2009 Whistling Dog Cellars Pinot Noir Dijon Blocks NSV

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 85 points

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  5/14/2013 - Flabby & Tedious wrote: 90 Points

  Burghhound.com (w/permission):
  
  2009 Pinot Noir – NSV Estate – Dijon Blocks: (Eola-Amity Hills, 50% whole cluster, 220 cases, SRP $24, 13.8%). Light ruby. A perfumed and intensely floral nose of attractively fresh, elegant and admirably pure red berry fruit and spice hints leads to beautifully well-detailed and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a lush mid-palate before terminating in a long, balanced and utterly delicious finish where a touch of wood surfaces. This delivers superb value for the money and is definitely recommended. Note that while it could be drunk and enjoyed now, it should also be capable of rewarding a few years of cellar time if desired. 90/2015+

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  5/14/2013 - Brix Does not like this wine: 78 Points

  In the glass, pale and strawberry-colored. On the nose...alcohol, not much else. On the palate, flabby and tedious.

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  10/14/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 Points

  Only OK, not great. There is not a "pop" of bright, fresh, red and dark fruit like I was expecting. Can easily identify the earthy, flinty tell tail signs of Dijon clones. No doubt about the use of whole cluster fermentation for softness. It is mildly tasty, if a little bland. Can easily see two fingers on a clear to light red color. Nose has big alcohol, not much else. Has some redeeming qualities as it hits the palate with solid, adequate, black cherry fruit that really hangs in there, giving us a hint of the quality of the vineyard management and wine making. Once you get past that first hit of really nice cherry fruit, things start comming apart. The mid palate is basically vacant. Seems that the fruit ripened right through all the tannins, and some of the acid. Some charcoal flavors from a hint of oak. The finish is promising with some ripe plum and black cherry. Need to try another bottle, and another vintage, but this producer seems to have merit.
  
  So after a couple of hours of letting this wine open up, I need to humbly report the soft crushing and fermenting of this wine is making me a believer. Not layered and complex, but very pure, and extremely well made. The ripe plum finish seems to last for half an hour.

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  7/27/2012 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 85 Points

  I've been a HUGE fan of the NSV wines in 2007 and 2008, but both of these vintages seem to be sold out. Unfortunately a bit of warm 2009ness crept into this wine and it's fairly disappointing to my palate. The aromas are fairly nice and the warmth doesn't show itself quite as much, but it's also not as elegant and seemless as previous vintages. This offers some pretty spicy Pinot notes, some barrel funk, and some glue... that glue note resembles spiciness and comes across a bit volatile. Palate shows soft red fruits at first, very light acidity, and pretty, cream texture. Quite nice palate, with a slight bit of alcohol noticeable as I aerate it. The finish has noticeable, out of balance alcohol masquerading as spice, pretty soft red fruits, and some earthiness. The warm alcohol on this is what lingers in my senses. Still a nice and pretty textural experience, with good lightness. I'm still sold on this producer and land, but the vintage got away from this one...

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  4/18/2012 - cliffkol wrote: 90 Points

  Willamette Valley - Tasted at winery: 100% Dijon clones 114 and 115. 50% whole clusters. 50% whole berries. Dark red color. Light nose of dark berries. On the palate, dark berries, earthy, woodsy. Tannins still evident, could use another 1-2 years cellar. (Doris #3 of the 3 2009's tasted)

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