CWD: '05 Lachini Cuve Giselle Pinot Noir

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drssouth

Stephen South
2005 Lachini Cuve Giselle Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, alc 14.4%, $50: A very big style of pinot noir..unusual torrefaction/blood (and alcohol) on the nose that blows off after a few minutes in the glass..very ripe fruit (Syrah-esque) and an aggressive palate attack...alcohol seems higher than reported...altogether an unusual wine... clearly a ripe New World style but not my "cup of tea".. should this be tested for steroids??
 
originally posted by Brian Loring:
I tasted this wine a month or so ago and loved it. Probably no surprise that a bigger, riper Pinot would work for me.
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There is big then there is weird... I have always enjoyed your Pinot's which certainly aren't "shy" with regard to fruit... this wine, however, was over the top.. perhaps it was heat damaged?
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by drssouth:
CWD: '05 Lachini Cuve Giselle Pinot Noir...clearly a ripe New World style
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It's a New World wine! :)
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Indeed you are technically correct... however, some winemakers in Oregon seem to try to reduce the ripeness and go for subtleties ... others make dessert-wine-esque overripe fruit bombs...this was more of the latter and little of the former...
 
I visited Lachini in 2006. The vineyards were in grave shape, probably the worst along the trip. They were probably only 5th leaf in 2005 as well. Ron Lachini is using two winemakers to make his wines (or was back then), Peter Rosback and Laurent Montalieu. Surprisingly, what you described sounds like a Rosback wine, but I know Laurent did that one. Whereas, I think Lachini could get better down the road, the owner has starry eyes and wants to be able to charge a lot for his wines early on, and wow people with big fruit and oak. But, please don't judge the price of this bottle as quality, or even representing a good bottle of OR Pinot Noir. I could give you a long list of balanced and exciting wines. Of course, to defend the 2005 vintage a little bit, it was definitely a warmer year that will prove to be very age-worthy in my opinion. Unlike 2006, which I would drink in the short(er) term for most producers.
 
I could give you a long list of balanced and exciting wines...Please elaborate..
I have enjoyed Belle Pente, Hamacher (older vintages), Chehalem , J Christopher, but I would love your thoughts on others
 
Belle Pente would have made my list(of Pinots); I actually prefer Jay Somer's whites to his reds. He makes very high acid whites.
(in no particular order):
Evesham Wood
Cameron
Ayres
J K Carriere
Patricia Green
St Innocent
Ken Wright
Et Fille
Coeur de Terre
Matello
Winderlea
Brick House
DePonte Cellars
I could keep going, for all of the little gems that I have found from up and comers.

All of these producers make wines that will age very nicely, and with the exception of maybe 1 of the many listed above, made nice wines in 2007, a very tough vintage, a year that highlights that the wine is made in the vineyard, not through winemaking tricks.
 
Haven't had Bryce. I like Lange, as well, but haven't had any of his wines with much age on them, yet. Lange is right next door to Winderlea, and about 1 mile down from John Paul's Clos Electrique vineyard.
 
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