My first bottle of this, about 5 years ago, impressed me. Since then, every Kutch I've opened has left me underwhelmed. My first reaction to this bottle (and to some others recently) was "this is thin." Not a lot of "there" there. I don't know if these (2014s and 2015s) are going through a "phase," or if my tastes/palate are going through one. Nevertheless, I get some tart cherry (watery), hints of licorice, and not much else.
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Opened, poured and let sit about 1/2 hr. Nose indistinct. Taste is vaguely floral/vaguely spice; low-key, almost in background. Decent balance at first, but gets a little grippy on the finish. Not much of interest going on. Last bottle and I'm fine with that.
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Lovely deep maroon color. Cherry fruit hard to discern after the hit of cedar. Very tannin forward at opening that mellowed out after a couple of hours. You can just feel there's a sweet spot between CA fruit forward and French restraint and acidity. This is so close, just not quite.
12/31/2022 Definitely caught a little strawberry this time, particularly in the nose. Didn't seem as tannin-forward as my last note would indicate. I'm generally liking where this is sitting right now.
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Opened, poured and let sit about 40 min. Then: Not much nose, indistinct. Taste is low-key, somewhat floral; no spiciness to speak of; soft mouthfeel; tannins not an issue; still balanced; decent finish. Last bottle was a little over a year ago and this one is showing quite differently (spice vs floral). I think I like the spiciness of the earlier bottle a bit better, but neither was that interesting. Pleasant, but not much more.
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Pop and pour, would have decanted but the decanters are all air-drying. Sometimes that's just how the game goes. In the glass, ruby red at the rim, shading to clear but very dark maroon at the core. On the nose, equal parts cherries and plums. On the palate, still youthful and tannic, with an initial burst of sweet cherries and spice overtaken by a more lean, astringent mid-palate, and ample acid on a long finish. This feels like a hybrid of the first few years of more fruit-forward Kutch releases and the later, leaner Burgundian style of recent years - my gut is that this might be the sweet spot, but time will tell. Certainly has the stuffing for another 5 years of cellar time, at least.
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roughly two years from my prior bottle, consistent notes. A bit darker fruited, dark colored. Again the more savory than fruity side, with still a lot of structure. Solid, but a little something lacking. Perhaps a lengthy decant my help open it up more
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Pnp but still very bright fruits. Well made, high quality, but missing that intangible that would elevate it to a really great wine. Still, for the price very good
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Kutch Grand Tasting Round 1; 4/25/2022-5/3/2022 (FMIII in the OC): There’s a charred wood influence but I know these are neutral barrels so it might the stems were fully lignified. What does lignin taste like? This wine has the most acid of the SC lineup. There’s a bite to this wine which is in juxtaposition to the strawberry fruit taste.
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Kutch Verticals--Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (My House): Aromas of stem, cracked spice and whole cluster. Sweet cherry, cedar, juicy. Tight and astringent which for me is cloaking/affecting the fruit and balance. Later on in the evening I went back to taste this again and it remained tangy, with some Indian spices in the finish.
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My last bottle, but at least the last bottle was memorable. When I opened it at 5 PM it immediately showed an enthralling aromatic blend of freshly turned earth, green tobacco, flowers and red fruit. The palate was a little bit behind, as it initially seemed a bit hollow/one-dimensional. Another hour later it was all systems go, as the wine picked up depth on the palate, and the aromatics became even more pronounced. Structurally balanced, it just kept powering through, managing to convey complexity with power, yet never being heavy. It was really quite a feat, and a heck of a payoff for a $35 wine!
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As in previous bottle, the cork seemed in the verge of allowing some seepage and not providing a proper seal - but thankfully the wine was just fine. Lovely, elegant PN. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - a sense of freshness. Great balance.
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As in previous bottle, the cork seemed in the verge of allowing some seepage and not providing a proper seal - but thankfully the wine was just fine. Lovely, elegant PN. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - a sense of freshness. Great balance.
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Very similar to last bottle. Cork seemed in the verge of allowing some seepage and not providing a proper seal, but thankfully the wine was just fine. Lovely, elegant PN. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - a sense of freshness. Great balance.
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Lovely, elegant PN. On the young side, but drinking well. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - brings nice freshness. Short-ish but pleasant finish.
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Started with funk that I haven't noticed in previous bottles. Some blew off, but still showing some Bret. Tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry on the nose and palate. Good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish. But not rated as mildly flawed with bret. Drinkable, but not what it should have been.
Opened and let sit 1/2 hr. Then: Not much of a nose; some red fruit; no particular distinctive tastes over the following hour - just pleasant red fruit and maybe a little bit of spice. Easy to drink, pleasant enough, but not much to recommend it and somewhat disappointing based on what I was expecting. Day 2: A little better than Day 1: Maybe something of a nose; red fruit a bit smoother; spice about the same. Still pleasant, but not enough to say this is something interesting. Maybe 89.5 on Day 2.
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My last bottle. Drinks way above its price. Tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry, good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish. Kept improving. Probably not at peak yet, but really enjoyable. My last bottle.
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The weight and balance were quite nice, with small red berries. The stem inclusion seemed to overpower for me and distracted from the rest of the wine.
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1 1/2 hour slow ox. Nose: Somewhat dusty w/ tree moss and some floral traces but none of the stemmy qualities of the last bottle. Palate: Cherries, spices with soft tannins and an elegant finish. Drinking well but I still prefer the first bottle (notes on 8/29/19) for it’s youthfulness, tension and complexity. Now 90+ points.
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Great aromatics. Tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry, good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish. Keeps improving with time. Probably not at peak yet, but really enjoyable.
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Upon opening, the stem/herbal influence was heady and almost overpowering, but with time the pure red fruit and crushed rocks/gravel shone through. A little of that Northern Rhône black olive character. Some of the most depth and personality of any American Pinot I’ve had.
