A Range of 2009s - #9

Pinots from the Fraser Valley, Okanagan Falls, West Kelowna, Oliver, Cowichan Valley and a guest pinot from Martinborough NZ

Caps Corks Capsules 2009 BC Pinot Noirs

“Cherry, vanilla aroma, caramel and fig ” – KM

“black fruits, some pinot magic, long echoing aftertaste, marinated fruit, licorice ” – BG

1. Vista D’Oro Pinot Noir 2009 | $22.00 | B- ~ 90

2. Mt. Boucherie Pinot Noir 2009 | $19.00 | B ~ 92

3. Meyer Family Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir 2009 | $25.00 | C ~ 86

4. Volcanic Hills Pinot Noir 2009 | $20.00 | B- ~ 90

5. Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2009 (New Zealand) | $28.00 | B to B+ ~ 93

6. Gehringer Optimum Pinot Noir 2009 | $21.00 | B to B+ ~ 93

7. Rocky Creek 2009 Pinot Noir | $22.00 | B- to B ~ 91

#1 Vista D’Oro Pinot Noir 2009  12%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90    Price: $22.00

Eye
LC: Light garnet/brick     BG: Bricky throughout, light    AKG: Strawberry jam    JL: Pale – cherry red    KM: light cherry with slight brickish hue throughout    EU: Light reddish brown

Nose
LC:  Big nose – strawberry, violet. Later Sherry or ruby port  with leather/cigar box    BG: Salty caramel, ripe strawberry    AKG: Strawberry, charcoal, caramel    JL: Cherry vinegar, bay leaves. Later lemon on nose. perfume – pretty    KM: Cherry, vanilla aroma, caramel and fig     EU: Bright cherry, cinnamon, light balsamic

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit, creamy, ripe strawberry, good acidity and tannins. Medium long finish. balanced.  herbal notes on second taste and figs    BG: light, not a lot of oomph, very mature taste    AKG: Fruity, mineral, acid, balanced , vanilla    JL: Tannic, high acid, cooked caramel! touch of cocoa?    KM: Stewed cherry round tannins, good acid, slight caramel/vanilla warmth,. slight spice    EU: Dried sour cherry, cinnamon, med finish

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin Screwtop

#2  Mt. Boucherie Pinot Noir 2009 13%

Quality Rating: B ~ 92    Price: $19.00

Eye
LC: Garnet, medium depth of colour    BG: light, brick rim, touch garnet in heart    AKG: Pale cherry, glossy centre    JL: Red    KM: cherry colour     EU: Bright deep red

Nose
LC:  Dusty/barnyard eventually floral notes (rose)    BG: alcohol, ripe , cherry, plum, strawberry    AKG: Cheese toast, alcohol, turpentine, pine forest, peanuts, cinnamon, coffee, nutmeg    JL: alcohol, oak a touch. Rosemary, touch of sage. Later – gingerbread nose    KM: Cherry, strawberry aroma, slight becomes hazelnut latte like, very slight mustiness    EU: Strawberry, musky, seaside and later caramel, coffee and roast nuts

Palate
LC: Hot, caramel? cherry, harder firm tannins, salty, coffee very complex long finish    BG: Strawberry, touch green raspberry, touch of barnyard    AKG: high acid, sherry flavour, earthy, tannic    JL: Woody, charcoal – balanced and sharp, not lingering- dried cherry – fruit leather    KM: Cherry and strawberry rhubarb type bitterness, lots of acid to balance tannin becoming coffee and popcorn    EU: Good acid and tannin, light strawberry, wood flavours

Notes:
Closure – cork

Mt. Boucherie Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Meyer Family Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir 2009 13.8%

Quality Rating:  C ~ 86   Price: $25.00

Eye
LC:  Deeper garnet almost to rim good depth of colour some redness    BG: dried cherry, garnet    AKG: light garnet    JL: Darker red than rest, garnet?    KM: Ruby    EU: dark red

Nose
LC:  Still somewhat closed, hints of cream/vanilla, spicy and peppery. prune eventually on nose and palate    BG: sour barrel, plums, acid, wood tannin, bitter, cloves, herbal cough drop    AKG: barnyard, plum, sharp smelling, wood, notes of flowers and toasted coconut    JL: Lovely, roses- chocolate, truffle, cherries tomato plant. barrel effect later – light grass clippings . American oak?    KM: Cherry, touch of wild strawberry and spices    EU: Green lime, herbs, watermelon, floral apple

Palate
LC:  Caramel. Fruit seems missing or hidden, rubbery aftertaste. slightly hot medium finish, drops quickly , out of balance, not integrated, cocoa/coffee powder . Big/unwieldy   BG: Harsh, no structure, tannic, one dimensional, alcohol    AKG: Very tannic, long flavour but quite flat in structure    JL: Licorice, hot, lingers-beautifully balanced – full   KM: Alcohol, firm tannins, good acid, fruit a little overwhelmed at first slightly peppery    EU: Ripe dark cherry light bitterness, oak, vanilla, lots of acid and tannin

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin Screwtop

Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#4 Volcanic Hills Pinot Noir 2009 14.5%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90    Price: $20.00

