Blind. Nose a bit muted but opened up with some time and warming. Beautiful red with garnet at edge. Red fruit (cheery and some strawberry), floral and black tea. Great vibrant flavor profile with more of the sweet cherry and some darker fruits along with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. Good mouthfeel and great acidity.
Tasted blind (along side 2007 Kutch). Better nose with more of the cherry, cranberry, cooking spices. Flavor - tart red fruits and something a bit dusty but not terribly complex. Goof mouthfeel and acid was great but something was bit disjointed in the midpalate transition.
Several hour decant. Huge extracted, jammy nose with dark fruits and vanilla. Full bodied with tons of sweet fruit, earth and some cedar. Fat wine that could have used a bit more acid (especially when compared to several other merlots this night). Soft, long finish with nice smooth tannins.
Tasted after the 2006 Pedestal and showed a nice contrast. Brighter fruit on the nose with some cherries along with plum and a slight herbal component. Fruit flavors straight forward, but focused with nice acid and smooth finish.
Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
My WOTN but could have been better with a proper decant. Powerful nose full with complex dark fruits, mocha, smoke and tobacco. Med/Full body with powerful but harnessed tannins. More of the dark cherry as expected from the nose along with a beef jerky component, almonds and a touch of sweet vanilla. Good acidity that keeps it racing along with a memorable finish.
Opened up nicely with no decant. Overwhelming cat poo with underlying blueberry, cassis. Flavor much more fruit forward with some salinity / minerality. Good mouth feel and controlled tannins.
At the end of a long night, this showed very well and stood out from the previous handful of wines consumed. I remember rich fruits of cherry and blackberry combined with controlled smokey element and even a touch of floral or mint. Med body with well integrated tannins and standup acidity. Oak present but very well done. Nice long satisfying finish. I need to find some of this.
capped off a long evening of excellent wine and didn't take notes, but remember it being a well made, delicious port that went so very well with the flourless chocolate cake.
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
obligatory "run to the cellar to grab one more unnecessary bottle though we really, really don't need it" especially after tasting of some port. Don't feel fair rating it; but remember massively extracted fruit with vanilla and noticeable heat.
2007 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Blind. Nose a bit muted but opened up with some time and warming. Beautiful red with garnet at edge. Red fruit (cheery and some strawberry), floral and black tea. Great vibrant flavor profile with more of the sweet cherry and some darker fruits along with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. Good mouthfeel and great acidity.
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