was still good for its age, but nothing special, wine rather fruit-dominant and straightforward, not enough acid. easy to open and enjoy without much thought.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smooth and drinking nicely from magnum. This took a bit of time to open on day one and then rapidly progressed on day two. Featuring cherries, oak, and vanilla with good balance and integrated tannins. This particular bottle was ready to go and at or slightly past peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1st of 2 bottles, consumed over 3 nights. Best on 2nd night. Deep and brambly black and red fruits, with wet forest floor and cooking spices. Nice, finely grained tannins and well-moderated acidity, with a long and earth/fruit finish. Drink now through 2024+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sour cherries (standing out a bit too mich), wild strawberries, and menthol on the nose. Smooth, integrated tannins, with strawberry and red berry notes on the palate. Good acidity and good finish. Still, I was a bit disappointed, especially from the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherries, raspberries, licorice, spice, earthiness, and a hint of floral in the nose. Black raspberries, minerals, and spice in the flavor. Well balanced with a medium to long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark cranberry garnet, just a touch of browning, some light clove spice on the nose; dark cherry fruit with hints of cranberry, good acidity that brings an edge of tartness, and the light spice notes make a return on the finish. Quintessential Anderson Valley Pinot, and quite tasty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sour dark cherry and forest fruit with white pepper, autumn leafs and charcoal. Light toasted oak on the palate, but nice and Burgundian balance. Long deliciously juicy finish with a bit of grippy tannins at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank this over dinner, with no decant. This is my final 2009 Copain PN in the cellar, as I continue to think this is a 'drink me sooner' vintage for the winery (versus 2010, that in my view is going to age better and longer). There is acidity still here, and if this is served a little cooler in temp, it will be firmer. I say this because the wine does show a more flashy, less elegant version of En Haut. There is more dark fruit, like a blackberry in this vintage, as well as an Asian 5-spice quality. In sum, it drinks richer than I expect from Kiser and this is my reasoning about finishing off the vintage. Good wine, broader appeal, but not one for the cellar in my view.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This had been opened a few days earlier by my husband, pumped and returned to the wine fridge before I got around to it. Wow this was tasting really good tonight, dark fruits and very savory with a nice line of acidity cutting through the middle. Looking forward to enjoying the remaining three bottles over the next few years. Not sure how it would have been on pop and pour - but the extra few days open did nothing to hurt it.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
open a couple hours, decanted and for me only enjoyable after a few more hours , though got to say this is darker in fruit profile than I care for. Still got some structure going for it, just much more blackberry fruit than other Copains I've enjoyed of late. I think the fruit profile won't change but the tannin element may calm down a bit in time. Never going to be elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted as part of a Kiser En Haut vertical we did with Wells @ the winery. 1,3.4% ABV. I sensed pepper on this wine, but this is completely destemmed. Dark plum, spice, red apple, generous and juicy. This vintage of Kiser continues to drink with a cool fruit core, yet I don't find the structure in this vintage to suggest it will age or get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really beautiful perfumed nose on this - very pretty and floral. On the palate this has a lot of tart cherry/cranberry notes, good acidity nice balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
13.4% abv. Medium burgundy red, expressive aromas. Raspberry black cherry and Asian spice highlight a nuanced and focused palate impression. Excellent depth and length. Pears to be still on the ascent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 90 minutes with benefit (tight fruit on opening). Ruby colored. This wine is really coming into its own. Bright red fruit and berries on the nose with great floral notes and piney asian spice. Medium fruit weigh on palate, prickly acidity and nicely structured tannins. Finishes with a sense of peppery heat, but I don't think it's etoh; more like spicy flavors plus tannins. Light sense of mineral throughout. More fruit forward than our recent 2007 En Bas. CT notes helped me pair this with roasted chicken; great match.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautifully open and integrated compared with the previous bottle! Fragrant lavender and asian spice notes add complexity to the delicious fruit on the nose and palate with refreshing acidity on the killer finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened tonight, added a little chill then powered through about 1/2 with grilled salmon and some faro risotto. Showed a bigger side, as have some past bottles. Lots of fruit bowl qualities, some root beer, yet some saving acidity to keep the wine fresh. Returned the bottle to the fridge, left under cork overnight, re-tasting a day later. So, in drinking it cool to start, it comes off as juicy, a little plump and racy, as some of the bigger fruit tones get tamped down and the wine shows more linear. As I let it warm and work through the same glass, the fruit fattens, picking up a black raspberry and blackberry quality, remaining zesty and juicy. As it finally nears room temp, it hangs together with the richness, missing though the typical Kiser blue fruit, red apple and rocky energy that is simply not part of the 2009 expression. What 2009 ultimately gave us I believe is something more forward and robust, yet with the hand of Wells, there is no heavy or tiring quality. All this said, I have one left (plus 2 En Bas, which I will get after next), and I will drink my remaining En Haut over the next 2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hmmm. This one was on the big side and didn't get much pinot characteristics. Drank this right after a cool climate cab and really couldn't tell the difference. weird experience with this usually stellar bottle.
