A Taste of the 2008 Vintage #4

Standouts from Penticton, Summerland, West Kelowna and Lillooet!  A “guest pinot” from New Zealand

“Sweet nose, earthy-dusty, spices (? mace, cinnamon, overlying strawberry & caramel” – LC
“Bright fruit, nice acid & tannin, a hint of spiciness, (vanilla, cloves, nutmeg)” – KM

#1 Fairview Eagle Bluff Estates – Crooked Post Pinot Noir 2008  12.5%

Quality Rating: B ~ 92  Value Rating: B- to B

Price: $33.00

Eye
LC: Very pale – watery near edge (rosé like). Garnet tones    BG: Very light, orange with a bit of brick   AKG: rose, blush, center- candy apple, pale garnet, high alcohol    JL: Orangey, rose-like, medium light colour    KM: Very light in colour    MW: Bluish to edge “Rose΄ ”

Nose
LC: Baked Strawberry, hint of violets, hint of vanilla – somewhat simple initially   BG: Sweet cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon, bit of heat, floral, orange blossom   AKG: Pine, strawberry, floral   JL: Strawberry-soda pop simplicity, slight notes of corn   KM: Cherry & Strawberry   MW: Sweet cherry , hint vegetal, mushroom developing

Palate
LC: Sweet but no real distinguishing flavours – initially doesn’t deliver from nose to mouth. Slightly hot, quite long finish   BG: Light, slightly baked fruit, warm, bit of exotic spice   AKG: Nice mouth feel, silky, hard to dislike. Well endowed, perfume   JL: Forward, strawberry – quite tart – light tannin – dry. Quite short & acidic   KM: Light body, nice fruit, subtle earthiness, fairly high acidity   MW: Soft, light, strawberry, medium acid, cherry finish – medium short. Opening and improves with time!

Notes:
Closure – cork

Fairview Cellars Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008  13%

Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85   Value Rating: C-

Price: $20.00

Eye
LC: Red turning to garnet    BG: Light, dried cherry, light rim    AKG: Cherry, medium thinness    JL: Medium to light garnet. Faint hint of purple at rim    KM: Bright ruby    MW: Medium colour throughout

Nose
LC: Raspberry, volatile but did blow off    BG: Dried cherry, alcohol, cranberry, acid, bit gamey    AKG: Basement, watermelon, green    JL: Notes of strawberry – slightly musty – low fruit    KM: Fair amount of alcohol on the nose   MW: Medicinal cherry, hint mushroom

Palate
LC: Raspberry – acidic, slightly hot. Fine tannins. Short fruit – acid lingers with slight bitterness. No change in glass until towards the end of the tasting    BG: Earthy, acid, some tannic grip, simple, not a lot of fruit, still developing?    AKG: Forward in the mouth. Licorice flavour. Strange structure – seems like an odd shape. Bark, tannic at aftertaste. Doesn’t really go anywhere.    JL: Very dry and tannic – firm acid – no fruit, short, tart, dry – Oregon?    KM: A touch earthy, very light smoke flavour, eucalyptus, lacks fruit.    MW: Fuller bodied, hints of mushroom, ripe berry fruit, hint of heat, alcohol,. Earthy finish, stewed fruit.

Notes:
Closure – Composite Cork

Mission Hill Winery Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Black Cloud Alto Stratus Pinot Noir 2008  13.2%

Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~ 89    Value Rating: C to C+

Price: $35.00


Eye
LC: Purple to ruby, purple carried to rim almost    BG: Light/medium, purplish rim/blue    AKG: Bubbles, purple, fairly deep    JL: Medium Garnet with deep purple rims    KM: Bright ruby, almost magenta undertone    MW: Medium dark throughout

Nose
LC: Vanilla, dusty, cherry/earthy    BG: Tar, velvety fruit, plum dried and fresh. Wood, cardboard    AKG: Alcohol, rubber, sterile washed carpet, tobacco
JL: Bright, forward sour cherry/ quince nose – spicy-clove/cinnamon/nutmeg – dentist? Anise    KM: Earthy with cherry and a hint of raspberry, a little alcoholic    MW: Hint of alcohol, mushroom, earthy, strawberry

Palate
LC: Sour cherry, not overly complex in mouth. Firm tannin, acid balanced with fruit medium/large finish. Peppery to slight bitterness. Evolving in glass, sweetness developed. Needs time    BG: Tar, simple, end is acidic, lots of promise though, developed length    AKG: Very pleasing flavour to start, black cherry, white pepper    JL: Very tart – medium tannins – very dry – spicy candy notes – very short – but lacks fruit    KM: Cherry ! Leathery note, almost tobacco leaf like    MW: Medium bodied, mushroom, unripe strawberry, cherry, white pepper, acidic cherry finish long , nice and complex

Notes:
2008 was the first year that Altostratus Pinot Noir was produced. It is a single vineyard wine from clones 115 and 667.
Closure – cork

Black Cloud Pinot Noirs – Current Vintage & Availability

#4 Fort Berens Pinot Noir 2008  12.7%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 92    Value Rating: B-
Price: $20.00

Eye
LC: Deep garnet/ brick – carries to edge    BG: Bricky rim, light/medium depth    AKG: Browny-red, bubbles, fairly dense    JL: Deep garnet – to tawny bricky edges    KM: Garnet colour    MW: Medium light, brown edge

