Opened this 2017 last night, and it’s in a really nice place. Still room to grow, but no regrets opening it.
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I finally have built up a respectable number of different 2017s and so have been thinking it’s getting time to revisit them (it’s probably been a year or more since I last opened the Berserker and the Fir Crest Block Eleven 2017s, both of which were really nice). 
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@Marcus_Goodfellow @Megan_Joy how noticeable is the Gewurtz influence in the field blend? Will it scratch my Riesling itch?
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The Gewurz is about 5% in the Field Blend. Right after bottling it often makes itself felt aromatically but in the 2024 it’s not really showing itself independently. It should scratch the Riesling itch, and I have never really had anyone not enjoy this wine…but we will be releasing the 2024 Riesling later this year as well.
It’s a little laser beam of dry Riesling. Must love acid….
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We needed whites and sparklers so I ordered a mixed case of those.
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That. Is. Perfect.
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I’m so excited for summer. The rosé was just bottled but the nose is already jumping out of the glass and it’s so light and refreshing it makes it easy to think about a glass outside in the afternoon.
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2024 Berserker Cuvee (BD17)
Got a delivery this morning and wanted to do an early check in before I put the rest in cryosleep.
Let it sit for an hour in the glass. Showed very well. Great acid.
N: Vanilla, mint, earth
P: Sour strawberry, cinnamon
F: Dark chocolate and oak? Mouth watering either way
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Mags of 2024 Whistling Ridge Heritage
Mags of 2024 Richards Cuvee
Sounds like a great vintage
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I enjoyed a 2015 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard over the last few nights with dinner.
Very well balanced, showing predominantly red fruits on the palate, some lovely earthy notes, and a touch of black tea. With refreshing but not protruding acidity, this worked well with food and yet wasn’t too tart to continue sipping after dinner. Everything was nicely balanced.
Historical note: I tasted this at the winery with Marcus sometime within months of release many years ago, and at the tasting it was my favorite within his Pinot lineup. Marcus was quite generous with his time, knowledge, and tasting. (Thank you, Marcus!) I tried a few of his Pinots that day, but I don’t recall exactly how many or which ones. Walking in, I was most excited for his Chardonnay, but also came away impressed with this Whistling Ridge, and this week was the first I’d had it since then.
Going from my (probably faulty) memory it was the most red-fruited of his Pinot Noir at the tasting from among the wines I tasted that day. I wish I’d taken detailed notes, as I had at least 1-2+ of the Heritage line, and recall them back then either being more dark-fruited and/or significantly tighter at the time. (I do recall Marcus noted the Heritage wines in particular were meant to age.) I now wish I’d bought some 2015 Heritage back then to see for myself what age does on Goodfellow wines within the same vintage.
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Night 2 of this. My CT note says I bought this from a Marcus e-mail offer in 2020 (for $44 if my recordkeeping can be believed?!?!?!). It’s blossoming as I get to the very end of the bottle.
N1 impressions on the nose were a rocky minerality, some leather, cranberry and red licorice. Lots of structure on the palate, dense red fruit. Noted that one should wait maybe 2-4 years.
N2 it’s similar but more open. Very well done!
Marcus - was this Durant or Whistling Ridge?
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I took one for the team.
2024 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Berserker Cuvée
Dry farmed Temperance Hill and Durant Vineyards. 18 months elevage in new and neutral 500L puncheon. 13.2% ABV
Pop and pour into a Grassl Crü stem. Quick swirl releases slow and fat legs down the glass. Scarlet colored and translucent.
The attack is tart cranberry and pine sap followed by more of a fresh cut redwood note. Fruit is delicate sour cherry through the finish and quite long with garrigue, mostly rosemary, and bay leaf. Mouth watering from the acidity and an underlying teaser of white pepper.
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Hi Eric,
Thanks for the great note! It’s funny how fast the time flies. PM me if you want to talk about 2015 Heritage wines, there’s a number of good notes on the Whistling Ridge No. 4 upthread as well.
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A couple of Goodfellows over the recent days.
• 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir. Every time I try this it gets more focused, more harmonious and more enjoyable. Same sort of unripe strawberry and watermelon flavor as before with a little herbal edge, just all coming together for me this time. Just superlative now.
• 2019 Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay. Lovely mix of lemon, seashell, and maybe a touch of anise. A little reduction at first that faded after about a half hour of air. Great acidity, very keenly balanced. Was quite a contrast with an Aubert 2018 CIX Chard tasted right after this. I was more in the mood for this one at that moment, even though the Aubert was also excellent.
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Glad to hear everything was showing well! The Rosé is in a great spot, very focused.
2019 is one of my very favorite vintages, the balance and focus (again) of the Chardonnays from 2019 is remarkable. Everything is in the right place and in the right amount. The vintage was cooler with just the right amount of challenge, we saw a little rain but only the smallest amounts of botrytis, days were cool and nights even cooler. I don’t think that I had the feeling of how special the vintage would be at the time, but I was excited because I knew that heat wouldn’t be a challenge.
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Nice! Well played!
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2024 Berserker Cuvee Durant Vineyard Chard
Took another for the team just to see.
Such a fun wine to drink young. As per Marcus, I know that patience will be rewarded as with most of his wines, but I didnt feel like I was missing anything from this. The acid is absolutely sensational, and the finish was far longer than i was expected.
The nose was crunchy white peach, pepper, and a certain brioche-y note I cant put my finger on. The palate was sour lemonade, rosemary/thyme, and minerals.
My wife has mentioned on numerous occasions that all of the Goodfellow Chard we try has a distinct white pepper note. Curious to know if anyone else has this experience or if there’s another distinctive note you’ve noticed across other Goodfellow bottlings.
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