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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“QOTD: Marques De La Concordia 2005 Rioja Reserva, perfect new world fr…” by richardvinifera
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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

271 Responses

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February 28, 2008

Mark Antonio
Hmmm…just ordered some of the Toulouse from the winery – but 2006 not 2005. I’m wondering how much the vintage will change the wine and the yield is much higher as well.. certainly worth a punt anyway, thanks Gary! Last wine that blew me away – would have to be the Laughing Jack Limited Three Old Vine Moppa Grenache 2005. Amazing purity and flavour.
February 28, 2008

J Hartfiel
Thank you GV. I have been really into Malbec lately. I have wondered about its characteristics and how Argn Compares to France in this match up. Looking forward to 3/29
February 28, 2008

Georgie K
i love when you feel extreme love or hate for a wine. I don’t think i’ve ever had a wine i’ve reacted that well to, but i’m still part of the CKC. I was really shocked at a recent taste of Dow’s non-vintage “Fine Tawny Port”. It taste exactly like raisins to me. i don’t like raisins.
February 28, 2008

Kristen
Nice episode today- it was quite thundertastic! Thanks for taping them in advance, us Vayniacs appreciate a daily dose of the Thunder!

QOTD: I’ve never had that type of reaction with a bottle of wine yet. I guess the closest I’ve had to that experience would be a white table wine from Tuscany that I had while eating at the Accademia restaurant in Florence. It was delicious and was a bit pÃ©tillant, but this could be form my frame of mind at the time!
February 28, 2008

Fred
Hehe, great series and brilliant idea.

QOTD:…I need some inspiration…Go out to find some for this afternoon.:)
February 28, 2008

Nick A.
QOTD: 1990 Le Bon Pasteur.
February 28, 2008

zach even - esh
Gary – AWESOME interview with Yanik, that was his best interview EVER! U da man baby! Where are your shops in NJ? I need to get some expensive wine as we’re having a new arrival in June, and I’m gonna celebrate!!

Looking forward and stay crazy

~ zach even – esh / NJ
February 28, 2008

David L
QOTD: Mas de la dame La Stele 2001 provence region
February 28, 2008

Terp00
QOD: Bought a Foxen Bien Nacido 2005 a few weeks back. My wife and I enjoyed it immensely. It had this Root Beer or Dr Pepper that was extremely obvious, probably some clove, and some powdered cocoa. Definitely going to have to get back to the WL for a few more of those.
February 28, 2008

NathanN
It’s got to be the 2004 Pahlmeyer I had a couple of weeks ago.
February 28, 2008

David Dornback
The last knockout bottle I had was the 05 Kiana produced at Crushpad. My buddy Randy made it with help from his friends. ToKalon fruit, made in a Pride styleâ€¦.ripping good!

Sadlyâ€¦only one barrel made.
February 28, 2008

The Shooter
Gary, nice wine boobs.
February 28, 2008

tuscanbob
Phillips Hill doesn’t ship to NY….aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, the last wine that blew me away was the McPrice Myers L’Ange Rouge Grenache that you featured about a month ago. I’m a huge grenache fan and this one rocks…a big explosion of chocolate covered cherries and strawberries. Tough food pairing but who cares…it’s sooo good. I jumped all over their mailing list.
February 28, 2008

Steve
Gary,
Thanks for the review.
The Bad News:Philips Hill is out of the 2005
The Good News: They’ve up production 50% (150 cases for 06)
February 28, 2008

Paul M
QOTD: 2000 Pontet Canet
February 28, 2008

grant
2005 Domaine de Marcoux – awesome stuff, let it decant for a couple of hours..heavenly.

Hey Gary, ever think of incorporating some kind of blind tasting into a show? I think it would be neat for you to have some bottles brown bagged and try to guess what you are sniffing and drinking. Maybe instead of brown bags, do a show blind folded. Have Vayniacs vote for what you should drink. Just some ideas.

I like this weeks format. Good stuff as always.

~g~
February 28, 2008

David M Roberts
Cool format with the versus thing going on.

QOTD: Justin’s “The Orphan” for the quality to value ratio.
February 28, 2008

Kevin
QOTD: I do recall a particular winery where I thought ‘oh my god, what am I doing here, I can’t afford this stuff’. Domaine Pavelot, Savigny Les Beaune, Burgundy. And I’m going back, baby.
February 28, 2008

Little Jonny H
QOTD: Nothing that has completely knocked my socks off, but I had my first bordeaux (Beaulieau comtes des tastes, 2001) that was unlike anything I’d had before. Bold, old world, and DRY -evolved for a couple days at room temp! My first tannin monster off the bat… but smoothed out very nicely. Can’t wait to open some of the 2005’s a few years down the road!
February 28, 2008

RB
Gary,
Like the battle royal…..love the color challenge as well.

QOTD: has to be the Carm….absolutely love the wine and the price….
February 28, 2008

Shadowbird
QOTD: A local Raspberry Merlot. I could definitely taste the raspberry, but there was just so much more there as well.
February 28, 2008

Anthony L.
Love the Pinot from Anderson Valley. Great episode.
February 28, 2008

No Filtering
Gary,

I have generally considered it to be a negative when I find “cola” in my Pinot Noir. That and root beer and sassafras flavors, which one can seriously get in California Pinot and sometimes warm Oregon years says to be me “over-ripe” and over-extracted. Where has the delicacy gone? A generation are growing up thinking that Pinot needs to be “BIG!”

I think you’re doing a cool thing, but “raisin” in pinot noir? In old vine zinfandel or port it would add complexity, but in this case, it goes along with the “cola” note in its messaging. If you like this wine, terrific, BUT what do you think Pinot should be about? For most pinot-heads, it’s not size and richness as much as the seductive aromas and finesse that come with a long hang time and interesting soil. Too much California Pinot these days tastes like Syrah to me and the public is growing to expect that. Be sure to clarify for your viewers, Gary not only what is there, but maybe what is missing from big pinot noir. I commend what you are doing overall. I like your honesty and enthusiasm.
February 28, 2008

chenrys
Impressive show…wish we were trying those wines.

QOTD: We have a couple of wines we really like but probably not THAT much. Hope we find some though.
February 28, 2008

Lenny
QOTD: Never!!!!!