As I discussed Yesterday, I tasted 51 American Pinot Noirs earlier this month. The design was to style by means of the wines blind, which implies that I didn’t know which wine was ever in my glass (properly, my 4 glasses, as I tasted that many at a time).
Tasting wines blind is at all times train as figuring out what a wine is can at all times introduce bias with regards to analysis. Blind tasting can also produce a number of surprises, as was definitely the case this time round. There may be additionally a draw back to blind tasting as the larger, fruitier wines have a tendency to face out extra.
All 51, able to be popped after which poured.
Right here is the second set of 12 wines, within the order we tasted them:
2022 Siduri Pinot Noir Rosella’s Winery, Santa Lucia Highlands, CA: Retail $75. Accountable Bottle. Fruity and floral on the nostril with extra cranberry than cherry. Fruity and full on the palate with crunchy fruit and a beautiful zing. One other unbelievable wine. Excellent. 94 Factors.
2021 Saffron Fields Winery Pinot Noir Spectrum, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $65? One other nice nostril, what can I say? This can be a stellar lineup for positive. Refined, definitely, however there may be cherry and rhubarb after a contact of time. The palate is fruity, balanced, and fairly darned unbelievable. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2021 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $75. A bit darker in coloration, maybe, than the others on this lineup, however nonetheless translucent. Beautiful nostril of darkish cherry and a little bit of clove. The palate is transformative with beautiful fruit, an intense however unifying tartness, and really prolonged end, actually magnificent. Excellent. 96 Factors.
2023 Chehalem Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $30. Screw Cap. Shiny, tart fruit on the nostril, with some black pepper, actually beautiful. The palate is a bit demure however loaded with tannins, surprisingly. The fruit is there, however this might use a little bit of time or a wholesome decant. Nonetheless? That is fairly unbelievable. Wonderful. 91 Factors.
2022 Exprimere Pinot Noir Persey Peake Ranch Winery, Sta Rita Hills, CA: Retail $100. Traditional American pinot nostril with candy cherry fruit on the nostril and it interprets over to the palate; the wine is absolutely wealthy and candy there as properly, stopping simply wanting an excessive amount of. Actually actually wealthy and decadent. Retail $100. Traditional American pinot nostril with candy cherry fruit on the nostril and it interprets over to the palate; the wine is absolutely wealthy and candy there as properly, stopping simply wanting an excessive amount of. Actually actually wealthy and decadent. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2023 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir Winery Eleven, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $80. Heavy Bottle (627g; 22.0 oz). One other nostril that’s fairly inviting the place the fruit is shy and the earth is refined. Nice steadiness and only a unbelievable mouthfeel. Fruit, acidity, concord, and size. Actually has all of it. Excellent. 96 Factors.
2021 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir River West Winery, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $35. Screw Cap. A little bit of a special nostril right here, with not a lot fruit, and a little bit of a menthol really feel. Wealthy, even actually wealthy and a bit flabby initially on the palate, however the acidity comes by means of simply earlier than the end. Very Good. 89 Factors.
One yr, with over 100 wines, I assumed the desk may give out….
2022 Brooks Pinot Noir Crannell Eola – Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $60. Accountable Bottle (598g; 21.0oz). A darker, magenta coloration right here with a shy nostril. Finally, some darker berry fruit and cherry cola come by means of, which carries by means of onto the palate. A splendidly balanced wine, very nice. Wonderful. 92 Factors.
2022 Cambria Pinot Noir Julia’s Winery, Santa Maria Valley, CA: Retail $25. Darker with a extra rustic really feel, perhaps somewhat scorching. The palate is ok, even near glorious, however missing a “wow” issue. Very Good. 89 Factors.
2021 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir Putnam Winery, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $75. Loads of darkish fruit on the nostril (black cherry and blackberry) with an oz. or two of verve, and a slight natural, menthol word on the nostril. Fruity and wonderful on the palate. That is what most individuals take into consideration after they suppose “California Pinot”. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2021 Freeman Pinot Noir Yu-ki Property, West Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $74. Fairly darkish in each coloration and aromas with blackberry actually the predominate participant. Actually tart with some good salinity on the palate, a darker, but earthier fashion right here. Very Good. 89 Factors.
2022 Rodney Robust Pinot Noir Reserve, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $60. Relatively non-descript on the nostril, with some darkish fruit coming by means of ultimately. The palate is way more expressive and unbelievable. Good fruit, nice tartness, fantastic steadiness. Better of this flight. Excellent. 93 Factors.
