Some wines draw you in for intimate encounters. Others trumpet their delights from the mountain top. This is the latter. Some would say "OTT." I would say "LTT" – Love The Top, when it's full of flavor, body, personality and life. Come and get it!
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This should say Zinfandel on the label, not pinot. Far away from the elegance, earthiness and finesse of the varietal. Drinks like a concentrated Meiomi. Disappointing.
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This wine is a Pinot Noir for Cabernet Sauvignon lovers. Bigger all around. Invitingly aromatic. Pitch black to the edge. Strongly tannic. Richly fruity blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plumcot. Gets even better from additional years of storage, here 11 years old. Delightfully lusher, rounded, smoother edged, and mouth coating.
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To be fair, I hesitated initially from rating, as I drink so few Pinots, and know my palate is far removed from those that do truly love them... and know most feel the B.G. is a pretty "over the top" expression.
I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Wagner at a PinotFest in Los Angeles back in (I think 2011). In tasting through all the Pinots, we came to B.G. table, a friend and I took a few sips of this current year release, and I must have squinted or made some face. Next thing, a man who I thought was a representative of B.G. came over to ask our opinion. My friend who is well versed in Pinot was a bit shy, and when he asked me, he asked me to be honest, so i was, and told him it was just "Too Much of Everything". He appreciated the honesty, then introduced himself as Joe Wagner.
Being a bit embarrassed, as I just insulted his wine, he was gracious and then invited us behind the table - to the Trade side, and tucked away he had a Magnum of a much older Bella Glos - think it was 5-7 years aged, and poured us a glass.
I remember, again as I am a huge lover of big cali cabernets, that now this was a pinot i could really enjoy. He said it was crafted to lay down for awhile, and for those with patience, they would be rewarded. Said it was never meant to compete with the subtle pinots, but rather for those who like a more hearty ones.
So popping this 10 yr old Bella Glos, was fabulous. I know most of my Pinot drinking friends might not agree, but with a few hours of air, this really was one of my favorite bottlings i have had, and the longer in glass it sat, the better it kept getting, so easily could have benefited from a decant. Last sip was probably 5 hours after opening and it was definitely the best "sip".
Had the typical Pinot profile tastes of Cherry, intermingled with Cola, but the fruit was much more subdued and integrated with the other aspects of the wine, had more earthy qualities, again more like what I would expect from a Cabernet, but with all the flavor profile of a Pinot. Absolutely no hints of age, so these have plenty more years of life ahead of them. Doubt it is getting any better, but... gonna be good and hanging around for a long while, glad I have one more to try in a year or two!
For those who poke fun at the Bella Glos, try picking up an older bottle with at least 5-10 years age and give it a whirl, its really good juice!!
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6/7/2023 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
Super duper pinot noir. Both elegant and exhibitionistic. Bright and bold.
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2/25/2023 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
Some wines draw you in for intimate encounters. Others trumpet their delights from the mountain top. This is the latter. Some would say "OTT." I would say "LTT" – Love The Top, when it's full of flavor, body, personality and life. Come and get it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2021 - DoubleMagnum Does not like this wine: 80 Points
This should say Zinfandel on the label, not pinot. Far away from the elegance, earthiness and finesse of the varietal. Drinks like a concentrated Meiomi. Disappointing.
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2/1/2021 - Kenny_G Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is a Pinot Noir for Cabernet Sauvignon lovers. Bigger all around. Invitingly aromatic. Pitch black to the edge. Strongly tannic. Richly fruity blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plumcot. Gets even better from additional years of storage, here 11 years old. Delightfully lusher, rounded, smoother edged, and mouth coating.
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11/10/2020 - Cabernet4me2 Likes this wine: 92 Points
To be fair, I hesitated initially from rating, as I drink so few Pinots, and know my palate is far removed from those that do truly love them... and know most feel the B.G. is a pretty "over the top" expression.
I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Wagner at a PinotFest in Los Angeles back in (I think 2011). In tasting through all the Pinots, we came to B.G. table, a friend and I took a few sips of this current year release, and I must have squinted or made some face. Next thing, a man who I thought was a representative of B.G. came over to ask our opinion. My friend who is well versed in Pinot was a bit shy, and when he asked me, he asked me to be honest, so i was, and told him it was just "Too Much of Everything". He appreciated the honesty, then introduced himself as Joe Wagner.
Being a bit embarrassed, as I just insulted his wine, he was gracious and then invited us behind the table - to the Trade side, and tucked away he had a Magnum of a much older Bella Glos - think it was 5-7 years aged, and poured us a glass.
I remember, again as I am a huge lover of big cali cabernets, that now this was a pinot i could really enjoy. He said it was crafted to lay down for awhile, and for those with patience, they would be rewarded. Said it was never meant to compete with the subtle pinots, but rather for those who like a more hearty ones.
So popping this 10 yr old Bella Glos, was fabulous. I know most of my Pinot drinking friends might not agree, but with a few hours of air, this really was one of my favorite bottlings i have had, and the longer in glass it sat, the better it kept getting, so easily could have benefited from a decant. Last sip was probably 5 hours after opening and it was definitely the best "sip".
Had the typical Pinot profile tastes of Cherry, intermingled with Cola, but the fruit was much more subdued and integrated with the other aspects of the wine, had more earthy qualities, again more like what I would expect from a Cabernet, but with all the flavor profile of a Pinot. Absolutely no hints of age, so these have plenty more years of life ahead of them. Doubt it is getting any better, but... gonna be good and hanging around for a long while, glad I have one more to try in a year or two!
For those who poke fun at the Bella Glos, try picking up an older bottle with at least 5-10 years age and give it a whirl, its really good juice!!
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