TN: 07 Loring Pinot Noir, Clos Pepe Vineyard

Otto_Dobre · February 13, 2009, 5:09am

I am not a Pinot drinker, but I can certainly appreciate an excellent wine when I taste one. And this is as good of a Pinot as I’ve had in a long time. It is a wine that is complex, dark in fruit, with lively acidity and soft smooth tannins. IMO ready to go from opening, but develops very nicely in the glass and with air. I think the WS score of 94 is spot on. Bravo Brian!!!

Otto

Paul_L_i_n · February 13, 2009, 5:20am

i think brian’s wines in 2007 are pretty strong across the board.

zachary_l_a_n_g · February 13, 2009, 3:45pm

I’ve purchased a few of the Loring 2007s - the notes I’ve seen so far seem very promising

Scott_Butler · February 13, 2009, 4:01pm

I think I have one of these - I need to check. Sounds awesome!

Do you want to hear a great story? It’s another great Loring customer service story. I’ve been a customer for a good chunk of years - I think my first mailing list purchase was the 2002 vintage. I buy what I can, and really like their wine. But this past year hasn’t been really good to me economically. Nothing “doom and gloom” - I just have some extra expenses right now, so haven’t bought any wine in about 12 months, except value priced retail wine.

During the fall mailer season ,when I was reading about how great the 07’s were going to be, I sent a note to Kimberly Loring stating that I will miss 2 mailers due to finances, but I hoped to remain on the mailing list. I never got a response, but about 10 days later a package showed up at the house, and it was a 4-pack of 2007 Lorings, with a note from Kimberly that said “thanks for being a customer - enjoy the wine”. I mean, does it really get any better than that?

So, I might just have a bottle of this at home - pretty sure I do. I’ll post notes on it soon.

zachary_l_a_n_g · February 13, 2009, 4:07pm

that is simply amazing! I love drinking wine made by good people, and that is pretty damn good! Brian and Kimberly are first class people!

Scott_Butler · February 13, 2009, 4:14pm

Yeh, no doubt about it!

J_Singleton · February 13, 2009, 4:30pm

That’s a great story. It’s nice to see gestures like that when they are totally unexpected! Just don’t post this story over on eBob or the poor Loring’s will have 200 emails from people saying they are in tough financial situations but want to stay on the list next year. haha.

Scott_Butler · February 13, 2009, 5:04pm

You my friend are a MIND READER!!!

This wonderful gesture happened in November, and I never posted the story because I thought “will this do more harm than good?” I seriously was worried that others might expect this sort of reaction from a non-order.

But today I just couldn’t help myself.

Bob_Kaminski · February 13, 2009, 5:59pm

Just got my 07s (Fall-shipping issue on my end not Brian’s and Spring). I thought they would do well with a 12 month nap before I have at them. So this sounds like there is no harm in having one now. What do you think, will they be better in a year or are they so good now, waiting will not reward all that much?

J_Singleton · February 13, 2009, 6:02pm

I had the same experience a while back. I’d ordered 2 bottles of P2 from Mike, and then I emailed him saying that I’d never tried his wines so I’d better try one of each and upped my order to 4. He snuck in two extra bottles and thanked me in a hand-written note for taking a chance and increasing my order. It was obviously a totally unexpected treat and just showed me that great customer service really does exist.

Scott_Butler · February 13, 2009, 6:21pm

It’s ALWAYS good to kill one early - in the name of science. (sorry Russ)

Scott_Butler · February 13, 2009, 6:21pm

The leaves don’t fall far from the tree, i guess.

Rich_K0rz_nk0 · February 13, 2009, 6:25pm

I can’t help but do the same. Unfortunately it just makes it that much harder to lay them down. This is one of my favorite producers so it sounds like I’ll be discounting every bottle for the same reason in the coming year.

Cris_Whetstone · February 13, 2009, 6:47pm

Birds of a feather. I’ve been fortunate enough to hang out with the Lorings and Mike. They are all fun generous people with great enthusiasm for wine in general. If anyone ever comes out that way I would recommend a visit to the “wine ghetto” in Lompoc and a visit to their new facility. Pali is in the other half of the building also.

Joe_Hauck · February 13, 2009, 9:01pm

I actually passed on the recent mailer that the Clos Pepe was on, then all I heard was glowing reviews for all the 07’s. Earlier this week I got a second chance offering and jumped on the Clos pepe, Then the next day I received an e-mail from KL offering 3 Loring 07’s including the Clos Pepe for about 6 bucks cheaper per bottle.

Rob_MacKay · February 13, 2009, 9:10pm

yeah that happens. KL also has/had AP Vin 07s for a few bucks cheaper as well. You’ll probably see the 07 August West show up there too. I don’t mind too much. It’s just another supply when I drink them too early.

Joe_Hauck · February 13, 2009, 9:19pm

Doesn’t really bother me either, but am wondering if I should be passing on more mailers and rolling the dice on retailers getting the wine at less than direct pricing.

Rob_MacKay · February 13, 2009, 9:21pm

I’ve dropped a couple but there are others that don’t bother me so much. I like Ed’s and Andrew’s wines and don’t mind floating them the extra 5 or 6 bucks for their efforts. Plus they include shipping so it tempers the blow a bit.

Scott_Butler · February 13, 2009, 9:23pm

Just curious, was it $6 cheaper after shipping? KL typically charges for shipping, Loring does not. Might make the Loring price still cheaper, possibly.

Rob_MacKay · February 13, 2009, 9:27pm

oh… yeah I don’t factor in KL shipping as they are only 10 mins from the office. sorry…