Tasting #2 – Sampling the 2007 Vintage

There were many standouts, with wines from Kelowna, West Kelowna and Oliver. We found one terrific value and the “guest pinot” was from Burgundy.

” Burgundian, mushroom, earthy, strawberry on finish. Rich from start  to finish” MW
” Very ready to drink, silky, baked fruit, finishes with sweet spice flourish ”  BG

#1 Kalala Pinot Noir 2007 12.7%

Quality Rating: D ~ 80    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $20.00

Eye
JL: Tawny, bricky, garnet, clear & bright    BG: Light bodied, orangy brick    MW: Light, hint of brown on edge

Nose
JL: Strawberry hint of cherry very clean    BG: Hot, oranges? Mint? Medicinal, tar, rubber    MW: Hint of heat, mushrooms & cherry

Palate
JL: Light body, thin flavours, quite tart, still tannic, short    BG: Short,flat, harsh, rough, no fruit, dried out    MW: Soft sour cherry, forward acid on short finish

Notes:
Closure – cork

Kalala Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Beaune de Chateau – Bouchard Pere et Fils 2007

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $42.00

Eye
JL: Purplish/ruby/garnet light & bright    BG: Beautiful even colour    MW: Bright & medium colour to edge

Nose
JL: Cherries, lead pencil. Leafy green, slightly musty/ mushrooms    BG: Mushroom, forest floor, strawberry/cherry    MW: Mint, mushrooms, strawberry, cloves, cherry

Palate
JL: Medium body, light fine tannins, young ripe fruit, simple, firm acid 
medium long, tart. Has potential    BG: Mushroom finish, dark cherry fruit, very long finish, finely  grained tannins    MW: Medium to full, obvious tannins, black pepper, cherry, mushroom, mushroom and strawberry on finish

#3 Cedar Creek Block 4 2007  13.8%

Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $27.00

Eye  
JL: Medium dark ruby, slight purplish rim    BG: Darkish cherry with light cherry rim    MW: Hint of cloudiness, darker to rim

Nose
JL: Cherries&perfume, floral notes, slightly mushroomy    BG: Vanilla, cherry, wood    MW: Not overly hot, strawberry, clove

Palate
JL: Bright lifesaver cherry, slightly hot, fine tannins, long tannic  finish    BG: Mid-weight Pinot, long and complex, full, cherries, pomegranate,  seems like it would be big alcohol    MW: Full in the mouth, big ripe cherry, spice, cherry fruit in finish  with tannins

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin

Cedar Creek Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability

#4 Tantalus Pinot Noir 2007 13.4%

Quality Rating : B to B+ ~ 93    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $30.00

Eye
JL: Technicolor purple    BG: Bluish purple, light/ medium depth    MW: Very dark purple

Nose
JL: Strong candy cherry. Very strong & young. Floral notes    BG: Cherry, not much else    MW: Earthy mushroom

Palate
JL: Lovely sour cherry. Slightly hot. Well balanced fine tannins. Long.  Candy slightly sweet. Medium bodied. Needs years. 
BG: Painted on a bigger canvas than the three previous wines. 
MW: Hot, tannic fruit behind ripe cherry

Notes:
Closure – Composite Cork

Tantalus Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability

#5 Stoneboat Pinot Noir 2007 14.2%

Quality Rating: B + ~ 94    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $23.00

Eye
JL: Deep garnet to very thin bluish rim    BG: Light dried cherry looking rim. Less than bright    MW: Medium dark to edge, hint brown on edge, not simple colour!

Nose
JL: Spicy peppery powdery cherry & floral notes – rich & full    BG: Fruit & mushroom balanced
    MW: Mushroom, not much heat, mint & strawberry

Palate
JL: Full body – rich, complex, oaky, earthy, mushrooms, great balance,  very long finish with fine tannins- fabulous future 
    BG: Big & broad, good viscous mouth feel, mushroom. Great balance,  rich. This will be great in 3-5 years
    MW: Burgundian, mushroom, earthy, strawberry on finish. Rich from start  to finish

Notes:
Closure – cork

Stoneboat Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability

#6 Calona Artist’s Series Pinot Noir 2007  13.5%

Quality Rating: B+ to A- ~ 95    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $15.00

Eye
JL: Medium tawny garnet – looks the oldest so far    BG: Bricky rim, light    MW: Medium, brown throughout

Nose
JL: Sour Cherries – floral – barnyard Notes    BG: Bit of nutmeg, raisin, caramel
    MW: Earthy, mushroom & strawberry

Palate
JL: Soft – full & rich – earthy barnyard – very long and fine grained tannins – perfect balance – still simple – will improve, lovely spices & sweet    BG: Very ready to drink, silky, baked fruit, finishes with sweet spice flourish    
MW: Mushrooms, earthy, hint glycerol mouth feel, nice soft acid in long finish

Notes:
Closure – cork

Calona Vineyards Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#7 Church and State Hollenbach Vineyard Pinot Noir 13.8%

Quality Rating B ~ 92    Value Rating: Not assigned
Price: $26.00

Eye
JL: Medium Tawny/bricky – clear and bright    BG: Quite light, bricky, bit of orange    MW: Medium light, brown throughout

Nose
JL: Very spicy – middle eastern – cinnamon/clove/nutmeg    BG: Slightly exotic spice, baked fruit, alcohol
    MW: Earthy, mushroom, clove, nutmeg, soft

Palate
JL: Medium full – quite tart – almost sour – lovely spicy fruit, soft tannins – long spicy tannic – cherry pie    BG: All elegance, cinnamon, nutmeg, incredibly elegant, fine texture    
MW: Medium acid, soft ripe cherry, green strawberry, clove in finish

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin

Church & State Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting held February 1st 2011