Eye
LC: Red    BG: Lovely pale garnet, stewed plum    AKG: Cherry, very glossy    KM: Cherry /garnet    EU: Red with orange highlights

Nose
LC: Rhubarb, hint of strawberry spicy, peppery (white)    BG: Sunny ripe fruit, pomegranate, cherry, bit beetroot, popcorn    AKG: Lychee , beach, herbal    JL: Light, alcohol – geraniums, lemon?    KM: Cherry fruit takes a while to open up, almost menthol aroma    EU: Herbal, sage, rosemary, light plastic

Palate
LC: Spicy, slightly cinnamon, sweetness?  Citric, smoky/tobacco. medium ling finish. finishes a bit hot, cheesy    BG: Touch of toffee, Beautiful aftertaste of roses, balanced beautifully    AKG: well balanced acid and tannins, somewhat flat, salty, round    JL: Hot alcohol – cherry and rubber? charcoal?  lingering -dried salted lemons    KM: Juicy cherries with pomegranate. good tannins, acid a bit boozy    EU: Peppery , sharp, tannin, light red fruits, very short finish

Notes:
Closure – cork

Volcanic Hills Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#5 Ata Rangi – Crimson Pinot Noir 2009 (New Zealand) 14%

Quality Rating: B to B+ ~ 93    Price: $28.00

Eye
LC: Red, slightly purple at rim, medium depth of colour    BG: Cherry rim and heart, touch of pink on rim    AKG: Purple /pink JL: Darker cherry red than rest “youth lively”   KM: Bright ruby colour    EU: Strong red/purple

Nose
LC: Layers – dusty/crayony, slight volatile acidity, baking spices, mace, cloves    BG: Beetroot, underripe, strawberry, wood, cherry    AKG: candy lovehearts, mulch    JL: Raspberries and grass clippings    KM: Lively cherry and strawberry/raspberry     EU: Strawberry, roses, raspberries

Palate
LC:  Sour cherry, hint of rubber/crayon. floral/sweet Alyssum . long, sweet finish- quite well balanced    BG: Young exuberant fruit    AKG: Nice acidity, nice mouth feel, long finish, tastes like a meal    JL: Hot. Dried raspberries/strawberries – touch of rubber? wet wool? Full/weighty. lingering hot -raspberries and chilli peppers    KM: Cherry, cinnamon, cloves, spiced orange     EU: Peppery, ripe red fruit, sour cherry, full, well balanced, full silky body

#6 Gehringer Brothers Optimum Pinot Noir 2009  13.1%

Quality Rating: B to B+ ~ 93    Price: $21.00

Eye
LC: Purplish, med depth    BG: Purplish rim,  medium depth    AKG: Purple, deep colour    JL: Lovely dark cherry red almost plummy    KM: Deep garnet    EU: Deep red with purple edges

Nose
LC: soapy, bing cherry    BG: Plums, cognac, almost syrah like, peppery    AKG: Caramel, Prunes    JL: Rich spicy full- fruitcake    KM: Cherry, plum. baked spice    EU: Spicy, cherry, full bodied

Palate
LC:  somewhat hot – sweet cherry, licorice on finish. larger mouthfeel than previous wines, elegant    BG: Silky, smooth, soft tannins, cherries, tobacco    AKG: Coffee, very nicely balanced, rich, buttery, cherry, prunes and tobacco    JL: touch of licorice – cherry lingers tobacco. Smooth    KM: Concentrated fruit – stewed or dried. Cherry    EU: Cherry, porty, tobacco, dark cherries. Well balanced tannin/acid/very full body

Notes:
Closure – cork

Gehringer Brothers Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#7 Rocky Creek Pinot Noir 2009  13%

Quality Rating: B- to B ~ 91    Price: $22.00

Rocky Creek Winery Pinot Noir 2009

Eye
LC:  Purplish    BG: purplish/cherry rim    AKG: Purple to cherry    JL: dark plumy red    KM: Deep garnet EU: Red with purple edges

Nose
LC: Slightly musty, dusty/ hint of wet cardboard, blackberry    BG: Crayon, candied cherry, roses    AKG: gas station, vick’s vaporub , licorice, fennel seeds, licorice root, barnyard    JL: Hot, touch of dried plums balsamic vinegar    KM: Cherry, licorice, slightly medicinal, blueberry    EU: Dark cherries, wild cherry, light sweet spearmint

Palate
LC: slightly musty. sour cherry/blueberry, peppery, brie. medium finish    BG: soft tannins, black fruits, has some pinot magic, long echoing aftertaste, marinated fruit, licorice    AKG: Licorice, herbal , nice acidity unusual, smoky, tea, cherries    JL: Very tasty. Cherry and chilli pepper balsamic vinegar, bay leaves, mineralized cherries cocoa? rubber? Don’t like the lingering flavours. Needs time    KM: Strong tannins, good acid, fair amount of alcohol, mineralized cherry, licorice    EU: Dark ripe cherry, wild cherry, light, mint herbal , well balanced, ripe cooked fruit in finish

Notes:
Closure – Zork
(not a typo, a zork is is a peel and reseal closure – no corkscrew required.)

Rocky Creek Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting held July 5th 2011