Blind Tasting, NZ Pinots

Went to Blind Tasting, Theme was Pinot Noir from New Zealand, and there was one non-Pinot non-New Zealand, very interesting to say the least.  First of all the Morgon Cru Beaujolais well made, and since I was not getting any bubble gum notes I enjoyed it, could see it totally passing for a Light bodies Pinot Noir, especially with some Entry Level NZ Pinots.  


New Zealand Pinot Noir, Well Made, good quality, at every price point they are tasty, its almost like you can not go wrong with them.  I almost feel comfortable just grabbing a random one off the shelf and not worrying about it being bad





YVRWINE - THE HEARTBREAK GRAPE - CENTRAL OTAGO - Scott Landon Antiques (4/19/2010)
A Pinot Noir Tasting of NZ, Focusing on Central Otago, One Non NZ Wine was snuck in. This was a Blind Tasting Format

Pre-Game

Pre Wine, Not Tasted Blind really good way to start off a tasting

• 2006 Pyramid Valley Riesling Lebecca Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury
  Pale Lemon, Aromas of Nuts, Ripe Pear and Good ole Petrol, On the Palate Lemon, Petrol, Apple, Very Round, Med Body, Med Sweet. Good Balance just a beautiful wine great acidity just makes this wine not taste super sweet good thing (90 pts.)

• 2007 Flying Kiwi Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island
  Clear, Pale+ Ruby, Aromas of Ham, Richness, Opening up with some Minty, Steamy, Bark. On the Palate, nice Tart Red Fruit Cranberry/Sour Cherry, Med+ Acid, Opening up with Some Earthiness, Minty.
  
  Conclusion, this did amazingly well after opening up for an hour or so, and the price not to shabby (88 pts.)
• 2008 Marcel Lapierre Morgon - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon
  Clear Ruby, Aromas Closed, A little ripe fruit coming through, Palate, Kirsh Liquer, Dash Astringent [Good] opening up with Cherrys and Strawberrys.
  
  Conclusion I totally enjoyed this wine, I would of not guessed Gamay I know there were some others at the tasting getting the banana/bubble gum notes which I would of hated and would of guessed Beaujolais but I was not picking up any of those (89 pts.)
• 2006 Pyramid Valley Pinot Noir Eaton Family Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Omaka Valley
  Aroma of Campbell Alphabet Soup, Spice, Bready. On the Palate Tomato Stalk, Veg, Red Cherry, Med Body, Med+Acid, Big cherry a funny balance tho
  
  Conclusion I found the breadiness of the wine to much to truly enjoy, with so air the Balance did harmonize but a bready pinot (85 pts.)
• 2007 Rippon Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka
  Aroma a sweetness of rich fruit, meaty, Gamey, Mint, A Dash of Oak in Balance. On the Palate Cherry Skin, Meaty, Good Acid, Good Balance. This opens up Beautifully and was my WOTN
  
  Conclusion, needs air then its just beautiful and maybe a little cheese but oh so good [89-91] (91 pts.)
• 2006 Felton Road Pinot Noir Calvert - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
  Aroma of Watermelon Peel, Veg [Tom Stalk] Cabbage. On the Palate med Body, High Acid, High toned fruit, floral, spice, sweet ripe fruit.
  
  Conclusion, a good wine i found when it opened up a became a little to "sweet" the ripeness just came through, (89 pts.)

Yeah I like Pinot, and NZ Pinot is pretty good too, all the wines were good beside each other so it was hard to find that stood out as being number but there were some
Posted from CellarTracker

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.) • Extraordinary (96-100 points) • Outstanding (90-95) • Very Good to Excellent (85-89) • Good (80-84) • Average (75-79) • Below average (70-74) • Avoid (50-70)

On Deals, plus Review NZ Pinot

So with this Recession happening world wide we all know the prices are dropping/going on sale, especially in the wine world.  Lots of article on the sale of $50+ California wine not really moving at all. And the start up of Cinderella Wine we can see what type of deals are out there and what wines are not selling well.

