Top Picks from Pinot Days 2010
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