PnP. Red fruits, cherry, strawberry, cassis, light cedar and floral aromas. Lots of flavor with red cherry, cassis, floral, subtle earth, and stems. Feminine character. Well balanced, good acidity with soft tannins in the long smooth finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still seemed young. Showed some reduction and took quite a bit of are to bring out some of that fruit. Very fine and Burgundian. I will wait a few years before opening another.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Short decant. Aromas of floral, red fruits, cherry, strawberry, cassis, and light cedar. Lots of flavor with red cherry, cassis, floral, subtle earth, whole stems. Feminine character. Beautiful balance with soft tannins in the long smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opens with a blue, cote de units nose. Mouthfeel is full and rich, finish medium long. Over time becomes a less dimensioned, savoury experience, I think that the oak or stems in the wine are overriding the fruit and acid tension to leave a full, syrupy mouth. I think this is a good 4 years from harmony and am going to leave any other bottles that I find in the cellar alone till 2026/7. Very nice, curious how it will evolve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruits with a savory meat smoke on the nose. The palate was more crunchy dark red foods, good tension and a hint of sandalwood. Drinking well today on pnp. Enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
30 minute slow ox. Nose: Very beautiful aromatics featuring lilacs and lavendar with assorted red fruits, cassis, and subtle cedar nuances. Really fantastic. Palate: Very lithe and feminine with traces of the whole stem inclusion, bing cherries, cassis, and hints of moss. Acid levels are just right. Finish is elegant yet lingering. A very solid and balanced effort by Jamie Kutch. Really like where this is in its evolution but still lots of life left so no rush for my final bottle. 91+ points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale ruby. Prominent aromas of red cherries, red plums, wood smoke, and lilacs. Bright fruit on the palate, spritzy acids, light tannins with a crisp bite. Light body, low alcohol (13%). Lovely with salmon cakes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holy whole cluster batman, but in a good way. Almost botanical on the nose with a touch of an additional earthy quality. Very unique. Almost rhubarb like on the palate. Really fun and interesting wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kutch Verticals--Trout Gulch, McDougall and Falstaff: Vertical (non-blind) of McDougall, 2010 -2021. We did not taste the 2011 (no one owned it) nor 2014 and 2018 (stupid COVID forced the owners to have to miss the tasting) and the 2021 was a tank sample that Jamie pulled for us and shipped down for the tasting (being bottled next week so it's the final composition). Floral. The ripeness and the intensity of the fruit is evident. The fruit shifts from the red/blue of the 2016, instead to an addition of black. A spicy note comes into this vintage too. It seems to me to show sweeter, and the only vintage where I found a cola note. Juicy like 2012 and 2015. My sense is now that the 2017 is going to be a shorter ager, and a riper version of McDougall. I have one left and I will put this onto the drink sooner list.
Pop and pour. Saved half of the bottle - Vacu-vin and refrigerated. Ruby color. Nose offers ripe strawberries,/red fruit with a wisp of sandalwood incense. Fresh earth/soil as well. on the palate, fresh red fruits and herbs. Bright and lively. Good acidity. Mid-palate notes of sandalwood and brown spice add depth. On first taste, I muttered to myself: Oh, this is good. There was such a lovely freshness to the wine. So inviting. And with more time, the depth of flavors -savory and ripe fruit - present themselves. So good.
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in a bit of flashy deliciousness, and almost miss the depth, the details. That happened with this bottle. Opened at 5 PM for a Zoom Happy Hour, I latched onto the pure red fruit, and just enjoyed the forward yumminess. I went back after dinner for a glass, and there was so much more there. Fresh earthy aromas, supporting structure, and a long, spice (cinnamon?) infused finish took this to an entirely different level. Hold or decant!