A bit contrarian, but drinking it now, I just don't get hype. Comes across tonight as quite simple, with very pronounced acidity. Cranberries is right, with some amount of sous bois. Noticeable alcohol. Fine at 40 bucks or less, but... In any event, have two more bottles, so will personally wait a year at least before trying another. The still-present tannins suggest that should be no problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasty red cherry, apple, and mineral notes on the nose and palate with sour cherry and floral notes on a long finish with sappy acidity. Quite refreshing!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gotta say, despite having some mixed feelings on the 2009 vintage, this bottle showed well. Drank over dinner, nothing remained when we paid the check. Raspberry, apple, both on the riper side, but then the tartness I mentioned in my 2013 note, which last night seemed more like cranberry in tone. Really quite good and with the acidity still there and the structure that sits around the fruit, this could very well age just fine for another 3-5 years. Hasn't seemed to budge much from my aging window from the 2013 note so that seems to reflect to me a wine that is humming along really well.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
LBTG - with Alan hosting: Alan has been telling me to try this. last time there was just a bit and it came after a long lineup of wines thus i wasn't able to give it it's due. But this time!! ripe cherry and touch of cola on the nose. mid is sexy with red berries and minerality - and a great zing of acidity making this wine very vibrant and fresh. long tangy finish dances on the palate long after the wine is gone. YUM! WOTN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Once again, just gorgeous, and my WOTN. Expressive red fruits showed a lot of florals on the nose and generous yet juicy palate flavors. A bit of earthiness made this feel like a complete wine, very harmonious and early in its prime. Certainly supports my feeling that this is year in and year out one of the top American pinot noirs being made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially consumed half of bottle on 1st night after giving it several hours of slow-ox, and then came back to it 5 nights later. Notes of crunchy red fruit, red apple, spice, hints of rhubarb. Soft & elegant with with fine tannins, crisp acidity and a nice lingering finish. Still young and needs more time with a chance to improve over time, IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
With extended air in decanter this become an explosive Pinot. So full, vibrant and bursting with fruit. Well balanced, just a concentrated and well made Wine. Thai takes time though to unfold and it didn't show much in first hour.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose showed cherry fruit and cola, with stems and hints of undergrowth. On the palate, it was soft and velvety with sweet berry and spice. Delicate with a hint of bitter red fruits on the finish, yet pretty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mike on Tour - the Count's Manor: spices, black cherry and ripe red fruit. touch of bitter edge on the mid/finish. This felt a bit ripe to me - though the fruit was clean and well balanced. Big wine - almost syrah notes. bit hard to judge with the company of wines before it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for nearly two hours before tasting. Medium purple core, pink rim. Spectacular nose with hints of dark Pinot fruit, dry soil, sea breeze, spices, caramel and a whiff of cola. Based on the bouquet one would be forgiven to expect something, dark, dense and rich on the palate, but this wine surprises by displaying cool fruit in the tart redcurrant end of the spectrum and a level of acidity I have rarely (if ever) before encountered in a US Pinot. This wine definately needs food to show its full potential! Still young, and based on structure alone an obvious candidate for further cellaring. I’m however a bit concerned that the underlying core of fruit, although considerable in itself, won’t be powerful enough to keep up with the acidity over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cool red fruit with a pretty long finish and smooth touch. Still quite primary but notes of forest floor, mineral, earth, along with tart cranberry. Drinking very well after a decant but another year or two would help. Excellent 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty pinot violet. Breathtaking aromas of forest, spice, and lavender. Lively and acidic palate with tiny cranberries, a little pinot sap, raspberries, blueberries. Long, pure, very pretty finish. Seems cool climate as the winemaking is clearly classic and restrained. This is drop dead gorgeous and quite Burgundian. There's terroir in spades. Even though these Copains aren't the best values anymore, they are the real deal.
