TNs: Falltacular 2009

the offline to end all offlines. the granddaddy of them all. the superbowl of pinots. you may scoff at trite superlatives, but in this case, they apply. while i think the jury is still out on the quality of 2007 california pinots, in comparison to the stellar 2005 vintage, i am of the firm opinion that 2007 is MUCH better than 2006.

FALLTACULAR 2009 - Casa Murray - San Juan Capistrano, CA (1/24/2009)

  • N.V. Yann Alexandre Champagne Grande Réserve Courmas - France, Champagne
    This Champagne tasted a bit older than it perhaps is. In place of green apples and yeast are baked apples and bread crust, with crushed minerals and lemon curd rounding out the palate. A nice sparkler from a relatively unknown producer (at least to me). 89-90 points. (89 pts.)
  • 2007 Tercero Grenache Blanc Camp 4 Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
    This wine showed better – sleeker and more vibrant – than the previous time I tasted it (about 6 months ago). Refreshing notes of nectarines and lemon custard. Good acidity provides balance to the richness of the fruit. (89 pts.)
  • 2005 Ampelos Pinot Noir Ampelos Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
    What happens when you bring a 2005 to a 2007 battle? Well, it’s a little like bringing a shotgun to a pistol duel. In this case, I was the one who was blown away. Vibrant and pure notes of Bing cherries, ripe strawberries, and crushed minerals – just delicious. My notes say, “Straight up good!” 90-91 points. (90 pts.)
  • 2007 Armonie Cellars Pinot Noir Split Rock Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    A very ripe expression of this sight. Notes of raisins, black plums, black cherries, and hard spices. Large scaled and quite intense on the palate. (87 pts.)
  • 2007 August West Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
    Compared to the Rosella’s, this Pinot came across as less approachable and more aggressive on the palate. Notes of black cherries, black raspberries, and wet soil. Dense and compact with a slightly gravelly finish. Has promise, but needs more time at this point. (90 pts.)
  • 2007 August West Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
    This was one of the wines I was most interested in tasting, and I was not disappointed! Notes of strawberry preserves, black cherries, raspberry coulee, and hard spices. Rich, deep, and decadent on the palate. This wine is like a smart and sexy brunette – quite the keeper! My WOTD. (93 pts.)
  • 2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Fruity and easy to drink with cheerful notes of bright cherries, watermelon, and shadings of sous bois. Not terribly complex, but I did very much like the mouthfeel, which I found rather supple and light. 88-89 points. (88 pts.)
  • 2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir Stony Terrace - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    I liked this much better than when I tasted it at Pinot Days. Complex notes of black cherries, raspberries, sandlewood, leather, and crushed minerals. A polished wine that is very lithe and elegant on the palate. (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
    This wine is, to my mind, the benchmark for SRH Pinot Noir. Elegant notes of black cherries, pomegranates, cinnamon, citrus rind, and crushed minerals. Refined and balanced. (92 pts.)
  • 2005 Joseph Swan Vineyards Pinot Noir Saralee’s Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
    Another 2005 showstealer. This wine is in a very good place right now. Bright notes of red cherries, strawberries, and raspberries. Forest floor lingers on the finish. Lightweight and restrained on the palate. 91-92 points. (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
    My notes say, “How Pinot Noir should taste.” Pure and vibrant notes of black cherries, fresh raspberries, baking spices, and just a hint of earth. (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Aubaine Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley
    Ripe and concentrated with a broad palate of black cherries, boysenberries, red licorice. Excellent! (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Durell Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    This wine came across as the “sweetest” of the Loring line-up I tasted today. Notes of cherry pie filling, boysenberries, and vanillin oak. Creamy and lithe on the palate, but seems to need just a touch more acid. (88 pts.)
  • 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
    Notes of black cherries and orange peel. Pure and focused with a bright texture and long finish. 89-90 points. (89 pts.)
  • 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley
    Plush notes of dark cherries, black plums, and black raspberries. Soft on the palate with a nice lingering finish. (90 pts.)
  • 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
    I have always like the Rosella’s from Brian, and this wine is no exception. Bright notes of sour cherries, crushed raspberries, plum skin, citrus peel, and baking spices. Zesty on the palate with a nice long clean finish. Very refreshing! 91-92 points. (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Russell Family Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    Ripe and full on the palate with notes of black cherries, boysenberries, and a touch of candied orange peel. Very easy to drink. 88-89 points. (88 pts.)
  • 2007 Melville Pinot Noir Estate - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
