Important Update From the Founder
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Pinot Days in NYC 07 - LONG
javits center
Tasted April 29, 2007 by Mlermontov with 1,581 views
Introduction
I am not a CA pinot guy.. its rarely impressed me and even less rarely wowed me. however i was surprised by the overall quality of the wines - much better balance than previously. perhaps that is because we were tasting quite a few '05s. in any case - my scores are useless - i placed them there more for myself than others. but i hope the notes are more usefull
MUST TRY LIST
Handley
Iman
Peay
Dain
Flight 1 (58 notes)
Red
2005 Dain Wines Pinot Noir American Beauty Amber Ridge Vineyard
89 points
dark cherry, soft middle, dood balance, a touch of a bitter endge on the finish.
Red
2005 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Savage Juliet
91 points
one of the best today, more power, brutish cherry nose, feels like a pommard in the mouth, excelent balace. this is very very good!
Red
2005 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Rebel Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard
90 points
Rich, CA nose - cola and cherries, excellent tannins, lots of power here, great tart finish. very nice
Red
2004 Davis Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
88 points
light, serious acidity, both in the middle and finish, cherries, raspberies. good but not great
Red
2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard
88 points
mushroom, iron, alc is present - and this is what kills me in these wines! cola.. nice but ...
Red
2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard
91 points
another of my favorites.. but $80!! sorry. smoke, meat, rich with tons of flavor - not your usual pinot but heck - when its all balanced and good i dont mind. this is really good
Red
2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Rio Vista
89 points
black fruit, cola, ripe and lush, needs more acidity, good but not my thing
Red
1997 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard
89 points
was fun to taste this.. but no epifany. mushrooms, more pinot characteristics than the youngings..but the middle less interesting than the nose promises.
Red
Red
1999 Arcadian Syrah Garys' Vineyard
90 points
animal, bacon, amazing nose. i said beaucastel at first, but Brent (and looking at WA - mr Parker) are right - Cote Rotie/Hermitage. so lets say 95 on the nose... but where is the middle? the finish is also lovely with massive ripe tannins and good length. nice stuff that perhaps needs time?
Red
2000 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard
89 points
dry, light wine,acidity takes a large part of the action here. nice
Rosé
2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir Rosé Santa Barbara County
88 points
sweet strawberries, nice finish, sip away the summer
Red
2005 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir Cork Dancer 5.1 Santa Barbara County
90 points
happy light wine, lots of perfume and lovely bubly fruit, pleasure trip - and that is not a bad thing at all!
Red
2005 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir St. Rita's Earth
90 points
richer and riper but also a bit rough right now. has good potential.
Red
2005 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir Highliner
91 points
the epitome of CA pinot - cherry cola, ripe lush berries, full of life..nothing wrong here for me.. a very well made wine that is a pleasure to drink
Red
Red
2005 Hug Cellars Pinot Noir Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard
88 points
richer and riper, with black cherry on the front, could have used more acidity, bit rough.
Red
2005 Hug Cellars Pinot Noir Orchid Hill Vineyard
87 points
alc on the nose, very ripe, blackberries, good fruit but too much of it for me.
Red
2004 Inman Family Pinot Noir Olivet Grange Vineyard
90 points
light, clean, great aromatics, very young wine but sooo elegant. this is lovely
Red
2005 Inman Family Pinot Noir OGV Estate
91 points
light, excellent tannins, great acidity and balance, elegant..soo pleasant..this is a precious little gem - not the big 20 carrat diamond but that little garnet ring that you have treasured because someone you loved gave it to you
Rosé
2006 Inman Family Pinot Noir Endless Crush Rosé
89 points
light lean with strawberries, just a perfect summer wine. unlike most other roses this is CLEAN! nothing sugary here.
White
2006 Inman Family Pinot Gris
87 points
hard to judge at this point but light and happy are the key words
Red
2004 J. Jacaman Pinot Noir
88 points
even riper and richer. no alc showing, nice if you like the style
White
2005 J. Wilkes Pinot Blanc Bien Nacido Vineyard
87 points
grassy nose gives way to pineapple and ripe tropical fruit, not my thing but i can see many liking this
Red
2005 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Hillside Estate
88 points
light, more earthy/sour cherry tones, very pleasant - but a touch of heat on the finish, needs time
Red
2005 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Block 3 Solomon Hills Vineyard
88 points
darker notes, a bit harsh now - really needs time to show. but good potential.
