The final round of judging in the 2010 Pinot Noir Shootout was held today at Bistro Boudin on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. I was asked to join about 30 other judges to pick the best of the best from over 250 entries across the world.
It was an easy day of judging, tasting just 32 [...]

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Chronicle, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose sports sweet cherry and raspberries, with vanilla and cinnamon. The mouth shows these fruits again in a sleek format, a texture that is silky and ripe – delicious. Think about this Pinot when you want one to drink straight away; the soft profile makes it immediately accessible.
[...]

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The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers hosted a seminar and tasting yesterday to showcase the passing of the torch in California’s winegrowing families.
Featured speakers included Warren Bogle, whose family has been farming in Clarksburg for 6 generations. I’ve often featured their great value wines on this blog and in my classes. [...]

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Esterlina, Anderson Valley, Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The fruit is quite expressive in the nose – an explosion of red and black fruits with a smoky note for complexity. In the mouth the fruit shines again with plenty of acidity and a supple texture. Warm up the barbie for some grilled salmon. P&B in [...]

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Copain, Anderson Valley, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Rose 2008 This rose has developed a rather rustic character. With 12 hours the funkier smells have blown off. The fruit, however, is receding and the alcohol is showing more of itself, with a sense of astringency.
This is frankly surprising after tasting the delightful Tous Ensemble Viognier and Pinot, reviewed [...]

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Husch, Anderson Valley, Gewurztraminer 2007 This Gewurz has a lot of sweet perfume in the nose. In the mouth, it’s fresh, tasting of lychee with just a bit of RS at .8% – nice. GP&B in Philo 13.9% $9.99 at Bottle Barn Husch

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Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, L’Ermitage, Brut 2002 The nose opens with fresh biscuits, citrus and stone fruits, also calling to mind a freshly baked fruit tart. In the mouth this wine is very concentrated and full of the flavor of green apples in all of there glorious tartness. Yet that bracing aspect is enhanced by [...]

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Goldeneye, Anderson Valley, Migration Pinot Noir 2007 This vintage features zesty berry fruit and brambles in the nose. In the mouth  it is full of fruit with a light touch of oak to complement. The acidity keeps this light-bodied Pinot fresh. P&B in Philo 14.5% $33.99 at Bottle Barn Goldeneye

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Handley, Anderson Valley, Pinot Gris 2007 Green herbs and spicy flowers mark the nose. In the mouth, this wine is crisp with a rounded quality. P&B in Philo 14.1% $11.99 at Bottle Barn Handley

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Handley, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 This year the AV Pinot is a little warmer than in the past, with veery ripe berries showing through in the mouth. Winemaker Milla Handley. P&B in Philo 14.5% $23.99 at Bottle Barn Handley

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Navarro, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Dry, Gewurztraminer 2007 Another long-time favorite from Navarro that captures the smell of Gewurz without the sweetness. In the nose it is like roses and baby powder while the mouth is fuller-bodied than you find in the darling Muscat along with a touch of the natural bitterness that often comes [...]

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Navarro Vineyards, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Dry Muscat 2007 This wine has consistently dazzled with the ebulent smell of Muscat in a dry format. The ‘07 is spot-on again with loads of orange blossom in the nose. In the mouth there’s a sense of eating a tangerine with the acidity of a lemon while the [...]

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Navarro, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Riesling 2007 Unfortunately the first bottle was a little corked and the wet cardboard was rearing its ugly head. Yet behind that was the essence of lime. With more than ample acidity, the .8% RS is buried into the background giving a dry yet not austere approach to this great grape [...]

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Navarro, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Pinot Gris 2006 The nose sports candied citrus and tropical notes while the mouth is fruity and round with a spark of acidity. The time in bottle has added some nice complexity to a wine that we often drink before that can develop.
While taking a long weekend in Mendocino, we purchased [...]

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MacPhail Family, Anderson Valley, Frattey Shams Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006 This wine is smoky and warm in the nose and pure suppleness in the mouth. The cherry fruit integrates perfectly with the oak – very polished. The wine spent 11 months in French oak. P&B in Sebastopol 14.5% $55 at the winery MacPhail Family Wines

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Londer Vineyards, Anderson Valley, Paraboll, Pinot Noir 2006 There’s doughy notes infused with caramel and a spiritous character. In the mouth, the wine is stamped with a sweet oaky essense and a supple texture. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Ferrington and Valley Foothills Vineyards outside of Boonville and the name of [...]