Tasted alongside the 09 Kiser En Bas, this surprised me, showing as the more open and expressive of the two. I first tasted this nearly two years ago, a few times within a few weeks, and the results were a bit inconsistent (some bottles were quite tart) but I wrote then that I thought the wine would straighten out and challenge for best American pinot of the vintage. This tasting confirms that hunch, as this shows absolutely gorgeous mostly-red fruits, with intoxicating floral aromas as well. Early in its drinking window, but already a divine experience. Not quite up to the level of the '07 in my opinion, but really close. Strengthens my view that this will be one of the best domestic pinot noirs year in and year out; as good as this is, I can only imagine how good the new Combe de Grès bottling is. 93-95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wanted to wait on this another year or two, since the one I had 18 months ago was so stunning and I only had one left. Wonderfully complex, red fruit (lots of cranberry and pomegranate), floral notes, earthy spice and minerality. Good acidity and finish. A bit less exuberance than last year, and not moving forward. Great wine, however.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich red and blue berries, candied violets, and earthy minerals on the nose. A sweet-tart palate with great acidity and a medium-length, sweet finish. Drinking well now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
13.4% alcohol. Medium dark ruby. Expressive floral and spice aromas. On the palate, immediately intense flavors of red and black cherry, boysenberry, cloves and red raspberry. Strong acidic backbone. At once highly concentrated and lively. Lingering aftertaste. This exceptional wine will only continue to improve from here over the next five years or so.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Copain Dinner; 8/4/2013-8/6/2013 (FMIII in the OC): Light garnet color. I caught some molasses aromas but the nose was muted compared to the others. Flavors of tart boysenberry and sweet raspberry made for a nice juxtaposition. Medium finish and nicely balanced wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Copain Dinner @ The House With Wells Guthrie: Listed at 13.4%. Shows juicy blue and huckle fruit. This seems richer than the 2007 and 2010, just bigger in feel. Cherry hard candy and a little tight....having some wine leftover from y/day, retasting again. The wine rings up like I noted it from y/day, although I can pick up a soil note today and do see the larger frame of the wine that I picked up on last night. While good, not up to the level of the 2007s balance and richness in tandem, nor the delicacy of the 2010. I'd say this wine will drink best over the next 3-5 years, as there is some light tartness in the finish that helps liven up the darker fruit.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sour, astringent, even after time out of the bottle. Fruit is pinched with lots of crushed rock. Perhaps more time is required, but this would be a first for me on pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened this last night to take to dinner for my 13th anniversary with the Dr Mrs, pairing this with the Ahi Tartare @ R and D Kitchen in Newport. I didn't take any notes last night before we left so the notes here represent about a day of slox ox within the open bottle. Drinking at a little less than 65 degrees, pretty good temp as it allows the wine to really unfold. Even with this amount of slow ox time, this wine is still pretty tight and needs lots of air. My impression here is similar to that of 18 months ago, when I drank my last once around in October 2011. Drinking today, lots of purple flower in the aromatic, dark fragrant fruit, too. The palate? Bigger boned than I typically expect from new-era Copain, showing here with huckle and boysen fruit, with a big underpinning of cranberry fruit that reflects through the acidity. Terrific acidity, almost a pure, undiluted cranberry again. Along with this acidity, there is the customary Kiser rocky notes. All in, this wine simply is not ready and in this vintage, next to the 2009 En Bas (at the bottom of the hill) that I drank two months ago, this is significantly more structured--has the same darker tones of the En Bas but showing much more youth now than down the slope. Drink window? Well, leave open 2 days and enjoy on the 3rd, or age until 2015 and then drink the next 3-5 years more. I'm glad I opened this as I needed a baseline for aging the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful vibrant deep red light purple in color. Nose is strong on red fruit and a little spice. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, perfect amount of acid mid-palate and a lovely finish. I do think this gets much better with time but with a half dozen I want to try one per year to find my perfect age to drink it. I loved it now so looking forward to a year from now to pop open another bottle. Much more to come from this compared to monument tree from Copain in my mind and I love monument tree now. Great stuff from Copain.
Popped and poured - this wine is nowhere close to being ready to drink. Extremely tart and shut down for the first 30 min, poured into a decanter and showed brief flashes of deep complexity before repeatedly hiding behind assertive tannin and acidity. Lots of potential, but I will not bo opening another for at least six months and only when I have a half day to leave it in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with my last note of more than a year ago, this still needs a lot of time. A pretty nose of flowers, rocks and strawberries. Firm acids give this an impression of leanness, though there is a complexity of flavors, that suggest this will develop well. Abundant red fruits such as red currant, strawberry, pomegranate, sour cherry are accented by spicebox and sous bois. A very firm but pretty wine which should reward patience. Lots of upside here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is probably the best U.S. made pinot I have had in a few years. Wonderfully complex, with the possibility of a few years more adding to that. Nice red fruit (lots of cranberry and pomegranate), floral notes, earthy spice and minerality. Acidity was wonderful. We often say of 'big' CA pinot's that they hide their high alcohol well (or not) --- this one has nothing to hide. At 13.4%, it is perfectly balanced, allowing flavors and aromas to dominate. Just as good on day 2. Bravo, a wonderful wine that I will be seeking more of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On day 1, I found this wine to be terribly acidic and closed, even after slow oxing for two hours. Not much fun to drink (probably an 85 to my tastes)
Improved considerably on day 2. The nose, focused and subtle, displayed dark red fruits and a hint of earth. The black fruits, some dark red cherry, cranberry and possibly raspberry are present today but are still strongly wrapped inside the acidity present in the wine.
I would guess that it is not yet fully developed and will benefit from more cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and poured, this wine begins with tart red fruit on the bouquet and palate. Airing brings out added complexity and depth. This drinks well now about 30 minutes after opening and should benefit from an additional few years of bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In Pursuit of Balance (NYC): Agree with most other users, this is one of our favorites of the tasting. Very complex, smooth and easy to drink. Nice red fruit, minerality. Wish I had a bunch of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First sample seemed a bit off to me - quite a bit more tart than the other Copain SVDs.
