Los Angeles Blind Rose & Pinot Noir Tasting

13 of us gathered to taste through a few Rose's and a collection of Pinot Noirs. Tasting was done double-blind with a subsequent reveal.

• 2007 von Schleinitz Spätburgunder Rosé 86 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  -- tasted blind: Rose 1 of 4 --
  
  NOSE: initially, a very pretty nose featuring a nice light strawberry scent. After a couple minutes I started to notice a weird plastic smell in the background.
  
  BODY: very light orange-salmon color; clear; light body
  
  TASTE: strawberry, surprisingly persistent finish. This was my favorite of the 4 Rose's we had.
  
  B: 50, 5, 10, 15, 6 = 86

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

• 2006 Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois Rosé 81 Points

  USA, California

  -- tasted blind: Rose 4 of 4 --
  
  NOSE: nice raspberry nose -- I actually thought it was a white zin.
  
  BODY: pink color; medium-full body
  
  TASTE: a bit of a disappointment given the pleasing aromatics - fruity, sugary (too much r.s.), short finish.
  
  B: 50, 5, 12, 9, 5 = 81

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

• 2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 1 of 12 --
  -- decanted for 75 minutes prior to event --
  
  NOSE: spicy with a hint of funk; I really liked this bouquet.
  
  APPEARANCE: dark ruby color of medium-deep depth
  
  TASTE: Full-palate of pure fruits: dark strawberry and raspberry; elegant; long finish. This was decanted for 70 minutes prior to the event. This was my 2nd favorite WOTN.
  
  B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92

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

• 2005 Dierberg Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 2 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: reticent; sweet; gentle spices; hint of anise.
  
  APPEARANCE: garnet color of great depth;
  
  TASTE: sweet; strong raspberry attack; smooth; medium finish; not complex.
  
  B: 50, 5, 11, 15, 7 = 88

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

• 2001 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Vista Verde Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 3 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: pretty; floral; sweet-smelling
  
  APPEARANCE: garnet color of medium-deep depth
  
  TASTE: elegant; earthy; long finish; sweet fruit
  
  B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89

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

• 2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 4 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: funky; nice secondary spice. Smelled like a Burg with some age on it.
  
  APPEARANCE: ruby with orange at edges. medium depth to the color.
  
  TASTE: very nice; full palate; well-balanced; tastes like it has some age. Funky, pure fruits ... tastes like terroir in a bottle. This was my hands-down WOTN. The points make it look closer than it was...for my palate, the Arcadian blew everything out of the water. I was blown away when the bags were pulled and this was not a Burgundy ... I'm totally impressed Pinot of such elegance and restraint is being made in CA. A bitchin' Pinot!
  
  B: 50, 5, 13, 17, 8 = 93

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

• 2005 Alta Maria Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 5 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: hint of funk; not very expressive - tight.
  
  APPEARANCE: garnet color of medium-deep depth
  
  TASTE: a very "CA" Pinot - fruity and a bit alcoholic; hole in back of mid-palate; tight. I think this wine would show better with additional age and/or decanting. (I don't know if this was decanted prior to the event...I feel like it wasn't)
  
  B: 50, 5, 10, 15, 7 = 87

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

• 2005 Weingut Juris Pinot Noir Selection 87 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 6 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: a very different bouquet than all other Pinot's on the table: it came across as very oaky with a strong note of maple; hints of soft mocha as well.
  
  APPEARANCE: ruby color of medium-deep depth
  
  TASTE: earthy; muted fruits; medium bodied.
  
  B: 50, 5, 10, 15, 7 = 87

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

• 2005 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Le Bon Climat 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 7 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: nice spiciness with a pleasing & interesting cut of citrus.
  
  APPEARANCE: ruby color of medium depth.
  
  TASTE: well-balanced; a sweet Pinot that came across as being a bit tight; weak mid-palate.
  
  B: 50, 5, 13, 16, 7 = 91

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

• 2005 Donum Pinot Noir Carneros 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 8 of 12 --
  -- decanted for 75 minutes before event --
  
  NOSE: reticent bouquet; hints of raspberry with some floral notes
  
  APPEARANCE: garnet color of medium-deep depth
  
  TASTE: soft: minerals, raspberry, and strawberry; not really that exciting, but it's long finish makes me believe there's something here for the future. This wine was decanted for 75 minutes before the event. This wine has some potential, but it's hardly showing right now. Hold, cross your fingers.
  
  B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 8 = 90

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

• 2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 9 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: nice spices with a pleasing hint of funk. This was another CA Pinot that I believed to be French based on its bouquet.
  
  APPEARANCE: light ruby color of medium depth.
  
  TASTE: Very nice palate featuring cherry and spice flavors. My first Sea Smoke...for me, this stuff lives up to the hype.
  
  B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 7 = 91

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

• 2004 Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Chambolle-Musigny 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 10 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: celery seed and some nice cedary spice; one of the earthier-smelling Pinots of the night; a bit lacking in fruit.
  
  APPEARANCE: garnet color with some orange at the edges; medium depth.
  
  TASTE: cedar; cigar wrapper; long finish.
  
  B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91

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

• 2002 Louis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 11 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: oak; reticent fruit
  
  APPEARANCE: raspberry-red color of medium-deep depth
  
  TASTE: one of the lighter-tasting Pinots of the night; some bright cherry fruit; medium-long finish.
  
  B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89

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

• 2006 Lucia Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  -- tasted blind: Pinot 12 of 12 --
  
  NOSE: spicy but tight
  
  APPEARANCE: ruby color of medium depth
  
  TASTE: raspberry, noticeable oak; medium finish
  
  B: 50, 5, 11, 15, 7 = 88

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