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As I discussed Tuesday and Wednesday, earlier this week, I and a gaggle of different Houston-based wine writers, tasted 51 American Pinot Noirs on a Saturday afternoon. The design was to style by way of the wines blind, which signifies that I didn’t know which wine was ever in my glass (nicely, my 4 glasses, as I tasted that many at a time).
Tasting wines blind is all the time train as figuring out what a wine is can all the time introduce bias in the case of analysis. Blind tasting can also produce a number of surprises, as was actually the case this time round.
Once I inform folks about these tastings I maintain at my home, the response is sort of uniform: “Oh, feels like actually powerful work.” Fact be informed, whereas it would fall in need of “powerful work” it actually is just not “simple.” Tasting so many wines inside a reasonably slender band of flavors and attributes (all of them come from the identical grape, in any case), may be troublesome to verbalize the delicate variations.
It’s also powerful on the enamel–by the top, we had been all in want of a toothbrush. Badly in want.
All 51, able to be popped after which poured.
Listed below are the following 16 wines, within the order we tasted them:
2022 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $40. Great nostril, completely stellar, with beautiful strawberry and cherry on the forefront. The paalte is delicious; sure, there may be numerous fruit, even tons, however the acidity guidelines the roost right here, such an awesome tang. That is actually a New World Pinot and makes no apologies about it and that’s nice by me. Excellent. 95 Factors.
2022 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir The Sly One, Inexperienced Valley of Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $85. Darker in shade and in aromas, actually on the black cherry and raspberry, however nonetheless berries. Large, for certain, and possibly a bit scorching, this a nervous wine proper now, for certain, however this has all of the markings of a incredible wine: large fruit, tons of acidity, and loads of confidence. It wants a while to cool down a bit, however that is incredible. Excellent. 94 Factors.
2022 Sangiacomo Wines ViMaria, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $90. The nostril is a bit totally different with a contact of mocha and possibly even some anise behind a wall of black cherry fruit. The palate is much more inviting than the nostril with good berry fruit, a pleasant tartness, and a prolonged end. Very Good. Glorious. 92 Factors.
2021 Maggy Hawk Pinot Noir Jolie, Anderson Valley, CA: Retail $75. Darkish on the nostril with extra mocha and a bit of warmth. The palate is a bit subdued and I struggled to seek out the fruit. Positive, the whole lot is there (the fruit confirmed up on the mid palate), however total, that is missing a little bit of “wow”, for certain. Very Good. 89 Factors.
2021 Sangiacomo Household Wines Pinot Noir Eden Dale, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $50. Underneath screw cap. Pretty darkish in shade and in aromas with some cherry cola and comes off as a bit extracted. I used to be undecided about this wine primarily based on the nostril, however the palate is fairly incredible with good fruit, good acid, good. Glorious. 91 Factors.
2021 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Lindley’s Knoll, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $65. Accountable Bottle (543g; 19.1oz). Fairly fruity on the nostril, even a bit of Jolly Rancher cherry happening. That continues on the palate, so it’s fairly fruity, however there may be additionally some oak evident, lending a little bit of complexity to all that fruit. It really works, although, stopping in need of “over-the-top”. Glorious. 90 Factors.
2022 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir Pinot de Ville, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $69. Heavy Bottle (630g; 22.2oz). Pretty nostril, traditional California Pinot, high to backside. Recent cherry, and strawberry on the nostril and palate, with a stunning mouthfeel and stability. Whoa. Excellent. 96 Factors.
2022 Sangiacomo Household Wines Pinot Noir Block 11, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $75. Barely soiled (some complete cluster fermentation?) on the nostril with some darkish fruit. The palate, nevertheless, doesn’t exhibit that “dirtiness” however quite an earthiness that integrates nicely with some incredible darkish berry fruit. It is a uncommon Pinot, for my part, because it celebrates California fruit whereas additionally embracing Previous World complexity. Excellent. 95 Factors.
2022 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $60. Pink and black cherry on the nostril, with a contact of earth. The palate is juicy, even actually juicy with a touch of anise on the backend, but it surely works and that is tasty. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2022 Murphy-Goode Pinot Noir, California: Retail $18. Underneath screw cap. Vanilla and cherry on the nostril with a touch of strawberry. Good nostril. The palate is okay, however missing a little bit of oomph. Positive, there may be fruit and tartness, simply no wow issue right here. Very Good. 88 Factors. 
2023 Rodney Sturdy Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $30. Underneath screw cap. Medium to darkish in shade with a cherry cola, virtually Jolly Rancher factor happening. Fruity and a bit extracted on the palate, that is possible a crowd pleaser however I discover it a bit one-dimensional. Very Good. 89 Factors.
2022 Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Vintner’s Reserve, California: Retail $20. A bit muted on the nostril, actually not a lot there despite the fact that this has been open for some time. The palate is comparable. It’s nice, even superb, however after the fruit, there may be some tartness however not numerous depth. Very Good. 88 Factors.
2022 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir Le Ciel Serein, Carneros, CA: Retail $62. Darkish fruit and a bit funky (I like the funk) on the nostril which some anise and a little bit of clove finally peeking by way of on the backend. A surprisingly quantity of fruit on the palate, and whereas the acidity is a bit missing initially, it actually catches up by the end. Glorious. 91 Factors.
2022 Sangiacomo Wines Pinot Noir Roberts Street Winery, Petaluma Hole, CA: Retail $75. Strawberry rhubarb on the nostril with a touch of vanilla. Good. Pretty, even a whoa on the palate with luscious crimson fruit and incredible stability. Stunning. Excellent. 94 Factors.
2022 Merriam Vineyards Pinot Noir Diana’s Winery, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $56. A bit darkish with a bitter cherry predominate on the nostril. There may be additionally a little bit of celery, oddly. The palate is gentle on fruit, has a pleasant degree of acidity, and a little bit of a tannic grip on the end. Glorious. 91 Factors.
2021 Freeman Pinot Noir Gloria Property, Inexperienced Valley of Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $60. Actually darkish in shade with a little bit of a cherry cola on the nostril. One other wine with an abundance of fruit, largely slightly below ripe cherry, with a pleasant tartness coming in on the mid-palate. A delicate wine that provokes contemplation. Glorious. 91 Factors.
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