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Not terrible, but clearly flawed. Muted nose, with slightly off flavors. Purchased at release and stored in temperature controlled cellar. The cork was soaked. Other bottles from the same case have been fine.
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This is my "go to" wine for all occasions. As I like to tell anyone who drinks with me I have never had a bad bottle of Kutch wine and I've been with Jamie since his first release! Today was no exception with the Sonoma Coast delivering smooth, balanced flavors to savor amongst friends. Soft plums and a note of raspberry make this both flavorful and enjoyable while appropriately restrained.
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My final of four bottles and consumed over three days.
Ruby in color, super clear and clean; very pretty; immediate nose of herbal and woodsy nature due to whole stem inclusion; quite a bit of stem on the nose and moreso than any other Kutch of this vintage except for the Bohan but not off putting; then red fruit in the background; raspberry and cherry; then white pepper; palate is a dark cherry jolly rancher laced with the stem inclusion; mild tannins and subtle acid zip; pure and clean overall; focused; not really evolving over the three days but it never really fell off either; just very nice quality and lovely
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I love the brightness, the fruit and the stems in this wine. It is so good young I doubt I will ever taste a mature bottle. Love the herbal notes in this wine. I think it provides great contrast and adds depth to the fruit.
Sean
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Opened an hour ago. Drinking at room temp (73f) with the wine still enjoying a light chill. The stems in this bottle are more evident, notably first in the aromatics where they provide an herbal note. Mixing with the whole cluster is some fragrant red berry. The palate here is what continues the same enthusiasm I have posted in previous notes on this wine, a purity of red fruits that is lovely to drink. Strawberry, cranberry, blueberry are what are most dominant, along with some red cherry. The fruit is then supported by some astringence, which I would attribute to the stem tannin that is still within the wine. I don't find the stems messing with the palate of the wine, and if anything giving the fruit a touch of savory but that is about it. So, if you're not offput by some whole cluster, and how that informs the aroma, then you will find the fruit and structure here in a good place and the wine cruising right along for some more time in the bottle......this remains good as I finish it on the 3rd day being open. It has the depth and fleshy quality of what wowed me 2 years ago. Drinking great.
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Pop and pour and tasted without food. Bright ruby color. Clear. Nose offers herbs and some cranberry. Flavors of bright red berries (cranberries and wild strawberries) with some red cherries on the back end. The whole cluster usage is evident as the wine has a significant herbal note. While the whole cluster gives the wine added depth and a savory quality, it is a bit jarring and perhaps over done. I am not sure that green herbal element will fully integrate. At present, it is a bit of detraction from the wine.
Cork was a mess and wine had leaked. Purchased direct and had been stored correctly so not sure what happened. Wine actually had a nice nose and good fruit but was flat with little backbone.
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Drank these in a party setting, and all six bottles disappeared quickly, so I'm out. Which is too bad, as I sense this vintage will benefit more than others from time in the bottle. Restrained, and very much in the Kutch style.
Just realized this was my last bottle of this so I wish I didn't drink it so early as this wine's journey is far from over. This one didn't come across as well as the first. Started solid and is a very nice wine it just never really evolved in the glass to something more this time. Light stems on the nose bring a nice herbal note. The palate was a bit different this time a bit to the darker red spectrum. Had almost a slight tea-like note in the middle. That's probably not the right descriptor but I can't place it. In any case, I'd maybe hold slightly longer but fine to drink with some air.
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1 1/2 hour decant (mag decanter). Nose: Highly perfumed and floral with a hint of earthiness due to some stem inclusion. Also traces of moss. Palate: Despite the amazingly low alc levels (12.9%) this is actually quite rich, yet the perfectly proportioned acid levels provide balance. Flavors of cherries, sweet raspberries, and subtle citrus aspects on the finish. First Pinot I've had from Kutch and it is really impressive. Very elegant. 92+ points.
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I got a couple pours from the bottle over the afternoon. My summation of the wine (didn't take any notes y/day) was the same as past bottles: this vintage of the AVA blend is the best from Jamie. It mixes a light imprint of stem inclusion with a purity of flavor and ideal weight, all to make for a really delicious bottle of PN and a wine that is going to live for some time.
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Such an interesting wine. Certainly not the best in pure flavor but I had a lot of fun watching this develop on a random weekday evening. Popped and poured from the wine cellar to start which I knew was a bad idea for the temp if nothing else. Started in that cru Beaujolais camp a bit with a sort of grapey flavor. As this got air and warmed the nose opened and the acidity and fruit brought the balance. Didn't get the pepper others mentioned until the last glass and then bam there it was. On the palate the fruit expanded with time bringing a bright strawberry with some cranberry with the acidic punch. Has something extra which I guess I'll just throw in the full cluster / stem bucket which I can't describe but is in no ways harsh and adds interest. Why I love to drink these kinds of wines now - they are a journey.
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Last night's bottle showed the best of any to date for the 2015 SC that I have opened, and it expressed that same 'wow' quality that I found when I had the very first one roughly 2 years ago, when we did all the 2015s blind. The aromatics on the wine last night were outstanding, probably the best of any wine I have had in my glass over the past year: rose petal, pepper, spice and light stem. Then to the palate, which shows the touch that makes me such a fan of these wines, an elegant, suave quality that shows a great balance of pure red fruit, with a bit of stem woven through it. And it lacks all of the things in PN that I steer away from in the wines I enjoy now: no oak, booze, or excess ripeness. I realize and appreciate that what I look for in PN is not what others enjoy and it's important to keep that conscious, to avoid putting labels and bad judgment on a style that is not like what I like. I just know and recognize that what Jamie produces these days, as his craft continues to see more experience, that a wine like the 2015 SC is just right in my sweet spot. We'll have to see and judge fairly if his shift with the 2016 SC AVA blend to the declassed single vineyard sources (Falstaff, 'Dougie and Bohan, I think) will be as successful as what he did in 2015. Until I can start looking into my 2016s and getting a feel for them, there is plenty to enjoy, appreciate and applaud in this 2015.
