Boerne Wine Club - Pinot Noir

This was our second successful get together at Maggiano's, and our strongest turnout to date. Another big thanks to Tim for putting things together. My notes and group’s rank as listed below, with each tasted scoring their top 3, with #1 receiving 3 points, #2 2 points, #3 receiving 1 point. Wines that were present that I missed: '05 Carneros Creek(group WOTN), Saintsbury ('06? Carneros) and at least 1 other.

WOTN: 2004 Carneros Creek Winery Pinot Noir "Grail" - Tim's note: Very dark in the glass. Nose of supple cherry and sappy notes. Fruit forward with deep raspberry and slightly more prominant cherry. Balanced acidity and structure. Spicy with rhubarb on lengthy finish.
Missing #5 (tie) 2006 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Carneros

• 2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Initially closed nose, but eventually opened up with black cherry with a little pinot funk. Palate with some fine noticeable tannin, and ripe red fruit notes and a little spiciness. Lengthy complex finish with earth and an herbal spiciness. Nice complexity and well made wine that should improve with time. Group #2

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• 2003 Saint Gregory Pinot Noir Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Nose of violets, and cherries. Palate was very red fruit driven, with strawberries, raspberry, and black cherries. Round palate, and a slightly hot finish of earth and fruit. Highly extracted but balanced, with nice complexity. Group #3

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• 2005 Pellegrini Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Rather closed nose, but palate was round and medium bodied, with a little acidity adding a cranberry note to the ripe cherry. Nice complex finish adding earth and stones. Enjoyed this nice example of Cali pinot. Group #5(tie)

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• 2006 Frei Brothers Pinot Noir 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Highly extracted and reduced nose, with ripe red fruits (cherries, cassis, a little plum) with a pleasant round palate and a little heat on the backend. Finish was a slightly clipped but added a little earth to a ripe, fruity wine. Group #5

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• 2006 Firesteed Pinot Noir Oregon 87 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Accessable floral nose with ripe red fruits and a palate of smooth ripe cherries and plum and a pleasant mineral finish. Nice balanced of acidity and fruit, and while a nice wine for the price, doesn't have great complexity. Group #6

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• 2006 Frédéric Magnien Pinot Noir Bourgogne 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

  Floral nose, with violets and cherries. Palate had a nice crisp acidity, though slightly thin, but a nice finish showing wet rocks and earth. Nice example of french pinot noir in a tasting of Cali and Oregon pinot. No votes from the group.

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• 2001 Siduri Pinot Noir Shaw Mountain Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Floral nose, with a little cherry. Palate was tart, with strong acidity, with some cherries and cranberry flavors. Reasonable finish with crushed rocks and flowers. medium complexity. Maybe the acid was a little out of balance? or this is a style I don't prefer, or slightly past peak. Didn't seem flawed. No votes from the group.

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• 2007 King Estate Pinot Noir Oregon 87 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Upon opening the I thought this was quite acidic and was actually flawed with volatile acidity. But 30-40min after opening that initial tartness resolved an and this turned into a nice Oregon pinot. Pleasant floral nose with a slightly thin but ripe palate and a short to medium finish of mostly mineral. A crisp Oregon pinot in a tough year, seems to be a little diluted, but would probably be a solid food wine. No votes from the group.

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A fun casual get together in what will hopefully be a regular meeting of the Boerne Wine Club
Points for the top 3 as follows with an estimate of release price:
1) 33 points - 2004 Carneros Creek Winery Pinot Noir "Grail" ($30)
2) 20 points - 2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve ($36)
3) 14 points - 2003 Saint Gregory Pinot Noir Reserve ($25)