Finishing off a bottle originally coravined 5 months prior. Decanted for 60 minutes prior to sampling. In the glass aggressive aromas of lucious cherries, plums, and ripe strawberries erupt on the nose. The purity of fruit on the palate is a delight despite its youthfulness. This is a wonderful, rich wine of red cherries and dark plums followed by a less pleasant acidity. I fully expect the wine to mellow with time in the glass or aging. I don’t like to open Kutch McDougals prior to ~8 to 10 years of aging and this further supports my experiences. For a big wine still in its relative youth it probably could have used 3 hours of air before consumption. The quality is undeniable -- tastes very much like a 5-year-old Grand Cru Burgundy though lacking the Old World aromas. Personal preference will dictate when best to consume. Fully expect to score this wine higher given further age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind Tasting via Zoom--3/9: Opened last night for Zoom tasting, poured blind. I also chose to pair this against the 2018 Rivers Marie Platt to create contrast. The group was split between preferring the two wines. For me, I preferred the Kutch. For context, this was opened yesterday and I saved a few ounces for retasting today. What continues to stand out for me about the character of this wine is the aromatics. The whole cluster provides a perfumed note that lifts out of the glass, very floral. There is a red cherry, cranberry and red apple note, pure in tone, sitting within a medium weight palate. And even with the 24 hours of air, the structure persists, in part driven by the savory/herbal note of the stems and also a perceived mineral/tannin that gives the wine a beautiful structure. Whereas the Rivers-Marie Platt is clearly California in tone, I bet this wine could fool some palates as to origin, perhaps guessed as Burgundy. The weight, flavors and composition are all here. Finishes with a brushing of blue fruit and mineral. It's hard for me to pick whether I like Kutch Falstaff or Kutch McDougall more but in 2017, both plots really kick ass and Jamie has crafted two gorgeous wines that continue to drink well and show a long road of enjoyment ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My notes are eerily similar to those in the comment below, which is reassuring! Bright crimson. Scent of strawberry yoghurt hints at a richness that the palate confirms. With red fruit on the tongue there’s crunchy acidity—a reminder that it’s still a pup—and a faint rhubarb edge. Superb.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; USA (@ RW): Fresh red berries in the bouquet. Yoghurt. Aromatic. On the palate the same impressions, herbs and spices, a firm amount of sweetness, beautiful acidity and mild tannin. Still youthful and will probably win in complexity with some years of ageing. I don’t have enough experience with pinot noir from California to give a prediction of the drinking window. For now 91 – 92.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the first night, this was decanted and poured for consumption right away. Pours a medium to dark garnet and might be just a bit shut down currently. The green stems kind of lead the way here, with fruit and minerals in the background. On the palate this has red and blue fruit, fine tannin, and some pepper edge.
We drank this next to the 2018 (one year younger and definitely NOT shut down — totally open for business) Falstaff which is more elegant, more nuanced, and in perfect balance.
The McDougal is bold but absolutely not over-extracted or sweet like so many Cali Pinots. It’s Burgundian, with the interest of the unique terroir of McDougal. To us, only Kutch’s McDougal tastes like this.
92 now, with 94 likely in 9-12 months or so. A post-pandemic 94! Ha!
Fresh and delicious Pinot Noir aromas with leather and forest floor. Structured, concentrated and well balanced. Noticable, but fine tannins. Good acidity and a long finish. Everything is in place here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful elegance and a solid pairing with a smoked port tenderloin tonight. Old world restraint with a California sunshine. It actually reminded us of some of the Evesham Wood Pinot's of Oregon... which is definitely good. I got red fruits, like strawberry and cranberry with a strawberry cream bit. Admirable for the finesse with substance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Generous aromas of pinot berry, iron, hibiscus, wild vinegar, black pepper, and sourdough crust. Delicious sweet and sour fruit on the palate with a firm bi tter splash of orange rind at the back. Lovely with tarte tatin.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We had a bottle of this last weekend, which was poured blind. It reminded me how much I love this vintage of McDougall. So, decided to open another one yesterday and it again showed fantastic. Same red and blue fruits--cranberry, blueberry and red apple. The weight on these continue to show with a medium level, with the red fruited acidity carrying the wine into the finish. This is a strong vintage for McDougall, on par with the 2013.