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Another lovely Pinot from Kutch. Gushing cherries and strawberries on the nose, with roses, rhubarb, black pepper, really vibrant aromas. Tangy and lively on the palate, such freshness, with medium tannins. Red cherries and strawberries are lit up with spicy pepper, rose petal, mushroom, rhubarb. Love it. Wish I had bought more.
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Enjoyed over several hours sans food. The wine has a bright and crisp ruby color with good clarity. Blackberry and herbal notes. Medium+ tannins, low+ acidity. Minty flavors on the finish. Based upon prior Kutch wines, I anticipated more from this wine. Was accompanied by 2013 McDougall.
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Pop and pour. Tasted without food. Ruby color. Clear. Nose shows the whole cluster used in the wine. Herbal notes along with fresh red berries - some wild strawberry notes and cranberries. The herbal notes are prominent, taking this a bit off center and out of balance. There is a bit of astringency to the wine, likely the result of use of whole cluster. I expected a bit more; perhaps with a bit more time in the bottle, this will improve.
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City Club Fort Worth Wine Event (City Club Wine Room - Fort Worth): Decanted for several hours prior to serving; nose of fresh raspberries and subtle cherry, clearly an herb note from the 100% whole cluster (which I like); very fresh, fruit palate; pure; very structured (again from the whole cluster) tannins that are under complete control here; silky; great acid.
I love this wine; one of the best Kutch SC that I can recall; great balance between ripe fruit and structure; I really like the underlying woodsiness from the whole cluster on the back-end.
Pop and pour. Full bodied, dark, and viscous with plenty of earthy spice exploding out. Almost like a high acid Syrah in character. Nonetheless plenty of lift is provided via fresh strawberries, tart raspberries, and minerals. Bitter chocolate and a green note it on the finish. Different from pretty much all other entry level Sonoma Coast Pinot I’ve had
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4th bottle this year. And, this bottle arrived to the table already opened and had been drained down to about 1/4 remaining. I don't think it had been decanted but had likely seen about 3 hours of slow ox air. This was the final wine I tried for the evening and it showed strong. The elegance combined with the complexity that Jamie got into his AVA cuvee in this vintage is really remarkable. There is a cool spicy tone here, moderate tannin/structure and red fruit, all of it working together and showing youthful. As I said when I had this wine for the first time many months ago, this is a kick-ass version of SC, that I believe is competing with the Falstaff on even terms. Lovely wine here, and for under $40, and in the style of what I grab for in my pinot noir these days, it's just spot on good with years to go.
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This one was nice on day 1 with red raspberries, strawberry and some spice but a bit restrained. Had a couple of glasses on day 2, and this really had opened up and was just fantastic. The notes were deeper and more expressive with a lot of dark cherry and spice. Very balanced with solid acidity throughout. Lovely pinot but be sure to give this some proper air.
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Very delicious stuff, showing such freshness and vibrancy but also plenty of raspberry and strawberry fruit, clove, pepper, spice, rose petals. Medium-bodied and bright, and so easy to drink. I'll hold off for a year or so but very easy to drink now.
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Åpen og veldig parfyrmert på duft. Forsåvidt både ren og fersk, men det er som å stikke hodet ned i en pose fylt av assorterte syntetiske søte og sure gummigodterier i skrikende farger. Det lukter godt, men det blir litt mye.
På smak er vinen lett og luftig, med fersk søtlig frukt og noe beskjeden syre. Litt vandig i midten, men lengden er flott og ettersmaken er behagelig. Legg til nesten fraværende tanniner, og du får en fersk, saft-aktig vin som er lett og behagelig å drikke, men som ikke er særlig spennende.
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Very pleasing and charming aroma, a palate clearly affected by inclusion of stems, maybe almost too much so as the stemmy tannins have almost a grape seed-character to them at this point in its young life. Even so I was very taken by the red fruits (raspberry and strawberry) mixed with black tea, cherries and licorice. If the tannins can adjust to feel less green this could reach quite some height but I really likes it as it is now in its youth.
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Pretty nose of blackberries & sassafras. Palate shows he deftness I have come to expect and when I speak of deftness it is the whole package. Beautifully aromatic and giving at this young age. A perfectly delineated fruit profile pf black raspberries and near ripe blackberries; fruits convey with just a slight tartness that adds interest. Notes of sandalwood and a slight bit of orange zest. Balance is perfect and acidity spot-on. Finish long and true. I have come to really love this entry level Kutch probably from about the 2012 vintage. I like the direction this goes in as Jamie fine tunes his SC in.
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Drank over the course of about 3 hours, and it's all stems right now. Green tobacco and flowers on the nose, and all stem spice on the palate, this is showing ambitious winemaking more than any other edition of this wine I have tried. Leave it alone for a few years, to allow it to come together.
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Too busy playing cards to take formal notes but what an amazing bottle of wine. And for the price, down right silly. This bottle had 3+ hours of air by the time I got to it which allowed it to unwind compared to the pop n pour tasting note the first time a few months ago. Backup the truck on this champ.
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Gave this about 2 hours of slow ox and then we drank at room temp (about 68f). This bottle showed as great as the previous one, which was really an eye opener for how good it was. Light stem on the aromatic but merely a seasoning, not a dominant note. This is juicy, with slate and red berry and plum. Finishes tangy and with plenty of structure. I'm believing now that this is the best SC that Jamie has made to date. Very good and will continue to shine as it ages.