In BC here we are under a government run liquor board, agent import but can't discount too much its just illegal [max 30%] but the LBD can do what they want.[well they are government they always do what they want].  Via Twitter I found out that one of the Stores had a bunch of clearance wines up to 50% off, one being a NZ Pinot Noir I had at a tasting which I loved, 2008 Delta Vineyard Pinot Noir.  So I got down there as fast as I could, found out it was '06.  I was a little bummed since I had not tasted the vintage, but bought 6 bottles anyways [Regular 27.99 on for 19.59 which btw if you are not from BC is Cheap] Plused grabbed a Valpolicella, and a Reserva Spanish 2000 vintage.

The Stats:
Delta Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir

13.0%
Marlborough, New Zealand
100% "New" Dijon Clones
Grown on Clay Soils, 5 Day Cold Soak

The Eye:
Medium Plus Intensity, Ruby,

The Nose:
Day 1
Dark and Rich off the bat, Some Kirsch Liquor, Stawberry, Milk Chocolate
Day 2
Now opening up with Stewed Strawberry/Rhubarb,  Mild Pepper, Sweet Mushrooms

The Mouth:
Day 1
Red Fruit [Cranberry/Strawberry], Floral, Fungal, Dash of Creaminess
Day 2
Stewed Strawberry/Rhubarb

Overall/Reflection:
I like this wine, I really have a soft spot for New Zealand Pinot Noir, Marlborough and Central Otago, I did find this a touch on the "big" side for me but still delicious and am glad I have two more bottles to savour

Score: 88

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Naramata Wine Ass. [Okanagan, East Lake, on Bench]

Naramata Wine Associations Presents there twice? Annual Event. These are Okanagan Wines trying to Distinguish themselves from the rest of BC, Which I find cool and I think they are doing it. You could call this the "Napa" of BC wines, but being a cooler climate... Really good wines coming out of the area


The quality on all these wines were pretty high. Definitely the best of the Area as a group.

2006 Blue Mountain Pinot Noir Stripe Label - Review

Bottle 2 out of 12, Decided to open this with dinner as my wine fridge is getting low on wines and for dinner there was some Chicken, Fresh Made Pesto (Garlic, Basil were from the farmers market mmmm and didn't have any nuts so I had to grab some of the harder nuts from the Costco Mixed Nut Container Sitting in the Cupboard) Roasted Potatoes (also from the farmers market, water levels were high). Pinot Noir would make a good match and I wanted to take some notes and see how it is doing.

And it is doing just fine, tasty, good acidity,

The Stats:
Blue Mountain Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir Stripe Label [aka Reserve]
13.5% Alc
Okanagan Falls, BC, Canada


The Eye:
Colour is Purple Red, A Dark Pinot Noir, but can still see your fingers

The Nose:
Day1: Fruit + Rubber
Day2: Eathy, Sweet Cherry hint of Smoke

The Mouth:
Day1: Good fruit coming through on the red fruit side, little spice, really nice acidity, some tannins there, light body definitly a food wine, the fruit popped out even more with the Pesto
Day2: Earthy, Bright Acidity, Medium Body a Bitter Cranberry Skin action little aeration in the mouth brings out some sweetness very nice


Overall/Reflection:
Score: 90 A really well made wine, and that acidity just makes it so nice with food. Some people might be bother by acidity but hey this is a Cool Climate Pinot Noir its what ya get. Tasty tho

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Blue Mountain Pinot Noir STRIPE LABEL 2006!

Blue Mountain Vineyards, Considered a Cult Winery of the Okanagan. They make a really mean NV Sparkling Love it. I just recently joined their mailing list, and they had a release for their vintage bubbly and it was sold out within 24hrs. You can not go wrong with that. So I decided from that point once the Pinot Noir Stripe label was released Im buying a case no matter what.

Why The Pinot Noir your asking and not their stripe Chardonnay or Pinot Gris? First of all the Stripe Label is there top label. Ok that being said I've heard a lot of good, and have tried their regular Pinot Noir and its good.

The Stats:
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Ltd.
Pinot Noir 2006 Reserve [Stripe Label]
13.5% Alc
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan
100% Pinot Noir [17-22 yr/old vines]
yielding 45-50 hl/ha [2.8ton/acre aprox~]
750 Cases Produced for Mailing List and Local Restaurants (Already Sold out on website)
11 Months Maloactic Fermentation In Oak (Doesn't say if new or old)
$38.50 (Mailing List) more like 40-50 at private store 70-90 restaurant

The Look:
Pale Red Colour, Looking like a pinot noir, and they say on their wine makers notes that it was on skin for 15-20 days.