Returned later to retry, out of another bottle, and this time, it was much more in line with my experience with past vintages of Kiser En Haut. Some dark cherry notes on the palate, a nutty hint on the nose. Smooth and manages to be full but not dense. Acidity you can bank on. Some perfume on the nose too. Perhaps not quite as plush and lovely in youth as the '07, but should develop similarly and challenge for top American pinot of the vintage. Fairly approachable, not hugely structured and tannic, but definitely has plenty of material. 92-93 for now, with a ++ for the future based on track record.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Such a pretty wine right now, but shouldn't have drank so soon. Strawberry and cranberry, nice minerality, well balanced. Can't wait to revisit in a few years (if I can hold out that long).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this at the In Pursuit of Balance tasting in San Francisco. In a sea of great Pinot at this event, I felt the Kiser was distinctive in its combination of complexity, intensity, acidity, sophistication and elegance. For my palate, it really hit the right balance between focused fruit, mineral, just right sweetness and tart acids. Also, there was food at the tasting so I had a chance to try it with food and I felt this helped to further reveal the quality of the wine. This will be a welcome companion at the table. The server told me he'd opened the bottle 45 minutes before I got there, which probably helped. A really fine wine right now and seems packed for further evolution.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PWTG California Pinot Noir Tasting (Wine Bank, Menlo Park): Blind flight of 5 CA Pinots and 1 Burg. Group's #3 wine, My #5. Light magenta color, a chemical like band-aid aroma along with candied fruit. Very light bodied and delicate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opening up a bottle of this for current drinking seems to be something of a fool's errand. While the quality in the glass is obvious, this is nowhere near ready. Beautiful nose of perfumed fruit, florals and a hint of spice. On the palate, well-balanced but quite tight. There's a soapiness to the palate at present, something I attribute to its youth and unresolved acids. This should be stunning in 4-5 years. Don't make the same mistake I did....hide these away. 93+ points for potential, 87-89 for current consumption.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank for Thanksgiving dinner alongside the 2004 En Haut. Decanted 3 hours in advance. Upon opening, a very muted nose, not giving much at all even after several hours in the decanter. On the other hand, the older wine was much more forward (not decanted), elegant, with more prominent red fruit and softer structure. The 2009 was clearly built for the long haul, with prominent acidity, more restrained fruit, and in need of a lot of time. Perhaps shutting down a bit now, or maybe I needed to open a day earlier. In any case, I was extremely pleased with the evolution of the 2004, and am happy to have 5 more of these in the cellar. The 2004 was a stunner right now, while I'll have to revisit the 2009 again in a few years. Seems to have lots of upside potential though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Copain Stopover--2011 Harvest (Copain Winery--Russian River): Pop and pour. Tasted next to the 2009 En Bas, the En Haut here is a bit bigger and is more fleshy. Yet, it remains gentle with blue and cran fruits. Real long finish, again sexier than the En Bas. Be interested to see in time how the Copain fans settle onto either the Bas or Haut. I like both but I prefer at this point the Bas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Copain tasting at the winery with Wells and Jennifer: This is a little tighter than the "En Bas", more mineral and acidity, but with plenty of intensity, some fine tannins, will need some time, really terrific.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Copain Visit To Taste The 2009s and 2010s (Copain Winery In RRV): 13.4% with 20% new oak. An exotic nose on this wine, a bit different from the 2009 En Bas, like a browner spice along with incense. Seems darker than the En Bas and blue fruited, too. Also spicier and tighter. Rocky, with some strawberry but mainly blueberry framed around minerals.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/15/2024 - dlowrey99 Likes this wine: 88 Points
was still good for its age, but nothing special, wine rather fruit-dominant and straightforward, not enough acid. easy to open and enjoy without much thought.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2022 - bgriffi1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent stuff. Not showing any age. Great balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2021 - Paul Lin wrote: 89 Points
Pretty cherry, raspberry, and citrus peel aromas give way to a bright, elegant palate. Not terribly complex but easy to drink and food friendly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2020 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. This was drinking extremely well. Smooth with blackberry and raspberry notes. At peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2020 - mossreport wrote: 92 Points
Great pop and pour wine right now. Best after 15 minutes. Must finish the bottle it will not hold for day 2.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2020 - Paul Lin wrote: 85 Points
A little too boozy for my tastes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2020 - TMOVino2 wrote: flawed
Flawed NR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2020 - missionpk wrote:
On the big fruit side, but still quite tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2020 - Jbird73 wrote: 93 Points
This is just delicious. Sadly the end of this one for me. No more in the vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2020 - Matt T wrote: 90 Points
Smooth and drinking nicely from magnum. This took a bit of time to open on day one and then rapidly progressed on day two. Featuring cherries, oak, and vanilla with good balance and integrated tannins. This particular bottle was ready to go and at or slightly past peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2020 - Jbird73 wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful nose and fantastic balance. Such a good wine at this point. At the same time this seems like plenty of life left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2019 - E. Brehm Hou, TX Likes this wine: 95 Points
Did not drink as if it were at the end of its road as WA review suggests. This bottle being a 1.5L likely had a lot to do with that. Impressed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
1st of 2 bottles, consumed over 3 nights. Best on 2nd night.
Deep and brambly black and red fruits, with wet forest floor and cooking spices.
Nice, finely grained tannins and well-moderated acidity, with a long and earth/fruit finish.