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Kutch 2015 Lineup (Maro Grill, Laguna Beach): Nose is REALLY muted on this one compared to all the other 2015's. There's some red berry but it's minimal. The flavors are stem and oak with berry, blue and raspberry. Goodness this wine is coiled up like a spring. I assumed it was a single vineyard wine. Nope, just little old SC AVA... impressive. Don't open this thinking you'll wait to drink the SV stuff, this wine needs time (probably more than the others in the lineup). As a side note, this really screwed people up as nobody that it was SC.
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2015 Kutch Wines....Done Blind With The Gang (Maro Wood Grill in Laguna Beach, CA): Served blind, as part of our detailed look at all of the Kutch 2015s. Man, was this showing really good last night. My guess was Falstaff, as it just seemed to be drinking with that level of complexity and intensity but when revealed, it was the Sonoma Coast. Wow. Some stem and crushed rock in the aromatic, blue fruited, with plenty of coil and a hard cherry candy note. My last taste of this before we ended the meal, my notes say 'rocky, intense, gorgeous intensity'. This drinks now with so much potential and promise, for me this could turn out as good as the SV wines that Jamie is making. For the AVA blend this time out, Jamie nailed it. Outstanding.
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Drank this WAY too young. If you can hold onto it for a couple more years, definitely do so. Shows signs of something pretty good on the horizon though. Hoping Day Two will improve...
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12.9% abv. Medium burgundy, expressive aromatics. Raspberry, red cherry, blue fruit and Asian spice. Tense, deep and long, very welll crafted. Excellent now, with he potential for improvement.
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I decided to give one of these a whirl just to see where it is now, the idea being to hold off on the others for several years. I tasted this over two days. As of now, this is filled with red fruit (raspberry, red currant) and lacking, thankfully, the red swizzler flavors that wreck too many CA pinots. Day 1 showed the above fruit along with a bit of a green streak and a hint of earthiness. Day 2 was much fuller, with more weight and something that I can only describe as iodine. That sounds nasty, but it's not! Regardless, this is a VERY nice wine and one that should be left untouched for at least 7-10 years. I can only imagine what this will reveal by then.
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12.9% abv. Dark burgundy red - spicy, expressive Romatics. On the palate, raspberry, blueberry, cooling mint and Asian spice. This is a penetrating, savory and lively Pinot with excellent depth and length. Gould continue to improve for several years.
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Tasted from the tank right before bottling. 17 months in neutral oak. 12,9%. This is a rather fruit forward wine with young and slightly tart red fruit from strawberries and cherries, but also some herbal notes and ginger.The acidity is vibrant and very good. This wine needs some time to wind down but has good potential and will drink well rather soon.
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4/8/2024 - maxmanx wrote:
Last bottles and still plenty of life. Had both decanted an PnP, and both were very good.
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1/21/2024 - maxmanx wrote:
Maybe I'm misinterpreting, but I strong stemmy flavor, which I generally enjoy. No rush on these.
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11/13/2023 - Haggis wrote: 88 Points
My first bottle of this, about 5 years ago, impressed me. Since then, every Kutch I've opened has left me underwhelmed. My first reaction to this bottle (and to some others recently) was "this is thin." Not a lot of "there" there. I don't know if these (2014s and 2015s) are going through a "phase," or if my tastes/palate are going through one. Nevertheless, I get some tart cherry (watery), hints of licorice, and not much else.
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10/19/2023 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Black cherry and plum, forest floor, med + acidity, in a great drinking window
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7/1/2023 - Rywyine Likes this wine:
No formal notes. Really good value. Nice red fruited, floral. great acidity a bit of tannin. Just tasty.
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5/28/2023 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely. Drinking very well. Everything in balance. Excellent QPR. CA fruit, Burgundian sensibilities. Could drink this over and over.
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11/16/2022 - Quiller wrote: 86 Points
Opened, poured and let sit about 1/2 hr. Nose indistinct. Taste is vaguely floral/vaguely spice; low-key, almost in background. Decent balance at first, but gets a little grippy on the finish. Not much of interest going on. Last bottle and I'm fine with that.
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11/4/2022 - underwds wrote: 90 Points
Lovely deep maroon color. Cherry fruit hard to discern after the hit of cedar. Very tannin forward at opening that mellowed out after a couple of hours. You can just feel there's a sweet spot between CA fruit forward and French restraint and acidity. This is so close, just not quite.
12/31/2022 Definitely caught a little strawberry this time, particularly in the nose. Didn't seem as tannin-forward as my last note would indicate. I'm generally liking where this is sitting right now.
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9/10/2022 - Quiller wrote: 88 Points
Opened, poured and let sit about 40 min. Then: Not much nose, indistinct. Taste is low-key, somewhat floral; no spiciness to speak of; soft mouthfeel; tannins not an issue; still balanced; decent finish. Last bottle was a little over a year ago and this one is showing quite differently (spice vs floral). I think I like the spiciness of the earlier bottle a bit better, but neither was that interesting. Pleasant, but not much more.
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9/8/2022 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour, would have decanted but the decanters are all air-drying. Sometimes that's just how the game goes. In the glass, ruby red at the rim, shading to clear but very dark maroon at the core. On the nose, equal parts cherries and plums. On the palate, still youthful and tannic, with an initial burst of sweet cherries and spice overtaken by a more lean, astringent mid-palate, and ample acid on a long finish. This feels like a hybrid of the first few years of more fruit-forward Kutch releases and the later, leaner Burgundian style of recent years - my gut is that this might be the sweet spot, but time will tell. Certainly has the stuffing for another 5 years of cellar time, at least.
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7/18/2022 - Grape_ape Likes this wine:
roughly two years from my prior bottle, consistent notes. A bit darker fruited, dark colored. Again the more savory than fruity side, with still a lot of structure. Solid, but a little something lacking. Perhaps a lengthy decant my help open it up more
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7/11/2022 - dutchmark wrote: 91 Points
Pnp but still very bright fruits. Well made, high quality, but missing that intangible that would elevate it to a really great wine. Still, for the price very good
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7/6/2022 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
Same note as that for previous 3 bottles. Lovely.