The Nose:
On the Nose you definitely get that old world gamey/fungal action hint of raspberries. but more leaning towards the game/fungal action.

The Taste:
In the mouth smooth but not silky but smooth, The Acid is at a good level that you know will go with food, The first taste is of Dried Sour Cherries, that sweetness you get from dried fruits. The opens up into more fruit of regular cherries and less sour-cherry brand.

Overall/Reflection:
I was much pleased with this wine, I received the tasting notes first and was concerned about 11months in Oak without knowing if they were new or old. Definitely don't get any over oakiness. Not Overly Complex but coming from a young wine region this is definitely one of the best Pinots from Okanagan I have tried to date. I like this, and if your into supporting the Okanagan Wine Region this is one you need to find and try.

Double Champagne Night

So one of my cooks at work entered this competition contest for the Provence, I told him if he won I would buy him a magnum of champagne. He Won I bought him a bottle of Alain Vesselle Cuvee St Eloi Brut A Bouzy - Grand Cru and then he said if he won he would buy a bottle of Dom Perignon, he ended up buy the 1995 Dom off our Wine list at work.

So To start we had the Alain Vesselle Cuvee St Eloi Brut A Bouzy - Grand Cru, has that Atypical Champagne nose of Cream Cheese Tartness, that Yeastiness. then the Taste was Green Apple (Malic Acid) Tartness lots and lots of acidity definitely not sweet. The Manager at the wine store I bought it said it was a light champagne and easy food pairing and one to start the night with, definitely was that tons of acidity.

1995 Dom Perignon (55% Chard, 45% Pinot Noir)
Aroma of a Nutty, Nutty Oil very strong, yeasty champagne atypical I pick up but this Nuttiness was so uniqiue and different kinda of cool
Taste of Pure Fruit, but so Balance so Light yet not boring we had a bottle (750ml) between like 9 people.


Champagne is Just so Cool.

Rhone Gang Tasting Part 2 (Red)

Part 2

Went to a Rhone Gang tasting event put on by Free House Wine and Spirits here in Vancouver, and tried a lot of Rhone Wines, lots of Viognier, Grenache, Syrahs. The wine makers were here as well pouring and talking about their wine which is really cool, If you ever get a chance to get to a tasting or event and the wine maker is there definitely go its worth it and its super fun.

Rodolphe de Pins of Chateau de Montfaucon
Louis Barruol of Chateau de St Cosme
Frederic Chaudiere of Chateau Pesquie

Rhone Reds defintitly have a Distictive Rhone Character, how to explain that I have no idea I am not that experienced. Yet.

Lets Start with Chateau Montfaucon

2006 'Comtesse Madeleine' Cotes du Rhone Rouge: A Young wine needs more time in the bottle to just settle down a TON of acidity bouncing in there like an energetic child.

1998 Cotes du Rhone: This is like Smooth Strawberry Juice going down, with a touch of acidity not a lot left but just enough, this wine just shows that a bottom level wine can age and gets better everything just mellows and becomes Delicious

2005 'Baron Louis' Cotes du Rhone: Violet Colour Taste of red fruit with acidity on the palate still a baby not as Energtic as the Comtesse Madeleine

2000 'Baron Louis': Aroma of Nutty Sherry very pleasant, with Cherry Juice, very Smooth very nice Very Delicious

2007 Monsineur Le Baron: Before I get into the notes this wine is made "Old Skool" way of basically just taking all the grapes in the vineyard (whatever variety they maybe) Putting them in a fermenting vat, and letting to their thing together with natural yeast. This wine has 15 Varietals Rhone, Including Viognier, Oban, Tempranillo[30year old vines in Rhone Madness I know]. Violet in Colour not Super Dark remember there is white wine in here maybe 5-10%. On the nose you do pick up the Syrah, the Cinnamon Bun nose I like to call it has that sweetness, and on the mouth its gentle and nice I mean its a 2007 and drinking very nicely.

