Sadly my first choice for tonight was corked.
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But this is better!
The 2012 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard (Sonoma Coast) is coasting right along. This is from my dad’s cellar and I really wish there was a lot more of it. Bright raspberry fruit is framed by balanced acidity. There’s not much in the way of tannin, but it’s structurally solid and not at all screechy. A little bit of forest floor is showing up, so maturity is coming, but it’s not time yet. Not a trace of heat from the 14.5% ABV, though it’s being served at a cool 60 degrees F.
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@Frank_Murray_III, Does Pinot Meunier count?
Anyone willing to post a picture with Meomi?
I’m willing. First to the photo. I’m on the left, with @brigcampbell in the center, and @Cris_Whetstone on the right. And then the Meiomi regrettably in the middle of the photo.
As for the note, ugh. Since we’re raising money, I had several pours so I could write the note.
- 2022 Meiomi Pinot Noir - USA, California (11/23/2024)
This bottle showed up for a party I had today, and towards the end of the event, it was still unopened. I thought, come on, we gotta give this an honest look so a few of us opened it and tried it. Ugh. Heavy, sweet, caramel. OK, so put it aside and let everyone travel home and then I decided to try it again. 68f serving temp, open about 3 hours. The color looks fine, and yeah kinda dark, but there is some good CA Pinot Noir made that can throw some darker color (example--the 2022 Kutch McDougall I tasted right before this Meiomi, equally dark but tastes nothing like this Meoimi). This stuff is syrupy, which marries with the heaviness. There is a charred, caramel, sweet expression of the fruit which is just not good to drink. It has a warm, berry pie note for the finish. In sum, and this my own take, but I have always revered and appreciated Pinot Noir for its delicacy, its ability to transmit place and yet still express beauty. That for me is great Pinot Noir. This Meiomi is none of these things. I get that people want to drink a certain style, to have this kind of weight and flavor but honestly this is a tragedy for Pinot Noir. Down the drain with the rest of it.
Posted from CellarTracker
And for a return to something sane, and very good, this Kutch, which also came to the party today. Now, this is the kind of CA Pinot Noir that should be labeled as such. @Jamie_Kutch , great job here.
- 2022 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (11/23/2024)
Well, no notes yet so let me get this started. The bottle for this note was brought to my house today, it's been open for several hours and so it's seen a good amount of air. Serving at room temp of 68f and no food. Just me and the wine. Juicy with some inflection from the whole cluster (only 50% used). The stems give it a nice spicy lift but without the herbal notes that sometimes can show up when a lot of it gets used. The fruit is purply, so think of fresh fruits of raspberry and blueberry crashing together, then add a loam note, and bam, you have it. Juicy palate feel. This vintage of 'Dougie seems more approachable too right now than past versions, and yet there is some structure around the edges of the wine that should help give it some life ahead. If my guess is right here, I would assert this is gonna be in target zone in about 2-3 years. Delicious result, Jamie.
Posted from CellarTracker
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I didn’t get an answer on the Pinot Meunier so I shelved it for a 100% Pinot Noir. Frank originally turned me on to this producer but it’s hard to come by up here in the North Bay. Bottle Barn had some once but never restocked. Thank goodness for The Bottle List. No disgorgement info but the bottle etching reads: LR19D0422ND, maybe someone can decipher it for me.
- 2019 Marie-Courtin Champagne Résonance Extra Brut - France, Champagne (11/23/2024)
Can’t decipher the bottle code so not sure on disgorgement. I’m guessing April ‘22.
Opened at cellar temp if 55°. This wine goes still pretty quickly. Nose of biscuits and over-ripe apple peel. Pear, apple, citrus up front, chalky, with steely minerality late. The longer it sits and warms a bit the more layers that unfold. Tartness comes in late in the finish and lingers on but the chalk prevents it from going overboard. Interesting for sure, will have to re-visit tomorrow and see how it further evolves.
Posted from CellarTracker
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Sorry for the non-reply. Was a little busy around here today. 
Meunier is not qualified but your selection on Marie Courtin 19 Rez is a good call. Yeah don’t drink that wine too cold. In fact, let it go to room and then check it when you have more tomorrow. That approach I have found lets the wine relax and unwrap.
