We gathered at Christianne’s place to enjoy a terrific dinner prepared by Christianne and Traci. The focus was all things pinot based and it was great. Great to see everyone…JBL & Lynne, Richard Jennings, Christianne, Ed & Michelle, Al Osterheld and Christianne P.
Starter Wine
- 2007 Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico - Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Christianne opened this while she and Traci were cooking/prepping. This is about $12 and is a superb buy. The nose is full of almonds and tropical fruits. The palate is a little fatter than I anticipated but showed almonds, pear, pineapple and a little bit of honey and spice and minerality on the finish. An absolutely terrific wine and especially for the price.
Pinot Meunier Flight
- N.V. Leclerc Briant Champagne Brut La “Ravinne” - France, Champagne
Now with everyone filtering in, it was time to start the festivities and all things Pinot. This wine is Pinot Meunier and also bears the additional label distinction of being from the “Les Authentiques Collection”. I really liked this sparkler…crisp acidity, green apple, meyer lemon and a little bit of yeast/biscuit on the finish. A very nice Champagne. - 2002 De Meric Champagne Cuvée Rene Millesime - France, Champagne, Avize, Champagne
This seemed more mature than the Leclerc…yeasty, a little fatter/rounder with honey and a little bit of that sherried quality. I liked it but preferred the crispness of the Leclerc. Pinot Meunier.
Pinot Blanc Flight
- 2006 Pyramid Valley Pinot Blanc Kerner Estate - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
This was very nice. Crisp, slightly nutty and floral. Good palate weight. - 2006 Weingut Familie Prieler Pinot Blanc Seeberg - Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee Hügelland
Shows a little more grassiness than the Pyramid and seems a little more Sauv Blanc like but with terrific minerality, peaches and melon. A little racier than the Pyramid too…very good. - 2006 Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss Pinot Blanc Kritt Les Charmes - France, Alsace, Andlau, Alsace AOC
At first I liked this wine…it showed some apricots and honey with a little bit of slate. Almost seemed sweet to me like it had a bit of residual sugar. As it sat in the glass the nose developed radishes to some, to me it seemed almost like a vinegary mustard or something and I really began to not like the wine…oh well. - 2005 Dirler-Cade Pinot Blanc Cuvée Vieilles Vignes - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC
Shows a touch of age but this was really very nice. Pears, almonds and slightly honeyed nose with more of the same on the palate along with some beautiful slate and orange blossom…I really liked this.
Pinot Gris Flight
- 2006 Terre D’Alteni Pinot Grigio Oltrepò Pavese La Versa - Italy, Lombardia, Oltrepò Pavese
CORKED (FLAWED) - 2006 Heidi Schröck Grauburgunder - Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee Hügelland, Rust
This may have been my favorite white wine of the evening…this was rocking good. Nose of wet rocks and spicy pear. Palate is terrific with crushed stone, pears, great acidity…just outstanding. - 2007 Meyer-Fonné Pinot Gris Réserve Particulière - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC
Another terrific white. Minerals, apricot and did I say hard core minerality. Nice weight/length. Just behind the Schrock to me… - 2005 Dirler-Cade Pinot Gris Reserve - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC
Corked…
Red Burgundy Flight
- 2001 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
The nose of this reminded me of a true Sonoma Coast Pinot…or maybe Sonoma Coast Pinots remind me of this…anyway…nice nose of sour cherries/cranberries and baking spices. The palate is a little lean with acid sort of dominating the fruit at the moment but some vanilla rears up with the sour cherry/cranberry and baking spices…good. - 1999 Maurice Écard Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru
Nose of black tea, lots of spices/pepper with more spice on the palate, black cherries, nice acidity and a touch of brett that seemed to work in this wine…see note on the WS further down where it didn’t work. I enjoyed this wine. - 1998 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru
Another wine with a knockout nose but just needing a little something on the palate…nose was beautiful with cranberries, crushed rock, anise and red licorice. A little darker fruit on the palate but acid still quite dominate. Nice but not quite the level of the Ecard. - 1990 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
This may have been my wine of the night and favorite Pinot based wine of the year…Super pretty with red fruit, tea, flowers all in a beautifully balanced package. Nice acidity, nicely balanced fruit and aromatics, good sweetness on the palate, long finish. Terrific. (94 pts.) - 2003 Domaine Dujac Charmes-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Ed brought this out, there was about 1/3 of the bottle left and it had been open for a couple of days. I think Ed said it showed some brett early but none detected when we drank it. It was definitely on the rich side…my brief notes say some VA, rich fruit, vanilla/creme brulee…
California Pinot Flight
- 2006 Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Bottled - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Okay, we are getting late in the evening and the quality of my notes and my desire to write down anything was waning…but this was young but very good. Black cherry fruit, spice and underbrush with nice acidity. A terrific CA Pinot. - 2006 Baton Wines Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Red fruits…cherry, licorice, seems like some added acidity poking out a bit but pretty tasty. - 2004 Littorai Pinot Noir One Acre - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Very nice, a little richer than I anticipated with spices and creamy black cherry. Nice wine. - 2001 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Rochioli Riverblock - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
okay compare this with the Ecard…the brett doesn’t work and to me ruined the wine. Some nice tea and black licorice flavors but bam…brett. - 1988 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate Grown - USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone
No note on this one or the next one…The 00 Louis Jadot Clos Saint Denis GC.