
Nichol Vineyard 2005 Label Detail
Digging back to 2005, for wines from the Cowichan Valley, Saturna Island and the Okanagan.
“Roses, black tea, earth, woods”- EU
“Very dry, tannic, slightly bitter, where’s the fruit?”- JL
Name of Wine | Price | Quality | Value |
#1 Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir 2005 | $18.00 | D+ ~ 82 | D+ to C- ~ 83 |
#2 Saturna Island Family Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2005 | $18.00 | D ~ 80 | D ~ 80 |
#3 Nichol Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 | $30.00 | C ~ 86 | D to D+ ~ 81 |
#4 Blue Grouse Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 | $30.00 | C- to C ~ 85 | D to D+ ~ 81 |
#5 Nk’Mip Cellars Pinot Noir Qwam Qwmt 2005 | $26.00 | C- to C ~ 85 | D+ ~ 82 |
#6 Foxtrot Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 | $50.00 | C- to C ~ 85 | D+ ~ 82 |
#7 Sonoma Cutrer Pinot Noir 2005 (California) | $40.00 | C+ ~ 88 | D+ ~ 82 |
#1 Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir 2005 14.1%
Quality Rating : D+ ~ 82 Value Rating: D+ to C-
Price: $18.00
Eye
LC: Garnet/Brick, clear BG: Bricky edge, light, cherry at center AKG: Dirty cherry, jam coloured, yellow tint JL: Ruby & brown KM: Light garnet and some brick tones EU: Red and brown highlights MW: Medium, hint of brown on edge
Nose
LC: Strawberry and violet BG: Dusty, bit sour AKG: Cherry, metallic, oaky JL: Bright strawberry, forward, cherries, straightforward, simple, attractive KM: Cherry fruit with earthiness, somewhat mushroomlike EU: Sharp, light cherry, volatile aroma, bruised fruit MW: hint of heat, ripe cherry, hint of blackberry
Palate
LC: Slightly spicy, Caramel, long finish, – heat/tannin , nasty licorice BG: Very simple, sour , touch or cherry, bitter on end, a small wine AKG: Sharp at first, long but fairly flat taste oaked JL: Dry, finely tannic, hot, slightly tart, medium long KM: Decent structure and acidity, would improve with time? Tart. Tannin comes out in the end. Much fruitier than nose would suggest EU: Cherry, tannin, acid, bitter? MW: Big tannins, cherry, strawberry in finish
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability
#2 Saturna Island Family Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2005 12%
Quality Rating : D ~ 80 Value Rating: D
Price: $18.00 – $20.00
Eye
LC: Garnet/brick BG: Bricky edge, light/med depth AKG: Dirty cherry JL: Similar to #1 KM: Light garnet with some brick tones EU: Brown MW: medium brown edge, lighter than first wine
Nose
LC: Weird BG: Sour cough drops AKG: alcohol, fruit JL: Oxidized, baked KM: Bright fruit but oxidized EU: Perfume, oxidized, dried cherry MW: Barnyard, alcohol
Palate
LC: Sour, hint of vanilla ? Cherry. Medium long finish BG: Pretty dried out, some dry strawberry fruit AKG: Fruity but oxidized? Puff of fruit at the end JL: Fini! KM: On its way out! EU: Tannins, cherry, cranberry, caramel MW: Bright fruit behind oxidation
Notes:
Closure – Stelvin
#3 Nichol Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 12.7%
Quality Rating : C ~ 86 Value Rating: D to D+
Price: $30.00

Nichol Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005
Eye
LC: Ruby/Garnet BG: Cherry heart with a dry cherry rim AKG: Garnet JL: Garnet, bright KM: Ruby colour, vibrant EU: Dark red MW: Medium to edge, red/brown on edge
Nose
LC: Closed. Dried floral note? – Violets. Sour fruit BG: Spicy. cherry, pomegranate, wood AKG: Field in summer, fruit, barnyard, candy JL: Woody, cherry, oak/cedar , smoky notes KM: Earthy, meaty with cherry EU: Roses, black tea, earth, woods MW: Hint of barnyard, ripe berry
Palate
LC: Good acid, some heat, menthol, Cedar, sour cedar, medium long finish BG: Woody, closed, compressed structure, black tea AKG: Velvety mouth feel, climbs higher ¾ of the way along, tannic but has a graceful end feeling JL: Medium long tannic finish in good balance, opens later to maraschino cherries, fine acidity KM: Good structure and acidity, nice fruit but a bit tight EU: Strawberry jello, significant tannins, long, flavour short MW: Ripe fruit, medium acid, tons of young ripe cherry fruit, oak up front and in finish, tannins at end as well
Notes:
Closure – Composite Cork
Nichol Vineyards Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#4 Blue Grouse Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 13.6%
Quality Rating : C- to C ~ 85 Value Rating: D to D+
Price: $30.00
Eye
LC: Deep garnet red BG: Dried cherry AKG: Cherry, jewel like, dark center JL: Medium dark ruby KM: Deep ruby EU: Brownish red, dark garnet MW: Medium dark throughout
Nose
LC: Strawberries – dryness/dusty, layers of spices – cinnamon BG: Barnyard, watermelon rind, earthy, menthol AKG: horse manure, straw, charcoal, Vick’s Vaporub, mildew JL: Smoky cherries, strawberries/barnyard, camphor (hint) KM: More aggressive nose, very barnyardy, touch of tobacco and menthol EU: Light menthol, camphor, true sour cherry MW: Hint of heat, barnyard, straw, ripe candied cherry fruit
Palate
LC: Long finish, – front of mouth – sour cherry/strawberry. Quite well balanced, bitter tannin BG: Menthol, barnyard, chocolate ending, closed but toasty oak AKG: Velvety mouthfeel at first, very tannin, woody , dries out the tongue, young, walnut JL: Minty berry, firm tannins, good balance, medium long, very little fruit – simple KM: Leathery, fuller bodied (respectively), chewy EU: Bright cherry compote, long cherry, lots of tannin drying quickly MW: Restrained flavours, cherry , strawberry fruit, shorter finish
Notes:
Closure – Composite Cork
Blue Grouse Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability
#5 Nk’Mip Cellars Pinot Noir QQ 2005 13.5%
Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85 Value Rating: D+
Price: $30.00
Eye
LC: Garnet, less red BG: Medium/light depth, garnet rim AKG: Garnet, rich JL: Dark garnet KM: Deep ruby with tiny bit of cloudiness, unfiltered? EU: Dark red/brown
MW: Medium dark to edge, hint of brown
Nose
LC: Smoke, caramel, some meatiness, strawberry – dusty BG: Seashore, Cherries, charcoal AKG: Caramel, beach JL: Coffee, herbal, rosemary, sage, no fruit! KM: Christmas spice (allspice,cloves) a touch of “poopy-ness” (as they say) that fades quickly EU: Barnyard, metallic, seashore at low tide MW: Caramel, baked slightly strawberry, fruit behind oak
Palate
LC: Sweet fruit – up front meat BG: Herbal tang, rosemary AKG: Peppery, herbal, mouthwatering JL: Very dry,tannic, slightly bitter, where’s the fruit? KM: Toffee, nutty, spicy EU: Barnyard, cherry dried in the finish, tannins, sage, rosemary, dusty oregano MW: Closed, tannins in finish
Notes:
Closure – cork
Nk’Mip Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability
#6 Foxtrot Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 13.7%
Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85 Value Rating: D+
Price: $50.00 – $65.00
Eye LC: Garnet – deep tones BG: Garnet rim, light depth AKG: Garnet JL: Medium garnet KM: Garnet, brighter EU: MW: Medium throughout no brown
Nose
LC: Caramel/Soapy BG: Floral, soap, toffee AKG: Dolce de Leche, salty, popcorn, melted butter JL: Dirty, earthy, menthol, no fruit, soap flakes KM: Vanilla, buttery, not much fruit EU: Strawberry jam, patchouli, geranium MW: Bright cherry fruit, strawberry
Palate
LC: Sweeter fruit. Fruit med/short, tannin finish BG: Cardboardy fruit, baked, hot AKG: Salty, very short, bath water, tannin on end JL: Cherries, bitter, long, soft tannins, strange KM: Soapy EU: Strawberry, cherry, bruised fruit, tannins long and slightly bitter MW: Tight, strawberry with tannins on the finish
Notes:
Closure – cork
Foxtrot Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability
#7 Sonoma Cutrer Pinot Noir 2005 14.9%
Quality Rating : C+ ~ 88 Value Rating: D+
Price: $40.00
Eye
LC: Deep/dark ruby red BG: Dark heart, garnet rim AKG: very rich, pigment rich, cherry JL: Very dark ruby KM: Very deep ruby, a touch of cloudy, unfiltered? Very saturated colour EU: Dark red, intense colour MW: Very dark to edge
Nose
LC: Red licorice BG: Red berries, smells like syrah AKG: Earthy, black licorice JL: Vanilla/chocolate, hint of eucalyptus KM: Black licorice, anise EU: Caramel, rich, dried plums, dried cranberry MW: Strawberry, eucalyptus, smoky
Palate
LC: Hot. Sweet cherry/heat. Pruny, concentrated BG: Black licorice, black tea, luscious overall AKG: Berries, prune, raspberry, licorice at the end JL: Huge cherry/minty soft tannins, full body, well balanced, pruny and overripe, anise notes, very long KM: Dried fruit, prune, licorice EU: Caramel, rich prune plums, cherry cooked, port MW: Black twizzlers, sweet, intense fruit, legs
Tasting held February 15, 2011