11/22/2014 - hesnctrl Likes this wine:

Aerated by decanting and pouring back into the bottle about 2 hrs before serving.

Since when do you serve Pinot alongside a Zin and find that the Pinot is the darker, more brooding one and the Zin is the refined, elegant one that pairs so beautifully with the braised pork? That's what happened here. The dish was Cuban Slow-Roasted Pork with Mojo Sauce and the contestants were this 2010 McFadden Zin and a 2009 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite's Rest.

The McFadden looked like strawberry Kool-Aid compared to the Pinot. Nose was still light like the prior bottle. Lots of stuff going on on the palate, but nothing really dominating. When paired with the pork, the wine excelled at staying in the background and accentuating the dish. It the orchestra that made the soloist shine. Quite a lengthy finish as well. The Kite's Rest, while fantastic on its own, was kinda like U2 taking over a Celine Dion performance.

People call this a food wine, and that's a moniker it fully deserves. Its completely restrained, but in a good way because it knows its role.

Less than half of the dinner guests finished their Kite's Rest. The McFadden was gone quickly...we could've easily finished a 2nd bottle of it.

Enjoyed in a Riedel Vinum Chianti Classico glass at 62F°. I'm giving it a 90 on its own, but pairing it with food, it would be a 95 in terms of the overall experience.

5/6/2013 - MrMitosis wrote:

First time for me: took off the metal cap seal to find no cork and a full bottle of rancid wine? I can't belive that the wine did not leak around the foil but it didn't! Someone screwed up at bottling, costing me $30+.

1/18/2013 - gnr wrote:

Wine went bad

6/1/2012 - bkrup wrote:

No notes. Stewed dried fruit comes to mind.