13.95%), it feels lighter and more easygoing on the palate. Just a charming glassful of Pinot fruit, with interesting savory aspects to the palate.
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Jeweled ruby color. Some cola, and cooler blue side of pinot on the nose. Nutmeg, flowers and asian spices. Great texture and again cooler notes of fruit. Some moss/ earthy/ sous bois juxtaposed with cool fruit and perfume. This has great texture, and good sap. this has excellent balance, and at this level of extraction, it allows pinot to be pinot. Elegant, deep and flat out lovely. Quite impressive and very drinkable at this point in time. Well done Jamie. 91 pts
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In honor of the new mailer from Jamie. Great fruit profile: raspberry, cranberry, and some pomegranate. Medium body weight with awesome mouthfeel. A little tartness on finish. Really enjoyable. Some mentioned some smoke. Nowhere in my detection zone. Hard to put the glass down. I just read my last note and said I wouldn't touch for a while. Does 9 months constitute a while?
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Another good showing, with notes of cherry and some mesquite smoke leading to a medium-bodied wine. A good foil to the smoked pheasant appetizer and grilled Wyoming antelope burgers enjoyed with this wine.
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No notes, but noticeably smokey. Still delicious and deftly made, but could definitely notice the smoke. Overall, provided for a very, very interesting tasting in the lineup.
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Pop and pour. In the glass, translucent red. On the nose, cherries, nutmeg, and a bit of damp earth. On the palate, raspberries and pinot spice with a light mouthfeel, and a clean finish. Given the difficulties of 08, my expectations were low, so this was a pleasant surprise.
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Translucent, ruby red color. The nose is packed with red fruits, especially raspberry, and lovely rose petal notes. In the mouth, the zingy acidity really makes this a lively wine with raspberry, cocoa, band-aid, and earthy elements. It is certainly light-bodied, but it has plenty of depth. The finish is clean with moderate length. About an hour later, the wine firmed up and showed some darker fruit and more weight. Overall, this is a very enjoyable wine with excellent acidity, making it very food friendly, and pure fruit.
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I'm very happy that I gave this pinot some time to age as it is drinking quite well. I love Jamie's pinots and this in no exception. Showing some earthiness and also some complexity. Jamie did the right thing with his 2008 pinot that is selloff a lot of his grapes and not make SVD pinots. Wish more wineries did that in not so great vintages.
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13.9% alcohol. Consistent with the prior two bottles, showing no signs of smoke and plenty of black cherry fruit, baking spice, and minerals. The structure is in the process of resolving a bit more, so another year in the bottle will make this really approachable. Though for now, it is an excellent, fruit-forward wine to drink. A-
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The nose has a profile of ripe red fruit with a hint of smoke. The palate has lush ripe fruit with fine grained tannins and moderate acidity. Nice lingering finish.
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After being open a couple hours the nose has really opened up and the perception of the tannins seems to have softened. I taste lovely red fruits, mostly tart cherry with a hint of raspberry and lovely tones of vanilla in the nose. No smoke like we noticed in a bottle in March. The wine, although by no means BIG, is not as feminine as previous Kutch wines I have tasted. That was really the charm of those wines. They also showed a riper fruit flavor profile to me. This one leans a little more toward the tart fruit spectrum. Definitely it is very different from Kutch's other wines(in my taste). Reminds me of some Oregon Pinots I have tasted. I feel this wine should evolve and be very nice and silky at the age of 6 years. A very nice wine.
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Tasted over 2 days. Day 1: Opened at cellar temp. Clear deep garnet hue. Nose that is somewhat subdued at cellar temp but starts to really be expressive as the wine warms up - strawberry, sour red cherry, cranberry, a forest floor element and a touch reminiscent of cracked pepper (No signs of smoke taint whatsoever for those who are interested in this debate). The alcohol was noticeable when the wine was cold - with heat on the nose and palate - but became better integrated as the wine warmed. The profile of the palate was in line with that of the nose, with cherries, light red berries and a dusty, mineral mouthfeel pairing with the smooth, well-integrated tannins. Nice complexity on the finish with a lifting acidity to bring the wine around nicely. Excellent showing on day1; a very well made and balanced Pinot.
Day 2: Again tasted from cellar temperature and allowed to warm in the glass. The fruit on the nose day 2 is much darker with dark raspberry, black cherry and bramble berry, it is very pinot today in character. Also, there is more mineral character today with dirty underbrush and wet autumn forest floor. As the wine warms, the fruit brightens toward a more red fruit profile and the alcohol (which was again apparent in the cellar temp wine) became more integrated. On the palate, there is a round velvety mouth feel with nice complexity and rich full fruit. There is a ripeness which makes this unmistakably Californian, but the fruit is not overdone by any means and the wine retains excellent acidity and balance. This is an excellent bottle of wine for an entry level California Pinot (though whether this is truly entry level is debatable in 2008).
My first Kutch and count me impressed! Definitely something I'll be buying in the future.
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A dark ruby colored wine with a complex nose of spice and black cherry with a pleasant mesquite-type smoke note in the background that was not overpowering and was an enjoyable element. A mouth-filling wine with a nice finish of cherry and plum that was enjoyed with carne asada and al pastor tacos from Adelitas Taqueria. On day 2, the wine showed more smoke and oak notes, but was still quite enjoyable.
