Tasting #8 – 2007s 3rd Round

Pinot noirs from the Similkameen Valley, Okanagan Falls, Peachland, Summerland, Skaha Bench and West Kelowna

“light floral,cherry,balsamic, celery seed” – EU
“long finish , well balanced, huckleberry going into smoked oyster, cedar” – AKG

#1 Orofino Pinot Noir 2007  12.8%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90    Value Rating: C to C+
Price: $32.00

Eye
LC: Garnet, pale at rim    BG: Medium depth, stewed plum rim, pink with touch of orange    AKG: Rose almost dusky    PAK: pale bricky tint    EU: Dark brownish red

Nose
LC: Dry/dusty or smoky with hint of cherry    BG: Rhubarb, touch of dry cherry, overall impression of dry strawberry bit of alcohol noticable on swirl    AKG: Fruity smoky, citric notes?    PAK: Fruity,cherries    EU: Anise, cherry, toast, earth, dark red fruit

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit-tart cherry and creamy. Good acid/balance. light body. fairly simple. Developed a lot in the glass over the 1 hour. Wood started to fade back    BG: Flat sweet cherry, dry cherry juice, unpleasant sour end, this persisted even after it had been open for a while    AKG: Acidic, slight oak in fnish, fruity, cherries    PAK: Tannic but promising    EU: Ripe wild cherry, good acidity, long finish, medium body, slight bittergreens at finish

Notes:
Closure – cork

Orofino Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Noble Ridge Pinot Noir 2007 14.6%

Quality Rating: C– ~ 84    Value Rating: C-
Price: $28.00

Eye
LC: Garnet almost to rim,bright    BG: light/med depth, garnet rim    AKG: Cherry going to garnet    PAK: Cherry coloured    EU: Garnet

Nose
LC: Hints of cedar, some fruit in background ?/strawberry    BG: Fresh peppery strawberry, roundness in fruit. Sweetness at tip of tongue. after opening more – curry?    AKG: Earthy, mineral    PAK: Vanilla , cherries    EU: slight cherry, smoke,light earth

Palate
LC: Sour fruit tannins & acid overpower any fruit. Medium long finish-quite tart    BG: Simple longish  with lovely acidity, bit of tannin on end. long cherry aftertaste, bitterness grew  a little more as it opened up    AKG: tannic, rather flat, bitterness    PAK: Nothing distinctive, shortened tart end    EU: cooked plum, barnyard, earth, cherry, light oak on finish

Notes:
Closure – cork

Jim and Leslie D’Andrea founded the winery in 2001 beginning with 3.5 acre of vines to which they have added another 18 acres. Their first pinot noir vintage was 2003.

Noble Ridge wines are bolder in structure than many B.C. pinot noirs and are an example of the wide diversity of styles that pinot noir is capable of even in terroirs of close proximity such as the Okanagan Falls area. Noble Ridge credits this in part to being one of the few vineyards to utilize the Geneva Double Curtain trellis system for pinot noir and have found that this system yields fruit with intricate depth, complexity and colour. The winery suggests their pinot will depending on the vintage, age well in some cases for eight years or more. Use of new oak in the ageing process is also part of their regime.

Noble Ridge Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Greata Ranch Pinot Noir 2007 14%

Quality Rating: C+ to B– ~ 89    Value Rating: B-
Price: $20.00

Eye
LC: Red to rim    BG: Cherry rim, light    AKG: Cherry, glossy    PAK: warm red, purplish tinge    EU: brown. purple

Nose
LC: Cherry,hint of cinnamon,slight barnyard    BG: Bit pomegranate lilting fruit, black cherry,dried cherry,bit of strawberry not a classic pinot style    AKG: barnyard, fruity    PAK: Cheese,no fruity smell at first    EU: Light floral,cherry,balsamic, celery seed

Palate
LC: Slightly hot, tart cherry, slightly creamy: quite well balanced re acid/tannins,lively delicate. Finish medium and it drops off.    BG: Plenty of pomegranate tinged acidity, more oregon or NZ soft fruit at beginning   AKG: fruity, strawberries hint of charcoal?    PAK: Sweet, pleasant not spectacular    EU: good acidity, caramel, cooked cherry,light almond,roast nuts, burnt sugar!

