4th Round of 2011 B.C. Pinot Noirs #21

Pinot Noirs from the the Golden Mile, Okanagan Falls, Cobble Hill, Penticton, Oliver and a “Guest Pinot” from Brazil

Sweet vanilla, dark cherry, toasty oak, strawberry, very ripe fruit… – EU
Salty caramel, raspberries, blueberries, toasted notes, vanilla… – AKG

#1  De Vine Pinot Noir 2011 12.8%

Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85    Value Rating: C-
Price: $25.00

Eye
BG: Pale, deep cherry/touch of purple.    AKG: Bright cherry – to purple.    EU: Dark magenta, brownish tone.

Nose
BG: Stewed round plum, boiled/candied plum, possibly spoiled    AKG: Citrus notes, berries, pepper.    EU: Distinct black cherry, pomegranate, light nose, floral.

Palate
BG: Not recognizably Pinot, dry, low acid, hot, medium grained tannins, the fruit is flat and simple. Slightly musty barrel finish with grape tannins not wood tannins.    AKG: Long flavour, pleasant, mulchy, savoury fruit. Fruit a bit dried out?    EU:  Tannic pomegranate, blueberry, light bitterness, dry finish with strong acid, unbalanced.

Notes:
Closure – cork

De Vine Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Cherry Point Pinot Noir Reserve 2011 12.5%

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

Eye
BG:  Pale, ruby rim.    AKG: Rose, strawberry, glossy.    EU: Red, bright garnet or ruby.

Nose
BG:  Rich cherries, some sweet spice, vanilla, cinnamon, some beetroot. Bit porty, not especially pinot like.    AKG: Salty caramel, toasted wood, honeysuckle, roasted nuts, wet floor, strawberry.    EU:  Complex floral, (rose, jasmine), sweet red fruit (cherry, strawberries).

Palate
BG: Prominent acidity, pomegranate molasses, medium plus grippy tannins. Finishes tannic/musty/port.    AKG: Too acidic, grippy tannins, sour strawberries, disappointing after what the nose promised,. Maybe needs more cellar time? Pleasant aftertaste.    EU:  Strawberry, sour cherry, red currants, balance acidity/tannins. Sweet candy on finish. Medium long finish.

Notes:
From 100% estate fruit. Aged 10 months in barrel.  Closure – composite cork

Cherry Point Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Salton Volpi Pinot Noir (Brazil)  2011 13%

Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~ 89    Value Rating: C+ to B-
Price: $23.00

Eye
BG: Pale.    AKG: Brick.    EU:  Garnet.

Nose
BG: Cherry, pomegranate, vanilla, savoury spice.    AKG: Toasted ginkgo nuts, cherries, roses, cigar, leather, creosote, liquorice, roasted beets.   EU: Distinct cigar, gaminess at first but blew off mostly then roast cherries, currents afterwards.

Palate
BG: Fresh cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, Sweet spice on nucleus of cherry, cough drop. Tastes warm climate with good backbone of acidity. Tannins relaxed.    AKG: Dark ripe cherries, very rich, nicely balanced with nice acidity.    EU: Cigar, tobacco, Porty cherry, balsamic vinegar, sharp acidic notes. No real tannins, quite soft.

Notes:
From the area Regao Da Campanha, 400 M above sea level.  6 months in French and American Oak.  Closure – Stelvin

#4  Road 13 Jackpot Pinot Noir 2011 13.3%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90   Value Rating: C to C+
Price $40.00

Eye
BG: Pale depth. Just a bit of purple on the rim.    AKG: cherry, soft.    EU: Dark magenta.

Nose
BG: Grape bubblegum, cherry, sulphur, tar. Good length.    AKG: Candy, cherries, plums, vanilla, baking spices, orange.    EU: Sweet vanilla! Cherry, sandalwood, sweet fruit.

Palate
BG: Some grippy grape tannins. Very savoury. Good acidity.    AKG: Hits a nice low note, dark fruits, bit of an alcohol burn, nice tannic notes.    EU: Sweet vanilla, dark cherry, toasty oak, strawberry, very ripe fruit. Well-balanced acidity and tannins, Kirsch.

Notes:
The grapes for this wine are 100% pinot noir and were sourced from two vineyards, the Castle vineyard in the Golden Mile Sub-DVA (86%)and the Savard Vineyard in Summerland (14 %)

The grapes were cold soaked for 8 days before starting the fermentation with wild yeast by heating up the must. The grapes were then hand plunged. The wine was aged in French oak for 16 months – 15% new – and it was aged a further 4 months in stainless steel barrels.  This wine was neither fined, filtered or pumped in the process.

TA 6.0 g/l   RS .70 g/l pH 3.84
Silver Medal Winner – National Wine Awards of Canada 2014
143 Cases produced.  Closure – cork

Road 13 Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#5  Inniskillin Dark Horse Estate Pinot Noir  2011 13%

Quality Rating:  B+ ~ 94    Value Rating: B+
Price: $25.00

Eye
BG: Pale depth with ruby rim.    AKG: Cherry, glossy.    EU: Dark red/purple.

Nose
BG: Plum, cherry, vanilla, toasty oak.    AKG: Dark fruit, cinnamon, caramel, toasted oak, strawberries.    EU: Bright right cherry, pomegranate, sweet spicy toasty oak.

Palate
BG: Great balance, cherries, vanilla, oak, beautiful fruit, plum.    AKG: Nicely balanced, rich flavours, coffee, cherry, chocolate.    EU: Complex cherry, pomegranate, blueberry, dry tannins, sweet vanilla wood, good balance clean with medium long finish.

Notes:
From the Dark Horse Vineyard in the Golden Mile Sub-DVA. Closure – cork

Bronze – 2013 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION
Silver – 2013 WINEALIGN NATIONAL WINE AWARDS
Honours – 2013 INTERVIN INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS

Inniskillin Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#6  Red Rooster Pinot Noir Reserve 2011 12%

Quality Rating: B to B+ ~93    Value Rating: B
Price: $28.00

Eye
BG: Pale depth, ruby with a touch of garnet on the rim.    AKG: Garnet – brick.    EU: Bright ruby red.

Nose
BG: Pomegranate, beetroot, strawberry, elegant fruit.    AKG: Salty caramel, raspberries, blueberries, toasted notes, vanilla.    EU: Light red cherry, strawberry.

Palate
BG: Strawberries, soft, soprano fruit notes, tastes like my idea of Pacific Northwest pinot, pomegranate. Finish is plum.    AKG: Strawberries, nice acidity good balance, charcoal.    EU:  Light floral cherry, strawberry, became long. Lastly astringent finish with wild strawberries and cherries.

Notes:
The wine spent nine months in French oak barrels.
Silver – 2013 WineAlign National Wine Awards
478 cases produced.  Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Red Rooster Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#7  Silver Sage Winery The Passion Pinot Noir 2011 13.5%

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

Eye
BG: Light to medium depth.    AKG: Purple.    EU: Dark red fruit.

Nose
BG: Pinot but Porty.    AKG: Candy, too sweet, sugar beets.    EU:

Palate
BG: Light port – strawberry, cherries.    AKG: Too sweet, berries, oak notes.    EU: This Pinot Noir taste like a very off dry dessert wine. Port, strong strawberry, dark cherry flavours with good body, no tannins and good balancing acidity.  Judged as dessert wine.

Notes:
Closure – Plastic cork

Silver Sage Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting Held January 13, 2015