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Medium, full nose of black cherry, subtle cola and spice. Medium bodied palate is flavorful, lush - yet elegant - and so balanced. Very approachable now. Terrific wine.
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13.9% alcohol. Second bottle confirms that smoke taint doesn't seem to be an issue in this wine. None of the other tasters had a different impression. Like the first bottle, excellent intensity to this wine. Gobs of black cherry fruit, with vivid minerality, spice, and acidity. Very pleasant to drink. A fine effort in a challenging vintage. A-
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Excellent pinot. Medium bodied. Notes of cherries, wild berries, cherry pit and earth/forest. Certainly has a pleasant savory element. Great texture and acidity, well balanced. Enjoyed it and will let others rest.
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Good berry and fruit notes. These are offset some by smoke tinged edges, undoubtedly from the wildfires in the region, that added a very interesting and enjoyable component to the wine.
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Yes I was looking for smoke and because of that yes I found it. But looking past that I found this wine probably in a "way too young" phase, muddled, stewed fruits, but, and a big but, I think there may be an upside, I will hold now for at least 3 years before my next one, or sell 2 bottles to BRR. 85+
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13.9% alcohol. I also did not detect smoke taint in this wine, but I wouldn't call myself sensitive to it nor experienced with it. Clear black cherry color. Lovely nose of red cherry, black cherry, spice, and earth. In the mouth, impressively lively and concentrated. The fruit dances across the palate with great verve, with terrific spice and earth notes supporting. Bright acidity and a strong finish. Lovely stuff. A-
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I drank this too young. I poured the first glass straight away and decanted the rest after the first sip. The wine was really tough to evaluate right now - the nose and palate both showed similar traits. Some nice cherry, a bit of mineral, but they were both flat and unyielding. I will hold the other two for at least 2 years. Good, likely, but tough to tell now. BTW, I couldn't detect the smoke taint that others have.
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13.9% alcohol. Clean, fruit and forest floor aromas. No hint of smoke taint. Tasty rasberry and blackcherry flavors. Good mouthfeel, well balanced, lingering aftertaste. A little young and primary, but otherwise very enjoyable.
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nice light fruit profile -- the fruit is dark, but there is a medium(-) body on this, and a nice acidity that keeps it fresh. a hint of heat on the finish.
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Unfortunately, campfire was clearly present in this wine. Despite the apparent smoke taint, it had all the stuffing to be a very nice wine. The smoke came and went as it was open and when it wasn't there I got plums, bacon fat, and a hint at something similar to soy or teriyaki beef jerky. The palate was one very nice constant offering bramble berries and was mouthfiling while staying quite elegant.
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Brought this to a dinner and decanted for about 1 hour. Color: red and translucent. Typical of Jamie's fruit profile with bright cherry and I can see where he is trying to head with this wine. Did not notice smokiness on the nose as stated by others but I think this is a great effort considering the difficulties of the vintage in Sonoma in 2008.
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A first look at Jamie's 08. A big, almost brambly nose with crushed raspberries and savory notes. There is a slight gaminess to the wine. Otherwise, the wine showcases clean, medium-bodied fruit that I expect will put on some weight with time. A bit clipped on the back end.
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Definite smoke taint on the nose. Almost like smelling liquid smoke. The palate was much better, but hard to get around that nose. Time may integrate the smokiness, but only time will tell. Also, even before the smoke, higher alcohol was apparent on the nose.
Have six, so I thought I'd try one early to check on the smoke factor for myself. Did not find any smokiness and do not consider it to be a problem. My wife had no idea that it was even an issue, and she confirmed the lack of smoke after I told her about the wildfires. Nose was abundant red fruits and earthiness that I like in my Pinot. Initial palate was muted, but opened nicely after 30 minutes in the glass. May have scored a bit higher, but the acidity seemed a tad low. Hoping that will come around with some bottle age - I've never opened my Kutch's this early before. Glad I took full allocation.
This wine was killer. Yes, was it a little young. Yes. But, the wine's color was bright, clear almost like a mirror calling you into the glass. Nose was closed out of the cellar but as it warmed up was full of forest floor, cranberries, strawberroes and young cherries. The flavors on the palate were similar to the nose. After an hour, it was really singing. Some toasted oak on the finish but clearly not smokey as I had read in other notes. I will keep my last 5 for the awhile to honor Jamie's wishes. I had been a doubter about buying 2008's. This put the fear to rest.
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As with previous vintages of Kutch Pinot Noir, the clarity of the wine is quite amazing. It's like staring through one of those rare, really dark red, marbles you used to have when you were a kid. We all had a big bag of marbles right? Or was that just me? Lots of black cherries on the nose and I don't really get the toasty or smoky oak elements that a few other CT notes have mentioned. There is certainly some oak there, but not at all overbearing. Having said that, I will state that I am tasting this after half the bottle has been left open on the counter since last night when the wife popped the bottle while I was out, so perhaps it's had a good amount of time to come together. Flavors are very classic California Pinot Noir and I find it leaning a little more towards the new world style compared to the 07. Given the challenges Jamie had with the vintage, I think he did a great job with this wine.
