| California Pinot Noir Tasting Report |
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I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night then
drinking Pinot Noir with a great group of friends.
California Pinot Noir that is! We had a line-up from all
over the state both north and central areas. We also had
an all-star line up of food, but unfortunately we polished it
all off before everyone showed up.
We had a first at this tasting. We had two bottles that
were in bad condition and another one that was well on its
way to going bad. Since we tasted nine total, that meant
there were really only six different ones battling it out for
the top honors. The remaining six bottles fell into either
the sleek, silky and sexy category of they were straight up
fruit bombs. As you will see, some definitely prefer one
style over the other.
We also had a first for me. I have never encountered a
Pinot Noir wine that I felt the need to decant, but such
was the case with the Belle Glos Pinot. It was as thick as
molasses and reminded me a lot of a Pinot version of
Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon. Huge! The decanter
allowed this wine to perform some magic as it turned into
the run away hit of the evening.
Another first for this particular web page is that I decided
to list each staff members preference order. In other
words, the order in which they liked the wines from first to
last. (see the bottom of this page) I did this so that you
could see the disparity among us and should you have
tasted some of these wines yourself, you could see who's
taste you agree with most. I myself love Burgundy wines
and those tend to be sleek, silky and earthy and my top
three picks very readily demonstrate this fact.
After the tasting we sat outside on the patio. I happened
to notice something moving on the other side of Sheree's
fence so I quickly opened the gate to find a half-starved
stray dog. He was going from trash can to trash can in the
alley looking for food. We fed him some left over chicken
to which he gobbled up in a hurry. He was not wearing a
collar or any identification tags and was very thin.
Although we all fell in love with him, it was Forrest that
decided to take him home. I'm sure he was grateful. We
thought it was only fitting that we named the stray dog,
what else? Pinot!
drinking Pinot Noir with a great group of friends.
California Pinot Noir that is! We had a line-up from all
over the state both north and central areas. We also had
an all-star line up of food, but unfortunately we polished it
all off before everyone showed up.
We had a first at this tasting. We had two bottles that
were in bad condition and another one that was well on its
way to going bad. Since we tasted nine total, that meant
there were really only six different ones battling it out for
the top honors. The remaining six bottles fell into either
the sleek, silky and sexy category of they were straight up
fruit bombs. As you will see, some definitely prefer one
style over the other.
We also had a first for me. I have never encountered a
Pinot Noir wine that I felt the need to decant, but such
was the case with the Belle Glos Pinot. It was as thick as
molasses and reminded me a lot of a Pinot version of
Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon. Huge! The decanter
allowed this wine to perform some magic as it turned into
the run away hit of the evening.
Another first for this particular web page is that I decided
to list each staff members preference order. In other
words, the order in which they liked the wines from first to
last. (see the bottom of this page) I did this so that you
could see the disparity among us and should you have
tasted some of these wines yourself, you could see who's
taste you agree with most. I myself love Burgundy wines
and those tend to be sleek, silky and earthy and my top
three picks very readily demonstrate this fact.
After the tasting we sat outside on the patio. I happened
to notice something moving on the other side of Sheree's
fence so I quickly opened the gate to find a half-starved
stray dog. He was going from trash can to trash can in the
alley looking for food. We fed him some left over chicken
to which he gobbled up in a hurry. He was not wearing a
collar or any identification tags and was very thin.
Although we all fell in love with him, it was Forrest that
decided to take him home. I'm sure he was grateful. We
thought it was only fitting that we named the stray dog,
what else? Pinot!
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| Belle Glos - Clark & Telephone Vineyard 2002 - Santa Barbara, CA |
Notes – Green, herbal & earthy with
breathing a bit, it opens up to more
complex aromas of mocha/cocoa that
under lie the herbaceous notes. A great
big huge and syrupy Pinot that needs
more time in the bottle, I'd say three
years. Who knew there was a bit of
Burgundy, France in California?
Comments – When we first opened this
bottle up, it was a little on the funky side.
It became clear to me that this needed to
breathe a bit before we could give it any
real consideration. Like I said, at first it
was a little funky and overwhelming and
the group was not impressed. However,
after just thirty minutes in the decanter,
this wine became a superstar! Wow!
breathing a bit, it opens up to more
complex aromas of mocha/cocoa that
under lie the herbaceous notes. A great
big huge and syrupy Pinot that needs
more time in the bottle, I'd say three
years. Who knew there was a bit of
Burgundy, France in California?
Comments – When we first opened this
bottle up, it was a little on the funky side.
It became clear to me that this needed to
breathe a bit before we could give it any
real consideration. Like I said, at first it
was a little funky and overwhelming and
the group was not impressed. However,
after just thirty minutes in the decanter,
this wine became a superstar! Wow!
| Score - A- |
| Price - $40.00 |
| Siduri - Gary's Vineyard 2002 - Santa Lucia Highlands, CA |
Notes – With a spice cabinet full of
flavors like cinnamon, cloves and pepper,
this over the top lush Pinot delivers
strawberries, raspberries and bing
cherries. What a big mouthfeel. If you
like big pinots, then this is your wine.