As for the bottle etch code, you’re right
Resonance 2019, disgorged April 2022, no dose.
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Our son and daughter came over last night, so we opened a 2021 Bouchaine Dijon Clone Pinot Noir to pair with Coq Au Vin, which is one of their favorite meals. The wine paired beautifully with the mushrooms in the meal. The wine was full of earthy tones and spices, with a little bit of minerals and cherries on the palate. Medium-bodied, and with some oak in the profile, but the oak is not the dominant characteristic. We have some left and will revisit today to go along with watching some NFL Football! This is such a good cause and what Margaret wrote reminds us of the great work that they do for their clients. Thank you Frank for what you do for this cause!
Cheers!
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Ed I dig the Sharks gear. Good rep for your team. One of these days we’ll both compete meaningfully in the NHL again. Patience is hard. Happy holidays to you and your family.
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I can’t believe I missed this thread until now! Amazing to see you doing this again this year Frank 
!
I had a couple of PNs yesterday: Péhu Simonet and Chandon de Briailles:
- 2021 Sun Break Wines Pinot Noir Nicolette Cortell-Rose Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills (11/23/2024)
Lots of tangy granny smith apple. Fruit dips down to a dry strawberry that give off the essence of a pinot noir. Satisfying through the mid palate onto a crisp finish of mature pear. It falls on the moderate to heavier side of a white wine scale. (92 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
I had the 2021
The 1st photo is from Cellar Tracker and shows the 2022
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Not sure I could ever call this Pinot in a blind tasting.
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de Negoce N.56 2019 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
An article in the SF Chron was how I first learned about de Negoce. Sleuthing a little more led me to WB and the rest is history. I purchased at least 100 cases from dN over the past 4 years (mostly during the pandemic) which was split/shared with friends and family and even some WBers. CT says I have still have 275 bottles or about 1/5 of my holdings.
As for the wine, this was rumored to be Copain and I paid $12 in September 2020. Very light and thin bodied. It has that bright red strawberry that I’ve grown to loathe in so many California Pinot Noirs. At least it’s better than Meiomi.
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92 WS? Is Suckling moonlighting there?
Ptrick and Tony, great to see you posting and helping us raise the funds here.
You all will forgive me brining Meiomi in to this thread. I have created this ugliness. 
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2010 Abbey Ridge Vineyard showdown - Cameron vs Westrey (both members of Deep Roots Coalition). Drank both wines over 2 nights.
1st night - The Westrey showed its 14 years in bottle but still has life left - pleasant cranberry on the nose and palate, fully resolved tannins, medium body and acid with a hint of forest floor. The Cameron tasted younger but was sadly a nondescript wine - lifeless with no acid, tannin or Cameron funk. Smooth and fruity is not what I expect or want from any Cameron Pinot. Wondered if the bottle was mildly corked or just off.
2nd night - The Westrey had dropped off just a smidge from the 1st night and was still drinking well. Wouldn’t hang on to any bottles of this much longer but worth opening now if you have any. The first glass of the Cameron was barely improved over the disappointment from the 1st night. Subsequent pours drastically improved showing raspberry, cherry, earth, medium acid that provided a much needed lift and a mild dose of Cameron funk. Still didn’t reach the heights I’ve experienced with aged Cameron bottles from this vineyard so could be an off bottle.
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I have become Meiomi, destroyer of all palates.
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No but Laube really did give Meiomi 92 points in 1993 IIRC.
Not gonna lie, in 2010 I had a 2008 Meiomi at a restaurant in Dana Point, and it was sublime.
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IIRC Constellation bought Meiomi in 2015 and rapidly turned it into the mass-market monster it is today. I too recall Meiomis from the early 2000s that I thought were quite good. Then, unaware of the change of mission, I tried one again shortly after the buy out. It was a very different wine. I can’t directly blame Constellation, as I don’t have a perfect recall of the chronology here, but there definitely was a shift toward sweeter, heavier plonk around that time.
Meiomi has become a running joke between my wife and me, a synecdoche of bad taste, as Meiomi was the first wine my wife thought was nasty.