 Notes:
Closure – cork

Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#4 Bonitas Artist Series Pinot Noir 2007 12.5%

Quality Rating: B- to B ~ 91    Value Rating: C+
Price: $30.00

Eye
LC: Purple to rim, deep    BG: Purple rim, medium depth. Beautiful rich colour at centre    AKG: Purple    PAK: Purple    EU: bright blue, purple

Nose
LC: Barnyard, cinnamon, slight meatiness, plum, big    BG: Boiled beetroot, cherry juice, grapey, flowers    AKG: Spicy, fruitcake, caramel    PAK: Barnyard, strawberry , tar, apples    EU: dominant vegetal, compost. very ripe raspberry, & black cherry

Palate
LC: Plum, creamy, black tea, tannic, good acid, not subtle and finishes quite long    BG: Big fruit, long serious, dense, almost blackberry, silky    AKG: Very nicely balanced – great acidity, nice mouthfeel but not typical pinot noir, sauna flavour, plums/prunes    PAK: Round, mouth filling, long finish    EU: Strong raspberry cherry, oak, vanilla, sweet spice . good fullness, velvet texture, medium finish

Notes:
Closure – Composite cork

Bonitas Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#5 Pentage Pinot Noir 2007 12.5%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90    Value Rating: C
Price: $30.00

Eye
LC: Thin-garnet to brick    BG: Light garnet/brick throughout    AKG: Brown rose, thin looking    PAK: Pale, amber/rose tinge    EU: red-ruby

Nose
LC: Rhubarb,hints of barnyard & cheese    BG: Caramel,spoiled apple, bit of savoury caramel,old strawberry    AKG: gasoline    PAK: Spice, wood, medicinal    EU: dominant roses. sour cherry

Palate
LC: Sweet bigger mouth feel than colour would indicate , strawberry, acidic, some heat. finishes short to medium, caramel. well balanced    BG: Silky, savory caramel, quite long bit of alcohol burn    AKG: Long finish, well balanced, huckleberry going into smoked oyster, cedar    PAK: Ho hum, tart taste remaining in mouth, tastes like savory Italian red   EU: cherry,light oak in finish, clean

Notes:
Closure – cork

#6 Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2007 New Zealand 13%

Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: C
Price: $30.00

Eye
LC: Red    BG: light cherry/garnet on rim    AKG: Garnet, a little dull looking    PAK: Cherry Coloured    EU: light red

Nose
LC: Crayon    BG: Eucalyptus, herbal, acidity attack, fresh fish, bit of cinnamon, rust, quite odd    AKG: Baked earth, rosemary, herbal, lemon, sweet strawberry tart    PAK: Cat pee, overrripe strawberries, satisfying    EU: cooked candied, cherry jam, slight grilled meat, celery seed

Palate
LC: Sweetness, berry fruit (cranberries?)iodine/spicy, white pepper. Very long finish    BG: Noticably wide and big in the mouth compared to previous wines,pomegranate acidity  cherry, dextrous flavour, bing cherry,mouth watering acidity    AKG: very souracidic, sour cherries. gets really sour almost like lemon juice edge of wood balances a little but not enough   PAK: Caramel , round, good balance    EU: herbal green with little fruit (light red fruits) (celery) short finish

#7 Quails’ Gate Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 14%

Quality Rating: B- to B ~ 91    Value Rating: C- to C
Price: $45.00

Eye
LC: Garnet, brick, deep colour    BG: Garnet/brick rim,light    AKG: pale brick    PAK: Reddish brown    EU: red slight brown

Nose
LC: Barnyard-strawberry and hint of baking spice (nutmeg/mace)    BG: Big, touch of tangy fruit, silky even on the nose, elegant fruit    AKG: vanilla, papaya, honeysuckle, tropical edge or pepper    PK: Strawberries, fruity, vanilla    EU: rubber,styrene plastic, compost, fruit?

Palate
LC: Barnyard-mild and sweet strawberry. well balanced. nice mouthfeel-light/med bodied quite long finish    BG: wave of full flavour seemingly without mass, big flavour throughout burnt match, very well balanced    AKG: a light fizz, vanilla fruity, baked peaches. crowd pleaser    PAK: Sweet, round, balanced, good!!    EU: rubber, burning plastic, tannin,fruit?

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

With their first pinot noir being released in 1989, Quails’ Gate Winery has a serious claim on being the first pinot noir producer of the modern (vinifera) era in British Columbia. Their original vineyard was purchased in 1956. Both their regular pinot noir and their Stewart Family Reserve have been made now for over twenty-five vintages. They have also produced limited releases of pinot noirs based on Dijon clones (here), the 828 clone, as well as a Richard’s Block pinot noir to honour the winery’s founder.
The current winemaker is Ross Baker. He was the protégé of former Winemaker Nikki Callaway.  He previously worked at Villa Maria Estates in Marlborough, New Zealand and also held positions locally at both Red Rooster Winery and Kettle Valley Winery. (Click for Reviews: Quails’ Gate Clone 828 2010, Quails’ Gate Dijon Clone 2008, Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir 2006 )

Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting held May 24^th 2011