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Woah! Way more oak than I have ever seen from this producer. Still good, and honestly it is nice smelling oak, but VERY strong. Not scoring because it is so young, I was really just taking one for the team here. Great fruit, awesome acid per usual, but the finish is a bit oak bitter. Obviously needs some time, but I hope the oak can come into balance.
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Upon opening this was closed and had a strong toasty (or smoky) element to it, but fortunately that blew off with a couple hours of air and this really opened up and showed very well. Cherry, raspberry and a little spice (baking) all present. Good mouthfeel and silky texture. If you open now, decant for a couple of hours. I'll hold my other bottles for 6 months to a year. 91+ pts.
The color is medium ruby red with good clarity. The nose gives scents of raspberry, cherry, red currant, and brown sugar. The palate is medium to body with silky texture. Moderately firm tannins with well balanced acidity. Soft persistent finish with darker fruits.
I opened this too early. It was a bit awkward and disjointed immediately after opening but 30 minutes in the decanter did it a lot of good. The wine is very good now after an hour or two in the decanter. I suspect it will be much better after 6 months to a year.
9/23/2022 - Cow Town Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking well. Maybe a bit rustic - you can taste the stems, some secondary flavors. But, the fruit still comes through. Great wine for the age.
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4/20/2022 - wineack Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was outstanding. We had it with oven poached salmon fillet and it matched very well Rich fruit without being heavy. Still vibrant acidity. Mature tannins. My last bottle but drinking great.
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10/18/2021 - spacewrangler wrote: 87 Points
Seems to be on the decline w acid a little nervy and fruit turning a bit sour. Drink up.
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6/27/2020 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
My last of the two bottles picked up at auction.
Showed pretty much the same as the last bottle which is to say that it was a pure pleasure to drink! California Pinot for sure, but made with a slightly lighter touch with clean, pure fruit and detailed flavors.
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4/5/2019 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
13.95% abv. 1/3rd new french oak. No stem inclusion. Recent purchase from WineBid.
This showed incredibly well from the pop 'n pour - no decanting needed. Nose was expansive and very pleasing, with ripe fruit bowl and holiday spices. On the palate, a good acidic spine but well integrated and a nice complement to the maturing fruit flavor profile. This is Cali all the way, but I did not get any Cola notes, and this was on the lighter side even though the flavor intensity and focus was there. Not a great deal of depth, but not hollow either. Perfect style and weight for my middle-of-the-road palate. Definitely not trying to be Burgundy - no need to be - it is excellent California Pinot.
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10/6/2018 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Last of a six pack and still drinking beautifully. Core of red and black cherry. Plenty of spice (cloves, five-spice) and herbs. Fresh acids keep it long and lively.
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4/22/2017 - winepog wrote:
Lovely juice.
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4/2/2017 - CADomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
I'm very glad that I gave this wine some more cellar time. This was a much better showing than my previous bottle. No sign of smoke. Pure black cherry notes and great cool climate Sonoma Coast character with darker notes and a touch of baking spice.
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11/17/2016 - cstatile wrote: 92 Points
Full, tasty wine with a nose that I loved. There were the obvious red fruits on the nose but there was something behind that, dried leaves.... The palate was a bit darker in fruit than I typically like.. deep dark cherry with a bit of tart acidity that lifted it up and didn't let it round out. It have more time in the cellar if you like age on your wines but is drinking well now.
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9/1/2016 - Nanda wrote: 89 Points
A solid SC pinot with good black cherry fruit and taut acidity. This bottle never picked up a ton of flesh with the acid more prominent. Simple but a tasty sipper. Nice drink for an appellation Pinot.
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7/5/2016 - bklynwine wrote:
nose has baking spice and a whiff of smoke; palate is weightier (13.95% alc) and lacks the lift of other Kutch vintages (such as the 2007), though some acidity still makes for a pleasant, unmistakably Sonoma Coast pinot
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5/21/2016 - Meerlust wrote: 91 Points
This was a lovely bottle of wine that is ruby red with no orange at this point. The nose expresses pure cherry and raspberry with occasional wisps of smoke. The palate is spherical with lovely cherry and raspberry, a touch of earth, smoke, and spice. There is higher acidity in this medium-bodied wine, which gives freshness, to go with its plush mouthfeel. Overall, I really enjoyed this wines unabashed fruit purity as well as its acidity that balanced out the entire package. Well done.
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3/1/2016 - The ToolMan wrote: 90 Points
Pinot March continues. As I popped this recalled meeting Jamie years ago at the Slanted Door. Terrific guy. Fantastic dinner that evening. This 2008 is nice. In an elegant place. Soft red fruit. Cherry pop. Perhaps black cherry. Velvety. Easy. 90
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11/11/2015 - Ckaz44 wrote: 88 Points
Tired, lifeless. Barely any fruit left but some tannins remain. Drink up.
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11/2/2015 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine in my opinion is at it's peak right now. If tasted blind, it could have passed for a Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir with same flavors and aromas typical of that region. Wine was elegant and balanced. Here is why I say drink now. Day 2 the wine had a different unrecognizable nose and the palette seemed tired and different, not fresh (this was sealed with a vacu-vin). My wife and I both also could sense a slight hint of smoke from a wood fire in the background on day 2. Day 2-88 pts.