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5/2/2022 - brigcampbell wrote:
Kutch Grand Tasting Round 1; 4/25/2022-5/3/2022 (FMIII in the OC): There’s a charred wood influence but I know these are neutral barrels so it might the stems were fully lignified. What does lignin taste like? This wine has the most acid of the SC lineup. There’s a bite to this wine which is in juxtaposition to the strawberry fruit taste.
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5/1/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Kutch Verticals--Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (My House): Aromas of stem, cracked spice and whole cluster. Sweet cherry, cedar, juicy. Tight and astringent which for me is cloaking/affecting the fruit and balance. Later on in the evening I went back to taste this again and it remained tangy, with some Indian spices in the finish.
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4/30/2022 - River Rat wrote:
Kutch Retrospective Sonoma County Chardonnay/Sonoma Cost Pinot Noir; 4/30/2022-5/1/2022 (FMII’s in San Juan Capistrano): Lots of jalapeño on the nose, bright and juicy with dark cherry and great structure. Age-ability high! Really enjoyable.
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4/29/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:
My last bottle, but at least the last bottle was memorable. When I opened it at 5 PM it immediately showed an enthralling aromatic blend of freshly turned earth, green tobacco, flowers and red fruit. The palate was a little bit behind, as it initially seemed a bit hollow/one-dimensional. Another hour later it was all systems go, as the wine picked up depth on the palate, and the aromatics became even more pronounced. Structurally balanced, it just kept powering through, managing to convey complexity with power, yet never being heavy. It was really quite a feat, and a heck of a payoff for a $35 wine!
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4/22/2022 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
As in previous bottle, the cork seemed in the verge of allowing some seepage and not providing a proper seal - but thankfully the wine was just fine. Lovely, elegant PN. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - a sense of freshness. Great balance.
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3/31/2022 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely. Very similar to previous bottles - no tasting note.
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3/5/2022 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
As in previous bottle, the cork seemed in the verge of allowing some seepage and not providing a proper seal - but thankfully the wine was just fine. Lovely, elegant PN. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - a sense of freshness. Great balance.
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1/27/2022 - ptelgenh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Perfect match with salmon
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1/1/2022 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very similar to last bottle. Cork seemed in the verge of allowing some seepage and not providing a proper seal, but thankfully the wine was just fine. Lovely, elegant PN. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - a sense of freshness. Great balance.
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12/13/2021 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely, elegant PN. On the young side, but drinking well. Red cherries (tart, rather than ripe), cranberry, strawberry. Good acidity - brings nice freshness. Short-ish but pleasant finish.
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9/14/2021 - gharter wrote:
Started with funk that I haven't noticed in previous bottles. Some blew off, but still showing some Bret.
Tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry on the nose and palate. Good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish.
But not rated as mildly flawed with bret. Drinkable, but not what it should have been.
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8/28/2021 - Quiller wrote: 89 Points
Opened and let sit 1/2 hr. Then: Not much of a nose; some red fruit; no particular distinctive tastes over the following hour - just pleasant red fruit and maybe a little bit of spice. Easy to drink, pleasant enough, but not much to recommend it and somewhat disappointing based on what I was expecting.
Day 2: A little better than Day 1: Maybe something of a nose; red fruit a bit smoother; spice about the same. Still pleasant, but not enough to say this is something interesting. Maybe 89.5 on Day 2.
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6/11/2021 - Stumpy wrote:
No rating due to bad cork
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3/20/2021 - maxmanx wrote:
Still good after a week on the counter under simple rubber stopper. Good stuff!
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1/12/2021 - King Cab wrote:
Just amazing
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12/23/2020 - King Cab wrote: 93 Points
Still amazing. Still lighter than air and deft. Amazing mouthfeel and texture.
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12/22/2020 - gharter Likes this wine: 91 Points
My last bottle. Drinks way above its price. Tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry, good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish. Kept improving. Probably not at peak yet, but really enjoyable. My last bottle.
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11/21/2020 - CADomer Likes this wine: 90 Points
The weight and balance were quite nice, with small red berries. The stem inclusion seemed to overpower for me and distracted from the rest of the wine.
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10/5/2020 - Mattshank wrote: 90 Points
1 1/2 hour slow ox. Nose: Somewhat dusty w/ tree moss and some floral traces but none of the stemmy qualities of the last bottle. Palate: Cherries, spices with soft tannins and an elegant finish. Drinking well but I still prefer the first bottle (notes on 8/29/19) for it’s youthfulness, tension and complexity. Now 90+ points.
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7/31/2020 - Grape_ape wrote:
Savory and tannic. Good underlying fruit.
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6/30/2020 - gharter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great aromatics. Tart cherry, cranberry, strawberry, good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish. Keeps improving with time. Probably not at peak yet, but really enjoyable.
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4/29/2020 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine: 91 Points
Upon opening, the stem/herbal influence was heady and almost overpowering, but with time the pure red fruit and crushed rocks/gravel shone through. A little of that Northern Rhône black olive character. Some of the most depth and personality of any American Pinot I’ve had.
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3/16/2020 - gharter wrote: 90 Points
Much better than the last bottle. Cranberry, strawberry and tart cherry, good acidity, smooth slightly tart finish
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3/15/2020 - Drizzt321 Likes this wine:
Very lovely, drinking well right now.
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2/18/2020 - gharter wrote: flawed
Not terrible, but clearly flawed. Muted nose, with slightly off flavors. Purchased at release and stored in temperature controlled cellar. The cork was soaked. Other bottles from the same case have been fine.
