I promised the highlights of the World of Pinot Noir tasting I attended in Shell Beach recently. This annual event is split over two days because the three tents simply can't contain all of the producers (according to the catalog, there are 190 wineries) and each is pouring three or four wines. I ended up tasting nearly 100 wines over the two days and came back with very positive reaction on a number of them. As these are all initial impressions, I will notate them with a series of (*) with the range going from
(**) = solidly built wine 90 - 92 range
(***) = special stuff 93 - 94 range
(****) = extradorinary 95 + range
The real find for me was a small winery called Waltzing Bear Wines **** that had their first release in 2002. I admit that I walked right past them during the tasting in my effort to pick out the most interesting producers. It wasn't until I tasted them at a private post-event soiree that I had the chance to meet the winemaker, Brad Lowman, and view the new package that I came away with the most positive impressions of the weekend. I tasted the new releases of three Pinot Noir sourced from Cargasacchi, Ontiveros, Solomon Hills Vineyards and a Viognier that was notable as well. Production on these wines is crazy small. Look for an offer in The Wilder Side of California within the next week. Lowman had worked with Brian Loring and his Pinot Noir rank up there with the best I have tasted from the Santa Barbara region. The following list were all a significant cut above most of the wines I tasted and I am working at getting samples of all of these for formal tasting note over the next couple weeks.
2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir, Kite's Rest Anderson Valley ****
2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir River Turn Anderson Valley ****
2005 Dierberg Pinot Noir Steven Santa Maria Valley ****
2006 Derby Pinot Noir Cambria **
2006 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Mt Richmond Willamette Valley **
2006 Harrington Pinot Noir *** from several North Coast sources including Iund, Gap's Crown and Wiley Vineyards.
2005 Johan Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ***
2005 and 2006 Lincourt Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills ***
2006 Alta Maria Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley ****
2006 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ***
2006 Roessler Pinot Noir La Encantada ***
2005 Donum Estate Carneros ****
Keep an eye out for many of these wines over the next month in The Wilder Side of California.
Next up for me is the Santa Barbara Wine Cask Futures tasting at the end of the month. Last year there were several new discoveries from this tasting you will begin seeing soon at Vinfolio.