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10/25/2015 - Nanda Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium-full nose of tart red fruit -- cranberry, cherry, raspberry with a fresh cut herb note. Medium bodied and round in the mouth. Fresh acidity provides lift and persistence. This has a nice edge to it on the mid-palate. Flavorful, lively finish.
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9/14/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Only 2008 I have drank from Jamie's craft. I've had this around for a few years, picked it via WineBid a few years back. Been open about a 1/2 hour. Has a # of varied things going on, such as pine needle, cranberry, candied cherry and a gamey note in the finish. Probably a bit jumbled up at this stage so maybe some additional air over dinner will give it a hand....at dinner, this fleshed out as it warmed up. Much of the early acidity faded from when it was first opened and it became more ripe in tone, showing what to me also seemed like barrel spices--clove, 5 spice.....i.e. oak. While this didn't capture me as present day Kutch, the table did like it who had joined me and I would recommend this be a drink now/soon candidate.
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8/31/2015 - BRR Likes this wine: 91 Points
My wife and I both detected a bit of a smoky note in the wine, but it didn't detract all that much. Silky and nicely balanced with sweet cranberry, raspberry and smoky notes. Nice, satiny finish with no heat. Drink up over the next 3 years.
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12/8/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 90 Points
Fine if a bit generic Cali PN.
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9/25/2014 - rdsboca wrote: 92 Points
I was concerned of hints of smoke which was the rap on the 2008. None here. Very well integrated fruit. Lots of cranberry and raspberry. Nice loam and forest floor in mid palate. Finished with nice bright acidity. Drinking well now.
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5/17/2014 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes. I think there might still be a year or two left for this vintage, but this was our last bottle. Cheers!
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5/5/2014 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points
PnP. Similar impression to last bottle 2 years ago with a couple of differences. One is that the texture is a bit softer and the fruit has moved from cranberry to add some plum. Also, smoke is now detectable. I thought it might have been the power of suggestion, but I had my supertaster wife give it a go blind when she walked in the room. After about a minute of focussed concentration she said, "there's ash and charcoal in there". Wine is drinking well and I did not find the touch a smoke a distractor.
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12/2/2013 - BRR wrote: 85 Points
This didn't "wow" me. Granted, it was served in subpar stems and amidst a flurry of wines. Light garnet, clear. A clear beam of red cherry on the nose. On the palate, a bit linear, but with good life to the cherry and raspberry/rhubarb notes. Lacks the earthiness I like in OR Pinot and, for this, it's fruit and spice and not much else. Good, not great. No danger of decline, however, for 5+ years.
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11/13/2013 - underwds wrote: 88 Points
Nice cherry and raspberry fruit. Pleasant mouth feel, silky, but not overly slick. Some good savory notes. Overall well made, but didn't grab me. B-
12/31/13 I noted more earthiness this time, less fruit. Second day was appreciably different than the first.
1/10/14 Lots of acidity this time. Having trouble getting a real feel for what this wine is really like. Well matched for our tartiflette.
10/13/14. Similar to my first comments I got quite a bit of raspberry and cherry. Not as interesting on the finish.
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11/10/2013 - underwds wrote: flawed
Didn't particularly notice the mustiness of being corked, but it was very acidic and no integration of the fruit with the tannins.
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11/6/2013 - BradA wrote: 91 Points
winner winner--chicken dinner! We love our Armenian brother's wine. It was a fresh strawberry hit out of the bottle and smooth on the palate; roast chicken just seems to be the pairing of choice for Jamie's pinots. While not a recent customer, the Wife wants me to get back on board and load the boat...
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10/31/2013 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very nice pinot that appears to be fully ready to drink. Happy to have two more in my cellar. Thanks Jamie
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9/9/2013 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable. Decanted for about twenty minutes and enjoyed over about two hours. It has lost some of the smokey notes it had a few years ago, and the lush fruit with a little pepperiness has come forward more. Very nice. Drink now with some air or hold.
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8/5/2013 - winepog wrote: 92 Points
drinking very well, smooth and silky
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6/30/2013 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with our previous bottles, but for whatever reason, this one just showed particularly well. More body, more fruit, more minerality, still in balance.
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6/20/2013 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blind Tasting Kutch Pinot Noirs (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Nice berry fruit melange on the nose. Balanced in the mouth with raspberries, dried flowers and fruit skin tannin. Delicious now and seems likely to improve. (my 1st, group's 6th)
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5/12/2013 - Deryl Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of the most sophisticated California Pinots. Needs more time.
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3/17/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Very nice. The nose is showing a complexity with a bit of earthy funk and also plenty of cherries. Lovely soft texture. Easy to drink. A fun drink right now with lots of development left.
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2/26/2013 - jnanz Likes this wine:
Excellent pinot. Bright red fruit (cherry, strawberry) with earth and spice elements. I slight note of smokey earth resolved within 30 minutes of opening. Nice earth (forest floor, mushroom) backdrop.