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2/8/2020 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
This is my "go to" wine for all occasions. As I like to tell anyone who drinks with me I have never had a bad bottle of Kutch wine and I've been with Jamie since his first release! Today was no exception with the Sonoma Coast delivering smooth, balanced flavors to savor amongst friends. Soft plums and a note of raspberry make this both flavorful and enjoyable while appropriately restrained.
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1/26/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:
My final of four bottles and consumed over three days.
Ruby in color, super clear and clean; very pretty; immediate nose of herbal and woodsy nature due to whole stem inclusion; quite a bit of stem on the nose and moreso than any other Kutch of this vintage except for the Bohan but not off putting; then red fruit in the background; raspberry and cherry; then white pepper; palate is a dark cherry jolly rancher laced with the stem inclusion; mild tannins and subtle acid zip; pure and clean overall; focused; not really evolving over the three days but it never really fell off either; just very nice quality and lovely
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11/29/2019 - sharic wrote: 85 Points
Light body, high acidity, unpleasant grassiness overwhelms the fruit.
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10/14/2019 - maxmanx wrote:
Phenomenal QPR; great Pinot. PnP but drank over several hours and was good to the last drop.
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9/26/2019 - gharter Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ruby red. Nose of cranberry, strawberry and tart cherry. Similar flavors. Great acidity leading to a smooth finish. Drinks above its price.
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9/25/2019 - Seanwsmithm3 Likes this wine:
FM3 describes it better than I can... :)
I love the brightness, the fruit and the stems in this wine. It is so good young I doubt I will ever taste a mature bottle. Love the herbal notes in this wine. I think it provides great contrast and adds depth to the fruit.
Sean
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8/11/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened an hour ago. Drinking at room temp (73f) with the wine still enjoying a light chill. The stems in this bottle are more evident, notably first in the aromatics where they provide an herbal note. Mixing with the whole cluster is some fragrant red berry. The palate here is what continues the same enthusiasm I have posted in previous notes on this wine, a purity of red fruits that is lovely to drink. Strawberry, cranberry, blueberry are what are most dominant, along with some red cherry. The fruit is then supported by some astringence, which I would attribute to the stem tannin that is still within the wine. I don't find the stems messing with the palate of the wine, and if anything giving the fruit a touch of savory but that is about it. So, if you're not offput by some whole cluster, and how that informs the aroma, then you will find the fruit and structure here in a good place and the wine cruising right along for some more time in the bottle......this remains good as I finish it on the 3rd day being open. It has the depth and fleshy quality of what wowed me 2 years ago. Drinking great.
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6/26/2019 - t_moderne wrote: 86 Points
Pop and pour and tasted without food.
Bright ruby color. Clear.
Nose offers herbs and some cranberry.
Flavors of bright red berries (cranberries and wild strawberries) with some red cherries on the back end. The whole cluster usage is evident as the wine has a significant herbal note. While the whole cluster gives the wine added depth and a savory quality, it is a bit jarring and perhaps over done. I am not sure that green herbal element will fully integrate. At present, it is a bit of detraction from the wine.
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4/27/2019 - King Cab wrote: 94 Points
Amazing. Pure, focused and elegant. Amazing.
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2/8/2019 - VinoDiver wrote:
Cork was a mess and wine had leaked. Purchased direct and had been stored correctly so not sure what happened.
Wine actually had a nice nose and good fruit but was flat with little backbone.
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12/1/2018 - BradE wrote:
Drank these in a party setting, and all six bottles disappeared quickly, so I'm out. Which is too bad, as I sense this vintage will benefit more than others from time in the bottle. Restrained, and very much in the Kutch style.
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11/11/2018 - yeti575rider wrote: 90 Points
Just realized this was my last bottle of this so I wish I didn't drink it so early as this wine's journey is far from over. This one didn't come across as well as the first. Started solid and is a very nice wine it just never really evolved in the glass to something more this time. Light stems on the nose bring a nice herbal note. The palate was a bit different this time a bit to the darker red spectrum. Had almost a slight tea-like note in the middle. That's probably not the right descriptor but I can't place it. In any case, I'd maybe hold slightly longer but fine to drink with some air.
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8/29/2018 - Mattshank wrote: 92 Points
1 1/2 hour decant (mag decanter). Nose: Highly perfumed and floral with a hint of earthiness due to some stem inclusion. Also traces of moss. Palate: Despite the amazingly low alc levels (12.9%) this is actually quite rich, yet the perfectly proportioned acid levels provide balance. Flavors of cherries, sweet raspberries, and subtle citrus aspects on the finish. First Pinot I've had from Kutch and it is really impressive. Very elegant. 92+ points.
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7/8/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I got a couple pours from the bottle over the afternoon. My summation of the wine (didn't take any notes y/day) was the same as past bottles: this vintage of the AVA blend is the best from Jamie. It mixes a light imprint of stem inclusion with a purity of flavor and ideal weight, all to make for a really delicious bottle of PN and a wine that is going to live for some time.
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6/17/2018 - pkbackman wrote: flawed
Smelled and tasted like stewed olives. Oh well
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6/5/2018 - yeti575rider wrote: 93 Points
Such an interesting wine. Certainly not the best in pure flavor but I had a lot of fun watching this develop on a random weekday evening. Popped and poured from the wine cellar to start which I knew was a bad idea for the temp if nothing else. Started in that cru Beaujolais camp a bit with a sort of grapey flavor. As this got air and warmed the nose opened and the acidity and fruit brought the balance. Didn't get the pepper others mentioned until the last glass and then bam there it was. On the palate the fruit expanded with time bringing a bright strawberry with some cranberry with the acidic punch. Has something extra which I guess I'll just throw in the full cluster / stem bucket which I can't describe but is in no ways harsh and adds interest. Why I love to drink these kinds of wines now - they are a journey.