Comments – The Wine Spectator gave
this wine a score of "91", which is a little
higher than what we rated it. I do see
what they liked about it. There is
definitely a lot of substance to this wine.
To the best of my knowledge, Pinot Noir
is just about all Siduri makes and they
make several different Pinots from all
over the state of California and even
Oregon. Good stuff and approachable
now or you could cellar it for a couple of
years.
flavors like cinnamon, cloves and pepper,
this over the top lush Pinot delivers
strawberries, raspberries and bing
cherries. What a big mouthfeel. If you
like big pinots, then this is your wine.
Comments – The Wine Spectator gave
this wine a score of "91", which is a little
higher than what we rated it. I do see
what they liked about it. There is
definitely a lot of substance to this wine.
To the best of my knowledge, Pinot Noir
is just about all Siduri makes and they
make several different Pinots from all
over the state of California and even
Oregon. Good stuff and approachable
now or you could cellar it for a couple of
years.
| Score - B+ |
| Around - $42.00 |
| Hartford 2003 - Sonoma Coast |
Notes – The produce truck just pulled up
and there was a surplus of strawberries!
This big fruit bomb literally explodes red
fruits all over your palate. The wine
appears to be in balance with acidity and
fruit, but it is a bit one dimensional in its
flavor profile and the finish is a bit short.
Comments – There are two schools of
preference in Pinot Noir. Either you like
the big and the fruity or you like the
earthy, silky and finesse style. If you like
big and fruity, don't hesitate to put this
Pinot in your collection.
and there was a surplus of strawberries!
This big fruit bomb literally explodes red
fruits all over your palate. The wine
appears to be in balance with acidity and
fruit, but it is a bit one dimensional in its
flavor profile and the finish is a bit short.
Comments – There are two schools of
preference in Pinot Noir. Either you like
the big and the fruity or you like the
earthy, silky and finesse style. If you like
big and fruity, don't hesitate to put this
Pinot in your collection.
| Score - B+ |
| Around - $25.00 |
| Chateau Ste. Jean 2003 - Sonoma, CA |
Notes – Grandma has got the churn out
and she is making butter again! Lots of it,
as in buttery malolactic fermentation
flavors and vanilla from oak that screams
"I was made in California!". On the
palate this wine is a little herbal with some
evergreen accents and some cherry fruit
thrown in for good measure.
Comments - This is would be the Pinot
Noir version of what you typically think of
as the quintessential Californian
Chardonnay. Lots of butter and vanilla. I
had it alone earlier in the week and
thought it was pretty good, but next to the
rest it wasn't my thing. Some folks will
dig this wine because it is what they are
familiar with.
and she is making butter again! Lots of it,
as in buttery malolactic fermentation
flavors and vanilla from oak that screams
"I was made in California!". On the
palate this wine is a little herbal with some
evergreen accents and some cherry fruit
thrown in for good measure.
Comments - This is would be the Pinot
Noir version of what you typically think of
as the quintessential Californian
Chardonnay. Lots of butter and vanilla. I
had it alone earlier in the week and
thought it was pretty good, but next to the
rest it wasn't my thing. Some folks will
dig this wine because it is what they are
familiar with.
| Score - B+ |
| About - $14.00 |
| Talley Vineyards - Arroyo Grande Valley 2003 - San Luis Obispo, CA |
Notes – I must be in the botanical gardens
because I am surrounded by rose petals
and violets. There must be a cherry tree
and strawberry patch close by because I
can smell those too! Very intense cherry
flavors with cinnamon and licorice that
form this wines complex layers and all of
this is put together with very good balance
and a nice long finish.
Comments – I thought this was a jewel in
the rough. Very original and very
charming. Probably a great food wine with
all those flavors at its arsenal. I'm not
entirely sure why this didn't score higher
with everyone else.
because I am surrounded by rose petals
and violets. There must be a cherry tree
and strawberry patch close by because I
can smell those too! Very intense cherry
flavors with cinnamon and licorice that
form this wines complex layers and all of
this is put together with very good balance
and a nice long finish.
Comments – I thought this was a jewel in
the rough. Very original and very
charming. Probably a great food wine with
all those flavors at its arsenal. I'm not
entirely sure why this didn't score higher
with everyone else.
| Score - B |
| Price - $29.00 |
| Melville Estate 2004 - Lampoc, CA |
Notes – Columbus is back from the brave
new world and he has brought back with
him a treasure trove of exotic spices.
Some of the prizes of the day would be
cloves, cinnamon sticks and allspice.
There are plenty of cherries and
cranberries to be had by all, but this wine
is a little hot from high alcohol. Nice
finish!
Comments – Another unique and original
Pinot, this was quite different from most of
the others. Not a fruit bomb, this pinot
walks to the beat of its own drum. I can
imagine this being a great food wine with
some herbal roasted meats. It may be a
bit too harsh for more delicate meats like
fish though.
new world and he has brought back with
him a treasure trove of exotic spices.
Some of the prizes of the day would be
cloves, cinnamon sticks and allspice.
