December 3, 2023 - I didn't take a detailed note, but it was neither distinguished nor offensive.
March 6, 2017 - Concur with Valbonne's tasting note of one year ago.
March 11, 2016 - Still very good but I think a few years past prime.
Nose: forest floor, spice, cinnamon.
Palate: raspberry, blueberry very faint spice.
All very mellow. No stewed fruit, prunes or port tastes yet. But wonder what it was like 5 years ago.
November 30, 2013 - The Twelveth Annual Stonefields Dinner (Guelph, ON): Slightly pruney overrripe fruit. The 14.9% alcohol on the label certainly indicates the level of fruit ripeness this wine shows. Notes of dark cherries, prunes, figs, barrel spice, and cola are prevalent on the nose. While this shows and aged character the barrel notes that are integrating are certainly clearly there. The palate shows heat and the length of finish is moderate on slightly overripe and cola notes.
November 30, 2013 - The Twelfth Annual Stonefields Dinner (Guelph, ON, Canada): The nose is spicy with candied notes of cola and cherry…quite ripe
The palate is pruney and has notes of cherry, spice and cola that are all overlaid with obvious alcohol.
The finish is medium in length but again does not integrate the alcohol well at all.
This is just too hot for me and stylistically not what I look for in Pinot Noir.
June 7, 2013 - Received from the winery on release, this wine had a deep red center and orange/red rims. The high intensity nose displayed cherries, plums, oranges, anise, and a hint of soy.
This had a lovely round mouth feel with notable, but smooth, tannin and solid acidity. It developed well in the glass and the length was excellent. I would describe it by saying it had Burgundian complexity and structure with Californian opulence of fruit.
This wine seems like it is just starting to come around. If you drink it, I suggest substantial air time. However, my guess is it will continue to benefit from another 5 to 10 years in the cellar.
February 20, 2013 - Opened 45 minutes before serving. Really impressive aromatic profile of spicy red, blue and black fruits. Quite a bit of cherry. Fantastic floral notes as well. Medium bodied with a moderate finish. One of the better Marcassins I can remember having.
April 14, 2012 - - Purple color with fast forming legs and aromas of blackberry and violet. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry and oak with a full body. Polished texture with a long finish - @Nemesis w RobertaandDavid Ehrenreich, and Christine Bruce and John Hilliard. David's wine.
December 1, 2011 - From a bottle received from the winery, this wine was in perfect condition. It showed a red/purple center with red rims. The high intensity nose was impressive, featuring black cherries, violets, cola, and some red soil notes.
In the mouth, this wine showed the great sweetness of a California pinot with the subtle texture and great integrated finish of a top notch red Burgundy. It needed several hours of air for the acidity to emerge and balance out the exotic ripeness of the wine, so don't drink it too fast. Impressive!
March 6, 2011 - Black cherry, truffle earth, spice and coca aromatics led into a big, lush, powerful, high alcohol Pinot Noir. This is not a wallflower of a wine.