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4/29/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Last night's bottle showed the best of any to date for the 2015 SC that I have opened, and it expressed that same 'wow' quality that I found when I had the very first one roughly 2 years ago, when we did all the 2015s blind. The aromatics on the wine last night were outstanding, probably the best of any wine I have had in my glass over the past year: rose petal, pepper, spice and light stem. Then to the palate, which shows the touch that makes me such a fan of these wines, an elegant, suave quality that shows a great balance of pure red fruit, with a bit of stem woven through it. And it lacks all of the things in PN that I steer away from in the wines I enjoy now: no oak, booze, or excess ripeness. I realize and appreciate that what I look for in PN is not what others enjoy and it's important to keep that conscious, to avoid putting labels and bad judgment on a style that is not like what I like. I just know and recognize that what Jamie produces these days, as his craft continues to see more experience, that a wine like the 2015 SC is just right in my sweet spot. We'll have to see and judge fairly if his shift with the 2016 SC AVA blend to the declassed single vineyard sources (Falstaff, 'Dougie and Bohan, I think) will be as successful as what he did in 2015. Until I can start looking into my 2016s and getting a feel for them, there is plenty to enjoy, appreciate and applaud in this 2015.
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4/20/2018 - tcufletch Likes this wine: 91 Points
Such a wonderful value wine with some excellent pedigreed vineyards behind it. Love the presence of Bohan here.
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3/28/2018 - hawk30 wrote: flawed
Think it was flawed. Grapey nose with distinct black pepper note, "thin" effervescent (on opening) palate marked mainly by high acidity. Major bummer.
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3/24/2018 - eskaar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dufter av pepper og bringebær. Nydelig saftig og bløt delikat frukt med en balansert syre. Pen lengde.
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2/28/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
Another lovely Pinot from Kutch. Gushing cherries and strawberries on the nose, with roses, rhubarb, black pepper, really vibrant aromas. Tangy and lively on the palate, such freshness, with medium tannins. Red cherries and strawberries are lit up with spicy pepper, rose petal, mushroom, rhubarb. Love it. Wish I had bought more.
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2/22/2018 - passion4wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful nose, long finish, flavors of raspberry, boysenberry, spice, and a hint of jasmine—lovely.
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2/13/2018 - TRENZ Likes this wine: 86 Points
Enjoyed over several hours sans food.
The wine has a bright and crisp ruby color with good clarity. Blackberry and herbal notes. Medium+ tannins, low+ acidity. Minty flavors on the finish. Based upon prior Kutch wines, I anticipated more from this wine. Was accompanied by 2013 McDougall.
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2/13/2018 - t_moderne wrote: 86 Points
Pop and pour. Tasted without food.
Ruby color. Clear.
Nose shows the whole cluster used in the wine.
Herbal notes along with fresh red berries - some wild strawberry notes and cranberries. The herbal notes are prominent, taking this a bit off center and out of balance.
There is a bit of astringency to the wine, likely the result of use of whole cluster.
I expected a bit more; perhaps with a bit more time in the bottle, this will improve.
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2/3/2018 - tcufletch Likes this wine:
City Club Fort Worth Wine Event (City Club Wine Room - Fort Worth): Decanted for several hours prior to serving; nose of fresh raspberries and subtle cherry, clearly an herb note from the 100% whole cluster (which I like); very fresh, fruit palate; pure; very structured (again from the whole cluster) tannins that are under complete control here; silky; great acid.
I love this wine; one of the best Kutch SC that I can recall; great balance between ripe fruit and structure; I really like the underlying woodsiness from the whole cluster on the back-end.
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1/18/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 91 Points
Same note as before. Height acid and stemmy. This Arnot Roberts Syrah.
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1/8/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Full bodied, dark, and viscous with plenty of earthy spice exploding out. Almost like a high acid Syrah in character. Nonetheless plenty of lift is provided via fresh strawberries, tart raspberries, and minerals. Bitter chocolate and a green note it on the finish. Different from pretty much all other entry level Sonoma Coast Pinot I’ve had
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12/21/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
4th bottle this year. And, this bottle arrived to the table already opened and had been drained down to about 1/4 remaining. I don't think it had been decanted but had likely seen about 3 hours of slow ox air. This was the final wine I tried for the evening and it showed strong. The elegance combined with the complexity that Jamie got into his AVA cuvee in this vintage is really remarkable. There is a cool spicy tone here, moderate tannin/structure and red fruit, all of it working together and showing youthful. As I said when I had this wine for the first time many months ago, this is a kick-ass version of SC, that I believe is competing with the Falstaff on even terms. Lovely wine here, and for under $40, and in the style of what I grab for in my pinot noir these days, it's just spot on good with years to go.
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12/3/2017 - wineaux2 wrote: 92 Points
This one was nice on day 1 with red raspberries, strawberry and some spice but a bit restrained. Had a couple of glasses on day 2, and this really had opened up and was just fantastic. The notes were deeper and more expressive with a lot of dark cherry and spice. Very balanced with solid acidity throughout. Lovely pinot but be sure to give this some proper air.
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12/1/2017 - TomTom wrote:
This is drinking really well young. Very well balanced with a finish of herbs and clove. A pretty wine and a good QPR.
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11/30/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Very delicious stuff, showing such freshness and vibrancy but also plenty of raspberry and strawberry fruit, clove, pepper, spice, rose petals. Medium-bodied and bright, and so easy to drink. I'll hold off for a year or so but very easy to drink now.
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11/22/2017 - t_moderne wrote:
Pop and pour. Very approachable.
Enjoyable.
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11/18/2017 - laralh wrote: 89 Points
Kirsebær, nellik, appelsin, lakris, litt blomster. Lang, intens, middels fylde. Trenger litt luft.