Drink now through 2024+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2019 - Edclr Likes this wine: 95 Points
My last bottle, and every bit as good as the others, maybe a bit fresher because this is from a mag. As good of an American Pinot as I have had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2019 - glou.sf wrote: 90 Points
Sour cherries (standing out a bit too mich), wild strawberries, and menthol on the nose. Smooth, integrated tannins, with strawberry and red berry notes on the palate. Good acidity and good finish. Still, I was a bit disappointed, especially from the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherries, raspberries, licorice, spice, earthiness, and a hint of floral in the nose. Black raspberries, minerals, and spice in the flavor. Well balanced with a medium to long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2018 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
Pretty, with floral nose and high toned, California-ripe fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2018 - alanr wrote: 91 Points
Dark cranberry garnet, just a touch of browning, some light clove spice on the nose; dark cherry fruit with hints of cranberry, good acidity that brings an edge of tartness, and the light spice notes make a return on the finish. Quintessential Anderson Valley Pinot, and quite tasty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2018 - Bobhelge wrote: 92 Points
Sour dark cherry and forest fruit with white pepper, autumn leafs and charcoal. Light toasted oak on the palate, but nice and Burgundian balance. Long deliciously juicy finish with a bit of grippy tannins at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Drank this over dinner, with no decant. This is my final 2009 Copain PN in the cellar, as I continue to think this is a 'drink me sooner' vintage for the winery (versus 2010, that in my view is going to age better and longer). There is acidity still here, and if this is served a little cooler in temp, it will be firmer. I say this because the wine does show a more flashy, less elegant version of En Haut. There is more dark fruit, like a blackberry in this vintage, as well as an Asian 5-spice quality. In sum, it drinks richer than I expect from Kiser and this is my reasoning about finishing off the vintage. Good wine, broader appeal, but not one for the cellar in my view.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
This had been opened a few days earlier by my husband, pumped and returned to the wine fridge before I got around to it. Wow this was tasting really good tonight, dark fruits and very savory with a nice line of acidity cutting through the middle. Looking forward to enjoying the remaining three bottles over the next few years. Not sure how it would have been on pop and pour - but the extra few days open did nothing to hurt it.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2017 - Louvin wrote:
open a couple hours, decanted and for me only enjoyable after a few more hours , though got to say this is darker in fruit profile than I care for. Still got some structure going for it, just much more blackberry fruit than other Copains I've enjoyed of late. I think the fruit profile won't change but the tannin element may calm down a bit in time. Never going to be elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Tasted as part of a Kiser En Haut vertical we did with Wells @ the winery. 1,3.4% ABV. I sensed pepper on this wine, but this is completely destemmed. Dark plum, spice, red apple, generous and juicy. This vintage of Kiser continues to drink with a cool fruit core, yet I don't find the structure in this vintage to suggest it will age or get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2017 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasty red cherry, apple, and mineral notes on the nose and palate with sour cherry and floral notes on the long finish with refreshing acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Really beautiful perfumed nose on this - very pretty and floral. On the palate this has a lot of tart cherry/cranberry notes, good acidity nice balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2017 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
13.4% abv. Medium burgundy red, expressive aromas. Raspberry black cherry and Asian spice highlight a nuanced and focused palate impression. Excellent depth and length. Pears to be still on the ascent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2016 - Edclr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another great job from these guys. Now getting into its prime drinking period. Great fruit, good acidity, great finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2016 - thomaskeil wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 90 minutes with benefit (tight fruit on opening). Ruby colored. This wine is really coming into its own. Bright red fruit and berries on the nose with great floral notes and piney asian spice. Medium fruit weigh on palate, prickly acidity and nicely structured tannins. Finishes with a sense of peppery heat, but I don't think it's etoh; more like spicy flavors plus tannins. Light sense of mineral throughout. More fruit forward than our recent 2007 En Bas. CT notes helped me pair this with roasted chicken; great match.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2016 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautifully open and integrated compared with the previous bottle! Fragrant lavender and asian spice notes add complexity to the delicious
fruit on the nose and palate with refreshing acidity on the killer finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2016 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened tonight, added a little chill then powered through about 1/2 with grilled salmon and some faro risotto. Showed a bigger side, as have some past bottles. Lots of fruit bowl qualities, some root beer, yet some saving acidity to keep the wine fresh. Returned the bottle to the fridge, left under cork overnight, re-tasting a day later. So, in drinking it cool to start, it comes off as juicy, a little plump and racy, as some of the bigger fruit tones get tamped down and the wine shows more linear. As I let it warm and work through the same glass, the fruit fattens, picking up a black raspberry and blackberry quality, remaining zesty and juicy. As it finally nears room temp, it hangs together with the richness, missing though the typical Kiser blue fruit, red apple and rocky energy that is simply not part of the 2009 expression. What 2009 ultimately gave us I believe is something more forward and robust, yet with the hand of Wells, there is no heavy or tiring quality. All this said, I have one left (plus 2 En Bas, which I will get after next), and I will drink my remaining En Haut over the next 2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2016 - lolo66 wrote:
Hmmm. This one was on the big side and didn't get much pinot characteristics. Drank this right after a cool climate cab and really couldn't tell the difference. weird experience with this usually stellar bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/3/2016 - flentvall wrote: 90 Points
A bit contrarian, but drinking it now, I just don't get hype. Comes across tonight as quite simple, with very pronounced acidity. Cranberries is right, with some amount of sous bois. Noticeable alcohol. Fine at 40 bucks or less, but... In any event, have two more bottles, so will personally wait a year at least before trying another. The still-present tannins suggest that should be no problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2016 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at Flying Fish Restaurant. This wine has filled out and is drinking spectacularly. Will continue to improve.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/11/2016 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasty red cherry, apple, and mineral notes on the nose and palate with sour cherry and floral notes on a long finish with sappy acidity.