    I’m not exactly sure what to think of this wine, as I am usually a fan of Melville Pinots. This one, however, came across as very candied, very primary, almost as if it saw barely any oak at all. A quick look at their website confirms my impressions, as it says that this wine saw only 16% new French oak. In any case, this cheerful little fruit punch of a wine came across very extroverted, yet rather simple, with youthful cherry fruit and sea shell notes. 86-87 points. (86 pts.)
  • 2004 Melville Pinot Noir Carrie’s - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
    Although the nose was opulent and rich with notes of black raspberries and chocolate-covered cherries, the palate seemed overdone, slightly coarse, and more herbal than I remembered a year ago. LB said it tasted a little like salsa. I’m not exactly sure if this wine was flawed, but something did not seem entirely right with this wine. The nose is a winner, but the palate seemed a little off. The best of two bottles. 86-87 points. (86 pts.)
  • 2007 Melville Pinot Noir Carrie’s - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills
    I think this wine holds a lot of promise, as I have always really enjoyed the Carrie’s, but right now the 65% whole cluster notes are dominating the wine. With swirling, one is able to coax out notes of Bing cherry, Asian pickled plums, wet soil, and hard spices. Not at opulent as previous years, this wine conveys a certain sense of old world gravitas that is reminscent of Burgundy. 89-90 points. (89 pts.)
  • 2007 P2 Wine Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville
    I remain to be convinced fully of Oregon’s greatness, but I did very much like this wine. Complex and savory notes of bacon, baking spices, dark cherries, and plums. Nice acidity and a mineral-laced finish. 91-92 points. (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Seawind Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
    Fruit foward notes of tart cherries and raspberry coulee. Full on the palate with a citrus peel finish. 90-91 points. (90 pts.)
  • 2007 Seawind Pinot Noir Split Rock Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    Notes of sweet cherries, strawberries, red plums, and pomegranate. Fruit forward, soft on the palate, and easy to drink. (89 pts.)
  • 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
    Opens with some reductive aromas, but after some swirling I was able to coax out notes of sweet cherry pie filling, new leather, and sea shells. A really nice, if somewhat different, expression of the site compared to Keefer Ranch. 88-89 points. (88 pts.)
  • 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
    I am a huge fan of Pisoni fruit but realize that it does not always show its potential at such a young stage. Rich and syrupy with notes of black cherries, red plums, Asian pickled plums, and oak spice. Needs much more time in the bottle. (89 pts.)
  • 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
    I found this wine a little curious as I was not expecting it to be so restrained and delicate. Earthy notes of sweet tobacco, cranberries, red cherries, clay and hard spices. (88 pts.)
  • 2007 Sojourn Pinot Noir Demuth Vineyard Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    This wine is not due to be released until the fall of 2009, so perhaps it is still a work in progress. But as it is, it came across a bit rough. Whole cluster notes dominate the nose, with earth, dried cherries, and tree bark on the palate. If New World Pinot is your thing, then this is probably not your wine. On the other hand, red Burgundy lovers should rejoice! (85 pts.)
  • 2006 Tercero Cuvée Christie - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    My impressions of this wine are pretty similar to the last time I tasted it. Rustic notes of raspberries, hard spices, minerals, tree bark, and peppercorns. Fleshy on the palate with a firm tannic grip. 88-89 points. (88 pts.)
  • 2007 Tercero Grenache Camp 4 Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
    I believe this was a barrel sample. Rustic notes of black raspberries, cassis, garrigue, and peppercorns. Bold on the attack, then turns bright on the midpalate and finish. (88 pts.)
  • 2007 Terra Novus Pinot Noir Split Rock Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    This bottle threw off significant reduction, even after giving it the Mollydooker shake. Notes of black cherry, plums, smoke, and tar. Tasted closer to my first bottle than my most recent one. 88-89 points. (88 pts.)
  • 2004 Vergari Pinot Noir DuNah Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    Earthy and smokey notes of cooked cherry reduction, tanned leather, and red clay. I can see this wine going really well with food. (87 pts.)
  • 2005 Vergari Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    This wine showed better than when I tasted it at Family Winemakers a year ago. Sauvage notes of red cherries, strawberries, earth, and red clay. Soft on the palate. (88 pts.)
  • 2006 Vergari Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    I think wine is pretty typical of the 2006 vintage for the region. A beam of bright cherry and blueberry fruit on the attack, but rather underdeveloped on midpalate and finish. (86 pts.)
  • 2006 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
    This was actually the first wine I tasted today. Wow, what a way to begin! Concentrated notes of boysenberries, blackberries, white pepper, loamy earth and dried herbs. In spite of its density, it was surprisingly sleek and sinewy on the palate. In contrast to the 2005, which I found beautiful and voluptuous, this 2006 comes across as taut and well-toned. A Petite with abs! (91 pts.)