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served blind. Fourth bottle since release, and this wine continues to hum along as a real charmer. I had put this on Anderson Valley, something in the Deep End, as it shows the red apple and blueberry that might for me suggest Kiser En Haut Vineyard. Wrong. But as I re-read my previous notes, I have to remember that McDougall shows these same qualities. The acidity is lively, adding a tang to the fruit, along with a touch of brown spice. Maybe it depends on the day, and sometimes I dig Falstaff more than McDougall, but based on how well the McDougall fruit continues to impress me for it's vivid flavors and acidity, I am starting to appreciate McDougall just a bit more. In sum, this bottle was flat out excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin sample of Falstaff and McDougall 2017 side by side. Aromatic nose with more density and power than Falstaff. Firm and broad shouldered with higher tannin and darker fruit. Higher in acidity as well. Finishes a bit shorter initially but improves with time in the glass. Very good wine that needs some more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
No new oak and all his wines are whole cluster. Tasting his line up and they are all a very light style PN. This is the most primary fruit - but even then lowish by the standards of other producers. Very herbal character, a little green. Not a huge fan
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, dark and ripe cherry. A very appealing balance between the juicy fruit and the lively acidity. Sits at the midpoint between new world ripeness and old-world acidity. Good but not amazing length. Very drinkable but not complex or intense. Relatively expensive for what it is in my view.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color. Very fragrant floral nose. Medium body. Bright red fruits of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. Very primary, juicy, and acidic. This is very young, yet has a wonderful underlying elegance. At least 5 years away from its initial drinking window. A wonderful Pinot very much in a classic Burgundian style with just a touch of California fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium rød, klar. Modne bringebær, røde krydder og bacontoner. Med litt tid i glasset kommer det en del tertiære aromaer mot sopp og trøffel (litt overrasket over det alderen tatt i betraktning). Medium syre, lett tørrende tanniner som er ganske flott integrert. Føles som en utrolig balansert vin som svinger i smakene gjennom nesten et minutt etter siste slurken. Nydelig vin som virkelig overrasket meg med en enorm kvalitet
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Darker than the Bohan, nice acid, cherry, a touch of cranberry, but again these wines just go down to easy @ 13% alc. Very "poundable" as Cousin Pudge has noted. Going down easy is a compliment to the smoothness of these Kutch Pinot's. Can see how BRIGGCAMPELL & FRANK MURRAY III love these wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3rd bottle to date. The previous two were part of tasting visits to see Jamie, which meant the wine was arrayed alongside other bottles. With this third bottle, it's just me, the wine and probably 3 days to enjoy it. So, for the first night, I opened this 2 hours ago and have been taking small pours. For this final pour of the night, I got a pretty good sense of the wine. In total, much like many of Jamie's wines that repeatedly I have enjoyed and gushed over, this is another one. The whole cluster seasons the nose with cracked spices and flowers. The flavors are framed by similar spices, a raspberry jam, bright cherry and red apple with a citrusy supporting acidity. The texture is plush, capturing all of the beautiful, pure fruit. This is a joy to drink on the first night but I'll reserve a final comment until at least tomorrow, to see what the wine does but for now, this is yet another bottle of gorgeous Kutch pinot....and for a second day perspective, what is at the center of the wine is the fruit: this is squarely about juicy blue and red fruits, with a lifting acidity and some light to moderate tannin and a finish of red apple. It's showy yet medium weighted and a purity that is really great to drink. Another Kutch winner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
July 2019 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): Drank as part of a 5 bottle flight of McDougall (2010 non-blind, with the 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018 tasted blind, along with a 2018 Bohan Graveyard that was put in as a ringer). On Day 1, this is floral, perfumey with purple fruit and spicy, too. A big wine with power, composed of dark strawberry, cola/root beer (?). Nothing to retaste on Day 2, unfortunately. I'd look to Brig Campbell's note (which should be around the same tasting date as mine) for some additional context.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
July 2018 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): This was the final 2017 I tried, which was from final blend, to be bottled in 2 weeks. As Dougie can be, this is generous and dark raspberry fruited with depth and intensity. Delicious acidity and a ripe watermelon to go along with the raspberry fruit. Whereas 2017 Falstaff is intense with energy and structure, this is intense with the darkness and powerful kind of fruit that is often Dougie. Dug this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/9/2024 - Jbird73 wrote: 90 Points
Very light in color with a strong nose of cherry and strawberry and all things red fruit!
Nice acidity but the nose was the best part for me.