Red
2002 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Q Block
92 points
YEHAA :) earth, ripe clean cherry, mineral, this is my kind of wine!
Red
2004 Copeland Creek Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
89 points
clean bright fruit, bit rough in the middle, nice backbone and finish
Red
2001 Copeland Creek Meritage
91 points
i know..not PINOT.. but so what ?
bell pepper galore (40%? cab franc) excellent balance, good black fruit, lovely sweet note right before the finish. YUM
bell pepper galore (40%? cab franc) excellent balance, good black fruit, lovely sweet note right before the finish. YUM
White
2002 Copeland Creek Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
87 points
nice, touch of vanilla, bit short in the middle. good but not great
White
Red
2005 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir
87 points
sweet, cola, sweet, ripe, sweet, rich..did i mention sweet?
Red
2005 Handley Pinot Noir Mendocino County
91 points
damp earth, elegant, not trying to be burg, nor falling into the other extreme..it has its own "thing" just perfect.
Red
2004 Handley Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
91 points
this collection overall was one of the few i said to myself i must find.. this is very good.
earth. cherries, good balance, ripe fruit, plenty of backbone... just YUM!
earth. cherries, good balance, ripe fruit, plenty of backbone... just YUM!
Red
2004 Handley Pinot Noir Estate Reserve
93 points
best wine today. brooding rich fruit in perfect balance with acidity and a long ripe finish...this is the stuff. needs time though!
Red
2005 Londer Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
88 points
strong tannins, rich fruit on the nose, bit of heat
Red
2004 Londer Pinot Noir Paraboll
90 points
powerfull, dark cherry in the middle, well balanced, nice tartness on the finish
Red
2004 Londer Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
89 points
very powerfull wine - rich and ripe - not my style BUT well balanced and well made. i'd give it time
Red
2005 Lost Canyon Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Russian River Valley
90 points
this is very good - raspberry and cranbery notes, light, tart yummy finish... very nice indeed
Red
2004 Lost Canyon Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard
89 points
nice middle, light and smooth, needs air/time
Red
2004 Lost Canyon Pinot Noir Las Brisas Vineyard
89 points
richer/riper style, good fruit in the middle, good length, nice tannic touch
Red
2004 Raye's Hill Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
88 points
good wine but rich, sweet and lacking acid, pleasant stuff.
Red
2004 Raye's Hill Pinot Noir Estate Cerise Vineyard
88 points
same style but even richer, black cherry, tobacco leaf? very ripe - needs acid
Red
2003 Raye's Hill Pinot Noir Estate
88 points
cola, ripe black fruit, sweet middle, bit of alc, nice finish and good but slightly rough tannins
Red
2004 George Wine Company Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
89 points
tacky? perhaps.. but heck...
good fruit, good balance.. just a bit boring.. maybe its just me.
good fruit, good balance.. just a bit boring.. maybe its just me.
White
2006 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
84 points
rich sweet pineapple juice, too much imo
White
2005 Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling
87 points
perfumed, light, sweet..i am biased but this is fun party wine
Red
Red
2006 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Whole Cluster Willamette Valley
88 points
rich, ripe, earth fruit, qpr!
Red
2005 Peay Vineyards Pinot Noir Pomarium Estate
91 points
cola, rich ripe fruit, lush middle, modern wine- but very well made
Red
2005 Peay Vineyards Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf Estate
92 points
totally the opposite side of the coin - cherry, bright acid, earthy, tart, cool wine... this is very very good
Red
2005 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir Esterlina Vineyard
88 points
good balance, nice wine, light, good fruit
Red
2005 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard
87 points
ripe, tart middle, harsh on the finish...needs time?
Red
2005 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
87 points
ripe rich and rough... what am i missing?
Closing
Brent - once again thanks - where would i be without you..oh wait i know..at home with in-laws... that was a hard choice!!!