Second Taste of 2008 - #7
Wines from Lake Country, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos and a “guest pinot” from Russian River, California
“Waft of prune, darker fruits, bit of herbs” – BG
“Very faint-notes of mushroom and cardboard-slight strawberry & earth tones emerge after time” – JL
Road 13 Pinot Noir 2008 | $23.00 | C+ ~ 88
Eau Vivre Pinot Noir 2008 | $24.00 | C -to C ~ 85
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2008 | $35.00 | C- to C ~ 85
Kenwood Pinot Noir 2008 (California) | $22.00 | D to D+ ~ 81
Iniskillin Reserve Pinot Noir 2008 | $19.00 | C+ ~ 88
Arrowleaf Pinot Noir 2008 | $18.00 | B ~ 92
Twisted Tree Pinot Noir 2008 | $32.00 | B- to B ~ 91
#1 Road 13 Pinot Noir 2008 12.8%
Quality Rating: C+ ~ 88 Price: $23.00
Eye
BG: Faded pink rim, light, even throughout JL: Bright bluish red MW: Bright, med to edge
Nose
BG: Alcoholic, strawberry, dusty savory caramel JL: Peppery cherry , young and simple still – later strawberry MW: Hint of alcohol heat, ripe cherry, mushroom
Palate
BG: Light, simple, medium aftertaste, slightly bitter strawberry finish mixed with a bit of sweeter fruit. Didn’t expect the finish to be so long JL: Soft tannin – smooth and well balanced, long finish-spicy-simple, cherry – very pleasant -just slightly off dry MW: Bright cherry, med soft finish, strawberry develops
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin
#2 Eau Vivre Pinot Noir 2008 13.3%
Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85 Price: $24.00
Eye
BG: Light with a touch of orange on the rim JL: Light ruby, slightly bluish rim MW: Med dark to edge
Nose
BG: Waft of prune, darker fruits,bit of herbs JL: Woody – earthy-cherries-mushrooms MW: Candied cherry, light
Palate
BG: Soft, rounded, balanced acidity. Simple, medium length, touch cranberry in finish, grew a little more bitter as it was open longer JL: Soft entry – slightly sweet notes-mushrooms/candy fruit. Medium long, soft dry finish MW: Light, short, cherry fruit, acid on finish, tannins
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwcap
Eau Vivre Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#3 Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2008 13%
Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85 Price: $35.00
Eye
BG: Purplish rim JL: Very purplish MW: Bright, darker colour than previous wines. Hint of blue on edge
Nose
BG: Plum, touch of mushroom, complex and fairly big with promise of complexity on the palate JL: Deep plummy/cherry nose, young and simple – hint of baking spices MW: Strawberry, bread, medium alcohol.
Palate
BG: Lovely, broad, fairly full focused fruit with good concentration. Not sure about acidity JL: Dry entry-firm tannins – cherry lifesaver flavours-very simple-medium long dry finish-lean MW: Hint of heat, candied cherry, plenty of acid in finish
Notes:
Closure – cork
Blue Mountain Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability
#4 Kenwood Pinot Noir 2008 (California) 13.5%
Quality Rating: D to D+ ~ 81 Price: $22.00
Eye
BG: Medium depth, brownish rim heading to mahogany JL: Aged bricky/tawny – looks oxidized MW: Medium. Brown to edge
Nose
BG: Plum, madeira, gamey/woody and changed to sour wood JL: Old but clean-baked MW: Toasty , strawberry and mushroom
Palate
BG: Madeira,soft entry, caramel. Beautifully integrated JL: Aging-notes of toffee-caramel-very little actual fruit-soft firm tannins-fairly dry-medium long caramelly finish, late harvest?-odd bottle/ MW: Strawberry fruit, sweet, hint alcohol, almonds on finish
#5 Inniskillin Reserve Pinot Noir 2008 14%
Quality Rating: C+ ~ 88 Price: $19.00
Eye
BG: Garnet/brick rim mostly garnet with a light/med depth JL: Tawny/bricky-looks old MW: Hint brown on edge
Nose
BG: Almonds,plums JL: Very faint-notes of mushroom and cardboard-slight strawberry & earth tones emerge after time MW: Med heat, strawberry & Cherry, mushroom
Palate
BG: Fairly intense level of flavour, canned plums. mature taste, broad, soft tannins,very long JL: Slightly sweet entry-soft but firm tannins-tastes old-dry-well balanced-caramelly-strawberries-medium-finish-OK balance MW: Nicely balanced ripe fruit, long fruit finish, tannins in background
Notes:
Closure – plastic cork
#6 Arrowleaf Pinot Noir 2008 12%
Quality Rating: B ~ 92 Price: $18.00
Eye
BG: Light depth, garnet/brick rim JL: Tawny garnet -bricky – old looking MW: Medium depth, brown on edge
Nose
BG: Woody, bit of cinnamon, wool coat in the sun,bit of heat JL: Bright strawberry & Cherry/lemon nose MW: Bright, cherry & mushroom, hint of heat, spice – sage?
Palate
BG: Very soft entry, grapey, blueberry, quite silky texture JL: Fruit forward sweet entry-strawberry jam-soft tannnins-good balance-long finish-lovely fruit-ready to drink MW: Youthful cherry & strawberry fruit, hint of heat finiish to ripe cherry & acid
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop
Arrowleaf Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#7 Twisted Tree Pinot Noir 2008 14.3%
Quality Rating: B- to B ~ 91 Price: $32.00
Eye
BG: Garnet rim JL: Bricky edged, garnet MW: Darkest of the tasting, medium dark to edge
Nose
BG: Underbrush, fruit JL: Spicy peppery strawberries MW: Hot, ripe cherry & Prunes, pepper,spice
Palate
BG: Soft, integrated, full flavoured, bit of alcohol heat JL: Hot entry-sweet fruit-black pepper & strawberries with mushroom & earth-faint barnyardy notes-long sweet finish-lovely! MW: Alcohol (hot,hot,hot) Big cherry & Strawberry fruit
Notes:
Closure – cork
Tasting held May 3rd 2011