Nose
LC: Sweet nose, earthy-dusty, spices (? mace, cinnamon, overlying strawberry & caramel    BG: Leather, spice, Italian style savoury fruit, menthol, clove    AKG: Medicine cabinet, earthy, coffee, blackberry, coca cola    JL: Complex strawberry lightly spiced – slightly strawberry    KM: Vanilla, violets, stewed cherries, coca cola    MW: Barnyard, clove, mushrooms, strawberry, earthy

Palate
LC: Strawberry, hint of anise, – “Play Doh”. Good balance of fruit, acid – very fine tannins – slightly hot finish. Long finish.    BG: Savory fruit, dried out but mature flavours, Long     aftertaste, echoes of game, dried sausage, savoury fruit    AKG: Acidic, long aftertaste, becomes more complex, oaky on finish, blackberry. Slight bitter edge, vanilla, rosemary    JL: Tart – dry-tannic – dry fruit – truffles & mushrooms – medium long. Has promise. French? Coca cola finish fading now    KM: a bit spicy- hint of anise, vanilla. More elegant than previous three wines    MW: Medium tannins, mushroom & cherry fruit, crisp acid, violets, long, soft finish, fading at finish to rubbery

Notes:
Closure – cork

Fort Berens Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#5 Howling Bluff Pinot Noir 2008  13.2%

Quality Rating: B- ~ 90    Value Rating: B-
Price: $26.00

Eye
LC: Deep red    BG: Cherry rim, medium to light depth   AKG: Purple – cherry, seems thick    JL: Youthful bluish rim over dark ruby/garnet    KM: Deep ruby    MW: Medium dark to edge

Nose
LC: Meaty, earthy-barnyard. Any fruit seems covered    BG: Pomegranate, cherry/raspberry, mushroom    AKG: Barnyard, carrot cake, yam, fireplace, buttery    JL: Bright forward cinnamon/merde/earthy – berry candy- mushrooms    KM: Barnyard, meaty but with a sweet component, almost toffee    MW: Candied rose, hint barnyard , mushroom, non alcoholic

Palate
LC: Hard berry candy, simple berry-acid. Short finish. Needs time    BG: Short, pomegranate, tannic grip , undeveloped    AKG: Candy, plum, acidic, average shape    JL: Full rich tannic – strawberry & Cherry – dry, medium long – lovely finish    KM: Cherry, strawberry, subtle earthiness    MW: Strawberry, vegetal, hint sweet fruit in finish.

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin

Howling Bluff Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#6 Staede Landt Pinot Noir (New Zealand) 2008  14%

Quality Rating: B ~ 92    Value Rating: B
Price: $26.00

Eye
LC: Purplish to rim    BG: Cherry rim, light cherry heart    AKG: Purplish edge to cherry. Lighter and thinner looking, but viscous    JL: Deep purplish garnet    KM: Bright ruby
MW: Medium dark to edge

Nose
LC: Strawberry, hint of mushroom, faint spiciness    BG: Cherry, not much nuance    AKG: Chamomile, thyme, alcohol, cherry, orange oil    JL: Cherries – upfront – woody    KM: Strawberry, cherry, very slight but not unpleasant musty aroma    MW: Astringent cherry, hint of heat, strawberry, clove

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit. Well balanced. Medium/long finish, slightly hot    BG: Well knit, silky mouthfeel, aftertaste is cherry/wood    AKG: Good shape, vanilla, caramel, peppery, very silky, candied orange    JL: Rich cherry/ oaky fruit – full body – tannin & Acid in balance- dry long cherry finish – mushrooms – slightly hot    KM: Silky velvety tannins, bright fruit, beautiful mouthfeel    MW: Bright fruit, sake finish, candied fruit

#7 8th Generation Pinot Noir 2008  14.2%

Quality Rating: B+ ~  94   Value Rating: A-
Price: $24.00

Eye
LC: Ruby-garnet    BG: Dried Cherry    AKG: Garnet – slowly smooth    JL: Bright ruby/garnet    KM: Somewhere between ruby and garnet    MW: Medium to edge

Nose
LC: Mushroom, strawberry – cherry    BG: Grape, cherry, green leaf, slightly sappy    AKG: Floral, barnyard    JL: Spicy strawberry – barnyard – still simple    KM: Faint barnyard, caramel vanilla, fresh cherry    MW: Barnyard, mushroom, cherry , spice, clove

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit, spicy – white pepper. Elegant beautifully balanced. Medium/long finish with mild heat    BG: Pomegranate, silky, very long    AKG: Salty, smooth, caramel, elegant    JL: Rich and round – spicy – hot – slightly tannic – great fruit- lovely balance – classic    KM: Bright fruit, nice acid & tannin, a hint of spiciness, (vanilla, cloves, nutmeg)    MW: Rich, hint of heat, caramel finish, sweet fruit

Notes:
Closure – cork

The acclaim that 8th Generation Vineyard has received over the years for its white wines, principally their rieslings might explain why their silky, elegantly balanced pinot noir is so often overlooked and under appreciated. Another husband and wife team, Bernd Schales is an 8th generation winemaker and Stefanie Schales is a 10th generation winegrower, have quickly established a reputation for quality and consistency at 8th Generation.

8th Generation Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting Held March 1, 2011