Tasting Report: Pinot Days 2013
Another standout Pinot Days this year, still going strong despite some continued economic setbacks and other wine events that seem to be shrinking. Top picks include wines from Bailiwick, Domaine Serene (Oregon), Sequana, Sojourn, and Waits-Mast. Hard though to go wrong with Kosta Browne, pouring here on a rare public showing. Favorite line overheard while waiting to be served at this ultra-busy booth: “I don’t even know what we’re waiting for.”
Notes follow.
Complete Tasting Report: Pinot Days 2013
2010 Bailiwick Borderline Pinot Noir / A- / lots of aromatics
2010 Bailiwick Foray Pinot Noir / B+ / a touch musty
2010 Bailiwick Silver Pines Pinot Noir / A / lots of body, intense
2011 Bonneau Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir / B / some carmael notes, sweetish finish
2010 Egret Pinot Noir / B- / lots of chocolate, lean body (Bonneau’s second label)
2008 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir Willamette Valley / A- / fresh apples and spice
2009 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir Willamette Valley / A / tobacco notes, big and earthy
2011 Dutton-Goldfield Winery Azaya Ranch Marin Pinot Noir / A- / unique, fresh mint
2011 Dutton-Goldfield Winery Emerald Ridge Pinot Noir / B+ / huge, lots of fruit
2011 Dutton-Goldfield Winery Fox Den Pinot Noir / A- / interesting balance
2011 Dutton-Goldfield Winery Angel Camp Pinot Noir / A- /
2010 Expression 44 Eola-Amity Hills Zena Crown Pinot Noir / B- / thin
2010 Expression 44 Eola-Amity Hills Roserock Pinot Noir / B / earthier
2010 Expression 38 Gap’s Crown Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir / A- / much different, better structure
2011 Goldeneye Decoy / B / light, fresh
2011 Goldeneye Migration / A- / good balance, lots of fruit
2010 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir / A- / chocolate notes, huge body
2011 Hilliard-Bruce Sun Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills / A- / big and spicy, mild finish
2010 Hilliard-Bruce Sun Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills / B+ / somewhat less structure, big bramble notes
2010 Hilliard-Bruce Moon Pinot Noir / A / beautiful wine, floral and fresh
2011 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir / B / fine but lean
2010 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Robert Thomas Vineyard / B+ / sturdier, fruit is muted
2009 Kessler-Hawk Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir / B / tart, quite dry
2010 Kessler-Hawk Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir / B / minty, big body
2010 Kessler-Hawk Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir Clone 2A / B /
2010 Kessler-Hawk Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir Pommard / B- / unripe
2011 Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir / A / light and peppery
2011 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir / A / really beautiful, silky with chocolate notes
2011 La Rochelle Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir / B+ / Burgundy style, some earth
2011 La Rochelle Vander Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir / B+ / easy fruit, opening up
2010 Sequana Russian River Valley Pinot Noir / A / dense berries, very lush,
2010 Sequana Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Sundawg Ridge / A- / lots more tart cherry, with a slightly tougher body
2011 Sojourn Ridgetop Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir / A- / lots going on, cocoa, big fruity body
2011 Sojourn Wohler Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir / A / beautiful balance, lovely body, some menthol
2011 Sojourn Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast / A / lovely structure
2010 Sojourn Beckstoffer Vineyard George III Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford / A- / cheating to bring a Cab to Pinot (sold as “dark pinot” to passers-by), long finish, Port-like, nuts, dark chocolate
2012 Waits-Mast Rose Mendocino / A- / brisk, lively
2010 Waits-Mast Oppenlander Vineyard Pinot Noir / A- / lots of fruit, intense
2009 Waits-Mast Amber Ridge Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir / A / bold and fun
2010 Woodenhead Wet Kiss Pinot Noir / A- / don’t mind the awful label, this cute wine is filled with dark chocolate notes
2010 Woodenhead Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Cinder Cone / B+ / long finish, mint and tannin
2009 Woodenhead Wiley Vineyard Pinot Noir / A- / pretty, nice balance
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