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Passion for Pinot - Fall Edition
Wednesday, November 2, 2006
Tasting Notes and scores by Wine Merchant’s
Jamie Bronk. The rankings are based on customer’s favorites as
measured by their purchases.
Torrii Mor Pinot Noir Duex Verres Reserve
Oregon 2004 - 90 Points Rank 9th (Tied)
$47.99
Generous red cherry, red licorice and a touch of spice.
Silver Ridge Pinot Noir California 2004 - 89
Points BEST BUY Rank 12th (Tied) $11.99
Great flavor and quality for $12. Bing cherry and red cherry.
Segway Pinot Noir California 2005 - 90 Points
Rank 12th (Tied) $19.99
Lots of cranberry, sweet red cherry, soft spices and sweet cinnamon.
A by Acacia Pinot Noir California 2004 - 89
Points Rank 12th (Tied) $17.99
Soft plummy wines with touches of blueberry and black cherry with a
hint of black licorice.
Howling Wolf Pinot Noir California 2005 - 87
Points Rank 11th $12.99
Spicy cherry with touches of scorched earth, pleasant terrior driven
wine.
Jordan "J" Pinot Noir Russian River 2004 - 91
Points Rank 9th (Tied) $29.99
Sweet, creamy and loaded with ripe red cherry, raspberry and
cranberry. Nice long, spicy finish.
Alma Rosa Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2004 -
92/93 Points Rank 4th $29.99
Big bold style. Rich red and black berry fruit with lots of
baking spices. A real treat.
Tolosa Pinot Noir Central Coast 2005 - 91
Points Rank 12 (Tied) $21.99
Big red currant and tart red cherry. Focused flavor with long
structured tannins. Good for cellaring.
W. H. Smith Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2005 - 93
Points Rank 3 rd $34.99
Red raspberry and sweet red rhubarb. Big in your face, fruit
forward style with a long fruit laden finish. Great wine from
superstar winemaker Helen Turley!
Elyse Pinot Noir Wild Horse Valley 2004 - 94
Points Rank 8th $45.99
Still big and brooding with dark cherry, blackberry and raspberry.
Super concentrated.
Tramier Rancier Burgundy NV - 88 Points BEST
BUY Rank 5th $9.99
Made from de-classified Burgundy juice. A great starting point
for those interested in Red Burgundy. Some red fruit with a
touch of terroir and spice.
La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2005 -
88 Points Rank 12 (Tied) $21.99
Sweeter, soft red fruit and some blueberries. Very appealing
style.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clarke & Telephone 2005 -
94 Points Rank 1st $37.99
I absolutely loved the 2004 of this wine and have to say this 2005
is better. more blueberry flavor and lots of spice. This
will improve since it just arrived across country on a truck today
and is still bottle shocked from the trip.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Las Alturas 2004 - 92
Points Rank 6 (Tied) $49.99
Well rounded red fruit with a cherry pie crust sweetness and long
finish. Very soft and delicate.
D'Argenzio Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2004
- 89 Points Rank 9th (Tied) $38.99
Somewhat Burgundian with soft red fruit, spice and some mineral
terroir. The sweet finish will indeed satisfy most looking for
less bold Pinot but not overly earthy. (Made in very small
batches through a process that uses layers of dry ice and just
picked fruit to force the fruit to stay cool while it soaks on the
skins to bring out all the flavors. As the dry ice melts, the
carbon dioxide keep fermentation from starting which adds to the
cold soak time.)
Witness Tree Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2004
- 90 Points Rank 6th (Tied) $27.99
Fruit forward drier style that is very food friendly. Tight
tannins will allow this one to age for 5 to 10 years.
Twelve Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Yamhill
2003 - 91 Points Rank 12th (Tied)$29.99
Dark fruit with licorice and rich minerals. Sweet fruit notes
on the finish.
Falcor Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 200
90 Points Rank 2nd $32.99
Made by Ray Coursen of Elyse Winery. Very different from Ray's
other Pinot Noir (Elyse Wild Horse Valley). This is red fruit
and spice, but not the heavyweight concentration of the Elyse.
Very pleasant and delicious.
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