Tasting #10 – How ready are the 2010s?

Wines from Oliver, Naramata, West Kelowna and Creston – “Guest Pinot” from Chile

“Cherry flavours come to life, depth, earthy notes of barn, hay, mushrooms…” – JG
“Very ripe fruit, long building finish, black cherry -bing cherry on finish” – EU

#1 Cassini Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 13.5%

Quality Rating: C ~ 86    Value Rating: C-
Price: $25.00-30.00

Eye
LC: Light, quite brownish, bricky watery at rim    BG: Quite pale, bricky/garnet rim    JG: Clean, clear, water rim, no viscosity, garnet, some age    AKG: Rusty edge, brick, washed out    EU: Dark garnet-brownish light colour

Nose
LC: Inviting, strawberry,caramel grew stronger. Most pinot like nose once opened    BG: Savoury caramel, pomegranate, light stewed fruit    JG: Clean, nose forward, unripe blueberry, peppery, caramel or sweet dried figs or plums    AKG: Floral, spicy (cinnamon)    EU: Lime, dried fruit(raisin cherry) earth

Palate
LC: Good acid, tannins soft , good finish, long quite elegant, slight heat, strawberry, delivers what nose promises, sweet    BG: Tired fruit, fairly short, bit hot, undistinguished acid/mild tannin on finish    JG: Sweet component follows on the palate, vanilla, touch of oak flavours . green finish to it- low alcohol – forgettable    AKG: Long flavour, mineral, nice but not really a wow    EU: Wood, citric, light cherry juice

Cases Produced: 115    Winemaker: Adrian Cassini, Philip Soo     Vineyard Source: Barbieri Vineyard North of Oliver    Cellar Notes: aged for 12 months in new and 2 year old barrels, 80%French and 20 % American    Alcohol: 13.5%

Notes:
Closure – cork

Cassini Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#2 Howling Bluff Three Sisters Pinot Noir 2010 13%

Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: C to C+
Price: $28.00

Eye

LC: Fair depth, garnet    BG: Cherry, purplish tim, med light depth    JG: Clear, Purple, clear rim    AKG: Cherry, a bit dull    EU: Dark purple red

Nose
LC: No real fruit, something appealing Oriental or synthetic, dried geranium? mushroom, dried roses Initially slight anise, spice market, wax crayon    BG: Wet wool, geraniums, flowers! candied    JG: Raspberry, cherry compote, floral component, hay, warm ,alcohol    AKG: Child’s felt marker?, alcohol, floral, malaysian curry? SE Asian market, Damian?    EU: Floral(violet, rose) jasmine, cherry, very ripe/bruised fruit, black cherry

Palate
LC: sour cherry Pixie Stix. clean acid, heat on finish but not terrific – longish due to heat/acid    BG: Very long floral flavour, silky, stewed plums, blackberry, strawberry    JG: Dry, medium acidity, med alcohol, young, fruit raspberry/cherry wine is clean, simple, fruit forward med finish. light and easy drinking, good acidity, missing some earthy elements. could be more complete – good    AKG: Acidic, rich mouth feel, cherry, wood, simple but pleasing    EU: Clean bright cherry, balanced tannin/acidity, very ripe fruit, long building finish, black cherry -bing cherry on finish

Notes:
Winemaker: Luke Smith  Cases Produced: 275
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Howling Bluff Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#3 Baillie-Grohman Pinot Noir 2010 13%

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

Eye
LC: Purplish but brownish? rim    BG: Medium light depth, garnet rim    JG: Clear, light garnet- 2-5 years old, watery rims and legs    AKG: Garnet, glossy    EU: Dark purple red

Nose
LC: Hints of strawberry/cranberry & violets but waxy overtones    BG: Sulphur, pomegranate, cherry    JG: Clean, raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, leather, waxy candle component. Green element -pepper? white pepper    AKG: Smells big, caramel, fruity, smoky    EU: Light, meaty, cherry, plum, strawberry

Palate
LC: Sour-acid, medium long finish. cranberry perhaps    BG: Cherry & bit pomegranate. long & lingering wood , floral, crayon. Bit soft .black fruits? Cowichan valley?    JG: Stalky green element , bitter, pepper taste comes forward, not a ton of fruit, slightly unbalanced- oak flavours don’t come forward    AKG: Peppery, acidic, plum, nice shape, has light but good body, salty    EU: Longish sour cherry finish, light meaty notes, good acid balance, tastes like a pinot noir

Cases Produced: 250    Winemaker: Dan Barker     Vineyard Source: Estate    Clones: 115, 667, 777    Cellar Notes: 12 months in new and seasoned oak    Alcohol: 13%

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Baillie-Grohman Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#4 Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir Clone 828 14%

