Tasting through a smaller selection of wines at the trade portion of this year’s Pinot Days event in San Francisco, the printed matter on what Pinot Noir wines was being offered was scarce (OK, there was none), but the wines were plentiful. Here’s a selection of what I considered to be the best wines being poured, with a few notes.

Best of Pinot Days 2010 – Tasting Notes

2007 Chamisal Pinot Noir Edna Valley Pinot Noir – tight now, but with a good balance

2008 August West Graham Family Vineyard Pinot Noir – lovely, with dark fruit notes

2008 August West Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir – much like the Graham

2008 Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir – closed, but with rich undertones

2008 Sequana Sundawg Ridge Green Valley Pinot Noir – all three of these surprisingly similar, solid expressions

2008 Sequana Dutton Ranch Green Valley Pinot Noir

2008 Sequana Sarmento Vineyard Santa Lucia Pinot Noir

2008 Le Cadeau Rocheux Pinot Noir – best of this winery’s four expressions

2008 Rusack Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir – very fresh, one of my favorites of the event

2006 Fort Ross Symposium Pinot Noir – great expression of this grape, better than the reserve bottlings

2007 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir – very easygoing and smooth

2008 Sojourn Cellars Sangiacomo Pinot Noir – deep and rich

2008 Sojourn Cellars Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir – even bigger, perhaps my top wine today

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