Quite refreshing!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2016 - nbrue wrote: 90 Points
Lots of cherry and touch of cola and nice with the dinner on offer. Better the the 09 en bas but still disappointing for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2015 - domco wrote:
Nice and light, smooth, very drinkable. Solid fruit, a hint of tobacco perhaps. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Gotta say, despite having some mixed feelings on the 2009 vintage, this bottle showed well. Drank over dinner, nothing remained when we paid the check. Raspberry, apple, both on the riper side, but then the tartness I mentioned in my 2013 note, which last night seemed more like cranberry in tone. Really quite good and with the acidity still there and the structure that sits around the fruit, this could very well age just fine for another 3-5 years. Hasn't seemed to budge much from my aging window from the 2013 note so that seems to reflect to me a wine that is humming along really well.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2015 - Mlermontov wrote: 94 Points
LBTG - with Alan hosting: Alan has been telling me to try this. last time there was just a bit and it came after a long lineup of wines thus i wasn't able to give it it's due. But this time!! ripe cherry and touch of cola on the nose. mid is sexy with red berries and minerality - and a great zing of acidity making this wine very vibrant and fresh. long tangy finish dances on the palate long after the wine is gone. YUM! WOTN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2015 - amateurwino wrote: 94 Points
Once again, just gorgeous, and my WOTN. Expressive red fruits showed a lot of florals on the nose and generous yet juicy palate flavors. A bit of earthiness made this feel like a complete wine, very harmonious and early in its prime. Certainly supports my feeling that this is year in and year out one of the top American pinot noirs being made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2015 - DRS-Inc wrote: 93 Points
Initially consumed half of bottle on 1st night after giving it several hours of slow-ox, and then came back to it 5 nights later. Notes of crunchy red fruit, red apple, spice, hints of rhubarb. Soft & elegant with with fine tannins, crisp acidity and a nice lingering finish. Still young and needs more time with a chance to improve over time, IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2014 - lolo66 Likes this wine: 93 Points
With extended air in decanter this become an explosive Pinot. So full, vibrant and bursting with fruit. Well balanced, just a concentrated and well made Wine. Thai takes time though to unfold and it didn't show much in first hour.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2014 - Rob Hansult Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beef, tomato, strawberry, raspberry, aromatic. Very light stems. Sumac berries/tea. Ripe. Decent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2014 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose showed cherry fruit and cola, with stems and hints of undergrowth. On the palate, it was soft and velvety with sweet berry and spice. Delicate with a hint of bitter red fruits on the finish, yet pretty.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2014 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Mike on Tour - the Count's Manor: spices, black cherry and ripe red fruit. touch of bitter edge on the mid/finish. This felt a bit ripe to me - though the fruit was clean and well balanced. Big wine - almost syrah notes. bit hard to judge with the company of wines before it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Pebben wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for nearly two hours before tasting. Medium purple core, pink rim. Spectacular nose with hints of dark Pinot fruit, dry soil, sea breeze, spices, caramel and a whiff of cola. Based on the bouquet one would be forgiven to expect something, dark, dense and rich on the palate, but this wine surprises by displaying cool fruit in the tart redcurrant end of the spectrum and a level of acidity I have rarely (if ever) before encountered in a US Pinot. This wine definately needs food to show its full potential! Still young, and based on structure alone an obvious candidate for further cellaring. I’m however a bit concerned that the underlying core of fruit, although considerable in itself, won’t be powerful enough to keep up with the acidity over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2014 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cool red fruit with a pretty long finish and smooth touch. Still quite primary but notes of forest floor, mineral, earth, along with tart cranberry. Drinking very well after a decant but another year or two would help. Excellent 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2014 - mzimberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pretty pinot violet. Breathtaking aromas of forest, spice, and lavender. Lively and acidic palate with tiny cranberries, a little pinot sap, raspberries, blueberries. Long, pure, very pretty finish. Seems cool climate as the winemaking is clearly classic and restrained. This is drop dead gorgeous and quite Burgundian. There's terroir in spades. Even though these Copains aren't the best values anymore, they are the real deal.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/22/2013 - amateurwino wrote: 94 Points
Tasted alongside the 09 Kiser En Bas, this surprised me, showing as the more open and expressive of the two. I first tasted this nearly two years ago, a few times within a few weeks, and the results were a bit inconsistent (some bottles were quite tart) but I wrote then that I thought the wine would straighten out and challenge for best American pinot of the vintage. This tasting confirms that hunch, as this shows absolutely gorgeous mostly-red fruits, with intoxicating floral aromas as well. Early in its drinking window, but already a divine experience. Not quite up to the level of the '07 in my opinion, but really close. Strengthens my view that this will be one of the best domestic pinot noirs year in and year out; as good as this is, I can only imagine how good the new Combe de Grès bottling is. 93-95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2013 - cadamson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wanted to wait on this another year or two, since the one I had 18 months ago was so stunning and I only had one left. Wonderfully complex, red fruit (lots of cranberry and pomegranate), floral notes, earthy spice and minerality. Good acidity and finish. A bit less exuberance than last year, and not moving forward. Great wine, however.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2013 - cartime Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich red and blue berries, candied violets, and earthy minerals on the nose. A sweet-tart palate with great acidity and a medium-length, sweet finish. Drinking well now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2013 - laralh wrote: 89 Points