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1/28/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Kutch's style is becoming less new world like which is a good thing. Very nice balance, some earthy notes, strawberry, rhubarb and some cloves. Terrific wine.
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1/18/2013 - mulder wrote:
Nose of red fruits and mineral and spice. Palate followed with red raspberry, strawberry, and other tart red fruit. Great acidity making the finish savory. Love Kutch.
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10/16/2012 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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9/27/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Great pinot
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9/23/2012 - JPBone wrote:
Off bottle
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9/7/2012 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
Great balance, classic flavors, just a great wine
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8/2/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 89 Points
A very nice pinot but I got so much very nice pinot in my cellar.
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8/1/2012 - rmodak wrote: 89 Points
Really good with dark fruit, savory herbs and a firm texture. Stems are evident and pleasing. A bit short on the finish, which may be some tannins, but this is still drinking well.
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3/23/2012 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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3/17/2012 - S1 wrote: 89 Points
All sweet perfumey cherry on the nose. Talcum powder, lilac and clove. Really sweet on the palate too. Too rich for my blood right now but I think there is potential for it to settle down and integrate.
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1/23/2012 - Grape_ape wrote:
Decanted for about 1 hour. Darker color than I expected. Pretty aromatics of ripe red berries, faint earth and spice, ripe, almost candied smells, but not quite. Palate belies the nose, coming across more taut and lean than I would have expected. Tart red berries, earth and spice on the palate as well, but with high acidity, some minerality and firm tannins on the finish. A nice balanced, more food frienldy expression of CA pinot noir.
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1/20/2012 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Red fruit and dark cherry aromas with soy and spice. Medium intensity fruit with cranberry tartness. Nicely balanced, crisp. Good tension. Not complex. Very nice. Difficult to answer whether to hold for aging or drink near term.
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11/4/2011 - mulder wrote: flawed
I usually love this wine but this bottle was a little off, almost like the acid was super high with no minerality or fruit.
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10/29/2011 - budman wrote: 91 Points
Unique!!!
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10/8/2011 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
raspberry and blackberry. light tannin well integrated. pleasant finish.
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10/7/2011 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
consistent with prior notes
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8/14/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
13.9% alcohol. This wine is just trucking along. Black cherry and baking spice on the nose. In the mouth, this has become more refined and seamless, with focused cherry fruit, lively spice and minerality, a good acidic note, and a solid finish. A-
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8/13/2011 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
consistent with prior bottles
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8/7/2011 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
dark, velvety fruit. some minerality showing through that i didnt get before.
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8/7/2011 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note. Seems to be holding up well, good balance of elegance and fruit.
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8/5/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Sonoma Pinot Noir: Excellent wine. Ruby in color, clear and shimmering bright. The nose has cherries and powdered cherry drink mix. Thick and voluptuous. Cherries, rhubarb with a slight menthol note on the finish. The nose was slightly tight, but the palate by far the best. Another year or two and this should be ready. Delicious now.
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7/26/2011 - Tpety wrote:
This was a very fine bottle of Pinot Noir! Best Kutch I've had yet. Notes of cherry, cranberry and currents in a well balanced glass. If Burgundy was this consistently balanced, I would sell all my Bordeaux! Well done!
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7/16/2011 - ptelgenh wrote: 88 Points
Medium ruby color. Tart cranberry with ample acidity. A bit under ripe for my taste.
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6/20/2011 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottles but with a hint of smoke.
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6/1/2011 - cct wrote: 91 Points
light medium ruby. A lovely restrained and fresh nose. Not much of any smoke noticeable. Cooler pinot flavors, with lovely perfume and asian spices. Clean, pure and focused. Understated and elegant, with what I guess Meadows would call inner mouth perfume. Very pure and elegant with great length. Well done. I just need to keep my hands off the rest to see how it develops. Beautiful. Well done Jamie.
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5/20/2011 - mulder wrote: 93 Points
Another great Kutch pinot. Bright red fruit and savory notes on the nose. The palate had a nice acid profile with cred fruits and particularly some tart boysenberry as it opened up ending with savory finish.
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5/1/2011 - 2loyal wrote: 93 Points
Lush, silky texture with pretty cherry notes and a medium- to long-finish. Beautiful wine drinking very well as I type.
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4/2/2011 - hkfoebee wrote:
Recall drinking well. Bottle didn't last long...
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3/20/2011 - hkfoebee wrote:
Drank over a span of 5 nights/days. The showing over the previous 4 nights (in particular night 3) was drinking well. Bright fruit with a tart bing cherry profile. Firm acid backbone that continues to be a plus+... However, lost steam on last day. Suprised it showed well as long as it did.
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3/18/2011 - Anthony Lombardi wrote:
Ruby red. Straightforward nose showing off mostly red fruit and an interesting mix of lemon zest and orange peel. Medium bodied and interesting palate showing a nice blend of savory notes- cured smoked meats and acidic tart fruit. The conflict between the competing components is something to behold. As interesting as the flavors are, I'm dying for some strucutre. Medium acidity, but tannins are barely present. The finish is medium to long.
A very nice bottle of wine, but I'm left wanting a bit more. Great components are there, but not in harmony.
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3/13/2011 - budman wrote: 92 Points
Gaining complexity. Great stuff!!!