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11/3/2017 - RuneW Likes this wine: 87 Points
Åpen og veldig parfyrmert på duft. Forsåvidt både ren og fersk, men det er som å stikke hodet ned i en pose fylt av assorterte syntetiske søte og sure gummigodterier i skrikende farger. Det lukter godt, men det blir litt mye.
På smak er vinen lett og luftig, med fersk søtlig frukt og noe beskjeden syre. Litt vandig i midten, men lengden er flott og ettersmaken er behagelig. Legg til nesten fraværende tanniner, og du får en fersk, saft-aktig vin som er lett og behagelig å drikke, men som ikke er særlig spennende.
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10/6/2017 - jrick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very pleasing and charming aroma, a palate clearly affected by inclusion of stems, maybe almost too much so as the stemmy tannins have almost a grape seed-character to them at this point in its young life. Even so I was very taken by the red fruits (raspberry and strawberry) mixed with black tea, cherries and licorice. If the tannins can adjust to feel less green this could reach quite some height but I really likes it as it is now in its youth.
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9/17/2017 - King Cab wrote: 93 Points
Pretty nose of blackberries & sassafras. Palate shows he deftness I have come to expect and when I speak of deftness it is the whole package. Beautifully aromatic and giving at this young age. A perfectly delineated fruit profile pf black raspberries and near ripe blackberries; fruits convey with just a slight tartness that adds interest. Notes of sandalwood and a slight bit of orange zest. Balance is perfect and acidity spot-on. Finish long and true. I have come to really love this entry level Kutch probably from about the 2012 vintage. I like the direction this goes in as Jamie fine tunes his SC in.
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8/7/2017 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
California Vacation (Sonoma, SF, Monterey); 8/5/2017-8/12/2017: Tasted at winery. This shows really pretty red raspberry notes. Nice smoky note. Some sandalwood and exotic spice notes. Punches way above its weight class.
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7/23/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
This is a brooding, intense, aromatic version of Kutch SC. Incense, dark raspberry, zesty berry finish. Structure here, too.
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6/7/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Drank over the course of about 3 hours, and it's all stems right now. Green tobacco and flowers on the nose, and all stem spice on the palate, this is showing ambitious winemaking more than any other edition of this wine I have tried. Leave it alone for a few years, to allow it to come together.
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6/5/2017 - brigcampbell wrote:
Too busy playing cards to take formal notes but what an amazing bottle of wine. And for the price, down right silly. This bottle had 3+ hours of air by the time I got to it which allowed it to unwind compared to the pop n pour tasting note the first time a few months ago. Backup the truck on this champ.
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6/4/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Gave this about 2 hours of slow ox and then we drank at room temp (about 68f). This bottle showed as great as the previous one, which was really an eye opener for how good it was. Light stem on the aromatic but merely a seasoning, not a dominant note. This is juicy, with slate and red berry and plum. Finishes tangy and with plenty of structure. I'm believing now that this is the best SC that Jamie has made to date. Very good and will continue to shine as it ages.
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4/12/2017 - brigcampbell wrote:
Kutch 2015 Lineup (Maro Grill, Laguna Beach): Nose is REALLY muted on this one compared to all the other 2015's. There's some red berry but it's minimal. The flavors are stem and oak with berry, blue and raspberry. Goodness this wine is coiled up like a spring. I assumed it was a single vineyard wine. Nope, just little old SC AVA... impressive. Don't open this thinking you'll wait to drink the SV stuff, this wine needs time (probably more than the others in the lineup). As a side note, this really screwed people up as nobody that it was SC.
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4/11/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
2015 Kutch Wines....Done Blind With The Gang (Maro Wood Grill in Laguna Beach, CA): Served blind, as part of our detailed look at all of the Kutch 2015s. Man, was this showing really good last night. My guess was Falstaff, as it just seemed to be drinking with that level of complexity and intensity but when revealed, it was the Sonoma Coast. Wow. Some stem and crushed rock in the aromatic, blue fruited, with plenty of coil and a hard cherry candy note. My last taste of this before we ended the meal, my notes say 'rocky, intense, gorgeous intensity'. This drinks now with so much potential and promise, for me this could turn out as good as the SV wines that Jamie is making. For the AVA blend this time out, Jamie nailed it. Outstanding.
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4/6/2017 - tcarter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this WAY too young. If you can hold onto it for a couple more years, definitely do so. Shows signs of something pretty good on the horizon though. Hoping Day Two will improve...
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4/4/2017 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
12.9% abv. Medium burgundy, expressive aromatics. Raspberry, red cherry, blue fruit and Asian spice. Tense, deep and long, very welll crafted. Excellent now, with he potential for improvement.
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4/2/2017 - Haggis Likes this wine: 91 Points
I decided to give one of these a whirl just to see where it is now, the idea being to hold off on the others for several years. I tasted this over two days. As of now, this is filled with red fruit (raspberry, red currant) and lacking, thankfully, the red swizzler flavors that wreck too many CA pinots. Day 1 showed the above fruit along with a bit of a green streak and a hint of earthiness. Day 2 was much fuller, with more weight and something that I can only describe as iodine. That sounds nasty, but it's not! Regardless, this is a VERY nice wine and one that should be left untouched for at least 7-10 years. I can only imagine what this will reveal by then.
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3/11/2017 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
12.9% abv. Dark burgundy red - spicy, expressive Romatics. On the palate, raspberry, blueberry, cooling mint and Asian spice. This is a penetrating, savory and lively Pinot with excellent depth and length. Gould continue to improve for several years.
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2/18/2017 - Ultimatewinekick_Andreas wrote: 91 Points
Tasted from the tank right before bottling.
17 months in neutral oak. 12,9%.
This is a rather fruit forward wine with young and slightly tart red fruit from strawberries and cherries, but also some herbal notes and ginger.The acidity is vibrant and very good. This wine needs some time to wind down but has good potential and will drink well rather soon.
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