Bringebær, granateple, moreller, litt røyk og mineralitet. Transparent med fin syre, medium lengde og fylde. Delikat og burgundersk i stilen.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
13.4% alcohol. Medium dark ruby. Expressive floral and spice aromas. On the palate, immediately intense flavors of red and black cherry, boysenberry, cloves and red raspberry. Strong acidic backbone. At once highly concentrated and lively. Lingering aftertaste. This exceptional wine will only continue to improve from here over the next five years or so.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2013 - brigcampbell wrote: 91 Points
Copain Dinner; 8/4/2013-8/6/2013 (FMIII in the OC): Light garnet color. I caught some molasses aromas but the nose was muted compared to the others. Flavors of tart boysenberry and sweet raspberry made for a nice juxtaposition. Medium finish and nicely balanced wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Copain Dinner @ The House With Wells Guthrie: Listed at 13.4%. Shows juicy blue and huckle fruit. This seems richer than the 2007 and 2010, just bigger in feel. Cherry hard candy and a little tight....having some wine leftover from y/day, retasting again. The wine rings up like I noted it from y/day, although I can pick up a soil note today and do see the larger frame of the wine that I picked up on last night. While good, not up to the level of the 2007s balance and richness in tandem, nor the delicacy of the 2010. I'd say this wine will drink best over the next 3-5 years, as there is some light tartness in the finish that helps liven up the darker fruit.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2013 - oeno1820 wrote: 89 Points
Sour, astringent, even after time out of the bottle. Fruit is pinched with lots of crushed rock. Perhaps more time is required, but this would be a first for me on pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I opened this last night to take to dinner for my 13th anniversary with the Dr Mrs, pairing this with the Ahi Tartare @ R and D Kitchen in Newport. I didn't take any notes last night before we left so the notes here represent about a day of slox ox within the open bottle. Drinking at a little less than 65 degrees, pretty good temp as it allows the wine to really unfold. Even with this amount of slow ox time, this wine is still pretty tight and needs lots of air. My impression here is similar to that of 18 months ago, when I drank my last once around in October 2011. Drinking today, lots of purple flower in the aromatic, dark fragrant fruit, too. The palate? Bigger boned than I typically expect from new-era Copain, showing here with huckle and boysen fruit, with a big underpinning of cranberry fruit that reflects through the acidity. Terrific acidity, almost a pure, undiluted cranberry again. Along with this acidity, there is the customary Kiser rocky notes. All in, this wine simply is not ready and in this vintage, next to the 2009 En Bas (at the bottom of the hill) that I drank two months ago, this is significantly more structured--has the same darker tones of the En Bas but showing much more youth now than down the slope. Drink window? Well, leave open 2 days and enjoy on the 3rd, or age until 2015 and then drink the next 3-5 years more. I'm glad I opened this as I needed a baseline for aging the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2013 - Jbird73 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful vibrant deep red light purple in color. Nose is strong on red fruit and a little spice. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, perfect amount of acid mid-palate and a lovely finish. I do think this gets much better with time but with a half dozen I want to try one per year to find my perfect age to drink it. I loved it now so looking forward to a year from now to pop open another bottle. Much more to come from this compared to monument tree from Copain in my mind and I love monument tree now. Great stuff from Copain.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/18/2013 - drinkingonthejob Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured - this wine is nowhere close to being ready to drink. Extremely tart and shut down for the first 30 min, poured into a decanter and showed brief flashes of deep complexity before repeatedly hiding behind assertive tannin and acidity. Lots of potential, but I will not bo opening another for at least six months and only when I have a half day to leave it in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2013 - GrapeScott wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with my last note of more than a year ago, this still needs a lot of time. A pretty nose of flowers, rocks and strawberries. Firm acids give this an impression of leanness, though there is a complexity of flavors, that suggest this will develop well. Abundant red fruits such as red currant, strawberry, pomegranate, sour cherry are accented by spicebox and sous bois. A very firm but pretty wine which should reward patience. Lots of upside here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2012 - cadamson wrote: 95 Points
This is probably the best U.S. made pinot I have had in a few years. Wonderfully complex, with the possibility of a few years more adding to that. Nice red fruit (lots of cranberry and pomegranate), floral notes, earthy spice and minerality. Acidity was wonderful. We often say of 'big' CA pinot's that they hide their high alcohol well (or not) --- this one has nothing to hide. At 13.4%, it is perfectly balanced, allowing flavors and aromas to dominate. Just as good on day 2. Bravo, a wonderful wine that I will be seeking more of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2012 - DuaneT wrote: 93 Points
On day 1, I found this wine to be terribly acidic and closed, even after slow oxing for two hours. Not much fun to drink (probably an 85 to my tastes)
Improved considerably on day 2. The nose, focused and subtle, displayed dark red fruits and a hint of earth. The black fruits, some dark red cherry, cranberry and possibly raspberry are present today but are still strongly wrapped inside the acidity present in the wine.
