2006 Inman Family Pinot Noir- USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (2/2/2010)
14.1% alcohol. Beautifully open, with flowers and black cherry on the nose. In the mouth, the pure fruit and floral notes are joined with baking spice. Bright acidity. Long finish. A terrific wine, pure and elegant. A-
2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley- USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (2/2/2010)
14.2% alcohol. Opened three hours before drinking but not decanted. This is the best RRV blend Kosta Browne has ever made. All the best of these wines was in display in this bottle. Black cherry color. Gorgeous nose of vanilla-laced cherry, baking spice, and minerals. In the mouth, concentrated and plush, but with a greater sense of elegance than this wine has exhibited in past vintages. Loads of cherry fruit, as you would expect, with a touch of cherry pie, bright acidity. Long finish. Positively delightful. A-/A
2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix- USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (1/21/2010)
14.5% alcohol. Absolutely delicious. Red cherry color. On the nose, flowers mixed with red and black cherry fruit, with a lovely earthy note. In the mouth, laser-like, cutting a straight line of fruit across the tongue. Bright spike of acidity underscores the complexity of the wine, and the finish just sails on. A-
Call me dense, but I’m not sure I see the contrast you mention in the thread title. Descriptors cross over between the wines… and they all get A- ish scores…
I did mean perceived styles … and also that, of these three wines, I like the “ultra-ripe” KB the best. Just meant to stir a bit of thought about what style is. If you tossed these wines into a lineup blind, I think you could pick out who made them. But style is so fluid (ha! haha!) in wine, that this was a good reminder to me that, any ideological preferences aside, it’s about what’s in the bottle and what tastes good when you drink it. And all these tasted good.
Actually, not sure what vineyards Brian and Joe share ---- so not certain if Brian ever got a shirt! Joe did get one, however.
Nonetheless, we picked before Joe on a couple of occasions - so the novelty of wearing the shirt wore off a bit. I do, however, still wear my “We make Anna Nicole Smith wine” boxer shorts.
I poured for Kathleen at Winter Wineland last month and was extremely impressed by her 2007s - and the price on her RRV blend has dropped this year to $30… Fantastic QPR.
I am 100% sure that the Clos Pepe '05 was a one and done deal as I doubt Joe will be making wine in 2105. That being said, I don’t think Joe has purchased any Clos Pepe fruit in subsequent vintages.
Russ - We visited with Joe in November and he said he was talking to Steve and Wes about sourcing some fruit again from Clos Pepe - so don’t give up hope!
