Pinot Noir Showdown – Episode #418

February 28, 2008

Continuing with the head to head showdown today Gary compares 2 Pinot Noir’s when something totally unexpected happens.

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Comments on this episode(269) Leave a comment ›

“These battle royals are fun and I hope you do more of them in the futu…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“Qotd: The last earth shaking wine I tried was an oregon pinot from a s…” by AndrewG
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Amisfield Pinot Noir Central OtagoNew Zealand Pinot Noir
2005 Phillips Hill Toulouse Pinot NoirOther California Pinot Noir

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Phillips Hills Estates Contact Info

269 Responses

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January 8, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
These battle royals are fun and I hope you do more of them in the future. Even though I probably cant find them cause this show is nearly a year old, its fun to see you point out the gems for us. At least someone will be enjoying them. QOTD: Cant remember. I havent been drinking that much wine lately ( at least ones that made me go WOW!) because Ive been buying ones to cellar. That ends now. Next time I go to my wine shop Im dropping 80 bones or so and getting like 6 wines to drink now.
June 17, 2008

AndrewG
Qotd: The last earth shaking wine I tried was an oregon pinot from a small producer called Matello. Their Whistling Ridge North single vineyard is down right amazing, and at 30 bones I feel a steal. Only 70 cases, and I don’t think they have a web presence as of yet, but WOW.
April 23, 2008

LuvsChandon
catching up, QOTD: Sequoia Grove Cabernet Reserve 04, awesome tasting it at the winery, then enjoyed last Christmas with Prime Rib, made A LOT of noise when I drank it!
April 3, 2008

Quinn
Go Canada (sorry perpetually catching up—Gary, you are a machine!). I really dig radishes, I would love to have tasted that Amisfield.
March 14, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
Thanks for the tip. Just ordered 3 bottles from them and can’t wait to try it. The 1982 Leoville La Cases 1982 that was opened this weekend. What a killer wine.
March 11, 2008

Zinny
Gary – we ordered a few bottles of this based on your recommendation. We were not disappointed!

I don’t want to say too much or else it will become too hard to get this wine.
March 9, 2008

Dan-o
I have to say that I 2 wines have done this to me recently.
1) Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir.
2) Chateau Quinault L’Enclos 2000 – like drinking chocolate covered berries.

One other wine that I had was from a friend of mine’s brother in law. He lives in CA and makes wine on the side. He made an awesome Syrah that really blew me away. I am looking to get a case of that wine.
March 7, 2008

Andy
2000 Delas Freres Hermitage Marquis de Tourette. I was somehow even more amazed later when I learned that that is (in theory) at best halfway up the quality scale in the Northern Rhone. Wow.
March 6, 2008

Tommy Vernieri
QOTD: I don’t think I’ve ever been that excited about a wine. Sounds good though, 100 cases seems crazy. I think the Jessup 2001 Cab. was the wine that I was most excited about it when I tasted it, but it was not really exciting at all when I had it with dinner rather than at the end of a day of tasting.
March 6, 2008

Mr.Ambassador
Loving the H2H competition!

The last wine that I went a bit crazy over was Zanzibar Winery’s “Sandra” red blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah). The winery is located in Oregon (they use the Owen Roe facilities) and grapes are sourced from Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Washington. I also really love the Boudreaux reds from Walla Walla valley.
March 6, 2008

Andrew
Toulouse is one of the most famous vineyards in the deep end of Anderson Valley. Look for other great wines from this site by MacPhail, Baxter, and Toulouse vineyards.
March 5, 2008

Paul Horan
QOTD: The 2006 Cinghiale Pinot Noir from Del Dotto Vineyards in Napa. Like $EX in a glass… A little pricey at $75 bones, but that’s how I roll.

-Paul in VA-
(had a fantastic day at the 2008 Napa Valley marathon too!)
March 4, 2008

J-Pipes
QOTD: Oh god, I don’t KNOW……… I NEED that!!!!! I’m starved for wines like that!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for depressing the HECK out of me.
Oh, but I will let you know when I DO!
March 4, 2008

DARREL LAS VEGAS
Good Bad a always react like that!
March 4, 2008

CORSkier
QOTD: New winery in Southern Oregon called Applegate Red, all three that I tasted (two bordeaux blends, one syrah based blend) were fantastic. Unirrigated, totally concentrated fruit. Bought a mixed case on the spot, blew me away.
March 4, 2008

Jayhitek
QOTD: Chateau Margaux
March 3, 2008

Rob P
There are 2 wines that made me react that way recently…the Rosso di Altesino and the Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. I was very excited when I drank both of these.
March 3, 2008

David Eldred
the best wine I have ever had… and am now buying as much as I can (which is not much due to finances lol) is a 2005 killer bee cabernet sauvignon. Killer bee is an exclusive to wine styles wine stores. I know I am new to the wine game, but this wine is honestly the best wine I have ever had so far.
March 3, 2008

Colin
GV – A little behind – but I’m glad I caught this show!
March 3, 2008

Shawn
The last wine that made me go completely nuts (which is basically what you did), was the Mitolo Savitar Shiraz ‘05. I’ve never had a better shiraz, and I can almost still taste the aftertaste after two months. Brilliant.
March 3, 2008

pawncop
What a great episode.

QOTD I have yet to find a wine that has thrilled me as you have demonstrated. I have really begun to enjoy my wines more but will continue to learn.
March 3, 2008

MacNPhish
I just wanted to let everyone know I was able to find the 2005 Phillips Hill Toulouse Pinot Noir at a place called The Wine Shop in Healdsburg, CA. They only had 10 bottles, I bought 3 of them.

There number is (707) 433-0433.
March 3, 2008

Andrew
Hi Gary

I’m like these head-to-haed match ups; an interesting and fun change.

QOTD: The last wine to probably knock me like that was Ca’del Bosco Franciacorta Brut, an absolute delight of a wine

Cheers
Andrew
March 2, 2008

malliemcg
QTOD: Most recent wine that blew me away – Majella Cab Sauv (2001) [Coonawarra].
March 2, 2008

wayno da wino
Yo Gee !!
Thanx for exposin’ da Phillips Hill Pinot Noir!! Never had heard
of it till it hit da Thunder Show !

QOTD: Kinda went gaa-gaa over a Kistler-Kistler Vyd-Chardonnay 2004
i had da odher day!! Yuuuuuuuuum !!!!!!!