Thanks for getting this rolling Paul. Was my next project for the next couple nights. [good.gif]

So this was it! 34 wines!? That’s a regular weekend at my house.

You’ve never been to Falltacular.

That was probably one table. (or just his highlights - I believe there were 140 wines)

Eric knows the drill. He also knows Paul could do better and will probably have some stern words for him since he writes for Eric’s site. :smiley:

I’m not sure I even got to 34. I wanted to but was having too much fun talking and eating. [drinkers.gif]

I was there when it all began - when it was actually held in the Fall. Of course those were the pre-formality days. Missed last couple of times due to travel.

This was only my 2nd Falltacular . . .but it was absolutely wonderful! The food was great, the wines were wonderful, but more importantly, it’s a blast hanging out with the wine folks from OC, SD, and LA . . . I truly do not get a chance to do this often enough and just had soooo much fun doing so over the weekend.

There were over 150 wines poured - even Paul was challenged in writing notes on all of them. In fact, there were many that Paul did not mention that were crowd favorites from others . . . waiting for WetRock and others to add their copious notes!

Cheers!

Its great guys like you Larry come on down for that. You all are fun and it adds an extra bit of geek fun for all us wine dorks.

As you can see by all the raving Todd has done the past week clearly he did the right thing in going to the UGC Bore-dough event. [tease.gif]

who wouldn’t want to be smashed between 500+ people trying to push and shove your way through a crowd to drink Tight Unyielding wines that don’t show half their potential with a pop and pour?

You guys are great for coming down to the event. I do think Eric was OG and attended the first one. And the first one was truly all contained in my kitchen on the granite top in the half circle at the end of the counter–AP Vin, Dain, Alcina, Loring and Siduri. About 30 bottles and I think one deep. How far its come.

That’s pretty amazing to think about - 30 bottles, at a Frank event?? How is that even passable?

I was also there when you had them spread through the first level of the house: i.e. Native 9 in the family room, Alcina in the front office and the syrahs in the cellar room. Was that the first Falltacular or second?

Sounds great! Hopefully Lauren and I can make it to one of these in the future!

Paul - did I read that right? Was there another Split Rock Vineyard (Crush Pad’s name for Gap’s Crown) Pinot at Falltacualr??

indeed, this time around i actually ate and talked to people. my bad. [dash1.gif]

… and from french people! [beee.gif]

mike, there were at least 3 – seawind, armonie, sojourn, and ladd. the first two were crushpad projects. as you can see from my notes, the seawind was very good; the armonie was more extracted and less to my liking.

It was another great FMIII & DRJ event. I never take notes at these things. Already had a wine glass, spit cup & bottled water taht was tough enough to handle.

Here’s my take:

Basically 90% of the Pinots all tasted the same. Of the 10% I liked the Black Kite wines. There were others, just not retrievable currently.

The Syrahs I tried were very good. The '02 Swan Trenton and '02 Great Oak were my 2 favs of the day. Larry’s 07 Tercero Larner (barrel sample) was really nice. That’s about all my pea size brain can recall.

Don’t get me wrong, the wines didn’t suck…well a few did, but basically I’m losing my fondness for CA PN.

It was great seeing all the faces I haven’t seen in a while and meeting some new ones.

Slight correction: I didn’t bottle the Gap’s Crown separately in 06…tho the Sonoma Coast contained some Gap’s fruit. (I brought my 05 GC last year…only brought 06s this year).

For the longest time I thought that Gap’s Crown was one of the dumbest names I’d ever heard of. It sounds like a hairpiece shop or dental procedure. But, once I knew the derivation, it was better, albeit still dumb.

Good lad(d). Thanks for coming over here to straighten us out. [cheers.gif]

Paul - did you have your vino there? Did I miss it again?