The Excellent 2006 Vintage - #1
Wines from Naramata, Oliver, Kelowna, Okanagan Falls & Summerland. One stunning value and a “guest pinot” from Chehalem, Oregon
“Cinnamon – tannic & tart–spiced game – good balance. Very long and rich, nutmeg – sweet edges”-JL
“balanced,elegant,mouthwatering,subtle, but lovely”- AKG
“Pine cones, forest, nutty”- PAK
Thornhaven Barrel Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 $18.00 D- ~ 78
Laurel Hood Pinot Noir 2008 (Oregon) $35.00 C+ ~ 88
Cedar Creek Estate Select Pinot Noir 2006 $26.00 C+ ~ 88
Kettle Valley Pinot Noir Reserve 2006 $35.00 B to B+ ~ 93
Le Vieux Pin Emoi Pinot Noir 2006 $35.00 B+ ~ 94
Okanagan Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006 $10.00 B+ ~ 94
See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2006 $22.00 B ~ 92
#1 Thornhaven Barrel Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 11.45%
Quality Rating: D- ~ 78 Price: $18.00
Eye KM: Very light colour, brick/orange tinge, age EU: brown JL: Brown, brick light AKG: Almost yellowish, bricky smooth (viscous) rim colour almost pale brown, heart is light, clear brick colour PAK: Brownish, oxidized BG: Brown/Tawny throughout
Nose KM: Almost fruity, slight mushy aroma EU: light cherry, cranberry sauce JL: Oxidizing, slightly musty AKG: sweet marshy, hot tub?, bit of plum PAK: Bad apple BG: vegetal, oxidized
Palate KM: Dulled fruit, extremely light body. Oxidized EU: thin, light, metallic, old, long bitter tannic JL: Acidic, dry, no fruit, tannic – dead AKG: Sour at first aftertaste becomes more coherent. Don’t like this one. Smooth and light but overly simple? PAK: tasteless BG: rubber, vegetal, oxidized
Notes:
Closure – plastic cork
Thornhaven Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#2 Laurel Hood 2008 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains, Yamhill County 13.1%
Quality Rating: C+ ~ 88 Price: $35.00
Eye KM: Bright Ruby colour. Young EU: bright purple/red JL: Youthful garnet, slightly bluish edge AKG: Cherry red, candy coloured, scarlet, clear PAK: Cherry BG: light cherry rim, light depth
Nose KM: EU: bright herbal, wintergreen, cherry JL: light cranberry, cherry notes – fresh AKG: peppery, dirt, fig PAK: Woodsy BG: Raspberries, pomegranate
Palate KM: Light body, good acidity, with dry tannins and tart fruit EU: long, kirsch, cherry, full spicy JL: light body, tannic, well balanced, tart medium finish AKG: grows on the tongue, shifts into good structure but not enough finish. Nice mouth feeling mellow, tongue glow afterwards PAK: clean but not spectacular BG: Light, deft wine with longish berry aftertaste, cherries, smoky plum
Notes: On the western edge of the Chehalem Mountain AVA, focused on personally tended, non-irrigated vines first planted in 1989. The small production of wine is made using gentle handling and judicious use of oak in order to let the character of the vineyard shine through. The vineyard gives fruit that makes wines that are exceptionally age worthy. This Pinot noir is produced from Pommard and Wadensvil clones. Closure – cork
#3 Cedar Creek Estate Select Pinot Noir 2006 13.6%
Quality Rating: C+ ~ 88 Price: $26.00
Eye KM: Deep garnet colour EU: bright red light brown JL: Medium dark garnet AKG: Dark cherry , rich even colour compared with some pinot noirs PAK: Deep cherry BG: Rim is garnet/brick
Nose
KM: Lively nose, cherry EU: cedar smoke? Sour cherry, dried strawberry, cherry, earth, animal JL: slightly coal oil nose over sour cherry, slightly powdery and hot AKG: Creosote, salted caramel, honeysuckle PAK: Bark, woodsy, smoky BG: Pepper, plum, almost smells like syrah, smoky, cured meats
Palate
KM: Medium body, high acidity, high tanning, youngish, needs food or time to shine . Deep cherry and raspberry flavour EU: long tannin, cherry, cranberry, vanilla JL: Medium tannins, good solid acid, juicy sour cherry, long finish AKG: Strong flavour, hits the palette, warms up in the middle. Mouth watering acidity and a bit tannic PAK: medicinal tang, good flavour, cherry BG: Pepper, alcohol, green pepper
Notes:
Closure – cork
Cedar Creek Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability
#4 Kettle Valley Pinot Noir Reserve 2006 14%
Quality Rating: B To B+ ~ 93 Price: $35.00
Eye KM: deep garnet, some age, unfiltered? Fig EU: Dark JL: Dark ruby/ garnet/ slight bluish rim AKG: Dark brick, very smooth PAK: Garnet BG: Cherry rim, not fully bright, medium depth
Nose KM: Slight funky aroma, mushroom, wet rag? leathery EU: bright cherry, strawberry JL: Strawberry – rich –fat-ripe-oak AKG: rainy pavement, wet earth hint of charcoal PAK: Smooth. Pear like, spiced fig BG: wood, alcohol, dried plum, vinous, cherries
Palate KM: good acid and tannin , complexity, black cherry , tobacco, fuller bodied pinot, long finish EU: cherry, vanilla, raspberry, kirsch, balanced, roses, long spice on finish JL: Full bodied, rich, well balanced tannic and acid round – very long and slightly warm, very complex – California style AKG: Hits the back of the mouth first, a bit boring shapewise, but lingers and flavour is pleasant minerals, unambitious, vanilla PAK: Round, slightly tangy – young well blended flavours BG: Biggish flavour with some authority, long finish
Notes: Blend of Cole, Hayman and Trovao vineyards in Naramata and the Thibault vineyard in Summerland. 24.9 brix. , full malolactic and then French Oak for 20 months. Production of 284 cases. Closure – cork
Kettle Valley Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability
#5 Le Vieux Pin Emoi Pinot Noir 2006 15.4%
Quality Rating: B+ ~ 94 Price: $35.00
Eye KM: Garnet with brickish hue, age EU: Garnet brown red JL: Garnet with broad amber/brick edges – very mature AKG: Yellow tint, brick, dried blood, smooth and viscous PAK: Garnet, brown, bricky BG: Bricky/garnet rim with medium depth
Nose KM: Cherry , oak, tobacco, meaty EU: harsh ketone, green fruit strawberry, oak JL: Gamey-meaty-very clean and complex AKG: Mild, rubbing alcohol, wet socks, cherry PAK: Berries, mushroom taste, forest floor BG: glycerin, mushroom and bit of barnyard
Palate KM: Balance of fruit and smokiness, fairly strong tannins , good acidity, complexity EU: strong tannin, ripe cherry strawberry, long herbal earthy finish JL: Burgundian – solid rich – sweet strawberries – very long with perfect balance AKG: big flavour, pleasant, smooth, good structure but not filled in with enough subtlety? A bit tannic, a bit bitter at the end PAK: Tangy, slightly medicinal, rich BG: Still some tannic grip, plum , cured meat, savoury almost like Italian Nebbiolo with slightly exotic spiciness. Flavour stays big all the way through from start to finish. Wonderful balance, fine grained tannins
Notes:
Feuille D’or Vineyard. Aging:13 months in oak 100% French with 1/3 new. Age of Vines:9 years. Harvest Date: October 3, 2006. Production: 290 cases. Closure – corkVineyard Manager: Harold Gaudy
Winemaker: Daniel Bontorin
#6 Okanagan Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006 14.5%
Quality Rating: B+ ~ 94 Price: $10.00
Eye KM: Garnet with brickish hue, almost jammy EU: Dark brown red JL: Amber rim/garnet AKG: Brick, very bright, viscous PAK: Garnet to brown BG: Tawny rim, light to medium depth
Nose KM: bright cherry ,n hint of oak, cloves EU: full ripe red fruit, plum, spice JL: Spicy and gamey – full and rich AKG: spices, alcohol PAK: Pine cones, forest, nutty BG: not a lot
Palate KM: Good tannins but without the big grip on the tongue, good acidity , fruity cherry preserves, less “funk” than previous 2 pinots EU: Fully glycerol, complex strawberry, porty alcohol – acid high JL: Cinnamon – tannic & tart – spiced game- good balance. Very long and rich, nutmeg – sweet edges AKG: A little sharp, bit, grand, warm end is slightly tannic, impressive, heart skips a beat at aftertaste shape. Rich cherry flavour – oak PAK: Peppery, complex/round/ full bodied BG: Supple, tar, truffle, big alcohol, concentrated, long aftertaste spicy with final flourish of nutmeg/ cinnamon
Notes:
Closure – plastic cork
#7 See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir 2006 14.5%
Quality Rating: B ~ 92 Price: $22.00
Eye KM: ruby/garnet , orange rim EU: Red JL: Garnet, slightly bricky edge AKG: Brick, a bit dull PAK: dark cherry BG: Tawny/garnet rim
Nose KM: EU: Smokey, pomegranate, animal, sweat, strawberry JL: Gamey –berry – medium full acidic nose AKG: Flowers,manure PAK: Cherry BG: pepper
Palate BG: all mid-palate, dried cherry with very soft, fat/silkymouth feel on the edges KM: Cherry, plummy, smooth velvety tannins, raspberry, silky but not overly complex EU: high alcohol, good acid, balanced, ripe red fruit JL: Sweet spicy strawberries, well balanced – soft tannins, medium long finish, dry AKG: balanced, elegant, mouthwatering, subtle, but lovely PAK: smooth, round, full bodied
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin
See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
Tasting Held January 18th 2011