December 24, 2023 - Drank from magnum, delicious throughout.
November 12, 2023 - very nice oregon pinot with age. This has nice ripe rasberry puree typr fruit and integrated tannins and acidity. Clearly new world (was hoping for Burgundian elements) and the age, in this case has let it evolve seamlessly.
December 16, 2021 - Last time I tried this vintage was 2009. Tasted immediately after opening the bottle; chilled to European cellar temperature and poured into a Domaine Drouhin Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass. This wine has aged quite well! After 19 years the aromas are more about the secondary notes now: tobacco leaf, cedar, cocoa, and sour red cherry (after an initial burst of ripe black cherry). Tannins are holding firm, acidity is definitely there, nice flavor profile that I expect from Laurène. After about 15 minutes of air time things start to go downhill a bit...is this bottle too old? But then after about 75 minutes things get better: red cherry and a bit of menthol. This wine is clinging to life by now, sadly, though I purchased this bottle at auction so I'm not sure how it was stored.
January 27, 2021 - Medium-dark garnet color. Initial aromas are cran-raspberry with black tea and sous bois. Palate has rhubarb, cranberry, cherry, raspberry, black truffle, and some other earthy elements that carry into a medium-long finish. There is still acid holding the fresher fruit flavors in focus as some of the earthier notes fill in. This bottle was in a great place for my palate and I expect this is a great time to drink these. Drink or hold.
December 6, 2020 - Opened about 30 minutes before serving but did not decant. Poured to a nice ruby coloring. Initially a nose with lots of funk and perhaps a hint of brett. It passed leaving a flavor profile predominantly cherry and dust.
June 1, 2019 - Was this the same wine as the previous bottles? A medium ruby coloring when poured. A nose full of red fruit, particularly cherry and raspberry. No funk, smooth finish, medium bodied. Tannins have departed. Terrific.
January 2, 2019 - Dusty, murky color, but nice earthy aroma. Still some interesting flavors and very nice pinot noir tannins. We had it with a curry dish, which was not ideal! However the texture was lovely. If I had another bottle, I would try it with lamb. I think its peak prime has just started to pass.
June 27, 2018 - This wine is quite age-worthy and strikes a fine balance between New World fruit and richness and Old World earthiness and elegance. Medium ruby with a garnet rim. From a decanted magnum, the nose was redolent of black cherry, sassafras, sweet spices and earth. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and high alcohol (14.1%) which, however, seems more muted. This is a really outstanding wine and quite youthful despite its age. Really nice, but with some potential for additional improvement.
June 27, 2018 - 4thWednesdays - Ken & Michael's Pinot Noir Extravaganza - June 2018: A: Medium ruby. Garnet rim. Medium + Visc
N: Pronounced. Morello cherry, pomegranate,
violet, resin, coffee, clove.
P: dry, high alcohol (14.1%) , high acid, pronounced int, long finish,( medium + body from memory).
C: Outstanding quality. This one is great. Still fresh fruit in here and so drink now or lay down. There is potential for development.
June 3, 2017 - from a 750ml & served in a Zalto Burg glass. The cork looked perfect showing no signs of age.
Color: Ruby core with a bricking rim and a clear meniscus
Smell: Earth, dried red fruits, roses, and mushrooms
Taste: Bright notes of raspberry, pomegranate, and a lingering note that reminds me of the flavors I frequently had after smoking a clove cigarette.
Overall: This is just plain beautiful. I wish I could find a case of this with good storage...Light medium body, high acidity, med+ fruit, and a long finish. This is a wine of pure beauty...if I had more it'd be damn hard to keep my hands off this. This walks the line between beauty and a clear sense of place. Taking time with this is hard as I find myself constantly lifting my glass for another sip. A very complete, easy, delicious, complex, and healthy wine.