It's still good but I was expecting and have enjoyed others from Kutch much more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2024 - gharter Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Red fruits, cherry, strawberry, cassis, light cedar and floral aromas. Lots of flavor with red cherry, cassis, floral, subtle earth, and stems. Feminine character. Well balanced, good acidity with soft tannins in the long smooth finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2023 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar notes to before. Savoury in style. Very well balanced and whilst drinking well, I think there is plenty of life ahead of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2023 - CADomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still seemed young. Showed some reduction and took quite a bit of are to bring out some of that fruit. Very fine and Burgundian. I will wait a few years before opening another.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2023 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Short decant. Aromas of floral, red fruits, cherry, strawberry, cassis, and light cedar. Lots of flavor with red cherry, cassis, floral, subtle earth, whole stems. Feminine character. Beautiful balance with soft tannins in the long smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2023 - braised wrote:
Opens with a blue, cote de units nose. Mouthfeel is full and rich, finish medium long. Over time becomes a less dimensioned, savoury experience, I think that the oak or stems in the wine are overriding the fruit and acid tension to leave a full, syrupy mouth. I think this is a good 4 years from harmony and am going to leave any other bottles that I find in the cellar alone till 2026/7. Very nice, curious how it will evolve.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2023 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite Burgundian in style. Really nicely balanced. Still has plenty of life ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2022 - Rgentile wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruits with a savory meat smoke on the nose. The palate was more crunchy dark red foods, good tension and a hint of sandalwood. Drinking well today on pnp. Enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2022 - The Wine Write Likes this wine:
Gorgeous, savory aromatics. Fresh raspberry and strawberry fruit, lively texture, and a nice, long finish. Hitting all its marks now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2022 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
30 minute slow ox. Nose: Very beautiful aromatics featuring lilacs and lavendar with assorted red fruits, cassis, and subtle cedar nuances. Really fantastic. Palate: Very lithe and feminine with traces of the whole stem inclusion, bing cherries, cassis, and hints of moss. Acid levels are just right. Finish is elegant yet lingering. A very solid and balanced effort by Jamie Kutch. Really like where this is in its evolution but still lots of life left so no rush for my final bottle. 91+ points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pale ruby. Prominent aromas of red cherries, red plums, wood smoke, and lilacs. Bright fruit on the palate, spritzy acids, light tannins with a crisp bite. Light body, low alcohol (13%). Lovely with salmon cakes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2022 - yeti575rider wrote: 93 Points
Holy whole cluster batman, but in a good way. Almost botanical on the nose with a touch of an additional earthy quality. Very unique. Almost rhubarb like on the palate. Really fun and interesting wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Kutch Verticals--Trout Gulch, McDougall and Falstaff: Vertical (non-blind) of McDougall, 2010 -2021. We did not taste the 2011 (no one owned it) nor 2014 and 2018 (stupid COVID forced the owners to have to miss the tasting) and the 2021 was a tank sample that Jamie pulled for us and shipped down for the tasting (being bottled next week so it's the final composition). Floral. The ripeness and the intensity of the fruit is evident. The fruit shifts from the red/blue of the 2016, instead to an addition of black. A spicy note comes into this vintage too. It seems to me to show sweeter, and the only vintage where I found a cola note. Juicy like 2012 and 2015. My sense is now that the 2017 is going to be a shorter ager, and a riper version of McDougall. I have one left and I will put this onto the drink sooner list.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/25/2021 - t_moderne wrote: 95 Points
Pop and pour. Saved half of the bottle - Vacu-vin and refrigerated.
Ruby color.
Nose offers ripe strawberries,/red fruit with a wisp of sandalwood incense. Fresh earth/soil as well.
on the palate, fresh red fruits and herbs. Bright and lively. Good acidity.
Mid-palate notes of sandalwood and brown spice add depth.
On first taste, I muttered to myself: Oh, this is good. There was such a lovely freshness to the wine. So inviting. And with more time, the depth of flavors -savory and ripe fruit - present themselves.
So good.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/27/2021 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in a bit of flashy deliciousness, and almost miss the depth, the details. That happened with this bottle. Opened at 5 PM for a Zoom Happy Hour, I latched onto the pure red fruit, and just enjoyed the forward yumminess. I went back after dinner for a glass, and there was so much more there. Fresh earthy aromas, supporting structure, and a long, spice (cinnamon?) infused finish took this to an entirely different level. Hold or decant!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
5/8/2021 - tet@tinderholt.com wrote: 92 Points
Smell of cherry and red berries. Taste cherry and oak and berries
