2011 a Good Year for Pinot? #11
2011 a Good Year for Pinot? #11
Wines from Abbotsford, Okanagan Falls, Osoyoos, Naramata & a “guest pinot” from Oregon
“Strawberry and cranberry driven, blueberry, pomegranate, balanced, integrated.” – JD
“Mouth watering, long nice balance, spicy, oak notes. Liked it!” – AKG
Castoro De Oro Pinot Noir 2011 | $25.00 | C- to C ~ 85
Moon Curser Pinot Noir 2011 | $29.00 | D+ to C- ~ 83
Van Westen VD Pinot Noir 2011 | $37.90 | C+ to B- ~ 89
Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2011 | $30.00 | C+ ~ 88
Liquidity Pinot Noir 2011 | $30.00 | B ~ 92
Mt. Lehman Pinot Noir Platinum Reserve 2011 | $32.00 | B to B+ ~ 93
Bergstrom Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve 2011 (Oregon) | $48.00 | B- to B ~ 91
#1 Castoro de Oro Pinot Noir 2011 13%
Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85 Price: $25.00
Eye
JG: Clear, bright, purple garnet BG: Light with cherry rim AKG: Cherry, a bit watery looking EU: Purple JD: Medium-ruby pale rim
Nose
LC: Spicy Backing – cinnamon, cloves, vanilla evolved JG: Clean, floral, cherry compote BG: Faintly bramble/barrel, doesn’t smell like pinot noir AKG: Earth, strawberry, buttery, vanilla EU: Dark meaty, cherry, toasty, complex, spice JD: Perfumed strawberries, red fruit, spice, caramel/sweet floral, candied
Palate
LC: Sour cherry. long finish – a touch acidic/hot vanilla. Quite well balanced. sweet/strawberry cam out JG: Light, uncomplicated but well made. Fruit forward, not too complex BG: slight alcohol burn, very short, touch bitter cherry stone. Peculiar. AKG: Bitter, sour fruit, no arc, tight tasting EU: Dead, very light, light tannin with pomegranate JD: Medium acid, simple, juicy, crowd-pleasing palate, slightly raisinated on palate
Notes:
Closure – cork
Castoro de Oro Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#2 Moon Curser Pinot Noir 2011 13%
Quality Rating: D+ to C- ~ 83 Price: $29.00
Eye
JG: Clear, light legs, garnet BG: Cherry rim, light AKG: Bright cherry, glossy EU: Garnet red JD: Medium ruby, pale rim
Nose
LC: Blueberry, hits of vanilla, slightly dusty JG: Clean, glycerine, the fruit is hiding behind the first aromas, could be wood BG: light cherry, bit of vanilla, bit of caramel, overall very little on the nose AKG: Stale fridge smell, blackberry crumble, crumbling wood, pine, vanilla EU: Light sweet cherry, citrus (lime) JD: Slightly more medium nose.
Palate
LC: Sour/blueberry. clean, fairly long finish but not mouth filling- top of palate JG: Tannins medium-there is very little fruit, the palate follows the nose – uninspiring BG: Cherry, bit of vanilla . bit closed and tannic on end. drift of pomegranate, ending actually quite long AKG: Peppery, nice full fruit/cooked strawberry, a bit hot and tannic . Nice acidity, well balanced, pleasing finish EU: Light cherry, spice (pepper) , vanilla, oak toast, dried sour cherry finish, long, citrus JD: Little fruit to balance, med+ to long end, woody, spice. More structured other components. zippier than #1 wine. Present tannins.
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
#3 Van Westen VD Pinot Noir 2011 13.2%
Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~ 89 Price: $37.00
Eye
LC: More purplish JG: Clear, purple, legs BG: Purple/ruby rim AKG: Purple, looks very new EU: Purple (blue) red JD: Slightly darker ruby, more so than 1 and 2. Almost purple
Nose
LC: Initially hard to identify, big, slightly funky pepper, vanilla JG: Clean, violets very floral, wood, nail polish BG: Candied cherry, 828 clone? , plums, lovely oak AKG: pipe tobacco, fruity, smells big EU: Deep, dark ripe black cherry, sweet fruit, cranberry, bright fresh , citrus JD: Red fruit, strawberry, violet, plums, spice, cola
Palate
LC: Big pepper, sour blueberry, plum hint of one of curry spices, fills moth, big tannins, somewhat hot JG: Tannins medium, acidity medium+ for a pinot noir too high. Palate follows the nose – unbalanced – not impressed BG: Easy, simple, flattish, low acid? , Pomegranate juice, bit extracted. Fairly long AKG: Sweet candied fruit at start, mouth watering, long nice balance, spicy, oak notes. Liked it! EU: vanilla wood, cherry, kirsch, citrus, long cherry reinforced with oak JD: Expressive palate, med+ acid (with lower acid on 2nd tasted) well balanced and med minus to medium tannins, fuller body. Grows on me.
