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Tastings

Pinot Noir Tasting: California, Burgundy and South African Wines

Pinot Heavy



Kistler Cuvee Elizabeth 2009 A salty, saline quality that runs through the fruit in this powerful, structured wine.Waves of fruit crescendo on the explosive finish. This is a dazzling Pinot Noir, but it will require at least another year or two in bottles. Reviewed and rated by The Wine Advocate.

 

Sea Smoke  “Ten” Sta. Rita Hills 2005  “Ten is Sea Smoke’s biggest Pinot, a barrel selection chosen for sheer volume. It easily handles its 100% new oak coating. Needs decanting; even 15 minutes in the glass brought a unifying process, integrating the cedar and smoke with the explosive blackberry, cherry and chocolate fruit, and revealing the rich, dense, satiny texture.” Reviewed and rated by: 94 points Wine Enthusiast

 

 

Lucien le Moine Nuits St. Georges Les Vaucrains 2012-“The 2012 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains has a precise bouquet with superb tension – a bouquet that is already shimmering with anticipation! The palate has a supple effervescent entry, with orange peel and marmalade, and fine weight on the finish. Reviewed and rated by Robert Parker Wine Advocate.”

 

Nuits St George “Les Charmois” 2010 -“Bright and sleek, with a mix of herb, cherry, earth and iron flavors. Firm and linear in profile, exerting a tight grip on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2024”. Reviewed and rated by: Wine Spectator

 


Joseph Drouhin Clos Vougeot 2005
The 2005 Clos Vougeot from Drouhin’s two parcels in that famous cru, is much more earthy and less fine-grained than the majority of their wines from this vintage, but it exhibits impressive concentration. A bone meal-like meld of mineral and meat dominates the nose and suffuses the palate along with black raspberry, plum and cherry fruit accepted by faintly bitter fruit pit notes. This is quite full and rich, but without being heavy; overtly tannic and chewy, but without being coarse. A promising more tart than sweet juiciness of black fruit mingles with roasted meat and stony, chalky minerality in the finish. Reviewed and rated by: Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

 

Louis Jadot Latricieres Chambertin 2005A deep meatiness and pungent spiciness unite with sweet richness of fruit on the palate, leading to a staining intensity of bitter-sweet black cherry, licorice, meat juices and cassis in a full-throttle finish. Reviewed and rated by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

 

 


Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir-
The sublime 2010 Pinot Noir is aged for 10 months in oak, of which 44% was new and the remainder used. It has a ripe bouquet of redcurrant, strawberry and Morello that shows no signs of under-ripeness that Hamilton’s Pinots occasionally exhibit due to leaf-roll. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe  fleshy redcurrant and cranberry fruit that is underpinned by extremely fine tannins. This has wonderful build in the mouth and the finish is exuberant, almost feisty! This is an audacious Pinot Noir from one of South Africa’s top estates. Drink now-2020. Reviewed and rated by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

Pinot Light