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2021 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Finishing off a bottle originally coravined 5 months prior. Decanted for 60 minutes prior to sampling. In the glass aggressive aromas of lucious cherries, plums, and ripe strawberries erupt on the nose. The purity of fruit on the palate is a delight despite its youthfulness. This is a wonderful, rich wine of red cherries and dark plums followed by a less pleasant acidity. I fully expect the wine to mellow with time in the glass or aging. I don’t like to open Kutch McDougals prior to ~8 to 10 years of aging and this further supports my experiences. For a big wine still in its relative youth it probably could have used 3 hours of air before consumption. The quality is undeniable -- tastes very much like a 5-year-old Grand Cru Burgundy though lacking the Old World aromas. Personal preference will dictate when best to consume. Fully expect to score this wine higher given further age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Blind Tasting via Zoom--3/9: Opened last night for Zoom tasting, poured blind. I also chose to pair this against the 2018 Rivers Marie Platt to create contrast. The group was split between preferring the two wines. For me, I preferred the Kutch. For context, this was opened yesterday and I saved a few ounces for retasting today. What continues to stand out for me about the character of this wine is the aromatics. The whole cluster provides a perfumed note that lifts out of the glass, very floral. There is a red cherry, cranberry and red apple note, pure in tone, sitting within a medium weight palate. And even with the 24 hours of air, the structure persists, in part driven by the savory/herbal note of the stems and also a perceived mineral/tannin that gives the wine a beautiful structure. Whereas the Rivers-Marie Platt is clearly California in tone, I bet this wine could fool some palates as to origin, perhaps guessed as Burgundy. The weight, flavors and composition are all here. Finishes with a brushing of blue fruit and mineral. It's hard for me to pick whether I like Kutch Falstaff or Kutch McDougall more but in 2017, both plots really kick ass and Jamie has crafted two gorgeous wines that continue to drink well and show a long road of enjoyment ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2021 - rc@ughey wrote: 91 Points
Red-fruited, spiced, and lively -- with sneaky concentration and minerality. Very tasty. I suspect this will improve in the intermediate term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2021 - Colemanballs Likes this wine: 93 Points
My notes are eerily similar to those in the comment below, which is reassuring! Bright crimson. Scent of strawberry yoghurt hints at a richness that the palate confirms. With red fruit on the tongue there’s crunchy acidity—a reminder that it’s still a pup—and a faint rhubarb edge. Superb.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2020 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; USA (@ RW): Fresh red berries in the bouquet. Yoghurt. Aromatic. On the palate the same impressions, herbs and spices, a firm amount of sweetness, beautiful acidity and mild tannin. Still youthful and will probably win in complexity with some years of ageing. I don’t have enough experience with pinot noir from California to give a prediction of the drinking window. For now 91 – 92.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2020 - WineGold wrote: 92 Points
On the first night, this was decanted and poured for consumption right away. Pours a medium to dark garnet and might be just a bit shut down currently. The green stems kind of lead the way here, with fruit and minerals in the background. On the palate this has red and blue fruit, fine tannin, and some pepper edge.
We drank this next to the 2018 (one year younger and definitely NOT shut down — totally open for business) Falstaff which is more elegant, more nuanced, and in perfect balance.
The McDougal is bold but absolutely not over-extracted or sweet like so many Cali Pinots. It’s Burgundian, with the interest of the unique terroir of McDougal. To us, only Kutch’s McDougal tastes like this.
92 now, with 94 likely in 9-12 months or so. A post-pandemic 94! Ha!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/14/2020 - Rgentile wrote: 92 Points
Splash decant...This was great and a pleasure to drink even if young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2020 - AudunG wrote: 93 Points
Fresh and delicious Pinot Noir aromas with leather and forest floor. Structured, concentrated and well balanced. Noticable, but fine tannins. Good acidity and a long finish. Everything is in place here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2020 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful elegance and a solid pairing with a smoked port tenderloin tonight. Old world restraint with a California sunshine. It actually reminded us of some of the Evesham Wood Pinot's of Oregon... which is definitely good. I got red fruits, like strawberry and cranberry with a strawberry cream bit. Admirable for the finesse with substance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Generous aromas of pinot berry, iron, hibiscus, wild vinegar, black pepper, and sourdough crust. Delicious sweet and sour fruit on the palate with a firm bi tter splash of orange rind at the back. Lovely with tarte tatin.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
We had a bottle of this last weekend, which was poured blind. It reminded me how much I love this vintage of McDougall. So, decided to open another one yesterday and it again showed fantastic. Same red and blue fruits--cranberry, blueberry and red apple. The weight on these continue to show with a medium level, with the red fruited acidity carrying the wine into the finish. This is a strong vintage for McDougall, on par with the 2013.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Served blind. Fourth bottle since release, and this wine continues to hum along as a real charmer. I had put this on Anderson Valley, something in the Deep End, as it shows the red apple and blueberry that might for me suggest Kiser En Haut Vineyard. Wrong. But as I re-read my previous notes, I have to remember that McDougall shows these same qualities. The acidity is lively, adding a tang to the fruit, along with a touch of brown spice. Maybe it depends on the day, and sometimes I dig Falstaff more than McDougall, but based on how well the McDougall fruit continues to impress me for it's vivid flavors and acidity, I am starting to appreciate McDougall just a bit more. In sum, this bottle was flat out excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2020 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Coravin sample of Falstaff and McDougall 2017 side by side.
