Pinot Noir

In ascending order of price, some recent Pinot Noirs with tasting notes from a Collier's Pinot Noir event below.



Meridian Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, California - $10
Buy several for the excellent value. Our house or party Pinot Noir. Clean berry, a little earth, vanilla. Floral aromas come out with food. Smoke. Flavors of blackberry, plum, interesting mocha with light spice. Light tannins & body. Smoky plum. Bitter finish. Better with food. Character comes out and forms a great complement. 3/5


Concannon Central Coast Pinot Noir Limited Release 2006
Central Coast, California - $15
Good earthiness with smoky sour cherry aromas and flavors. Soft. Not as complex as I'd expected or hoped for.

Erath Pinot Noir 2007
Willamette Valley, Oregon - $18
WS top value for 2008. Shows real class for moderate price. Light dusty rose color. Aromas of sour cherry, hay/straw, earthiness, light floral (rose). Light, but firm tannins. Light body. Flavors of light berry and red delicious apple peel opens to sour cherry and light spice in back of mouth. Elegant. Fruit flavors come out with food. Prefer more dynamic style, but a good summer wine. 3.5/5

Wild Horse Pinot Noir 2006
Central Coast, California - $20
Aromas of soft leather, slight barnyard, violets, red jammy berries & cherry. Soft tannins, low acid. Flavors of sweet red berry with woody aftertaste. Smooth finish. Average wine, not considered great value at price point. Lacks complexity of better Pinots. 3.5/5

Alamos Seleccion Pinot Noir 2006
Mendoza, Argentina
Aromas of sour cherry, red fruit, earthy, light barnyard & florals. Still tight. Dark, deep tannic berry flavors; earthy. Soft but steady tannins, cocoa bitterness. Not intense. Long finish, reserved & elegant. A better Pinot than most, especially if price is low. Lacks flavor alone; better with food when floral and spice notes come out. No strong faults. Less exciting than I prefer. 4/5

The following wines were tasted at Collier's on 4/15/08
Alfred Roco Pinot Noir 2006
Argentina - $12
Really liked. Spicy nose; great mouth feel - lush & soft. Spices in back of mouth almost like Zinfandel. Heavier weight than Cono Sur's Pinot Noir. Medium dark red color.

Picardy Pinot Noir 2004
Australia - $25
Aromas of barnyard, wet straw (interesting & intense), burning matches & smoke. Light body. Smooth on palate with some tannins. Berries come out with food. Style is truer to Burgundian wines.

Wild Hog Sara Lee's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
RRV, California - $32
Fruity & floral nose knock-out. Sweet aromas open up into herbal notes of menthol/mint. Anise & Spike spice rub aroma. More flavors of blueberry with side of the tongue spice with an overall heat. Not as smooth as previous wines and a thinner mouthfeel. Nose more interesting than flavors.

Stoller Dundee Hills JV Pinot Noir 2006
Dundee Hills, Oregon - $25
Light barnyard; light and elegant nose. Earthy, strawberry sweetness on palate. Most Burgundian of the tasting. Smoky, smooth, long finish. Rated 90 pts in WS. From the winemaker: Juicy raspberry, green tea & earth mingle enticingly.

Highfield Pinot Noir 2005
Wairau Valley, New Zealand - $32
Love it. Nose reminds me of Gary Farrell's Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. Jam, smoke and spice on palate; fresh ripe fruit with an edge. Smooth, lush and sophisticated.

Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2006
South Africa - $33
Earthy aromas with accompanying sour barnyard and peat. Cheese brings out fruit; wine is great with food. Meaty, bacon fat aroma and flavor. Age up to 5 yrs.

Gourmet Raft-up 2009

Peju Rose of Syrah 2007
Napa, California
Light cherry, melon, other berries and dusty aromas. Dry style of rose, light body. Brilliant red-orange color. Light flavors that mimic the aromas. Paired with smoked salmon, pickled red onions, & goat cheese boursin. Interesting wine for summer event, surprising and refreshing. Rarity increases score. 3.5/5


Va La Silk 2007
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $28
Aromas of smoke, berry & plum open up to woodsy notes. After decanting for an hour, insane spice aromas appear - cinnamon. Spice and smoky fruit flavors with light body. Very complex flavors. Versatile red and a great local wine. Good for appetizers or as a substitute for Pinot Noir. 4.5/5


Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2006
Russian River Valley, California
Violet aromas followed by berry and vanilla with medium tannins. Needed more time to open - not as aromatic as initial tasting in CA.




Neal Zinfandel 2006
Napa Valley, California
Herbal, soft red fruits (berry) on the nose. Same jammy red fruits with medium tannins. A soft Zinfandel with powerful tannins that need time to open up, fruit is obscured. 4/5


Luchador Shiraz 2007
South Australia - $12
Stewed red fruits followed by good oak nose. Amazing flavor when paired with grilled lamb. Thick, powerful aromas; intense, spicy flavors and easy tannins. More potent nose than flavors. For the price, great flavor & intensity. 4.5/5

Luigi Bosca Malbec Reserva 2005
Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina
Aromas of smoke, earth, plum, red fruit and leather. Big hit of spice (back of throat) and smack of alcohol on initial taste. Bold. Same flavors as aromas. Peppery, port-like ripe fruit. Needs food. Tannic and powerful, nice finish. 4/5

Chateau de Segur Sauternes 2003
Barsac, France - $19
Pineapple, honey, light floral and ripe golden citrus aromas. Very sweet, syrupy weight. Honeyed pineapple. Very elegant and soft. Extended pineapple finish with caramel hint. Fantastic value for full bottle under $20 - why spend more? (That is, unless you're shooting for Chateau Y'Quem). 4.5/5

Riesling

Hogue Genesis Riesling 2006
Washington - $16
A top wine for 2008. Fruity & floral, pairs well with melon fruit. Not enough complexity & too sweet for my tastes. Rated 90 points in WS.

