2010 W.H. Smith Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (19) Avg Score: 91.3 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Sfcf's profile
  • Report Issue

  1/31/2024 - Sfcf wrote: 91 Points

  Oops. Didn't know I still had this bottle. Didn't expect much, and wow, was I pleasantly surprised. Still had plenty of fruit and energy, drinking beautifully.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View HonorAmerica's profile
  • Report Issue

  1/31/2020 - HonorAmerica wrote: 92 Points

  Lovely cherry/strawberry new world style wine; slight earthiness. Mildly cloudy in the glass. Would recommend drinking right after opening and either no decant or decant in a closed bottle. Wine is ready to drink now.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View sid_loves_wine's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/26/2019 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Incredible Pinot Noir, intense and I think a relatively distinctive combination of very ripe, sweet fruit and a surprising savory element that sneaks up on you. The nose instantly blooms with candied fruit (practically a whiff of cotton candy at first, maybe that's what's on the label, lol-) a little on the dark fruit side, cassis etc, maybe even hoisin sauce, then some bright, juicy strawberry showing up with air. A lot of pure vanilla oak as well; it's very present but honestly not too much for the big fruit.
  
  Sure, the palate is a little on the hot side and it's noticeable (otherwise I'd say it's a 95), but it also imparts a smoky/woodsy element. Very subtle mushroom hints begin to show, almost leathery or even cigarlike. It's as though someone transplanted some napa cab scents into a juicy, exuberant, soft, and friendly coastal Pinot, which I guess makes sense given the Howell mountain pedigree of WH smith.
  
  (Emphasis on "soft"! A few years have really made this into velvet. It's changing quickly so drink soon or make sure it's stored very cold.)

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View EdKz@comcast.net's profile
  • Report Issue

  10/21/2018 - EdKz@comcast.net Likes this wine: 92 Points

  super bold world balance of earth and fruit; smokiness, slight alcohol tinge

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View wabi47's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/9/2017 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points

  Ripe and fruity new world style--well done, though I prefer a more elegant style

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

View all 19 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.