Chateau Pesquie

2006 'Les Terrasses' Rouge: 70% Grenache 30% Syrah Taste of Apples and Very Dry Its wierd its a red wine and tsate like apples but Hey I calls them how I tastes them

2005 'La Quintessesce' Rouge: 80% Syrah 20% Grenache Dryer then the Les Terrasses and Bigger fills the mouth very nicely you can almost feel the difference that the ration of More syrah does but its not Syrah as a typical Warm Rhone, these are grown in southern Rhone but on a Mountain I think he said Elevation was 500ft atleast.

2006 'Artemia' Rouge: 50% 80year old Grenache, 50% 50year old Syrah. Aroma of Petrol [Nail Polish Variety] very mild tho] and this was with it not be decanted when I had it decanted it was different but I was basically drinking this becuase I felt this was the best wine here and was drinking and not taking notes. Taste of Red Fruit, Cherry Acidtiy very High, thought this should go with food very well, went and grabbed some blue cheese, creamy brie like cheese and both went extremly well.

Chateau Saint Cosme:

2007 Cotes du Rhone Rouge: 100% Syrah Aroma of Game and Grill Brick [A grill brick is what you use to clean your flattop in a restaurant it has a distictive smell almsot like a smelly beach]

2007 Gigondas: Taste of red fruit sweet and ripe, good acidity

2006 Gigondas Valbelle: 90% Grenache (sorry no notes)

2007 Gigondas Les Claux: 100% Grenache Taste of Sweet Black Tea was pleasant for sure

2006 Saint Joseph: Aroma of grill brick[see above] and strawberry taste of Fruit, nice Tannin Structure but almost smooth

2005 Chateauneuf-de-Pape: 50% Mourvedre Dry Tannins not a lot of fruit on the palate IMO this is a baby and should decant for along time or come back in a couple of years defintily high quality wine tho

2007 Cote Rotie: Aroma of Coffee[hint] syrup, green olives! Taste of Red Currant, red berries very red in the flavour profile in a good way a niec tartness with low aciity


The Rhone Gang

2007 Hold Up: 70% Pinot Noir 30% Grenache Taste and Aroma of Cherry on top of Cherry very approahable for everyone smooth and a hint of creamyness from the oak

2005 Wanted: Aroma is Rhone Typical, Taste of Sweet Cherry

Golden Mile Cellars "Black Arts Pinot Noir 2006" aka Road 13

First thing First Golden Mile Cellars is now called Road 13, and their Black Arts series turned into the Jackpot Series. [They wanted basically wanted the Golden Mile name to be for the area near Olive, Okanagan BC]. That being said there are a few bottle of this left at the BCLD (British Columbia Liquor Stores) and I recommend you buy it. Firstly its good and two they do not make this label/bottle anymore.

The label style of this bottle is really just awesome its classy, the new Jackpot series are eh ok, but these ones are nice I have a 05 Black Arts 5th Element and its just nice. So pick some of these up not alot left.

Also I did do a tasting of Road 13s new release back in October for a industry only tasting and must say they were all awesome (Not a big fan of the Honest John Red) Definitely a fan of the Jackpot Viognier, guys who I worked with really loved the Riesling.

Now onto the wine itself.

The stats:
Golden Mile Cellars (Now Road 13)
Pinot Noir 2006 Black Arts Series (Jackpot series is their top of the line now)
13.5% Alc
Oliver, British Columbia [aka Golden Mile, Okanagan]
The Look:

The colour is dark for a pinot noir it is from the South of Okanagan being the golden mile (Oliver) so it does get warm and alot of sun. A nice ruby red colour with a medium intensity (dark for a pinot noir)

The Nose:

Right when I opened the bottle I poured me a little to smell and decanted the other 70% [saving the rest to try again].It was big and Gamey, Earthy truffles? (Still haven't smelled fresh truffles to get that nose down but definitely not "barnyard'ie" no fruit on the nose.

The Taste:

Has that gamey'ness and Cherry's mixed with Cranberries and that truffle/bacon/smoke meat (Tho less bacony because it doesn't have that sweetness I would say) Really has a nice Acid Backbone which paired really nicely with my Pizza for dinner [Chicken, Sun dried Tomatoes, Garlic etc]

Overall A Fantastic Wine I am going to the BCLD to buy a couple of these bottles before they are gone forever the 06 and that fact its the last of the Golden Mile before Road 13.