Looking Back Six Years On The 2008s #16

We taste wines from three Salt Spring Island wineries, the Cowichan Valley, Kelowna, Oliver and Burgundy

Geranium, slight wax crayon, pomegranate – LC
Very tannic, bitter, tree bark, something green not fruity – AKG
Supple, beautiful fruit, pomegranate, long, acidity low, roses – BG

#1 Salt Spring Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008 12%

Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: C
Price: $25.00

Eye
LC: Brick and you know it’s a pinot    BG: ruby/garnet    AKG: glossy, garnet    Jacquelin G: light, clear, hint of brickiness

Nose
LC: Strawberry, caramel BG: ripe strawberry, flowery, vanilla AKG: strawberry, candy, pepper Jacquelin G: savoury, meaty, cooked beets

Palate
LC: Acid, strawberry but very delicate, longish finish slightly hot, quite pretty, spicy, white pepper delivered on the nose    BG: fruit dried out, simple, strawberries, overripe, vanilla, not complex    AKG: a little sour, high acidity, rather flat, not a lot of fruit, nice aftertaste though    Jacquelin G: slightly tannic and acidic for the level of fruit; medium length nominated by savoury notes.

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Salt Spring Vineyards Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Deol Family Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2008 12.5%

Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: C+
Price: $15.90

Eye
LC: Brick, slightly cloudy    BG: pale, ruby/garnet    AKG: rich, garnet    Jacquelin G: light, crystal bright, bricky rim and core

Nose
LC: Floral, geranium – dried herbal – lemon pledge    BG: blackberry! VA? Alcohol, sulphur, burnt match    AKG: creosote, fruity – blackberry?    Jacquelin G: hint of strawberry jam along with savoury notes, meaty, not make, also a bit hot

Palate
LC: Blue cheese. Something sweet but no real fruit evident. Not unpleasant – reasonable balance, simple    BG: blackberry, chemical, Brett?    AKG: doesn’t taste like a pinot, rich tannic savoury, blackberry    Jacquelin G: well-balanced and plentiful tannins, could hold for 2 to 5 years, medium long finish

Notes:
Closure – Plastic Cork

Deol Family Estate Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Le Vieux Pin – Adieu Pinot Noir 2008 13.5%

Quality Rating: D+ to C- ~ 83    Value Rating: D
Price: $30-35

Eye
LC: Brick    BG: pale, cherry/garnet    AKG: cherry, deep colour    Jacquelin G: medium bricky core and rim

Nose
LC: Caramel, bramble, stewed, spice – nutmeg? Apple. Complex nose    BG: floral, sweet strawberry, candy, rich, poised, berry    AKG: Dusty, spicy, cooked fruit, salty    Jacquelin G: intensely savoury: meaty, herbal, and long-lasting yum!

Palate
LC: very dry – salty – bitter finish – green tannin on finish, finishes hot. Out of sync with the nose    BG: bit tannic, then an entrancing fruit flavour but underripe tannins    AKG: very tannic, bitter, tree bark, something green not fruity    Jacquelin G: bitter! From beginning of palate and lingering through the finish, does not deliver what the bouquet promised – drink now.

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

#4 Nuit St. Georges Premier Cru Les Chaliots Domaine Michel Gros 13%

Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~  89    Value Rating: D+ to C-
Price: $67.00

Eye
LC: Garnet/brick    BG: pale, cherry/garnet    AKG: cherry, silky looking    Jacquelin G: pale bricky core and rim

Nose
LC: hints of violet rose; strawberry, warm spices, dusty, complex nose, mushroom    BG: blueberry, cherry, plums, warm cherry, strawberry – savoury    AKG: chocolate, coffee, raspberry    Jacquelin G: slightly perfumed, violets? Savoury herbs, hot! meaty also very slightly musty – wet earth

Palate
LC: astringent, sweet strawberries? But almost dried out finishes white peppery on the mouth    BG: elegant structure, layered, savoury strawberry, longer aftertaste. Lovely savoury fruit    AKG: strawberry, long finish, warm ending, mineral    Jacquelin G: savoury palate with noticeable tannins, quite acidic but still food friendly, medium length dominated by savoury notes. Drink now. Hint of bitterness on palate and finish

#5 Garry Oaks Winery Pinot Noir 2008 12%

Quality Rating: B+ ~ 94    Value Rating: B+ to A-
Price: $23.00

Eye
LC: bricky    BG: cherry/Garnet    AKG: Garnet    Jacquelin G: pale bricky rim and core

Nose
LC: bright strawberry, cherry, earthy, caramel, pepper    BG: rhubarb/strawberry, vegetal, light vanilla/oak, interesting violets    AKG: maraschino cherry, forest, damp or shady    Jacquelin G: strawberry jam, herbs and spices: sweet and savoury, vanilla.

Palate
LC: sweet strawberry jam; well-balanced; white pepper. Delivers what was promised on the nose. Drink soon    BG: supple, beautiful fruit, pomegranate, long, acidity low, roses, tannins there but not in the way    AKG: sweet fruit opening, great mouth feel, interesting structure, long finish, complex wood, delicate well-balanced    Jacquelin G: ripe strawberries and wild herbs thyme and rosemary, medium plus length of fruit and herbs well-balanced! Drink now and hold for another year or two

Notes:
Closure – Composite cork

Garry Oaks Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#6 Mistaken Identity Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008 12.6%

Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85    Value Rating: C-
Price: $23.50

Eye
LC: bricky    BG: pale, cherry/Garnet    AKG: Garnet, almost pin    Jacquelin G: bright and clear, pale bricky rim and core

Nose
LC: tar, fruit seems to be hiding – strawberry, tomato   BG: black cherry, vanilla, blueberry, violets, floral, blackberry, tomatoes   AKG: vanilla, toasted marshmallow, incense    Jacquelin G: huge vanilla hit! stewed tomatoes, beets, sour cherries, tar

Palate
LC: dried out initially, savoury/sweet – beet, tomato. Finishes weirdly – back of tongue, disappears from front    BG: high acidity, blueberry/blackberry, bit bitter, simple, underripe blackberry, tomatoes, beet?    AKG: a little too acidic, not as much fruit as I’d like, but elegant flavour on the ending, sort of burnt flavour    Jacquelin G: a bit too acidic for the level of the fruit, ripe tannins, medium light body drink now, not for the cellar

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

#7 Quails’ Gate Dijon Clone Selection Pinot Noir 2008 14%

Quality Rating: B- to B ~ 91    Value Rating: C+
Price: $55.00

Eye
LC: red/garnet    BG: cherry/ruby    AKG: cherry, deep

Nose
LC: geranium, slight wax crayon, pomegranate    BG: cherry/plum, violets! Vanilla, nutmeg    AKG: prunes, vanilla    Jacquelin G: cherries, both red and dark, sweet-and-sour. Vanilla, herbs

Palate
LC: sweetness on tongue but not fruit driven, pomegranate/cranberry, medium finish. Hold for a while    BG: cherry/strawberry/plum, vanilla, good acidity, gorgeous fruit! Very long    AKG: fruity – cherry, well-balanced, long rich finish, oaky ending    Jacquelin G: well-balanced, good level of black and red fruits, well-made, simple wine; short finish pleasant clean drink now or hold for 2 to 5 years

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: Stewart Family Reserve 2007, Clone 828 2010 , Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir 2006 )

Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting held May 20, 2014