Looking Back On The 2007s & 2008s #23

Wines from Lake Country, Kelowna, Narmata and a guest pinot noir from  California’s Anderson Valley

Strawberry, sweet vanilla, watermelon, creamy on finish – EU
Charred. Fruity but way too overpowered by smokiness. – LC
Silky texture. Barrel marked, blueberry, plum – BG

#1 Arrowleaf Solstice Pinot Noir 2007 13.8%

Quality Rating:  C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: C to C+
Price: $27.00

Eye
LC: Brick.    BG: Pale – Garnet/brick rim.    EU: Brownish with red highlights.

Nose
LC: Strawberry/Geranium – pinot! Molasses came out after one half an hour hint of  tobacco, forest.    BG: Barrel, dried fruit leather.    EU: Lightly oxidized, dried cherry, cooked beets, strawberry.

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit but fading? No defined fruit in mouth. Good acid. Bit hot. Disconnect from nose.    BG: Savoury fruit. Plum cooked, but silky mature baked fruit flavours. Long, plum, cherry, warm spices, nutmeg, bit exotic. Very long, barrel caramel effects    EU: Strawberry candy, meaty on finish, tannin on finish, good acidity caramel and molasses later.

Notes:
Grown on sandy clay soils on the Carr’s Landing Bench between Kelowna and Vernon.  Aged in French puncheons for 12 months and another six months in the bottle. Won gold at the 2009 Northwest Wine Summit.  Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Arrowleaf Cellars Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Oak Bay Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 12.8%

Quality Rating:  C- ~ 84    Value Rating: D+ to C-
Price: $25.00

Eye
LC: Garnet    BG: Garnet with pale rim.    EU: Garnet.

Nose
LC: Wax crayon, warm spices – plum (darker fruits).    BG: Pomegranate, rhubarb, some beet, strawberry.    EU: Complex, spicy, floral (black pepper, cinnamon, clove.) Toast, scented geraniums, celery seed. Later – oak.

Palate
LC: Sweet – plum, astringent, tannins seem quite grippy white pepper. Medium finish.    BG: Dried out, fruit almost vanished, strawberry, cranberry, short, wood on ending. Tannins outlived fruit, good acidity.    EU: Light sweet vanilla and red fruits, thin body, maybe scented geraniums, wood effects remain fruit mostly gone.

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Oak Bay Vineyard Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Beaumont Family Estate Pinot Noir 2008 12.8%

Quality Rating: D+ ~ 82    Value Rating: D to D+
Price: $27.00

Eye
LC: Red to garnet.    BG: Pale with the dried cherry rim.    EU: Red, garnet

Nose
LC: Wax crayon, cinnamon.    BG:  Smoky cherry.    EU: Plum, cinnamon, black  liquorice.

Palate
LC: Dry, no fruits, unripe rhubarb . Some heat, seems dead or dying.    BG: Smoky cherry, short, plain, tannic, a bit sour.    EU: Acid and a bit of tannin leading light vanilla finish. Fruit has left completely.

Notes:
Beaumont produces only 100% organic grapes.  Closure – cork

Beaumont Family Estate Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#4 Serendipity Winery Pinot Noir 2007 14.2%

Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~ 89   Value Rating: C- to C
Price: $40.00

Eye
LC: Garnet    BG: Pale depth, garnet with a touch of brick on the rim.    EU: Garnet.

Nose
LC: Cinnamon, dark plum/cherry.    BG: Blueberry, cherry, prune, plum.    EU: Spicy (pepper), red fruit, plum, alcoholic and porty.

Palate
LC: Hot, tannic, fruit, cinnamon. A little plum, dark cherry, some bitterness. Long finish.    BG: Silky texture. Barrel marked, blueberry, plum alcohol a little high. Preserved cherry.    EU: Strawberry, sweet vanilla, watermelon, creamy on finish. High acid and bit hot from alcohol and glycerin.

Notes:
Aged three years in neutral barrels. Made from purchased grapes.  Closure – Stelvin
Awards:

Bronze medal –  San Francisco International Wine Competition 2011
Silver medal – West Coast Wine Competition 2011
Silver medal – 2011 International Eastern Wine Competition
Gold medal – 2012 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

Serendipity Winery Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#5 Toulouse Lautrec Pinot Noir 2008 14.2%

Quality Rating: D+ to C- ~ 83    Value Rating: C
Price: $28.00

Eye
LC: Red to garnet    BG: Cherry rim, pale.    EU: Dark garnet.

Nose
LC: Smoky/tarry.    BG: Smoky cherry.    EU: Heavy toast of  oak (tarry).

Palate
LC: Charred. Fruity but way too overpowered by smokiness.    BG: Smoky, cherry fruit. Longish deeper fruit. Long aftertaste.    EU: Smoky heavily toasted oak, complex roasted plum and cherry in the background.

Notes:
As evidenced by the tasting notes, this wine had a pronounced smoky flavour which was not surprising because forest fires raged through the Anderson Valley where this wine was produced in 2008.  The winemaker used reverse osmosis, to try to get the smoke out of the wine but was not entirely successful.

#6 Tantalus Pinot Noir 2007 13.4%

Quality Rating:  B- ~ 90   Value Rating: C+
Price: $28.00

Eye
LC: Red end of garnet.    BG: Ruby rim, pale.    EU: Light red garnet.

Nose
LC: Closed.    BG: Pretty candy, cherry.    EU: Dark cherry, strawberry jam.

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit, plum/blueberry. Tannic. Medium long finish. Hint of peppercorn    BG:  Cranberry/pomegranate, short, some blueberry, some sour wood.    EU: Soft red fruit (black cherry, plum) vanilla, toasted oak, cedar finish, medium body and finish.

Notes:
560 cases produced.  Closure – Composite cork

Tantalus Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting held February 17, 2015