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2/21/2011 - pjhr wrote: 91 Points
Fruit was bit riper and sweeter than I remember but quite tasty.
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2/9/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
The nose is redolent of vanilla and cherries. The palate has cherries, vanilla and some cola with a sweeping streak of acid. Not very complicated, and a bit less i your face than I prefer, but enjoyable wine.
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2/6/2011 - hkfoebee wrote:
Bright fruit in Kutch's signature style. Yummy as usual!
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1/24/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
After an off Alesia, I decided to try this. I know its very young, but I have more and I thought this would give me a good place to check in. Very nice nice, fruity nose. Lots of sour cherry fruit. Perhaps some sandalwood. I noticed no smoke. Very nice texture. Not much complexity on the palate and I wonder if it ever gets there. That said, it is very enjoyable. I think a few more years and this is going to be about as good as it gets but should hold for a while after that. It faded a bit on Day 2.
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1/15/2011 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
really nice dark fruit profile. well balanced fruit and acidity with a light tannic structure. this has improved since the last bottle i had.
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1/10/2011 - jlm wrote:
Opened alongside the '07. This vintage does not have quite the aromatic complexity or depth of its older sibling, but it also seems more ready to drink and provides an admirable sip right now. Despite higher listed alcohol (13.95%), it feels lighter and more easygoing on the palate. Just a charming glassful of Pinot fruit, with interesting savory aspects to the palate.
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1/6/2011 - cct wrote: 91 Points
Jeweled ruby color. Some cola, and cooler blue side of pinot on the nose. Nutmeg, flowers and asian spices. Great texture and again cooler notes of fruit. Some moss/ earthy/ sous bois juxtaposed with cool fruit and perfume. This has great texture, and good sap. this has excellent balance, and at this level of extraction, it allows pinot to be pinot. Elegant, deep and flat out lovely. Quite impressive and very drinkable at this point in time. Well done Jamie. 91 pts
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1/4/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 93 Points
In honor of the new mailer from Jamie. Great fruit profile: raspberry, cranberry, and some pomegranate. Medium body weight with awesome mouthfeel. A little tartness on finish. Really enjoyable. Some mentioned some smoke. Nowhere in my detection zone. Hard to put the glass down. I just read my last note and said I wouldn't touch for a while. Does 9 months constitute a while?
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1/4/2011 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: 91 Points
Another good showing, with notes of cherry and some mesquite smoke leading to a medium-bodied wine. A good foil to the smoked pheasant appetizer and grilled Wyoming antelope burgers enjoyed with this wine.
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12/19/2010 - parathesis wrote: 92 Points
This was much better than expected. The fruit was very present and clean with crisp acidity. Did not notice the alcohol.
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12/11/2010 - hkfoebee wrote:
Crowd pleaser, drank expectionally well right out of bottle. Great nose with a soft balanced mid-palate. Bravo! And to think this was the '08...
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11/25/2010 - Grape Stuff wrote:
No notes, but noticeably smokey. Still delicious and deftly made, but could definitely notice the smoke. Overall, provided for a very, very interesting tasting in the lineup.
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11/20/2010 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. In the glass, translucent red. On the nose, cherries, nutmeg, and a bit of damp earth. On the palate, raspberries and pinot spice with a light mouthfeel, and a clean finish. Given the difficulties of 08, my expectations were low, so this was a pleasant surprise.
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11/5/2010 - AWei wrote: 92 Points
Awesome nose and cherry flavors. Would let this sit for another 1-2 years before trying again.
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11/2/2010 - budman wrote: 91 Points
Starting to open up. Orange peel and cherry flavors. Good stuff.
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11/1/2010 - Meerlust wrote: 90 Points
Translucent, ruby red color. The nose is packed with red fruits, especially raspberry, and lovely rose petal notes. In the mouth, the zingy acidity really makes this a lively wine with raspberry, cocoa, band-aid, and earthy elements. It is certainly light-bodied, but it has plenty of depth. The finish is clean with moderate length. About an hour later, the wine firmed up and showed some darker fruit and more weight. Overall, this is a very enjoyable wine with excellent acidity, making it very food friendly, and pure fruit.
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10/31/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
I'm very happy that I gave this pinot some time to age as it is drinking quite well. I love Jamie's pinots and this in no exception. Showing some earthiness and also some complexity.
Jamie did the right thing with his 2008 pinot that is selloff a lot of his grapes and not make SVD pinots. Wish more wineries did that in not so great vintages.
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9/6/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
13.9% alcohol. Consistent with the prior two bottles, showing no signs of smoke and plenty of black cherry fruit, baking spice, and minerals. The structure is in the process of resolving a bit more, so another year in the bottle will make this really approachable. Though for now, it is an excellent, fruit-forward wine to drink. A-
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8/29/2010 - kris.h wrote: 90 Points
The nose has a profile of ripe red fruit with a hint of smoke. The palate has lush ripe fruit with fine grained tannins and moderate acidity. Nice lingering finish.