There are plenty of cherries and
cranberries to be had by all, but this wine
is a little hot from high alcohol. Nice
finish!
Comments – Another unique and original
Pinot, this was quite different from most of
the others. Not a fruit bomb, this pinot
walks to the beat of its own drum. I can
imagine this being a great food wine with
some herbal roasted meats. It may be a
bit too harsh for more delicate meats like
fish though.
| Score - B |
| Price - $29.00 |
| Not Rated |
| Charles Krug 2002 - Carneros, CA |
Notes – Like a birthday card for someone
that is officially over 40, this headline
screams "over the hill". Herbaceous and
green, unbalanced and tart this wine is
extremely thin and out of whack. It would
Notesscreams
Comments – I'm not sure if this a product
of storage issues or just a bad bottle, but
this was a vast underachiever. I would
imagine that Pinot Noir is not what
Charles Krug hangs their hat on. They
strike me as more of the Napa Varietals
winery with more of a focus on Cabernet
Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc being
their fortet!
that is officially over 40, this headline
screams "over the hill". Herbaceous and
green, unbalanced and tart this wine is
extremely thin and out of whack. It would
Notesscreams
Comments – I'm not sure if this a product
of storage issues or just a bad bottle, but
this was a vast underachiever. I would
imagine that Pinot Noir is not what
Charles Krug hangs their hat on. They
strike me as more of the Napa Varietals
winery with more of a focus on Cabernet
Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc being
their fortet!
| Price - $20.00 |
| Francis Coppola - Silver Label Diamond Collection 2003 - Oakville, CA |
Notes – I smell raisins and that could only
mean two things. Either this is a Port, or
this wine is cooked! Unfortunately the
label says it a "Pinot Noir" and therefore
I'll have to assume it is indeed not a Port.
Comments – I was the only one that took
the time to rate this wine. Everyone else
deemed it undrinkable! It makes me
think since this wine and the Krug were
brought by the same people that perhaps
both of these bottles were exposed to
extreme heat at some point in their lives.
I'll defer to them for that answer.
mean two things. Either this is a Port, or
this wine is cooked! Unfortunately the
label says it a "Pinot Noir" and therefore
I'll have to assume it is indeed not a Port.
Comments – I was the only one that took
the time to rate this wine. Everyone else
deemed it undrinkable! It makes me
think since this wine and the Krug were
brought by the same people that perhaps
both of these bottles were exposed to
extreme heat at some point in their lives.
I'll defer to them for that answer.
| Price - $17.00 |
| Fess Parker 2000 - Santa Barbara, CA |
Notes – The funeral for this bottle of Fess
Parker Pinot Noir will be held on
Thursday, September 15th at 10:00am. It
will be an open casket and the family has
invited everyone to attend. This Pinot
died at the premature age of five due to a
faulty cork. Donations to the National
Screw Cap Society will be encouraged by
the Parkers and friends.
Comments – I could not comment on
whether or not this wine would be good or
not. It was too far gone. When I opened
the bottle, the cork was juicy and soft and
did not do one single thing to keep oxygen
from getting into the bottle.
Parker Pinot Noir will be held on
Thursday, September 15th at 10:00am. It
will be an open casket and the family has
invited everyone to attend. This Pinot
died at the premature age of five due to a
faulty cork. Donations to the National
Screw Cap Society will be encouraged by
the Parkers and friends.
Comments – I could not comment on
whether or not this wine would be good or
not. It was too far gone. When I opened
the bottle, the cork was juicy and soft and
did not do one single thing to keep oxygen
from getting into the bottle.
| Not Rated |
| Price $20.00 |
Shane's Preference Order
- Belle Glos
- Talley/Melville
- Siduri
- Hartford
- Chateau Ste. Jean
- Krug/Coppola
- Fess Parker
Forrest's Preference Order
- Siduri/Belle Glos
- Talley/Hartford
- Melville
- Krug
- Coppola/Fess Parker
Cheryl's Preference Order
- Hartford
- Chateau Ste. Jean
- Talley
- Belle Glos
- Melville
- Siduri
- Krug
- Coppola/Fess Parker
Megan's Preference Order
- Chateau Ste. Jean
- Hartford
- Belle Glos
- Siduri
- Melville
- Talley
- Krug
- Coppola/Fess Parker
Alicia's Preference Order
- Siduri
- Belle Glos
- Melville/Ch. Ste.
Jean - Talley
- Krug
- Fess Parker/Coppola
- Didn't rate the
Hartford
Todd's Preference Order
- Hartford
- Chateau Ste. Jean
- Belle Glos
- Melville/Siduri
- Talley
- Krug
- Coppola/Fess Parker
Chris's Preference Order
- Melville/Siduri
- Chateau Ste. Jean
- Belle Glos
- Talley
- Hartford
- Krug
- Coppola/Fess Parker
Sheree's Preference Order
- Belle Glos
- Talley
- Chateau Ste. Jean
- Hartford
- Siduri
- Krug
- Coppola/Fess Parker
| Score - B- |
| Score - B- |