How ready are the 2010s? - #10
How ready are the 2010s? - #10
Wines from Oliver, Naramata, West Kelowna and Creston with “Guest Pinot” from Chile
“Cherry flavours come to life, depth, earthy notes of barn, hay, mushrooms…” – JG
“Very ripe fruit, long building finish, black cherry -bing cherry on finish” – EU
Cassini Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 | $25.00 | C ~ 86
Howling Bluff Three Sisters Pinot Noir 2010 | $25.00 | C+ ~ 88
Baillie-Grohman Pinot Noir 2010 | $25.00 | C to C+ ~ 87
Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir Clone 828 2010 | $55.00 | C- to C ~ 85
Tabali Pinot Noir 2010 (Chile) | $19.00 | C to C+ ~ 87
Haywire Pinot Noir 2010 | $27.00 | C+ to B- ~ 89
Joie Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 | $40.00 | B ~ 92
#1 Cassini Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 13.5%
Quality Rating: C ~ 86 Price: $25.00-30.00
Eye
LC: Light, quite brownish, bricky watery at rim BG: Quite pale, bricky/garnet rim JG: Clean, clear, water rim, no viscosity, garnet, some age AKG: Rusty edge, brick, washed out EU: Dark garnet-brownish light colour
Nose
LC: Inviting, strawberry,caramel grew stronger. Most pinot like nose once opened BG: Savoury caramel, pomegranate, light stewed fruit JG: Clean, nose forward, unripe blueberry, peppery, caramel or sweet dried figs or plums AKG: Floral, spicy (cinnamon) EU: Lime, dried fruit(raisin cherry) earth
Palate
LC: Good acid, tannins soft , good finish, long quite elegant, slight heat, strawberry, delivers what nose promises, sweet BG: Tired fruit, fairly short, bit hot, undistinguished acid/mild tannin on finish JG: Sweet component follows on the palate, vanilla, touch of oak flavours . green finish to it- low alcohol – forgettable AKG: Long flavour, mineral, nice but not really a wow EU: Wood, citric, light cherry juice
Notes:
Cases Produced: 115 Winemaker: Adrian Cassini, Philip Soo Vineyard Source: Barbieri Vineyard North of Oliver Cellar Notes: aged for 12 months in new and 2 year old barrels, 80%French and 20 % American Alcohol: 13.5%
Notes:
Closure – cork
Cassini Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#2 Howling Bluff Three Sisters Pinot Noir 2010 13%
Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87 Price: $28.00
Eye
LC: Fair depth, garnet BG: Cherry, purplish tim, med light depth JG: Clear, Purple, clear rim AKG: Cherry, a bit dull EU: Dark purple red
Nose
LC: No real fruit, something appealing Oriental or synthetic, dried geranium? mushroom, dried roses Initially slight anise, spice market, wax crayon BG: Wet wool, geraniums, flowers! candied JG: Raspberry, cherry compote, floral component, hay, warm ,alcohol AKG: Child’s felt marker?, alcohol, floral, malaysian curry? SE Asian market, Damian? EU: Floral(violet, rose) jasmine, cherry, very ripe/bruised fruit, black cherry
Palate
LC: sour cherry Pixie Stix. clean acid, heat on finish but not terrific – longish due to heat/acid BG: Very long floral flavour, silky, stewed plums, blackberry, strawberry JG: Dry, medium acidity, med alcohol, young, fruit raspberry/cherry wine is clean, simple, fruit forward med finish. light and easy drinking, good acidity, missing some earthy elements. could be more complete – good AKG: Acidic, rich mouth feel, cherry, wood, simple but pleasing EU: Clean bright cherry, balanced tannin/acidity, very ripe fruit, long building finish, black cherry -bing cherry on finish
Notes:
Winemaker: Luke Smith Cases Produced: 275
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Howling Bluff Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#3 Baillie-Grohman Pinot Noir 2010 13%
Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87 Price: $25.00
Eye
LC: Purplish but brownish? rim BG: Medium light depth, garnet rim JG: Clear, light garnet- 2-5 years old, watery rims and legs AKG: Garnet, glossy EU: Dark purple red
Nose
LC: Hints of strawberry/cranberry & violets but waxy overtones BG: Sulphur, pomegranate, cherry JG: Clean, raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, leather, waxy candle component. Green element -pepper? white pepper AKG: Smells big, caramel, fruity, smoky EU: Light, meaty, cherry, plum, strawberry
Palate
LC: Sour-acid, medium long finish. cranberry perhaps BG: Cherry & bit pomegranate. long & lingering wood , floral, crayon. Bit soft .black fruits? Cowichan valley? JG: Stalky green element , bitter, pepper taste comes forward, not a ton of fruit, slightly unbalanced- oak flavours don’t come forward AKG: Peppery, acidic, plum, nice shape, has light but good body, salty EU: Longish sour cherry finish, light meaty notes, good acid balance, tastes like a pinot noir
Notes:
Cases Produced: 250 Winemaker: Dan Barker Vineyard Source: Estate Clones: 115, 667, 777 Cellar Notes: 12 months in new and seasoned oak Alcohol: 13%
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Baillie-Grohman Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#4 Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir Clone 828 14%
Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85 Price: $55.00
Eye
LC: Purple quite dense colour BG: Cherry/riby rim, med light depth JG: Clear, dark purple, water rim & legs AKG: Rich cherry EU: dark red purple
Nose
LC: Fairly complex, waxy, violets BG: Roses/violets. sweet cherry/sour cherry, luscious, hospital/pine, menthol, blueberry, acetone JG: Clean cherry, ripe red fruit, almost spoiled fruit, little oxidized, sour AKG: Shoes, vanilla creaminess, strawberry EU: Wood (vanilla, spice) – cherry vanilla strawberry. chemical (ketones)
Palate
LC: Spicy, sour cherry, cranberry. simple. developed a chemical/acetone taste. tannins still quite firm. longish finish. bad points amplified the longer the wine was open BG: Bit of tannic grip, cherry/beet/pomegranate hot, drifting, floral, big lingering fruit in aftertaste JG: Tannins med + unbalanced, something faulty AKG: quite tannic cherry, a bit boring, overly strong at the front, no ending, woody EU: Very distinct acid, + tannin, cherry
Notes:
With their first pinot noir being released in 1989, Quails’ Gate Winery has a serious claim on being the first pinot noir producer of the modern (vinifera) era in British Columbia. Their original vineyard was purchased in 1956. Both their regular pinot noir and their Stewart Family Reserve have been made now for over twenty-five vintages. They have also produced limited releases of pinot noirs based on Dijon clones (here), the 828 clone, as well as a Richard’s Block pinot noir to honour the winery’s founder.
The current winemaker is Ross Baker. He was the protégé of former Winemaker Nikki Callaway. He previously worked at Villa Maria Estates in Marlborough, New Zealand and also held positions locally at both Red Rooster Winery and Kettle Valley Winery. (Click for Reviews: Stewart Family Reserve 2007, Dijon Clone 2008, Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir 2006 )
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#5 Tabali Pinot Noir 2010 (Chile)13.5%
Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87 Price:$19.00
Eye
LC: Ruby BG: Cherry rim, medium light in depth JG: Clear, purple, watery rim & legs AKG: Fresh cherry, dark and glossy EU: dark purple red
Nose
LC: Raspberry, wood, slightly mushroomy BG: Tannin/barrel, bramble/vinous JG: Clean, delicate fresh cherries, violets, a hint of vanilla AKG: gassy, cleaning product, distant EU: Floral (rose) cherry, roast oats/nuts?
Palate
LC: Raspberry/pomegranate, good tannnins & acidity a bit hot finished with menthol BG: Beaujolais? all fruit/simple , low acid. very soft tannins. very little complexity JG: acidity med +, fruit forward, not a typical PN. cherries come forward, greenbitter mid-palate, med finish, no oak flavours on the palate. This doesn’t quite represent the variety AKG: blackberry, a bit tannic, vanilla, caramel EU: Spicy, (cinnamon, nutmeg) roasted nuts, cherry , roast fruit, very well balanced tannin acid
#6 Haywire Pinot Noir 2010 13%
Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~ 89 Price: $27.00
Eye
LC: Red to rim BG: Ruby rim JG: Clear, light garnet, watery rim & legs, young AKG: Garnet EU: Ruby, cherry red
Nose
LC: Strawberry-sweet cherry, mace-nutmeg BG: Floral, pretty fruit, compote, bit of barnyard/chocolate JG: Clean strawberry, cranberry, touch of vanilla, wet forest AKG: fruity, caramel EU: Mushroom ,m barnyard savoury, rose cherry, roast fruit, green leaf, stemmy
Palate
LC: Sweet fruit, clean, finishes medium but hot or acidic. simple quite well balanced BG: Unusual pleasing Blueberry/raspberry combination, bit stemmy JG: Dry, tannin med, acidity med-, strawberry coming forward, this is a BC pinot noir profile, balanced fruit forward, light, med complexity. Good. AKG: spicy, vanilla, rich, balanced EU: Cherry, vanilla spice(sweet) long tannin in finish good balance
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Haywire Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#7 Joie Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 13.5%
Quality Rating: B ~ 92 Price: $40.00
Eye
LC: Garnet BG: Garnet rim JG: Clear, dark purple, watery rim, light legs, almost non-existent AKG: cherry, quite clear EU: Dark red, brown overcast
Nose
LC: Complex, christmas baking-cherry, spicy, slight mushroom BG: Light wood but otherwise very little,/candied JG: Clean, barn, stable, hay, cooked cherries AKG: cherry chocolate EU: Caramel, red fruits, roses
Palate
LC: Full mouthfeel-wel integrated & balanced. strawberry & cherry Smooth. Yummy! BG: Focused fruit. long, earthy, delicious, very long, well balanced, graceful JG: Dry, acidity med, cherry flavours come to life, depth, earthy notes of barn, hay, mushrooms. well balanced, young, potential for age pleasant Good+ AKG: vanilla, strawberry, long aftertaste, well balanced EU: Good wood, vanilla, cherries, plums
Notes:
Closure – cork
Joie Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
Tasting Held January 7th, 2014