Quality Rating: C- to C ~ 85    Value Rating: D to D+
Price: $55.00

Eye
LC: Purple quite dense colour    BG: Cherry/riby rim, med light depth    JG: Clear, dark purple, water rim & legs    AKG: Rich cherry    EU: dark red purple

Nose
LC: Fairly complex, waxy, violets    BG: Roses/violets. sweet cherry/sour cherry, luscious, hospital/pine, menthol, blueberry, acetone    JG: Clean cherry, ripe red fruit, almost spoiled fruit, little oxidized, sour    AKG: Shoes, vanilla creaminess, strawberry    EU: Wood (vanilla, spice) – cherry vanilla strawberry. chemical (ketones)

Palate
LC: Spicy, sour cherry, cranberry. simple. developed a chemical/acetone taste. tannins still quite firm. longish finish. bad points amplified the longer the wine was open    BG: Bit of tannic grip, cherry/beet/pomegranate hot, drifting, floral, big lingering fruit in aftertaste    JG: Tannins med + unbalanced, something faulty    AKG: quite tannic cherry, a bit boring, overly strong at the front, no ending, woody    EU: Very distinct acid, + tannin, cherry

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, Dijon Clone 2008, Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir 2006 )

Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#5 Tabali Pinot Noir 2010 (Chile)13.5%

Quality Rating: C to C+ ~ 87    Value Rating: C+ to B-
Price:$19.00

Eye
LC: Ruby   BG: Cherry rim, medium light in depth    JG: Clear, purple, watery rim & legs    AKG: Fresh cherry, dark and glossy    EU: dark purple red

Nose
LC: Raspberry, wood, slightly mushroomy    BG: Tannin/barrel, bramble/vinous    JG: Clean, delicate fresh cherries, violets, a hint of vanilla    AKG: gassy, cleaning product, distant    EU: Floral (rose) cherry, roast oats/nuts?

Palate
LC: Raspberry/pomegranate, good tannnins & acidity a bit hot finished with menthol    BG: Beaujolais? all fruit/simple , low acid. very soft tannins. very little complexity    JG: acidity med +, fruit forward, not a typical PN. cherries come forward, greenbitter mid-palate, med finish, no oak flavours on the palate. This doesn’t quite represent the variety    AKG: blackberry, a bit tannic, vanilla, caramel    EU: Spicy, (cinnamon, nutmeg) roasted nuts, cherry , roast fruit, very well balanced tannin acid

#6 Haywire Pinot Noir 2010 13%

Quality Rating: C+ to B- ~ 89    Value Rating: C to C+
Price: $27.00

Eye
LC: Red to rim    BG: Ruby rim    JG: Clear, light garnet, watery rim & legs, young    AKG: Garnet    EU: Ruby, cherry red

Nose
LC: Strawberry-sweet cherry, mace-nutmeg    BG: Floral, pretty fruit, compote, bit of barnyard/chocolate    JG: Clean strawberry, cranberry, touch of vanilla, wet forest    AKG: fruity, caramel    EU: Mushroom ,m barnyard savoury, rose cherry, roast fruit, green leaf, stemmy

Palate
LC: Sweet fruit, clean, finishes medium but hot or acidic. simple quite well balanced    BG: Unusual pleasing Blueberry/raspberry combination, bit stemmy    JG: Dry, tannin med, acidity med-, strawberry coming forward, this is a BC pinot noir profile, balanced fruit forward, light, med complexity. Good.    AKG: spicy, vanilla, rich, balanced    EU: Cherry, vanilla spice(sweet) long tannin in finish good balance

Notes:
Closure – Stelvin screwtop

Haywire Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

#7 Joie Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 13.5%

Quality Rating: B ~ 92    Value Rating: C
Price: $40.00

Eye
LC: Garnet    BG: Garnet rim    JG: Clear, dark purple, watery rim, light legs, almost non-existent    AKG: cherry, quite clear    EU: Dark red, brown overcast

Nose
LC: Complex, christmas baking-cherry, spicy, slight mushroom    BG: Light wood but otherwise very little,/candied    JG: Clean, barn, stable, hay, cooked cherries    AKG: cherry chocolate    EU: Caramel, red fruits, roses

Palate
LC: Full mouthfeel-wel integrated & balanced. strawberry & cherry Smooth. Yummy!    BG: Focused fruit. long, earthy, delicious, very long, well balanced, graceful    JG: Dry, acidity med, cherry flavours come to life, depth, earthy notes of barn, hay, mushrooms. well balanced, young, potential for age pleasant  Good+    AKG: vanilla, strawberry, long aftertaste, well balanced    EU: Good wood, vanilla, cherries, plums

Notes:
Closure – cork

Joie Pinot Noir – Current Vintage & Availability

Tasting Held January 7th, 2014