2008 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite's Rest - Yuck!

WINE TALK
1
  • 2008 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (6/9/2013)
    Is this a joke. I had this a few years ago and the wine was fairly smokey but I could choke a glass down when focusing on the fruit. Now this is just basically a smoked porter with acid. Gross! Took about 30 minutes and a meal to get the taste out of my mouth. [bleh.gif]

Posted from CellarTracker

2

What is this producer like in general (setting aside the 2008 fire season)? I saw a bunch of high scores in the WS recently but have never heard of them otherwise.

3

Had 09 and 10 from different vineyards, all excellent although they push the oak envelope.

4

Hmmm–faulty memory, I thought the 09 was tried a few years ago at FallTacular. In fact, it was the January 2012 event where I had this to say:

"2009 Black Kite Kite’s Rest Pinot Noir

Less of everything that is in the Stony Terrace in bouquet, but more balanced, perhaps a rooty side. this has more acidity, less developed is the fruit—raspberries ad unknit spices. Yet, I think there’s more promise for a good wine here."

The 07 Angel’s Hawk PN from them took first prize for me at FallTacular 2010, FWIW

5

Not a lot of experience with them but as Mike mentioned, the first year they showed up at the Falltacular, they turned a lot of heads. Mine for one. I thought the wines were terrific.

Jason

6
  • 2010 Black Kite Pinot Noir Redwoods Edge - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (2/17/2013)
    Falltacular 2013 (FMIII in the OC): All the black kite wines I tasted were fantastic and they were definite the buzz of the tasting just like last year. These are all excellent wines but I thought this stood up just a bit based on the potential. The combination of fruit, gripping tannins, and a whiff of expresso on the finish. Wow, beautiful wine with great future ahead of because it has all the building blocks to really improve with cellar time. And it’s already drinking fantastically right now with some air. Scary.
  • 2010 Black Kite Pinot Noir Stony Terrace - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (2/17/2013)
    Falltacular 2013 (FMIII in the OC): Don’t add anymore oak to the program in future vintages. This is right on the boarder, they all are, where there’s some coffee and vanilla elements on the nose and finish combined with cherry and strawberry flavors yet its not syrupy or over concentrated. Excellent wine.
  • 2009 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (10/21/2012)
    Dinner with Friends (FMIII in the OC): Lots of moving parts here, nothing bashful regarding this wine. Dark fruit nose. Palate is dark cherry and spice. Medium finish.

Posted from CellarTracker

7

2008 Anderson Valley [bleh.gif]

8

I’ve liked Black Kite Pinots in the past, and I thought the group of wines they poured a few weeks ago at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival was among the best at the tasting. Full report is here - 2013 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival - and I pulled out the Black Kite notes below:

Black Kite 2010 Pinot Noir, “Kite’s Rest,” Anderson Valley. > From 114, 115, and Pommard clones. Medium-light color, featuring upfront cherry fruit along with herbs and peppery spice. Medium-bodied with good acidity and a milder tannins on the clean finish.

Black Kite 2010 Pinot Noir, “Redwood’s Edge,” Anderson Valley. > From the highest vineyard block, with 114 and 115 clones. Slightly darker color, this had more earth, spice, and tea leaf aromas with raspberry fruit and a floral note. Bigger and more structured on the palate, with a long and lively finish, nice.

Black Kite 2010 Pinot Noir, “Stony Terrace,” Anderson Valley. > From a rockier spot in the vineyard, with 100% Pommard clone. Medium-light color, showing more spice and forest floor notes plus plummy fruit. Structured mouthfeel with a grippier tannic finish.
Black Kite 2010 Pinot Noir, “River Turn,” Anderson Valley. > From the lowest part of the vineyard, with 100% Pommard clone. Medium color, showing a more savory profile with tea leaf and mineral notes along with raspberry, spice, and floral components. Medium weight with bright acidity and more refined tannins.

Black Kite 2011 Pinot Noir, “Kite’s Rest,” Anderson Valley. > From 114, 115, and Pommard clones. A bit lighter color, with cherry and strawberry fruit, flowers, and herbs on the nose. Medium-light bodied with a juicy mouthfeel and fine tannins on the long finish, nice.

Comments> : Black Kite was founded in 2003 by Donald & Maureen Green. Their children, Rebecca Green Birdsall, Victoria Green Comfort, and Michael Green, are all now part of the winery team, while Jeff Gaffner is the consulting winemaker. The 12-acre estate Kite’s Rest vineyard was planted in 1999 in the “deep end” of Anderson Valley. The “Kite’s Rest” bottling is a blend of the three vineyard blocks that are also bottled separately. The wines are aged in about 50% new oak. This was a very impressive group of Anderson Valley Pinots.

I think you just have to write off most 2008s from Mendocino County, though I’ve certainly come across some exceptions to that - just as I’ve come across smoke-tainted 2008s from Sonoma County and other areas. FWIW, some producers are still pouring smoke-tainted 2008 wines at tasting events - I tasted one at the Taste of Mendocino event in San Francisco yesterday. Very surprised that wine was poured, particularly during the trade/media part of the event (I do know that some consumers love those smoky wines).

9

Amazing. I know they need to make money but the damage could go deep. This was not my wine but if it was I would be freaking pissed and would never by from the producer again.

And for people who like “smoky” wines … here is a PSA … you can by smoked beer and save a crap load of money.

J

10

Plus, customers who are unaware of the '08 smoke debacle might be turned off and associate that taste with the producer henceforth so I see it as a big risk they’re taking.

11

Exactly.

12

I tasted some 2008 Pinots at the Anderson Valley Pinot Festival last year and was surprised how horrible a couple were and why they would make the decision to pour them. Whenever I see that producer (Not Black Kite) in the market now, that is the memory I go back to, instantly.

Ken Zinns: Has Black Kite improved their road yet? I visited there during last year’s festival and had no idea how gnarly it was going to be getting in and out. Last time for me until they make some changes.

13

Doug, I have not been up to Black Kite so I don’t know about their road. Sounds sort of like Lagier Meredith’s road before they paved it about 10 years ago.

Smoke taint is so insidious. A number of producers thought they had successfully dealt with it when their 2008 wines went into bottle only to find the taint come back big time afterwards. This happened to some well-known producers as well as less-experienced ones. But I agree that I can’t see a good reason to continue pouring them at tastings.