Some wines from the last week:
2004 Domaine de la Solitude CdP
Basic bottling. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, cedar and a bit of funk. Full bodied. On the palate, this is quite drinkable but lacking any personality, so to speak. Dark cherries and some anise notes. Nice finish. Easy to drink and a nice wine, but certainly not outstanding. Where does it go from here? 50+4+12+16+6=88
2007 Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast
Ruby in color with some garnet and some purple swirls. The nose is nice with earthiness and cherries with a slight funk. On the palate, this is juicy and easy to drink. It has a nice complexity that seems to say a couple of years might even improve. That said, for $26 Ohio, this is tasty right now. Nice finish. I liked this more than previous vintages, perhaps 07 is really a VOTC. 50+3+13+17+7=90
2007 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is cherries with forest floor and funk. Nice. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this is a bit candied cherries, but also some earthy, macerated cherries. I think this still needs some time, but a wonderful texture right now. I would say more, but the bottle got drained too fast. 50+4+13+17+7=91
2005 Scott Paul La Paulee Oregon Pinot Noir
I liked this wine, but did not find it “varietally correct”. Served blind to two friends, they both guessed Languedoc/Rhone until they saw the screw top. They thought and dismissed Pinot. Purple in color with some ruby at the rim. A nose of dark cherries, black raspberries and perhaps some dill? A bit of caramel too. On the palate, this really drinks easily. While I might hard pressed to call it blind, it was easy to call delicious. My wife loved it. 50+4+13+18+7=92
Very interesting notes, Loren. Especially on the Scott Paul. Your note didn’t mention anything about the tannins, but that’s where I would have guessed a very noticeable difference between L-R and Oregon to show up. And that’s a great note on the Kutch too. I haven’t yet been tempted to open an '07, but your note makes me want to check in on one.
I’m a bit surprised at the Kutch score. I adore this wine. I had my first Kanzler from Jamie last night and though good, I think the SC blows it away. I’m thinking like 94 easy.
I’ll have to pick up the Calera. Good pinot for $25 is hard to find
Greg, I have not had an 07 Kanzler yet IIRC. I am sure I could go a bit hgiher on the Kutch. I think it will improve from here and i score on the bottle, not potential. I wish I had more, that’s for sure.
Thanks for the notes. Interesting about the Scott Paul. I own the wine but have yet to try it. Not sure what vineyards go into the La Paulee but I think it is part Maresh. Maybe I should visit a bottle.
Although I have not had the 2005 (nor any other vintage), I did have the pleasure of drinking the 2004 Scott Paul La Paulee last Thursday. Like your 2005, it had a real easy-drinking character to it and I found it to be on the light, lifted, feminine side, and while it was not served blind, I cannot imagine thinking it was anything other than Pinot Noir. It showed lots of berries, brown spices, sarsparilla, airy acidity and light tannins in a way that seemed easily consistent with its variety and place of origin. I wonder whether 2005 was an atypical vintage for this producer or whether the 2004 I had was the atypical one?
The back label says Ribbon Ridge, Shea and Stoller. Is it different each vintage?
Michael, good question. This is the only wine of theirs I have ever had (but I plan on drinking more). Certainly 04 was a lighter vintage IMO in the Willamette than 05 which was more intense.
Okay. I think that is the same as the Martha Pirrie which I have had multiple times. It is very good and a bit on the hedonist side. I will say I am generally not a fan of Stoller. It seems too overpowering but it is distinctive. Maybe Scott will chime in.
No, I don’t count off for varietal correctness. I think about it, but rarely does it matter to me in terms of enjoyment. It can be an issue for food pairing or when you have a jones for a certain wine (but then best not to experiment anyway).