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Copain, Anderson Valley, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Pinot Noir 2007 This wine is quite toasty and smoky with forest floor earthiness as well. In the mouth, the palate is complete and filled-out with flavor with plenty of acidity to frame it and carry the length – very nice. P&B in Healdsburg 13.5% $31.99 at Traverso’s Copain Wines

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Woodenhead, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2003
The wine has developed volatility which shows in both the smell and on the palate yet the fruit is still quite vibrant across the tongue. P&B in Forestville 14.5% estimated price of $40 at the winery Woodenhead

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Toulouse, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 Smoky and spiritous in the nose and warm and gripping in the mouth. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak. P&B in Philo 14.5% $39 at the winery Toulouse Vineyards

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Lazy Creek, Anderson Valley, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 This wine has the zippy acidity and vibrance of the rose from County Line with a depth of flavor, a density that fills out the wine on the palate – great in October ‘08. But in January ‘09 the alcohol and some volatility are starting to [...]

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When Vacu-Dry ceased operations in Sebastopol, California, many bemoaned the continuing decline of the apple industry in Sonoma’s West County region. Yet from those ashes many a high-flying phoenix has taken flight.
The large and rather dingy industrial complex that used to house Vacu-Dry has been turned into a rabbit warren of artisan winemakers, each with [...]

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Husch, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 Cherries and earth in a light-bodied package – a little rustic and a touch bitter. Aged for 9 months in French oak. P&B in Philo 13.9% $22.99 at Traverso’s Husch
Navarro, Anderson Valley Mendocino, Methode a l’Ancienne, Pinot Noir 2006 There is sweet liquer-like fruit and that sense of cherry [...]

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This flight shows a nice contrast in approach to the making of pink sparkling in California. The Roederer embraces a high acid framework that is very crisp while the Mumm goes for a softer approach with a more visible hint of RS in the background. Different animals and I like them both.
Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, [...]

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Papapietro Perry Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006
intensely concentrated berry, liquer-like fruit and a little warmth. P&B in Healdsburg 14.25% $38.49 at Bottle Barn Papapietro Perry
Sonnet Santa Lucia Highlands Tondre’s Grapefield Pinot Noir 2004
Smokey oak and cherry pie on a viscous palate. P&B in Los Gatos 13.5% $38 at the winery Sonnet
Domaine Arlaud Chambolle-Musigny 2003
Lots [...]

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Handley Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2005
The reserve Pinot from Handley was a big hit last semester. This wine features sweet vanilla notes wrapped around supple cherry fruit – an extra silky texture. Winemaker Milla Handley. P&B in Philo 14.5% $23.49 at Bottle Barn Handley
Goldeneye Anderson Valley Migration Pinot Noir 2006
Heavy toasted oak galore in the [...]

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We’ve looked at different styles of brut sparkling before. This flight illustrates some more contrast in what this word can mean.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Estate Bottled Brut nv
This wine is consistently the personification of green apples – lip smacking delicious for the fan of high acid sparkling that pulls no punches. P&B in Philo 12% [...]

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This flight of 5, charts 3 vintages and 4 appellations. See the ‘Focus on Arlaud’ for the last of this flight.
Lost Canyon Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
Raisins, evolving fruit and warmth show on the palate, with some astringency. P&B in Oakland, CA 14.6% $42 at the winery Lost Canyon
Robert [...]

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This flight pits top wines from Schramsberg in Calistoga and Roederer Estate in Philo.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley L”Ermitage Estate Brut 2000
This has been a personal favorite balancing the racy house style with the complexity given by time on the lees and oak-aged reserves. Still a great value for the amount and quality of flavor for [...]

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This flight features 3 Pinot Noir from Mendo’s Anderson Valley, ranging from a baby ‘06 through a more mature ‘02.
Roessler Anderson Valley Bluejay Pinot Noir 2006
The last bottle of this wine was delicious though the acidity was quite sharp. Again there’s lots of acid but it feels appropriate and surrounded by oak. A Pinot with [...]

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Navarro Anderson Valley Chardonnay Verjus 2007

This is another non-alcoholic product from Navarro, but not for drinking but rather as an alternative in the kitchen. This is literally underripe grape juice, green juice, as it were that you might use in salad dressing, sauces and more. P&B in Philo $11 at the winery Navarro

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