Today was the most recent Pinot Days Grand Tasting in San Francisco, now in its fourth year. The festival this year seemed to be missing a few of the names I was expecting to see like Kosta Browne, Patz & Hall, La Fenetre and Loring. There was seriously no shortage of great wine I made sure to get around to as many of the new producers and ended up tasting nearly 150 wines.
Here is what I wanted to mention as the best of the new crop I tasted:
2006 Addamo Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Reserve; VF 93
A nose of violet. lilac, red cherry and raspberry Very nice flavor profile as well.
2005 Ampelos Pinot Noir Rho Santa Rita Hills; VF 92
Spicy nose of sassafras and cherry, smooth on the palate with a backbone of dark fruits
2006 Arista Pinot Noir Russian River Longbow; VF 93
Superb structure with a smooth ripe flavor profile - everything in solid proportion
2006 Aubin Pinot Noir Dundee Hills; VF 92
Burgundian in style with delicate aromas, nicely made
2007 Bohemian Pinot Noir Freestone; VF 94
A really beautiful barrel sample, nice acidity with good concentratio of black cherry and creamy midpalate
2006 Benovia Pinot Noir Cohn Vineyard; VF 95
Beautiful and abundant raspberry, cherry and blueberry theoughout
2006 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard; vf 93
Elegant and focused nose the cherry and mineral influenced flavors have a solid texture
2007 Coterie Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard; VF 93
Smooth and elegant aromas of cherry and violet. The palate shows delicate cherry and plum
2007 Couloir Pinot Noir Roma's Vineyard: VF 93
An exciting project good acid profile and dense fruit flavors of cherry, black raspberry and plum
2006 Demetria Pinot Noir Gaia's Vineyard; VF 92+
Supple and delicately scented fruit, nice emphasis on palate
2006 Dovetail Pinot Noir Windsor Oaks; VF 92
Full of rich extracted cherry and plum
2005 Eno Pinot Noir Fairview; VF 94
One of the best wines of the day, super supple and beuatifully balanced
2006 Foursight Pinot Noir Charles Vineyard; VF 94
A great find and one of favorites of the day, pretty cherry and spice aromatics with a smoothe rounded palate
2006 Jalama Pinot Noir Cargasacchi Vineyard; VF 93
Firm and brilliant on the palate with excellent structure
2006 Jim Ball Pinot Noir Anderson Valley; VF 92
Nice wine a solid backbone with plenty of cherry raspberry strawberry on the palate
2005 Kindred Pinot Noir Anber Ridge Vineyard; VF 95
Smooth core of cherries, pomegranate, spice and red raspberry
2005 Mcintyre Pinot Noir Monterey; VF 94
Very pretty nose with a smooth flavor profile
2006 Shandel's Pinot Noir Oppenlander Vineyard; VF 91
Nice nose with good fruit concentration. The palate seems a bit young but certainly one to watch
2006 Small Vines Inot Noir Sonoma Coast; VF 91
pretty nicely focused aromatics, black cherry and a bit of violet throughout
2007 Sojourn Pinot Noir Demuth Vineyard; VF 91
Lots of bold black fruit in nose with baking spices on the palate; cinnamon, clove and black cherry
2006 Stephen Test Pinot Noir Russian River Valley; VF 93
Great aromatics of chalky charry and spice, the palte is well focused and delicately smooth
2005 Thorne Pinot Noir Rio Vista Vineyard; VF 93
Premiere release nice aromatics of cherry and mineral, black raspberry on palate with a bit of licoice
Many of these wines will receive more formal tastings in the next few weeks before appearing at Vinfolio. Keep an eye out for them in the Wilder Side of California.