Second flight of our pinot noir blind tasting....

The first wine turned out to be the 1998 Kistler, Kistler vineyard, "Cuvee Catherine" pinot noir (sonoma coast). I could barely drink it. Unbalanced and off-putting in the mouth. Such a disappointment for a wine with such reputation. 1 star out of 4.

Next was the 1995 Littorai Hirsch vineyard pinot noir (sonoma coast). I guessed by the nose so my notes are not without bias. The tannins had faded and the color showed its 12 years of age. Cinnamon and orange peel, with leather on the nose. Gentle and delicious, yet fading. Only 12.5% alcohol!! 3 out of 4 stars.

Then came the 2002 Marcassin 3 Sisters pinot noir (sonoma coast). Prune, leather, orange on the nose. complete and complex. Spicy. Ripe and complex with a delicious candied finish. LONG. "Wow". reminded me of Cote de Nuits because of its power (and by this time of the night I even guessed it to come from near Clos Vougeot.) 10+ years old. 3.5 out of 4 stars. An amazing wine but hitting its mature phase at 5 years old.

the last wine was the 1999 Vincent Girardin Charmes-Chambertin. higher VA in the nose but a youthful color. Medium bodied with orange and ripe black fruits. I said it was 5-10 years old. 3 out of 4 stars.


Final note... the take away was how constant these wines were. With only the DuMol and Kistler odd balls, they all were extremely high in quality and delicious. Thanks again for our host and our cellar master. I had a great time!

Another recent dinner with friends, this one turned out to be a blind tasting of US pinot noirs. (Notes and scores were given before the names of the wines were revealed) The cellar master arrived and whetted our palates with a 1997 Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet. A light gold hue with even some green trace, for a 10 year old not yet ready to give up its youth. Power and youthful in the mouth, like "crystalline gold," I said. A beauty with many years left.

The first flight started with (unknowingly) the 2002 DuMol Russian River valley "finn" pinot noir. I found it sappy, with orange peel and leather on the nose, but with a tad too much volatile acidity. Alcohol. the VA reasserted itself in the mouth and it was medium bodied. I thought it was 10+ years old. Overall it was not very complex and not very interesting. 2 out of 4 stars.

Next we had the 1999 Rex Hill Jacob Hart vineyard, pinot noir (Oregon). the color showed more age than the DuMol with more orange at the rim. In the nose it was leather and spice. Fatter/juicier than the DuMol, with a shorter finish but overall much more savory and enjoyable. . 3 out of 4 stars.

Then we had the 1997 Dehlinger Estate Reserve pinot noir. More youthful in color and in nose, but some browning at the rim. Leaps out of the glass with briar and orange peel. Alcohol. Really good stuff. 3 out of 4 stars. Surprisingly youthful for its age.

The next wine of the first flight was the 1999 Domaine Comte-Lafon Volnay-Santenots-Du-Milieu (1er cru). This had a ruby rim and a stunning and complex nose of game, menthol, red fruits, and orange peel. tannic and complex in the mouth. I thought it was new world for all of its power, but going back later the less ripe tannins stood out after all of the californian pinots. 3.5 out of 4 stars. The wine of the flight

The last wine turned out to be the 2004 Pisoni "estate" pinot noir. Purple in the glass. Barnyard nose with cranberry and Thanksgiving stuffing. Cinnamon. Definitely from California. Powerful, I guessed it was from Helen Turley. Only a bit more enjoyable than the DuMol. 2.5 out of 4 stars.

I was back home last week and had several occasions to drink some excellent wine. The first at a good friend's included a 2000 Littorai Hirsch vineyard and a 2000 Littorai Savoy vineyard, both pinot noirs. I'm a BIG fan of this winery but the Hirsch was beyond my expectations. Mature now, with that characteristic tannic punch that distinguishes it for me from many other US pinots. Super stuff. The Savoy was also mature and it stayed in it's more gentler, cote de Beaune style pinot. With softer tannins and lighter body. My favorite continues to be the Hirsch