Bonny Doon Pacific Rim Dry Riesling
Central Coast, California - $9
Light, unoaked and crisp. Great flavor; acidity pairs well with sushi. Restrained style doesn't appeal to everyone. A buy again. One of my favorites. 4/5

Swedish Hill Dry Riesling
Finger Lakes, New York
Golden straw color; aromas of green apple, pear, citrus fruit, & light florals. Granny smith apple & lemon, good acidity on palate. Light body, balanced, not sweet! Pear with light salad or salmon. Apple aftertaste. Elegant lighter style. 3.5/5

Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling 2007
Australia - $11
Great value; medium, unoaked, crisp and minerally. A buy again. Rated 88 in WS.

J. Lohr Bay Mist Riesling 2006
Monterey County, California - $9 84
Unexpected quality; love it alone or with food. Pairs well with sushi. Aromas are like a blossoming peach tree, stone fruit; mineral flavors are easygoing and lively. Sparkling acidity. Rated 84 in WS. One of my favorites; for the price, it is a fantastic value. 5/5

Syrahs for Steve

Some of my recent favorites in ascending order of price.

Cline Syrah
Napa Valley, California - $9
THE epitome of Syrah. Need to decant! A great, cheap selection with some oak. Wonderful go-to party wine; buy again.


Earthworks Syrah 2006
Barossa Valley, Australia - $10
Lighter style with initial black pepper flavor. Aromas of cherry and a grapefruity tang/sharpness. Flavor resembles a spicy pinot noir with supple tannins. Stewed fruit, fatty pork (sausage/bacon), blueberry. General red fruits lead to blueberry then to smoke/tar, then peppery finish. Great mouthfeel, smooth. 4/5

Paringa Shiraz
South Australia, Australia - $10
Pleasing, smooth like a Merlot but with nice spice. Buy again, good for parties.

The Winner's Tank Eskadale Shiraz 2006
Langhorne Creek, Australia - $13
Spicy! Held up to burgers and chocolate cake. Side of tongue pepper, chocolate, burnt toast flavors. Tannic with leather aromas on finish. Buy again.

Montes Alpha Syrah
Colchagua Valley, Chile - $19
Lots of jammy reds, lingering smoke on the palate. Smokey, pleasing tannins. Flavors of chocolate with black and blueberry as it opens up. An interesting wine to drink again.


Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2006
Clare Valley, Australia - $20
Aromas of cinnamon, clove, sweet hay on a red berry backbone. Cut grass freshness with light barnyard earthiness. Stewed red fruit. Medium body, supple tannins. Spicy flavor opens up to vanilla red fruit (sweet red fruits). Needs more power at the end. Wine Spectator 91 points. 4/5



Cakebread Napa Valley Syrah 2005
Napa Valley, California - $50
Loved syrupy, very ripe fruit flavor. My style of syrah. From the winemaker: "Seductive, varietally expressive aroma of ripe black fruit, violets, white pepper, roasted coffee & sweet vanilla. Full body; lush blackberry, plum, & fig, savory spice. Supple tannins & long toasty finish. Best flavor 2011-2013."

While the $50 Cakebread was marvelous and very much what I prefer, I could not justify the price... especially when I considered this winery was the first of a dozen more still to visit on week-long Napa/Sonoma trip. The Earthworks was a great value, complex and definitely interesting. For a little more money, we really enjoyed the Jim Barry Lodge Hill.

Mitolo Jester Shiraz
McLaren Vale, Australia - $20
Purpley color. Good "red" nose, toasty. Initial noticeable spice. Jammy, back of throat spice on long finish. A little light after powerhouse Phelps Insignia... Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event.

Anaperenna Syrah
Barossa Valley, Australia - $70
Blend of 80% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow flavor with initial hit of white pepper. Smooth finish but strong tannins. Again, not a great value for the money. Perhaps it would have been more impressive alone and allowed to open up over several hours. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3.5/5

Marquis Phillips S2 Cabernet Sauvignon
McLaren Vale, Australia - $45
Having enjoyed the Sarah's blend before, I was excited about trying one of their more upscale wines. Good spice, smoky, and low tannins. Disappointed, definitely not worth the money. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 2/5

(The Sarah's blend is about 60% Shiraz, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.)

West Cape Howe Unwooded Chardonnay 2007
South Australia - $16.99
Lush with firm acidity and full creamy texture. Tropical fruit and earthy red apple, pear spiced nose. Lemon butter finish. Enjoyable flavor. Tasted at a Harry's Seafood wine event.