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8/28/2010 - suburbanfrog wrote: 90 Points
After being open a couple hours the nose has really opened up and the perception of the tannins seems to have softened. I taste lovely red fruits, mostly tart cherry with a hint of raspberry and lovely tones of vanilla in the nose. No smoke like we noticed in a bottle in March. The wine, although by no means BIG, is not as feminine as previous Kutch wines I have tasted. That was really the charm of those wines. They also showed a riper fruit flavor profile to me. This one leans a little more toward the tart fruit spectrum. Definitely it is very different from Kutch's other wines(in my taste). Reminds me of some Oregon Pinots I have tasted. I feel this wine should evolve and be very nice and silky at the age of 6 years. A very nice wine.
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8/21/2010 - gblacave wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over 2 days.
Day 1: Opened at cellar temp. Clear deep garnet hue. Nose that is somewhat subdued at cellar temp but starts to really be expressive as the wine warms up - strawberry, sour red cherry, cranberry, a forest floor element and a touch reminiscent of cracked pepper (No signs of smoke taint whatsoever for those who are interested in this debate). The alcohol was noticeable when the wine was cold - with heat on the nose and palate - but became better integrated as the wine warmed. The profile of the palate was in line with that of the nose, with cherries, light red berries and a dusty, mineral mouthfeel pairing with the smooth, well-integrated tannins. Nice complexity on the finish with a lifting acidity to bring the wine around nicely. Excellent showing on day1; a very well made and balanced Pinot.
Day 2: Again tasted from cellar temperature and allowed to warm in the glass. The fruit on the nose day 2 is much darker with dark raspberry, black cherry and bramble berry, it is very pinot today in character. Also, there is more mineral character today with dirty underbrush and wet autumn forest floor. As the wine warms, the fruit brightens toward a more red fruit profile and the alcohol (which was again apparent in the cellar temp wine) became more integrated. On the palate, there is a round velvety mouth feel with nice complexity and rich full fruit. There is a ripeness which makes this unmistakably Californian, but the fruit is not overdone by any means and the wine retains excellent acidity and balance. This is an excellent bottle of wine for an entry level California Pinot (though whether this is truly entry level is debatable in 2008).
My first Kutch and count me impressed! Definitely something I'll be buying in the future.
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7/27/2010 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
A little time has been kind to this bottle. The acidity that was missing in April was there last night.
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7/17/2010 - pjhr wrote: 92 Points
Tasty red cherries on the nose and palate with delicious spice notes culminating in wonderful acidity on the finish.
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6/7/2010 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: 91 Points
A dark ruby colored wine with a complex nose of spice and black cherry with a pleasant mesquite-type smoke note in the background that was not overpowering and was an enjoyable element. A mouth-filling wine with a nice finish of cherry and plum that was enjoyed with carne asada and al pastor tacos from Adelitas Taqueria. On day 2, the wine showed more smoke and oak notes, but was still quite enjoyable.
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6/5/2010 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Medium, full nose of black cherry, subtle cola and spice. Medium bodied palate is flavorful, lush - yet elegant - and so balanced. Very approachable now. Terrific wine.
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5/30/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
13.9% alcohol. Second bottle confirms that smoke taint doesn't seem to be an issue in this wine. None of the other tasters had a different impression. Like the first bottle, excellent intensity to this wine. Gobs of black cherry fruit, with vivid minerality, spice, and acidity. Very pleasant to drink. A fine effort in a challenging vintage. A-
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5/29/2010 - jnanz wrote: 91 Points
Excellent pinot. Medium bodied. Notes of cherries, wild berries, cherry pit and earth/forest. Certainly has a pleasant savory element. Great texture and acidity, well balanced. Enjoyed it and will let others rest.
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5/28/2010 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good berry and fruit notes. These are offset some by smoke tinged edges, undoubtedly from the wildfires in the region, that added a very interesting and enjoyable component to the wine.
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5/28/2010 - MDV wrote: 85 Points
Yes I was looking for smoke and because of that yes I found it.
But looking past that I found this wine probably in a "way too young" phase, muddled, stewed fruits, but, and a big but, I think there may be an upside, I will hold now for at least 3 years before my next one, or sell 2 bottles to BRR. 85+
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5/26/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
13.9% alcohol. I also did not detect smoke taint in this wine, but I wouldn't call myself sensitive to it nor experienced with it. Clear black cherry color. Lovely nose of red cherry, black cherry, spice, and earth. In the mouth, impressively lively and concentrated. The fruit dances across the palate with great verve, with terrific spice and earth notes supporting. Bright acidity and a strong finish. Lovely stuff. A-
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5/25/2010 - BRR wrote: 87 Points
I drank this too young. I poured the first glass straight away and decanted the rest after the first sip. The wine was really tough to evaluate right now - the nose and palate both showed similar traits. Some nice cherry, a bit of mineral, but they were both flat and unyielding. I will hold the other two for at least 2 years. Good, likely, but tough to tell now. BTW, I couldn't detect the smoke taint that others have.
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5/23/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 89 Points
13.9% alcohol. Clean, fruit and forest floor aromas. No hint of smoke taint. Tasty rasberry and blackcherry flavors. Good mouthfeel, well balanced, lingering aftertaste. A little young and primary, but otherwise very enjoyable.
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5/22/2010 - DRA wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes and did not pick up the smoke taint noticed by others. Enjoyable, though not particularly complex.
