Grape Mates - Pinot Noir Tasting

[TiggerK]

Greetings everyone,

A crew of 10 eager Grape Mates converged upon Peter Bourne's tasting room last Friday for our monthly GM event, this time kindly organised by Mick and Tiff. The theme was Pinot Noir, it was to be a casual simple event, which was a refreshing change as a few recent tastings have been marathons both for the organiser and attendees (not that there were many complaints!). But a nice balance of events is our aim, and this aim was indeed achieved.

We started in great style with some Knappstein Reserve Lager and Veuve Cliquot Champagne, and picked up a stack of nice pizzas and salads (from Made in Italy) halfway through.

As always my notes are far from detailed, particularly for this one, as we talked more than wrote. Hopefully someone else can add to my impressions, and maybe a few photos?? Anyway onto the wines....

Flight 1 - The wonders of youth.
Scorpo Pinot Noir 2009 - Clean and youthful nose which improved with some glass time. Nice varietal character, smooth and enjoyable.
Bindi Original Pinot Noir 2009 - Step up in intensity here (& price!), really good fruit and fine tannins here, good wine. (WOF)
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2008 - A browning rim was of concern, but the nose was there, and typically BBurn, funky forest floor stuff. The palate and a short finish wasn't so good however. Possibly a dud bottle?

Break to order pizza, and our ever-generous benefactor Dave pulls out a Louis Jadot Mersault-Blagny 1997 for us to sip on while waiting. A little bit unbalanced, shortish finish, but don't get me wrong, it made us very happy and I always love trying these older whites. Gratitude Dave!

Flight 2 - A few years on... (nice flight!)
Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 2007 - Very plush mouthfeel, soft tannins, even some pinotsity Bit of sweet oak weaving through the finish, a popular wine, prob even better in a year or two. (EqualWOF)
Dromana Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2004 - Drinking well, just not as vibrant (or obvious?) as the 2 WOF's. Happy to drink this anytime, and will last.
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2001 - All you'd expect from Bannockburn. Funky, barnyard, touch of poo. Faded a little on the palate but it'll always be a style most love or hate. Lucky for me that I love it!
Punch Lance's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005 (served blind) - A JH 97pointer apparently. Fair enough, certainly a very good wine. Attractive delicate balance of savoury & fruit aspects. Yum. (EqualWOF, My WOF)

Flight 3 - Ben's World Options - Served Blind
Tappanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2009 - Balance also the feature here, everything seems to be sitting together in harmony. Not complex, just a pretty wine. (MyWOF)
Cristom Jessie Vineyard Williamette Valley Pinot Noir 2008 - Less action on the nose and finish, the palate more chalky and with slightly coarser tannins.
Escarpment Kiwa Pinot Noir 2009 - Such a different nose! Blackcurrant and raspberry, well made, yummy and easy to drink but not immediately pinotlike for me, more like grenache! (WOF)

Flight 5 - Couple of Kiwis...
Pyramid Valley Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009 - Very few people anywhere have tasted this yet, so I was keen!! Didn't impress hugely, although palates were tiring. Seemed a little awkward still, perhaps a bit overblown and/or needs some time? I love this producer, so I'm sad at not being able to give a glowing review!
Martinborough Vineyards Pinot Noir 2007 - More popular (but not with everyone). More complexity and deep earthy characters, time has smoothed it out, but still wants more time I feel. WOF

Dave's Aged Mystery Options - Thanks Dave!!
Wynns Coonawarra Hermitage 1993 - So Minty!! Had everyone guessing Cab Sav... Very good wine, still showing lovely (yet minty) red and black fruits with a nice smooth finish. Yum.
Yalumba Family Reserve Barossa Merlot 1986 - Well no-one guessed this variety! A bit past it, but great interest factor.

A cleansing ale at the pub across the road made a fitting finale to a great night of conversation, company and interesting wines. Thanks Mick and Tiff!!

And cheers to Dave for his ever present generosity and the always enjoyable lift home. (P.S Tough choice, but go the E63 I reckon Dave)

Cheers
Tim

[dave vino]

Some crappy photos. Was a good night. Really casual and I'm liking the easily accessed Pizza place around the corner.

[bacchaebabe]

Hmmm, ten people but 15 wines. Typical!

[mark as]

Pyramid Valley Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009 - Very few people anywhere have tasted this yet, so I was keen!! Didn't impress hugely, although palates were tiring. Seemed a little awkward still, perhaps a bit overblown and/or needs some time? I love this producer, so I'm sad at not being able to give a glowing review!

Tim, I suspect you're perhaps being overly polite here? I recently tried the Pyramid Valley Earth Smoke Pinot Noir 2009 and it was terrible. It was murky and tawny in apperance, and tasted dirty and bitter. It was strange and unpleasant. I've had some great Pyramid Valley wines, but something went wrong in 2009.

[TiggerK]

Hi Mark, I enjoyed the Earth Smoke 09 (about a year ago though, maybe it's not travelling so well? Also I was at the winery so bias can be a factor). It was certainly murky and tawny due to the lack of intervention, but I didn't get dirty, although the acidity is certainly noticable! I know many reviewers have also loved it, but it's a very different and challenging 'natural' style, and very polarising. Wish I had an extra one to try now. I've got one left but want to leave it a year or two and see how it's progressed, the winemaker does say at least the look will clear up with some time.

The Calvert 09 was the first PV wine I've not enjoyed, and even then it wasn't a bad wine, just didn't show very well on the night. Of course the Earth Smoke is from their own vineyard in Waipara, while the Calvert is a shared vineyard in Central Otago, so quite different grape sources, FWIW.

We know their 2009 Chardonnays are great, but I'm also looking forward to the 2010's, both red and white. I tried them pre-bottling, quite impressed....

Cheers
Tim

[mark as]

That's very interesting Tim. I'd be interested to see if your opinion on the Earth Smoke 09 was consistent if you tried one now. Or perhaps it's just another case of how subjective wine appreciation is.

Oh, and if you thought I might be a tough on this wine, see what Lincoln had to say...

http://www.brisbane-book-club.com/tasting-notes/pyramid-valley-earth-smoke-pinot-noir-2009/

I'll be keen to try some 2010s too, because I've greatly enjoyed previous wines from Pyramid Valley. I gather at the moment that they're happy with their 2009 pinots, but I'll be interested to see how they turn out over time; maybe they're just fitting with their non-interventionalist style; or perhaps they'll go down as an aberation and a learning experience; or perhaps they'll blossom over time as suggested.

[TiggerK]

Well I'm just pleased I didn't take it along to this tasting then!! Certainly some good palates there (inc your own of course mark), and AG did say he was... (shall we say ) palate fatigued so perhaps his love for it wasn't entirely subjective.

Good to be brought down to earth with regards to a producer occasionally. Planning to visit them again in Jan/Feb so will take a close look...... I do recall the Earth Smoke 2010 (from a 6 foot terracotta tank!) was very fruit forward, not obviously murky from memory, and quite delicious, while the Angel Flower 10 was big time thyme herb action, possibly a bit too much so, but it was early days.

Cheers
Tim