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Van Westen VD Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#4 Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir 2011 14.0%
Quality Rating: C+ ~ 88 Price: $30.00
Eye
LC: Very purple JG: clear, purple, higher viscosity on the legs BG: Purple rim AKG: Glossy purple EU: Bright purple JD: Medium ruby almost purple
Nose
LC: Funky (not barnyard) strawberry jam, clove JG: Clean, floral (violets) vanilla, citrus? BG: Roses!, vanilla, candied violet AKG: Smells rich, port like, leather EU: Sandalwood, barnyard, vegetal, sour/oxidized fruit JD: Red fruit side of the spectrum but mainly cherry driven, white pepper , hints of strawberry, dried red fruit, vanilla. Opulent without being super jammy, raisin, bacon
Palate
LC: Sweet darker fruit, solid tannins but fine, menthol finish – long JG: Quite alcoholic -overpowers the other flavours – some fruit but quite green . a bit unbalanced. BG: supple mid-weight pinot noir, , long, fruity side, bit of blueberry, later violets. Silky, very long, haunting blueberry/roses AKG: Yum, very rich, not pinot like, cherry/stewed strawberries, spice velvety peppery edge, vanilla buttery, nice acidity EU: Full body, good middle, sweet vanilla oak, light fruit, balanced acid/tannin. needs more fruit JD: Palate more expressive than nose. Strawberries, cherries, med minus to medium acid. Has a present concentration, a bit hot on the alcohol med tannins.
Notes:
Closure – Composite cork
Burrowing Owl Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#5 Liquidity Pinot Noir 2011 13.5%
Quality Rating: B ~ 92 Price: $30.00
Eye
LC: Almost garnet, brilliant JG: Clear, light garnet – very light BG: Light garnet rim AKG: Garnet EU: Bright cherry red, JD: Pale ruby, pale rim
Nose
LC: Closed, strawberry, vanilla JG: Clean , nice candied fruit, cherry, floral (dandelion) vanilla component – so far so good. BG: Pomegranate/cranberry, some lovely wood but integrated with the fruit AKG: Baked marshmallow, clam, alcohol, mushroom EU: Toast, cocoa, intense floral cherry, vanilla (jasmine , lavender) JD: Bubble gum, playful red fruit, spice, floral, sweet, woody
Palate
LC: Cherry-simple/elegant. Light-medium body finish fades then has a 2nd finish – medium long JG: Extremely light, wood components come forward before the fruit- nose more interesting than palate BG: Very supple, pomegranate, focused fruit. Classic pinot noir, very long, bit of savoury caramel barrel effect AKG: Peppery pleasant but not too complex, oak, long finish EU: Vanilla, cashew/almond toast, bright floral top notes, long cherry , roasted/candied strawberry. Very well balanced acid/tannin/fruit JD: Slightly hot on the alcohol, medium acidic, low tannins, medium bodied, hint of an herbaceous earth on the palate, thin, simple, more formidable on the nose than the palate.
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Liquidity Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#6 Mt. Lehman Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir 2011 13%
Quality Rating: B to B+ ~ 93 Price: $32.00
Eye
LC: Brilliant/garnet JG: clear, light garnet, some sediments BG: Garnet rim, lightish AKG: Garnet EU: Bright cherry red JD: Very pale ruby
Nose
LC: peppermint, slight dustiness, woody – raw oak JG: Clean, roasted nuts, bacon, animal characteristics, sweet note (almonds) BG: Cedar, spring flowers, pine wood AKG: Strawberries & cream EU: Strawberry, lime (citrus) blueberry, black plum JD: Floral, red fruit, strawberry, cherry, spice, zesty red fruit, cranberry
Palate
LC: Bright blueberry/pomegranate. Tannins fine and controlled. Finish medium long, feminine JG: Sweet nut-cherry like-compote-lollipop. Palate is consistent with nose. Interesting profile BG: fairly Intense fruit flavours, beautiful wood though not big bodied. very long, beautiful layered fruit, beautifully balanced, bit of pleasing barnyard in the mix AKG: Strawberry , spicy, big mouth watering, pomegranate, vanilla EU: Light body, strawberry, cherry, vanilla, very well balanced, medium finish, vanilla (long), cherry & cloves keep coming back JD: Medium+ acid, medium bodied, low tannin, medium length, strawberry and cranberry driven, blueberry, pomegranate, balanced, integrated.
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Mt. Lehman Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#7 Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir (Oregon) 2011 13.3%
Quality Rating: B- to B ~ 91 Price: $48.00
Eye
LC: Ruby JG: Clear, purple BG: Cherry rim, medium light depth AKG: Cherry, rich looking EU: Blue rim, purple, dark JD: Medium ruby
Nose
LC: Hints of barnyard, strawberry, floral- classic pinot nose, Burgundian JG: Clean cooked strawberries, cherry, hay, stable, farm component, more earthy – lots going on BG: Cherry pit, significant wood AKG: Barnyard, dried fruit, vanilla, mustard, mint EU: Tart sour cherry, beet, barrel-Brettanomyces? metallic finish JD: Vibrant. A bit of funk, strawberries, red plums, earthy component, dried red fruit,woody spice
Palate
LC: Darker fruit- sour not focused JG: Great fruit, well balanced with oak – great acidity and body- light but well done BG: Blueberry, low acid, very long finish, loganberry, beautiful fruit, mid-weight, maintains intensity of flavour through the flavour sequence AKG: Plums, walnut skin, tannic, rich plum, nice finish EU: Seaside, creosote, no fruit or floral JD: Ripe red fruit, present, medium tannins, medium+ acid, medium finish/length. Savoury finish, needs more concentration or fruit or time to tame tannins.
Tasting held February 4, 2014