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5/19/2010 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
nice light fruit profile -- the fruit is dark, but there is a medium(-) body on this, and a nice acidity that keeps it fresh. a hint of heat on the finish.
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5/11/2010 - CADomer wrote: 89 Points
Unfortunately, campfire was clearly present in this wine. Despite the apparent smoke taint, it had all the stuffing to be a very nice wine. The smoke came and went as it was open and when it wasn't there I got plums, bacon fat, and a hint at something similar to soy or teriyaki beef jerky. The palate was one very nice constant offering bramble berries and was mouthfiling while staying quite elegant.
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5/9/2010 - glg wrote: 88 Points
Great for the vintage - not particularly complex, but very true to the varietal. I did not get any smoke taint.
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5/8/2010 - ews3 wrote: 89 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 3rd Annual; 5/7/2010-5/8/2010 (Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC): Reminiscent of the 06, this has a nice dark fruit profile, but definitely some heat on the finish. Acidity almost overpowers the wine at a few points in the midpalate, but that should work its way out.
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4/25/2010 - JPBone wrote: 90 Points
Brought this to a dinner and decanted for about 1 hour. Color: red and translucent. Typical of Jamie's fruit profile with bright cherry and I can see where he is trying to head with this wine. Did not notice smokiness on the nose as stated by others but I think this is a great effort considering the difficulties of the vintage in Sonoma in 2008.
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4/17/2010 - Moorese wrote: 91 Points
A first look at Jamie's 08. A big, almost brambly nose with crushed raspberries and savory notes. There is a slight gaminess to the wine. Otherwise, the wine showcases clean, medium-bodied fruit that I expect will put on some weight with time. A bit clipped on the back end.
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4/11/2010 - pinotfan1970 wrote: 84 Points
Definite smoke taint on the nose. Almost like smelling liquid smoke. The palate was much better, but hard to get around that nose. Time may integrate the smokiness, but only time will tell. Also, even before the smoke, higher alcohol was apparent on the nose.
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4/7/2010 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Have six, so I thought I'd try one early to check on the smoke factor for myself. Did not find any smokiness and do not consider it to be a problem. My wife had no idea that it was even an issue, and she confirmed the lack of smoke after I told her about the wildfires. Nose was abundant red fruits and earthiness that I like in my Pinot. Initial palate was muted, but opened nicely after 30 minutes in the glass. May have scored a bit higher, but the acidity seemed a tad low. Hoping that will come around with some bottle age - I've never opened my Kutch's this early before. Glad I took full allocation.
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3/26/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 92 Points
This wine was killer. Yes, was it a little young. Yes. But, the wine's color was bright, clear almost like a mirror calling you into the glass. Nose was closed out of the cellar but as it warmed up was full of forest floor, cranberries, strawberroes and young cherries. The flavors on the palate were similar to the nose. After an hour, it was really singing. Some toasted oak on the finish but clearly not smokey as I had read in other notes. I will keep my last 5 for the awhile to honor Jamie's wishes. I had been a doubter about buying 2008's. This put the fear to rest.
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3/24/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 90 Points
As with previous vintages of Kutch Pinot Noir, the clarity of the wine is quite amazing. It's like staring through one of those rare, really dark red, marbles you used to have when you were a kid. We all had a big bag of marbles right? Or was that just me? Lots of black cherries on the nose and I don't really get the toasty or smoky oak elements that a few other CT notes have mentioned. There is certainly some oak there, but not at all overbearing. Having said that, I will state that I am tasting this after half the bottle has been left open on the counter since last night when the wife popped the bottle while I was out, so perhaps it's had a good amount of time to come together. Flavors are very classic California Pinot Noir and I find it leaning a little more towards the new world style compared to the 07. Given the challenges Jamie had with the vintage, I think he did a great job with this wine.
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3/22/2010 - brianofthevine wrote: 88 Points
Red cherry, very muted fruit and very short finish. Hmmm...
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3/20/2010 - CaliCab wrote:
Woah! Way more oak than I have ever seen from this producer. Still good, and honestly it is nice smelling oak, but VERY strong. Not scoring because it is so young, I was really just taking one for the team here. Great fruit, awesome acid per usual, but the finish is a bit oak bitter. Obviously needs some time, but I hope the oak can come into balance.
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3/18/2010 - B Paul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Upon opening this was closed and had a strong toasty (or smoky) element to it, but fortunately that blew off with a couple hours of air and this really opened up and showed very well. Cherry, raspberry and a little spice (baking) all present. Good mouthfeel and silky texture. If you open now, decant for a couple of hours. I'll hold my other bottles for 6 months to a year. 91+ pts.
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3/10/2010 - kris.h Likes this wine: 89 Points
The color is medium ruby red with good clarity. The nose gives scents of raspberry, cherry, red currant, and brown sugar. The palate is medium to body with silky texture. Moderately firm tannins with well balanced acidity. Soft persistent finish with darker fruits.
I opened this too early. It was a bit awkward and disjointed immediately after opening but 30 minutes in the decanter did it a lot of good. The wine is very good now after an hour or two in the decanter. I suspect it will be much better after 6 months to a year.
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