Wine Tasting: Pinot Noir

[Special reminder: next month Cindy is taking over again for our second annual Scotch tasting invasion of wine tasting. Date to be announced. You have been warned.]

So I'm not as taken with Pinot as Miles from Sideways, but there was plenty to like. I got 2 bottles of several of these, which meant fewer things ran out for you late-comers. I think I'll keep that up for future tastings.

Many of these were bought at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in the SF ferry building, a few at K&L Wines, and the rest brought by you lovely guests. My favs marked in bold:

1. 2005 Esser California Pinot Noir ($13) (nice, but boring)


2. 2004 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Patrick Size ($15) (good value)


3. 2004 Chehalem 3 Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($22) (excellent start, followed by disappointing finish)


4. 2005 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir ($17) (too simple, not much going on)


5. 2001 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets Domaine M. Ecard ($30) (a real taste of Burgundy at a good price)


6. 2005 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($46) (a consensus favorite for the evening, powerful, complex, a hint of Burgundian flavors, but obviously not beholden to the Burgundy style)


7. 2003 Chassagne Montrachet Vielles Vignes Domaine Bernard Morey ($36) (too young, very tight, even after decanting, more like young Cab than Pinot)


8. 2005 Boxcar Russian River Pinot Noir ($26) (well liked, straightforward, fruit forward style)


9. 2001 Old World Winery Windsor Gardens Vineyard Russian River Pinot Noir (~$15) (wow, I would have guessed it was a light Zin! jammy, but not too sweet, a Zin-lover's Pinot)


10. 2002 WillaKenzie Estate Oregon Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) ($17) (the bargain of the night, real Burgundian aspirations, well-balanced, outstanding)


11. 2004 Tolosa Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir (~$20) (very nice, a good value)


12. 2004 Londer Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ($28) (another Zin-lover's pinot, 15% alcohol, jammy, huge, the anti-Burgundy style, but delicious)


13. 2002 McHenry Vineyard Santa Cruz Pinot Noir (~$20) (very well-balanced, restrained and sophisticated, excellent value)