smithy wrote:8)
dear JHJ (Great ring to it that)
Done it many times.
Cheers
Smithy
I've been meaning to have a word to dear ol' dad about his ratings...
Favourite Pinot Noir
I occasionally partake of a Pinot in the name of Scientific research but they have to have good Pinot flavour before I enjoy them, 99% are some kind of light red.
Call me parochial but I liked three 2002s from the Adelaide Hills, Ashton Hills Estate/Reserve which is up there with the best in Aust/NZ, Barrett Reserve and Aldgate Ridge.
A surprise packet that I rate highly from a non Pinot region is recent releases of Dalwhinnie in the Pyrenees.
Call me parochial but I liked three 2002s from the Adelaide Hills, Ashton Hills Estate/Reserve which is up there with the best in Aust/NZ, Barrett Reserve and Aldgate Ridge.
A surprise packet that I rate highly from a non Pinot region is recent releases of Dalwhinnie in the Pyrenees.
Cheers - Steve
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
Graham,
Hmmm...chiming in here a little late, but I was flattened by a cold last week.
The Stonier Reserve Pinot 2003 is a nice one, but it is priced the same as some of the cheaper 1er Cru or good village Pinots from France here in Japan. Still, I may buy a few more because I am pretty patriotic about my wines, particularly when most Japanese think good wines equal Frenchie or Italian stuff...Aussie wines? I had some wine shop owner telling me once that Australia does not make any premium wine worth cellaring...':evil:'
Having said that, I noticed not many people mentioned French Pinots. I guess by the time they get to Oz, it is pretty price uncompetitive.
Two of my cheaper entry-level favourites include:
Michel Gros Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2002
A decent entry level Pinot that has all the basic varietal characteristics (cherries, forest floor, a touch of farmyard), and the 2002 vintage was a pretty good one, so even the vineyards situated on the cooler hills on the fringes of this region did well. Good on the QPR. In Japan, it goes for around 2,000 yen or about A$23
A.F. Gros Bourgogne 2001
A lovely Pinot nose with loads of cherries and other pinot aromas. Something you expect from a more expensive 1er Cru. However, the palate is not as "deep" or exciting as the Michel Gros above. Still, I like this wine for the nose. This sells for around 2,500yen or A$28. The 2002 may be a better wine, but I haven't had it yet. Should pop open a bottle soon and see if it is better. I think it was reviewed in one of the Gourmet Wine Traveller issues earlier this year.
Finding a decent Pinot is harder than motivating my kids here to study English. Good luck.':wink:'
Cheers,
Raymond
Hmmm...chiming in here a little late, but I was flattened by a cold last week.
The Stonier Reserve Pinot 2003 is a nice one, but it is priced the same as some of the cheaper 1er Cru or good village Pinots from France here in Japan. Still, I may buy a few more because I am pretty patriotic about my wines, particularly when most Japanese think good wines equal Frenchie or Italian stuff...Aussie wines? I had some wine shop owner telling me once that Australia does not make any premium wine worth cellaring...':evil:'
Having said that, I noticed not many people mentioned French Pinots. I guess by the time they get to Oz, it is pretty price uncompetitive.
Two of my cheaper entry-level favourites include:
Michel Gros Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2002
A decent entry level Pinot that has all the basic varietal characteristics (cherries, forest floor, a touch of farmyard), and the 2002 vintage was a pretty good one, so even the vineyards situated on the cooler hills on the fringes of this region did well. Good on the QPR. In Japan, it goes for around 2,000 yen or about A$23
A.F. Gros Bourgogne 2001
A lovely Pinot nose with loads of cherries and other pinot aromas. Something you expect from a more expensive 1er Cru. However, the palate is not as "deep" or exciting as the Michel Gros above. Still, I like this wine for the nose. This sells for around 2,500yen or A$28. The 2002 may be a better wine, but I haven't had it yet. Should pop open a bottle soon and see if it is better. I think it was reviewed in one of the Gourmet Wine Traveller issues earlier this year.
Finding a decent Pinot is harder than motivating my kids here to study English. Good luck.':wink:'
Cheers,
Raymond
-
Big Dave
Always found the Victorian pinots a bit lightweight and somewhat pricey but I haven't had them for a few years and have been told the style has changed significantly since then, even if price has not!
I'd agree on the Ashton Hills and also add that there are some interesting things being done with pinot in the Pemberton and Mount Barker areas. Donnelly River and Castle Rock come to mind,
Cheers
Dave
I'd agree on the Ashton Hills and also add that there are some interesting things being done with pinot in the Pemberton and Mount Barker areas. Donnelly River and Castle Rock come to mind,
Cheers
Dave