Wine Tasting: Pinot Noir

 

So that confirmed everything I think about Pinot Noir, namely, I don't like it. Well, to be clear, I think *good* Pinot is wonderful. But it's hard to find, and when found, is usually expensive. Everything else is so variable that it's hard to know what you'll get when you open one. I know, I'm a philistine. Thanks for coming, everyone! My favorites in bold, included a link for the ones that K&L still has in stock.

1. 2008 Bindi "Composition" Pinot Noir Macedon Ranges Victoria ($35): Relatively light on its feet, still tasted perfectly nice even when I came back to it at the end. 92 points Wine Spectator; 91 points Stephen Tanzer.
2. 2011 Domaine de Bila Haut "Occultum Lapidem" Côtes de Roussillon-Villages ($29): French, but NOT from Burgundy, a consensus favorite, very good value for the price. 94-96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
3. 2010 Joseph Swan "Saralee's Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($35): many were put off by the dark-fruit character, but I liked it (perhaps because it reminded me of a good Zin).
4. 2010 Hirsch "San Andreas Fault" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($40, regularly $60): this was the one that stood head and shoulders above the others. Exactly what I think of when I imagine a good pinot, lush and delicate at the same time. But expensive. Wish I bought more when it was on sale. 93 points Wine Enthusiast; 91 points Stephen Tanzer.
5. 2010 DeLoach Green Valley Russian River Pinot Noir ($34): another one that I liked, but struck many as too sweet, too fruit forward, too flabby. Fair point.
6. 2010 Brittan "Basalt Block" Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir ($36): our only Oregon representative and a surprisingly big, dark fruit driven wine for something coming out of the Willamette Valley. Returning to this at the end of the evening, I thought it really proved itself. 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
7. 2005 Domaine Moillard Vosne Romanée 1er Cru "Malconsorts" ($65): our one representative from Burgundy, this was very well crafted wine, with good structure, acid, lots of tannin suggesting this is still young even at 8 years old. I respect this wine, but can't say I liked it (and especially not at $65).
8. 2008 Halleck Vineyard "3 Sons Cuvee" Russian River Pinot Noir ($42): another crowd splitter, with many disliking it for its sweet, dark fruit character. Another pinot that seemed more like a Zin (which meant that I liked it OK, especially late in the line up).
9. 2011 Siduri Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir ($29): first bottle I opened was deeply wrong -- seemed something terrible happened at the factory. But the second bottle was more in line with expectations. This had a smoky quality and a rough finish, but not bad. 92 points Wine Enthusiast.
10. 2010 Skewis Ridley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ($50): should have opened this earlier, but I liked it quite a bit. A lighter, more red fruit sort of pinot. Good but eclipsed by the Hirsch in a similar style.