2nd Annual NYC Blind 2005 Pinot Shootout

I didn't think we could outdo the 1st Annual Shootout, but I think we did. The wines showed really well and the crowd was really rollicking. Tatse did a fantastic job and was really attentive and helpful. I'd highly recommend it for an off-line.

The purpose of the event is to share the pain of opening wines that really aren't ready to drink so as to get a snapshot of what is to come. As a result I haven't noted that any of the wines are young or tannic, but you should certainly assume that they were.

Thanks to everyone. I had a great time.

A nice ay to kick off the evening. I thught that the Kutch and the KB were pretty good. Glad I have them, but I wouldn't lose sleep if I didn't. The Inman was really good and I thought was the class of the first flight.

• 2006 Kutch Pinot Noir Rosé

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Very nice with lots of Pinot characteristics. Not sure it's exactly what I want in a Rose in that it could be a little crisper, but still a good drinker.

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• 2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Rosé

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Refreshing, I suppose, but it doesn't really have enough zingy acidity. It's getting better with each bottle, although I don't think I'll ever get too excited about this one. I much preferred the '05.

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I thought that Siduri and AP Vin, while quite different stylistically, showed a lot more Clos Pepe than the Loring. The Sea Smoke was clearly the outlier in terms of flavor profile. I was overly enthralled with this flight, although I'm happy to have a couple of bottles of the AP Vin.

• 2005 Siduri Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  A very big wine, starting with effusive sweet black fruit with baking spice and some wet earth. Bordering on heavy in the mouth, it seemed a bit clunky. The decent acidity was clearly overmatched by the gobs of primary fruit, fruit and more fruit. The finish is long, but completely fruit driven and not terribly interesting. This may develop into a punch in the jaw, but right now its a club on the head.

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• 2005 A.P. Vin Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  A very nicely made wine. In contast to the other Clos Pepes at the table, this was much more restrained and transparent. The nose was reserved, but nice with candied red fruit, cinnamon and earth. A tight core of fruit is kept moving along by a refreshing acidity. Great structure and with a couple of years of bottle age it should be a beauty. This isn't a look at me wine and that is just fine by me.

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• 2005 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  I didn't get this wine at all. It had some big black fruit and spice punching you in the nose, but it also had a bit of sulphur that was distracting. The fruit is very, very sweet almost to the point of being cloying. I don't know what is holding this wine together because I couldn't find any structure. There was also a bit of astringency (sulphur again?) on the fruit driven finish. Not for me.

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• 2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  I liked this one quite a bit. Very big dark cherries with an interesting carmelized brown sugar thing going on (creme brule?). While it is quite round, the fruit is held in check by decent structure and lots of tannin. Definitely talking power and not finesse, but it is not inelegant.

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These wines all showed really, really well and I thought they all were very representative of the Sonoma Coast. Despite some of the obvious weather problems in some areas, the vintage really brought out the best in these wines with California ripeness beautifully balanced against a citrus-y acidity. You should be happy to own any of these. Any could have been wine of the night depending upon personal preference.

• 2005 Littorai Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  The most delicate wine of the flight, it was shy but had a lot of personality. Perfumy nose of cherries and lemon zest that required a bit of coaxing. It was soft and supple in the mouth with some really nice concentrated fruit framed beautifully. It showed great intensity and impeccable balance. Loved it.

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• 2005 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Definitely a crowd pleasing wine. Nice complexity on the nose with big dark fruit and some spice. Full but not heavy, the fruit has a nice purity and is well-balanced with a grapefruit-y acidity. Well done.

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• 2005 Zepaltas Pinot Noir Suacci

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  A very nice, expressive wine. It starts with a nice core of red fruit and earth with a hint of lemon peel on the nose. The fruit is a bit flabby in the mouth, but that should self-correct with some bottle age as it does not lack acidity or structure. Great stuff.

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• 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Lots of power here, but with great focus and intensity. The fruit showed exceptionally depth for such a young wine with dark cherries, spice, earth and lemon peel. Very well structured, the fruit spreads out nicely and a mainline of acidity carries the long finish. Excellent.

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Perhaps not quite to the level of the SC flight, but pretty darn close. Again, I think these wines all represented the ideal RRV profile very well.

• 2005 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  A beautiful wine that really shows off the RRV. It starts with gentle, bright red fruit, baking spice and cola aromas. Decidedly medium bodied, it shows some creaminess on the mid-palate without any excess weight. Great acidity and a deliciously long finish for such a young wine. Admirable finesse and polish. Well done.

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• 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Not bad, but I don't get the sense this one has come together yet. Fairly complex nose of red cherries, brown sugar and lots of cola. Not exactly disjointed, but not exactly showing much balance. Nice fruit and some lively acidity, but they don't seem to be playing off one another. It may just need time to unwind and have the pieces fall into place. The jury is still out on this one.

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• 2005 Kutch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Very expressive nose of dark fruit and cola that definitely speaks of the RRV. The sweet fruit seemed a bit fat, but it has some nice structural elements that should let it survive long enough to shed that fleshiness. A little simple, it is well put together and quite delicious.

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• 2005 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Another good example of the RRV. An expressive wine with bright red fruit, spice and lots of cola. Round and lush, it is saved by a nice underlying acidity that helps bring the ample fruit into focus. Nice long finish. Very well made.

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I have hazy memories of some Burgundy being sent back and sent back and finally enjoyed. Thanks to Robert for that.