Aromatic nose with more density and power than Falstaff. Firm and broad shouldered with higher tannin and darker fruit. Higher in acidity as well. Finishes a bit shorter initially but improves with time in the glass. Very good wine that needs some more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2020 - DonDon wrote: 90 Points
No new oak and all his wines are whole cluster. Tasting his line up and they are all a very light style PN. This is the most primary fruit - but even then lowish by the standards of other producers. Very herbal character, a little green. Not a huge fan
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2020 - tmagsmaken wrote: 90 Points
Pall Mall 67 Virtual Tasting
On the nose, dark and ripe cherry. A very appealing balance between the juicy fruit and the lively acidity. Sits at the midpoint between new world ripeness and old-world acidity. Good but not amazing length.
Very drinkable but not complex or intense. Relatively expensive for what it is in my view.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2020 - djarcara Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Very fragrant floral nose. Medium body. Bright red fruits of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. Very primary, juicy, and acidic. This is very young, yet has a wonderful underlying elegance. At least 5 years away from its initial drinking window. A wonderful Pinot very much in a classic Burgundian style with just a touch of California fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2020 - zinnut wrote: 93 Points
I love this wine. I agree with everything Frank has posted. Great notes and thank you. It is a delicious wine that is very hard not to pound down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2020 - karlsenrm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium rød, klar. Modne bringebær, røde krydder og bacontoner. Med litt tid i glasset kommer det en del tertiære aromaer mot sopp og trøffel (litt overrasket over det alderen tatt i betraktning). Medium syre, lett tørrende tanniner som er ganske flott integrert. Føles som en utrolig balansert vin som svinger i smakene gjennom nesten et minutt etter siste slurken. Nydelig vin som virkelig overrasket meg med en enorm kvalitet
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2020 - buymoreredsdrinkmorewhites wrote:
Darker than the Bohan, nice acid, cherry, a touch of cranberry, but again these wines just go down to easy @ 13% alc. Very "poundable" as Cousin Pudge has noted. Going down easy is a compliment to the smoothness of these Kutch Pinot's. Can see how BRIGGCAMPELL & FRANK MURRAY III love these wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
3rd bottle to date. The previous two were part of tasting visits to see Jamie, which meant the wine was arrayed alongside other bottles. With this third bottle, it's just me, the wine and probably 3 days to enjoy it. So, for the first night, I opened this 2 hours ago and have been taking small pours. For this final pour of the night, I got a pretty good sense of the wine. In total, much like many of Jamie's wines that repeatedly I have enjoyed and gushed over, this is another one. The whole cluster seasons the nose with cracked spices and flowers. The flavors are framed by similar spices, a raspberry jam, bright cherry and red apple with a citrusy supporting acidity. The texture is plush, capturing all of the beautiful, pure fruit. This is a joy to drink on the first night but I'll reserve a final comment until at least tomorrow, to see what the wine does but for now, this is yet another bottle of gorgeous Kutch pinot....and for a second day perspective, what is at the center of the wine is the fruit: this is squarely about juicy blue and red fruits, with a lifting acidity and some light to moderate tannin and a finish of red apple. It's showy yet medium weighted and a purity that is really great to drink. Another Kutch winner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2019 - brigcampbell wrote:
Big fruit driven wine with rhubarb and sassafras. Ripe Bing cherry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
July 2019 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): Drank as part of a 5 bottle flight of McDougall (2010 non-blind, with the 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018 tasted blind, along with a 2018 Bohan Graveyard that was put in as a ringer). On Day 1, this is floral, perfumey with purple fruit and spicy, too. A big wine with power, composed of dark strawberry, cola/root beer (?). Nothing to retaste on Day 2, unfortunately. I'd look to Brig Campbell's note (which should be around the same tasting date as mine) for some additional context.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2018 - brigcampbell wrote:
Slutty wine. Is that a complement? Should be. LOL This is lush, playful, and fruity. I get a raspberry razzle note if you know that particular treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
July 2018 Kutch Visit (Jamie's Pad in SFO): This was the final 2017 I tried, which was from final blend, to be bottled in 2 weeks. As Dougie can be, this is generous and dark raspberry fruited with depth and intensity. Delicious acidity and a ripe watermelon to go along with the raspberry fruit. Whereas 2017 Falstaff is intense with energy and structure, this is intense with the darkness and powerful kind of fruit that is often Dougie. Dug this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment