April 18th, 2013 - Pinot Noir - Ms Kathy & Mr. Jamie
Theme: Pinot Noir, a red wine varietal. "Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine."
Bring: TWITs should bring a bottle of Pinot Noir ($20 or under for singles, $40 or under for couples). and we can have everyone pick their favorite bottle at the end. The one who brings the bottle with the most votes wins a prize!
Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine: La Marca Prosecco
1)
2008 Destino Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley - $17 on Wines Till Sold Out
14.5% alcohol
tart cherry, raspberry, bark, honey, not potent on the nose, light spice on the nose
tart apple finish, not jammy, crunchy fruits, really fruity,
TWITs Guesses: classic Sonoma coast (Rheinallt), 13.5% alcohol (Marilyn)
2)
2008 Westrey Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir, McMinnville Oregon - $43 @ Sherlocks Wine Merchant
13.5% alcohol
very different nose, old world, funkytown, horse manure, oak, age, wheat grass, earthy,
double legs, ruby color
very light, refined, flaccid, cherries, milk chocolate, flabby ending, it runs away quickly
TWITs Guesses: Kokomo Pinot Noir (Abbie), Russian River Valley (Rheinallt)
3)
2010 St. Innocent Justice Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills Williamette Valley - $41 or 42 at Alons
13% alcohol
more clarity in color than the others, brown around edges, has some age
burgundy, cedar, vanilla, oak, like an old dresser, earthy, mushroom, French-ish,
palate backs it up, first whiff of bell pepper (short whiff), lingers a bit longer, easy to drink,
Quote of the evening so far: "It's seen a lot of wood" - Rheinallt
TWITs Guesses: Sonoma (Rich)
4)
2004 Meursault Les Durots Pierre Morey, Cote D'Or - $17 at Garagiste.com
13% alcohol - French Burgundy
Nose: leather from the cow ass, chaps - no chaps are assless, fermented broccoli, saddle sway, horse manure, "this is a nose twinger", anise, funkiest funk of a pinot noir, talcum, granite,
Palate: bubble gum, bitter, root, tastes like farm, barn, cotton-ball on the finish, celery root, tart, dry, harsh finish, "like, go away!", throttling grip.
"sucks all the moisture out of your mouth" - Abbie
"Aw it's terrible" - Ken
5)
2009 Cote Du Beaune-Villages (Cote D'Or) Marnay Sorelles - $33 @ Le Caveau
13% alcohol
good legs,
sweeter smell, new world, latex, perfumey, sweet cherry, rubber (like a floatie), bubblegum, high alcohol on the nose
nice palate at first, but then flabby.
6)
2011 Jenner Pinot Noir, Sonoma - $24 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
WE HAVE A WINNER! This wine won the prize! Congratulations to KEN for bringing the winning bottle! He won a candle made from a Giuseppe Quintarelli bottle.
oaky, jammy nose, raspberry, all spice, blue cheese
fruity, spicy, eloquent, elegant, spicy, leather, delicate raspberry, very lovely, head and shoulders above the rest, "Jamie Approved"
TWITs Guesses: Southern California - Rheinallt
7)
2011 Meiomi Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara/Monterey/Sonoma Blend - $20 @ PH Wine Merchant
13.9% alcohol
SECOND PLACE - way to go Janssen!
more purple "Ooh, stand back, this is nice" lighter nose, spice, floral, oaked, caramel, cinnamon
drying, off-tart, more full-bodied, rich body, it's got mint, chocolate, smooth, so smooth, "the Justin Timberlake of wine", not French, alternative Hipster Pinot, multi-layered, it's like cake ice cream, light sugar, "could drink all day and all night", smells like Grenache, "its not like any pinot I've had"
8)
2010 Bench Break Cambria Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley - $35 from direct winery club shipment (NOTE: this is where they filmed the "Sideways" movie)
14.3% alcohol
THIRD PLACE - way to go Val & Rheinallt !
funky, alcoholic nose, latex, ocean breeze candle,
Raspberry then spice, pepper, like a mix of 6 and 7, Love it!
TWITs Guesses: Russian River Valley or Santa Barbara County (Rheinallt), Dry Creek (Brian)
9)
2011 The Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dahlonega Georgia - $33 from winery
(bottled by Monteluce) 13% alcohol
cloves, juices, subdued, banana, like a Belgian Beer, Hefeweizen, barky, bubble gum, Irish Spring Soap, banana laffy taffy, yeasty, cake, vanilla, old lady perfume,
it does not taste the way it smells, banana pudding batter, cinnamon toothpaste, light rich candy, leaves a film on your mouth
10)
2011 Kudos Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley - $16-17 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol
funk on the nose, fresh manure, "Maceo Parker wine", sulfur, ammonia, perm solution,
flaccid, terrible, deflated balloon, impotent, funky cold medina
"Rheinallt is this one of your jokes?" - Jaffet
This is the first time Jaffet dumped his wine out into the spit bucket.
"South Georgia Pinot?" - Matt
11)
2011 Acacia Pinot Noir, Carneros Sonoma - $14.99
gooseberry, floral nose, sharp fruit, standard pinot Sonoma County, "this isn't horse shit"
sweeter, too normal, a good 2nd or 3rd bottle into the evening. not French, too fruity, I'd give it a 3.
Janssen made us a Photosynth photo
here. Other photos are below.
