Friday dinner at a neighborhood bistro with some of my more Orderly (un-disorderly?) wine friends, most of whom are still in the California-collecting, honeymoon phase of their wine journey.
We decided on doing a Pinot dinner, everyone bringing a wine from a different region. Somehow, despite that directive, we ended up with two people bringing Pinots from the Anderson Valley (the Rhys and the Black Kite), one wine from the Sonoma Coast (the Cobb), and the guy who was supposed to bring the Oregon Pinot double-booking a karate class with his girlfriend, and thus showing up late with a Syrah from the Edna Valley.
I don't drink much domestic Pinot, so it was a good opportunity to get some exposure to wines I've never had before (Rhys and Cobb for example). Despite most of the folks being younger, California-focused collectors, everyone agreed that the Volnay I brought was the wine of the night. However, the race for second place was interesting, with two people voting for the Black Kite, the person who brought the Cobb voting for the Cobb, and me picking the Rhys (with the Cobb third and the Black Kite fourth). The Karate Kid outright refused to try the Cobb and was badgered by his buddy into taking a sip of the Black Kite. He did seem to think the Rhys was ok because he tried it, so I'm guessing Rhys was second for him by default.
Tasting notes below:
'06 Lucien Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets: Fairly ripe smelling on the nose (a touch of cola?) with the palate smoky and densely dark fruited (almost plummy). The finish has a touch of grip from the mostly resolved tannins. Good acidity and fairly elegant weight on the palate, but the wine seems a little four-square and perhaps too ripe. However, this case study of blah red Burgundy is still clearly the group’s WOTN, a testament to how good Burgundy can be when it is not even really that good for Burgundy.
'16 Rhys Pinot Noir Porcupine Hill: Relatively restrained, with shimmering dark red fruit on the palate with subtle hints of cola. Texturally creamy on the palate, it takes time for the tannins to assert themselves and provide some needed grip. A straightforward wine that is perhaps a bit simple, but pleasant.
'18 Cobb Pinot Noir Calera Selection Doc’s Ranch Vineyard: Big, dark, cola-inflected fruit, and a luscious, fleshy texture with polished tannins which already feel resolved. However, there is good acidity and it does not feel ponderous or clumsy despite its flavors being dialed up to 11. It’s not really my preference, but it is well-made wine (no hints of VA here at all).
'15 Black Kite Pinot Noir Redwoods’ Edge: WTF? On the first sip, smacked in the mouth with huge, scorched, toasty, pruney fruit. I really wished there was a dump bucket, but I managed to power my way through it and was glad I didn’t take a big pour. Yikes, not good.
'20 Maison Les Alexandrins Croze-Hermitage: Purchased off the wine list. Straightforward, gluggable red wine that seems tailored made to be an affordable option at a neighborhood bistro. Drinkable, but boring.
'19 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine: Screechy, thin, and fruitless on the palate. I had initially assumed this wine was produced in some marginal microclimate, so I was surprised to find out that this producer is known primarily for making thermonuclear fruit bombs. This was the complete opposite of that. The bottle had been Coravined and was half-empty when uncorked, so I’m assuming the headspace had allowed the wine to oxidize and close up. Weird, but I have to reserve judgment on this wine. Does make me glad I don’t own a Coravin. (Side note: I was shocked at how much this cost when I looked it up; this is pricier than Jamet).
We decided on doing a Pinot dinner, everyone bringing a wine from a different region. Somehow, despite that directive, we ended up with two people bringing Pinots from the Anderson Valley (the Rhys and the Black Kite), one wine from the Sonoma Coast (the Cobb), and the guy who was supposed to bring the Oregon Pinot double-booking a karate class with his girlfriend, and thus showing up late with a Syrah from the Edna Valley.
I don't drink much domestic Pinot, so it was a good opportunity to get some exposure to wines I've never had before (Rhys and Cobb for example). Despite most of the folks being younger, California-focused collectors, everyone agreed that the Volnay I brought was the wine of the night. However, the race for second place was interesting, with two people voting for the Black Kite, the person who brought the Cobb voting for the Cobb, and me picking the Rhys (with the Cobb third and the Black Kite fourth). The Karate Kid outright refused to try the Cobb and was badgered by his buddy into taking a sip of the Black Kite. He did seem to think the Rhys was ok because he tried it, so I'm guessing Rhys was second for him by default.
Tasting notes below:
'06 Lucien Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets: Fairly ripe smelling on the nose (a touch of cola?) with the palate smoky and densely dark fruited (almost plummy). The finish has a touch of grip from the mostly resolved tannins. Good acidity and fairly elegant weight on the palate, but the wine seems a little four-square and perhaps too ripe. However, this case study of blah red Burgundy is still clearly the group’s WOTN, a testament to how good Burgundy can be when it is not even really that good for Burgundy.
'16 Rhys Pinot Noir Porcupine Hill: Relatively restrained, with shimmering dark red fruit on the palate with subtle hints of cola. Texturally creamy on the palate, it takes time for the tannins to assert themselves and provide some needed grip. A straightforward wine that is perhaps a bit simple, but pleasant.
'18 Cobb Pinot Noir Calera Selection Doc’s Ranch Vineyard: Big, dark, cola-inflected fruit, and a luscious, fleshy texture with polished tannins which already feel resolved. However, there is good acidity and it does not feel ponderous or clumsy despite its flavors being dialed up to 11. It’s not really my preference, but it is well-made wine (no hints of VA here at all).
'15 Black Kite Pinot Noir Redwoods’ Edge: WTF? On the first sip, smacked in the mouth with huge, scorched, toasty, pruney fruit. I really wished there was a dump bucket, but I managed to power my way through it and was glad I didn’t take a big pour. Yikes, not good.
'20 Maison Les Alexandrins Croze-Hermitage: Purchased off the wine list. Straightforward, gluggable red wine that seems tailored made to be an affordable option at a neighborhood bistro. Drinkable, but boring.
'19 Alban Vineyards Syrah Lorraine: Screechy, thin, and fruitless on the palate. I had initially assumed this wine was produced in some marginal microclimate, so I was surprised to find out that this producer is known primarily for making thermonuclear fruit bombs. This was the complete opposite of that. The bottle had been Coravined and was half-empty when uncorked, so I’m assuming the headspace had allowed the wine to oxidize and close up. Weird, but I have to reserve judgment on this wine. Does make me glad I don’t own a Coravin. (Side note: I was shocked at how much this cost when I looked it up; this is pricier than Jamet).