1976 - 1996 Pinot Noir

Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA
Tasted Tuesday, November 22, 2011 by zscheiner with 704 views

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

Wines in this "pre" flight were tasted double-blind, although we knew that one of them was an older CA Pinot.

  • 2007 Domaine Laurier Pinot Noir Los Carneros 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Sweet cherry nose, bit of oak spice and heat. Light to medium bodied with medium+ acidity. Tight palate, with tart cherry fruit, oak spice, and some significant tannin. Needs time but potential here. Obviously surprised when this was unblinded... I thought it might be an '09 Bourgogne.

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  • 2009 Carmenet Pinot Noir Reserve 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Sweet cherry nose. Medium bodied with medium acidity. Deep sweet red cherry fruit, verging on cough syrup. Some moderate tannins. Clearly new world, but decently balanced, not bad. Again, surprised when this was unblinded.

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  • 1996 Pepperwood Springs Vineyards Pinot Noir Romani Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Medium bricking. A bit of old bottle funk that blew off, followed by tart cherries and baking spices. Light to medium bodied with low to medium acidity. Ripe strawberries and red cherries with lots of baking spices. A touch sweet but quite nice.

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Flight 2 (10 Notes)

Wines in the main flight were tasted single-blind, with the exception of the two Burgundies, which we knew were included but not their identity.

  • 1996 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers Flawed

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

    Weird, menthol, milk chocolate nose. Light bodied with medium acidity. Very little fruit, a bit of tannin and shrill acidity. I just thought it was over the hill but RJ got mercaptans and thought it was a bad bottle. I originally scored it 80, but will give it the benefit of the doubt and say flawed. (my 7th, group's 4th)

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  • 1976 Tulocay Pinot Noir Haynes Vineyard Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Corked. Light bodied with medium acidity and tart cranberry fruit. (my 9th, group's 10th)

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  • 1985 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 84 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Moderate bricking. Funky, bretty nose. Medium bodied with low to medium acidity. Cherry, spice, leather and brett on the palate with moderate tannins. (my 6th, group's 5th)

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  • 1994 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Reserve 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Darker red that most of the others. Reticent nose, some black cherry and raspberry. Light to medium bodied with medium acidity. Black cherry fruit and baking spice. Touch sweet and simple, but nice. (my 3rd, group's 1st)

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  • 1987 Cronin Pinot Noir 91 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Moderate bricking. Pretty nose of warm red fruit and baking spice. Light to medium bodied with medium acidity. Red cherry fruit, cinnamon and a bit of soy. Balanced and elegant. Delicious aged Pinot. (my 1st, group's 3rd)

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  • 1993 Sanford Pinot Noir Barrel Select Flawed

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

    Corked. (my 8th, group's 9th)

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  • 1996 Louis Latour Corton-Clos de la Vigne au Saint Flawed

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

    Light bricking. Weird, chemical, cheesy, funky nose. So off-putting I didn't taste it. Waited at least an hour and it didn't blow off, so I marked flawed and even ranked it below the two corked wines. After the reveal, when I discovered that three people ranked it first, I returned and the odor had dissipated and it was much better. No additional notes. Strange. (my 10th, group's 7th)

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  • 1986 Caymus Pinot Noir Special Selection 87 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Dark red, darkest of the flight. Interesting nose of black tea and soy. Light bodied with low acidity. Savory palate with cinnamon and touches of black cherry and leather. Interesting, but clearly on the way down. (my 4th, group's 8th)

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  • 1995 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Crimson with light bricking. Baking spice and a touch of brett on the nose. Light to medium body with low to med acidity. Slightly sweet black cherry and baking spice with a bit of tannic structure left. Nice depth and balance. (my 2nd, group's 2nd)

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  • 1996 Martinelli Pinot Noir Martinelli Vineyard 86 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Light red, light bricking. Tight nose, some anise. Light bodied with medium+ acidity. Sweet red cherry juice, tart cranberry and wood spice. A bit short and simple but not bad. (my 5th, group's 6th)

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