2012 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir Curmudgeon Cuvée Armstrong Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Ribbon Ridge, Wine Review
This is a very special bottling.
This is a very special bottling.
This is a lighter, more elegant style of Pinot that is not often seen (even in Burgundy) these days. Light ruby in color, clear and vibrant. The nose is great with sour cherries, dusty attic, and spice. Really nice semi-velvety texture. Good acidity. On the palate, cherries and some sour cherries. Clean. Long finish. This is nice on its own, but would be better with food. A Mushroom Quiche would work well. Drink over the next ten to twelve years.
Bouchaine has consistently made this wine and has consistently made it well. What sets this apart from many California rosé is that it straddles the line between fruit and acidity, allowing the wine to be a part of any meal. It offers strawberry, lemon-lime, resin, light apricot and loquat. There is also a slight tartness to it, a hint of green apple that helps define this as a multi layered wine. Since the wine sees no oak at all, the freshness, the brightness and the clean fruit shines through. 1,500 cases. ORIGIN: Napa Valley, Carneros. ALCOHOL: 13.5%
This is a bigger in style Pinot typical of many in Sonoma. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries, some black cherries and a nice underlying earthiness. A soft accessible texture. On the palate, black cherries with some root beer notes. Nice finish. This would work well with Salmon. Drink over the next five to seven years.
This is a Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. Its rare to find good Pinot for under $20, but this manages to do it. Screw capped. Pale, ruby in color with some blueish hues. clear and bright. The nose is tight but opens to show some rhubarb and cranberries. Medium bodied. Light tannins. On the palate a sort red currant, slightly medicinal note (better than it sounds) along with red berries. A bit of menthol on the finish. After about an hour, its more of a cherry cough drop note. A solid Pinot that is nice on its own, but improves with food. This went well with vegetarian taco roll-u
Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries, cranberries and slight rhubarb along with some spice and char. Wonderful semi-plush texture. Good balance. Light tannins. The palate is riper/stronger than the nose (in a good way). Cherries and Kirsch with some char. Long finish. This has some complexity and depth as it nears peak. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. Very nice on its own, this would be great with Roasted Duck.
From an Oregon winery/winemaker, Peter Rosback, who can't sit still, he make New Zealand Pinot Noir in the wintertime here. Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is bright with cherries and some black cherries with spice and char. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. Good acidity. On the palate, this is tasty. Showing some development, but probably not at peak. Lovely semi-plush texture. Cherries, black cherries, slight herbal note and char. Long finish. drink over the next ten years. Good on its own, this will work well with roasted chicken.
Emeritus has long had a love affair with Pinot Noir, always seeking new ways to let grapes and ground express what’s in the bottle. This 2020 offers bright fruits of wild cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, plum with back notes of light green tea leaf, very light cola, and light earthiness and minerality - notes that Sonoma coast fruit is known for. There is a nice velvety viscosity to this as well as mild tannins that support the fruit and mellow out the overall feel of the wine.
A bit bigger and riper than a "typical" Charmes but quite enjoyable. Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright, showing no bricking. The nose is great. Earthy with cherries and spice along with a nice minerality. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is vibrant and drinking well. Cherries, some black cherries and underlying minerality. Some complexity. Good acidity. This is getting close to peak. While it may never be ethereal, it is very enjoyable. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. It would work well with coq au vin, of course.
This was really special. One of the best Pinot Noir's I have had in a long time. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and a bit on the flat side. The nose has sour cherries, cherries, spice with loads of minerality. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this has layers of complexity. Black cherries, sour cherries, minerals and earthiness. Delicious. Lively acidity. Long finish. At age 15, it still has some youth but starting to show good development. This would be great with a bean casserole. Drink over the next ten years. This bottle was bought on