Community Tasting Note

• Frank Murray III wrote:

  February 28, 2015 - Forgive the twisted image (inside CT, as I tried to fix it but it loaded sideways, dang it). Drank from 375, opened earlier today. For clarity, this is a special, grafted massale section of Kiser, a sandstone block that is between so to speak between Haut and Bas. It mixes black cherry, blueberry skin and dried cherry all together, with a kiss of vanilla from what I presume is some new oak (I believe the Kiser pinots typically see about 1/3rd new wood). I drank both a 2012 and 2013 Rhys Bearwallow in the past few weeks and this Copain reminds me very much of that wine, most especially with the cherry fruit. What that signals to me is the terroir signature that is beginning to emerge from the best wines from the Deep End pinots, from like Copain and Rhys. And this Copain is 2010, yet that whiz bang great cherry core came from later vintages of Rhys so my conclusion is that we ought to expect the wines to continue to show and reflect this terrific fruit quality across vintages. With respect to this Copain, as it warms, the signature Kiser blue fruit comes forward and there is a decent amount of tannin in the finish that should allow this to age forward. Finally, good acidity here, which energizes the fruit and finish. I'd say this will drink best in another few years, say 2016/2017. I would be geeked to try it against the Rhys Bear, say in a vintage that was lean like 2011, and then with 2013. Very good.

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3 Comments

• Frank Murray III commented:

  3/1/15, 12:37 PM - egh. I do believe this is the renamed 'greffieux', although I have not checked that back with the winery yet. If this is true as I think it will be, then it would be the same Kiser plot.
  
  When Alexis from the winery was down here last weekend at my house for Falltacular, she mentioned she would share a bottle back with me. It came in the mail this week and I decided to open it yesterday.
  
  FWIW, assuming again this is the same as the greffiuex, I can tell you I didn't care for the 2009, as I found it too ripe and exotic for my tastes. This 2010, which I would have tasted before under the old name, the wood and exotic tones are still there, just in much less quantity than the 2009, for sure. I also wonder if the pricing will be more favorable, as like you and I told the winery this same thing, the wine was priced beyond my comfort level.
  
  We'll see how all of this unfolds in time.

• ross.gore commented:

  6/11/18, 7:18 AM - This is a super helpful note Frank. I was just at the winery last week and got to taste the 2012 for the first time. Really enjoyed it, and was lucky enough to be able to taste in the context of the En Bas and En Haut from the same year. Ended up getting three 750mls. Will post reviews of them on CT as we go through them.

• Frank Murray III commented:

  6/11/18, 2:20 PM - Ross, that 2012 CdG wine is special. If my hunch and perceptions are right, it's going age beautifully. Too bad the winery lost Kiser fruit after the 2016 vintage. We'll have to see what Wells can do with the new plots he has access to, like Maggie Hawk which is across the street from Kiser up on the ridge, not far from Wendling.

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