I would guess that it is not yet fully developed and will benefit from more cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2012 - sehill wrote: 91 Points
Opened and poured, this wine begins with tart red fruit on the bouquet and palate. Airing brings out added complexity and depth. This drinks well now about 30 minutes after opening and should benefit from an additional few years of bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2012 - cpsmith33 wrote: 93 Points
In Pursuit of Balance (NYC): Agree with most other users, this is one of our favorites of the tasting. Very complex, smooth and easy to drink. Nice red fruit, minerality. Wish I had a bunch of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2012 - amateurwino wrote: 93 Points
First sample seemed a bit off to me - quite a bit more tart than the other Copain SVDs.
Returned later to retry, out of another bottle, and this time, it was much more in line with my experience with past vintages of Kiser En Haut. Some dark cherry notes on the palate, a nutty hint on the nose. Smooth and manages to be full but not dense. Acidity you can bank on. Some perfume on the nose too. Perhaps not quite as plush and lovely in youth as the '07, but should develop similarly and challenge for top American pinot of the vintage. Fairly approachable, not hugely structured and tannic, but definitely has plenty of material. 92-93 for now, with a ++ for the future based on track record.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2012 - domco wrote: 92 Points
Such a pretty wine right now, but shouldn't have drank so soon. Strawberry and cranberry, nice minerality, well balanced. Can't wait to revisit in a few years (if I can hold out that long).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2012 - rsbeck wrote: 94 Points
Had this at the In Pursuit of Balance tasting in San Francisco. In a sea of great Pinot at this event, I felt the Kiser was distinctive in its combination of complexity, intensity, acidity, sophistication and elegance. For my palate, it really hit the right balance between focused fruit, mineral, just right sweetness and tart acids. Also, there was food at the tasting so I had a chance to try it with food and I felt this helped to further reveal the quality of the wine. This will be a welcome companion at the table. The server told me he'd opened the bottle 45 minutes before I got there, which probably helped. A really fine wine right now and seems packed for further evolution.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2012 - SanFranSoxFan04 wrote: 91 Points
PWTG California Pinot Noir Tasting (Wine Bank, Menlo Park): Blind flight of 5 CA Pinots and 1 Burg. Group's #3 wine, My #5.
Light magenta color, a chemical like band-aid aroma along with candied fruit. Very light bodied and delicate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2012 - vanpe003 wrote:
Opening up a bottle of this for current drinking seems to be something of a fool's errand. While the quality in the glass is obvious, this is nowhere near ready. Beautiful nose of perfumed fruit, florals and a hint of spice. On the palate, well-balanced but quite tight. There's a soapiness to the palate at present, something I attribute to its youth and unresolved acids. This should be stunning in 4-5 years. Don't make the same mistake I did....hide these away. 93+ points for potential, 87-89 for current consumption.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2011 - GrapeScott wrote: 91 Points
Drank for Thanksgiving dinner alongside the 2004 En Haut. Decanted 3 hours in advance. Upon opening, a very muted nose, not giving much at all even after several hours in the decanter. On the other hand, the older wine was much more forward (not decanted), elegant, with more prominent red fruit and softer structure. The 2009 was clearly built for the long haul, with prominent acidity, more restrained fruit, and in need of a lot of time. Perhaps shutting down a bit now, or maybe I needed to open a day earlier. In any case, I was extremely pleased with the evolution of the 2004, and am happy to have 5 more of these in the cellar. The 2004 was a stunner right now, while I'll have to revisit the 2009 again in a few years. Seems to have lots of upside potential though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Copain Stopover--2011 Harvest (Copain Winery--Russian River): Pop and pour. Tasted next to the 2009 En Bas, the En Haut here is a bit bigger and is more fleshy. Yet, it remains gentle with blue and cran fruits. Real long finish, again sexier than the En Bas. Be interested to see in time how the Copain fans settle onto either the Bas or Haut. I like both but I prefer at this point the Bas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Copain tasting at the winery with Wells and Jennifer: This is a little tighter than the "En Bas", more mineral and acidity, but with plenty of intensity, some fine tannins, will need some time, really terrific.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Copain Visit To Taste The 2009s and 2010s (Copain Winery In RRV): 13.4% with 20% new oak. An exotic nose on this wine, a bit different from the 2009 En Bas, like a browner spice along with incense. Seems darker than the En Bas and blue fruited, too. Also spicier and tighter. Rocky, with some strawberry but mainly blueberry framed around minerals.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment