Tasting #3 – Are the 2005s alive?

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 

#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