I’m cross-posting a little from a soon-to-be-released post on a recent OL. The other tastes are mostly from sessions with Daun Bailey at Barrel Select–many thanks to her for providing us the opportunity to try the wines and meet up with the winemakers, those of us up here are lucky to have her as a champion of California wines.
2007 Willakenzie Estate Aliette Pinot Noir
Starts out somewhat earthy, stemmy, rooty. Tongue finds it youthfully arrogant, it knows it’s brash. Sour cherry, raspberry, sous-bois and dark cocoa present. It starts to round out and come around with time. I just think it’s extremely young right now.
2007 Kutch Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir
The sniffer gets light cola and good mix of small berry fruit. On palate, this is quite up-front with perfumed cherry and edging of plum. But I was surprised to find it wasn’t as complete or deep—or as enjoyable—a wine as my last try of it about a year ago. Not sure where the wine is heading, though I am happy to have a last bottle to find out in a year or two.
2007 Littorai Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir
Wow—roasted cloves and other fruit, quite aggressive in the nostrils. Zippy stuff, with very good potential, but jumping around a bit—chewy and acidic at the same time, with raspberry and currant, and yet comes across as a little thin at other times on the taste. Perhaps just needs a bit of time to come together, but I don’t adore it yet, and I’ve adored Littorai Savoy.
2009 Lane Tanner Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir
This and the Julia’s will be Lane’s last wines. She came up to show them in Toronto and she continues to be an absolute delight. The wine has kind of an element of cinnamon bark, mixed with sweet black raspberry and jamocha fudge and raisin. Just a sliver of cut greens at the back end of the nuzzie. Certainly has identity—it leans towards earth & spices with tart raspberry and also maybe dried plum. I do think it needs another level, not quite at the “convincing” stage. Pretty though.
2009 Lane Tanner Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
Lane describes this as the most exotic wine she’s ever made and the longest she left in barrel, 15 months. A very sultry nose, this has a truly baked sugar and molasses component to tremendous plum, black strawberry and melted chocolate. On palate, this is really young. Big bite at front and at sides. A lot of integrating to do, it would be quite curious to see where this ends up as a whole in 5-10 years. There’s not a ton of fruit or sweetness on the mouth at this point, has quite a bit of potential but hard to assess.
2008 Small Vines Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Open bouquet with potpourri and sweet raspberry. A small lick of cardamom. To taste, bright, expressive and enjoyable with lots of red berry fruit and a glance of nutmeg. Not particularly deep, I like it without loving it.
2008 Small Vines MK Vineyard Pinot Noir
I love it! Add some coffee, cola, strawberry and more definite cardamom to the potpourri and raspberry of the Sonoma Coast. And the mouthfeel, the creaminess of this is gorgeous. Like fruit salad with crème fraiche and cardamom replay for sure. This is a real step up from any of their previous wines, especially in terms of expressiveness. And I’ve said this before…the Sloans are nice people. I bought some bottles.
2008 Sojourn Vineyard Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir
Delivers sniffing pleasure of bright red berry, a bit of red plum, cloves and cocoa. Extremely expressive (something that seems to be a hallmark of the good 08s) and smooth in middle and back, bright at front. A bit of dry mustard side to it, but certainly strawberry, raspberry and mocha in evidence. However, it is all at one level. An expansive one level to be sure, but just that. Still, very good.