Gary,

I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are going to keep using YOUR format. You only have to answer to yourself. As far as the best Pinot I have ever had, there isn’t one. I’ve never had a pinot that makes me want more. The only wine that makes me want to sell my soul for more is the 1996 Shafer Hillside Select.

-Martin R.

Best Pinot ever?
I have not had many but based on the advise of a local wine column here in the Florida Keys, I tried the Blackstone’s Monterey County Pinot Noir. Now the article was about good wine between $10 and $20 and this was absolutely awesome. Great nose, very complex and smooth. Nothing like I have tasted in Pinot before.
After all, isn’t about the wine and not how much the bottle cost?

Gary

You are too tough on the French. Good Pinot will always be expensive because its made in small quantities and it is difficult to make well.I think Fr. Red Burgundies are relatively better priced now than a decade ago Spent a month in New Zealand a year ago and was impressed by some Chardonnays ( Gimblett Gravels) and Pinots. So glad to see you are beginning to carry some non-SBs. If you ever get over there, or see the lable on adistribution list, up in Wairarapa, Neudorf makes a couple of great Pinots and some other good wines as well.Keep up the great work. Don

Gary,
Kudos to you for your honesty and for doing it in the format you think is best. I admire and share your passion (sans epithets). One of the best Pinots I’ve ever had was a 1990 Panther Creek single vineyard bottling from Canary Hill. The Evesham Wood “Cuvee J” from the same year was also amazing. To your point on value, the fact that both were reasonably priced (back in the mid-90’s) was an extra bonus beyond their beauty. Looking forward to future episodes, C

Best Pinot Noir recently…

2003 Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru
“Clos du Chateau des Ducs”

Great job as always Gary, cable tv is too small a medium (in so many ways) for your honesty and “screw Sideways” attitude.

The best PN I’ve had lately is the one I purchased from a excellent local wine shop.

The 2005 Ampelidae Marigny-Neuf Pinot Noir has a spicy, dark cherry nose, with the terrior showing through. I’m wondering what this will be like in 2-3 years with its tannic structure. Definitely let this one decant for an hour or two.

Hey Gary,

Pinot Noir…Now this is what I’m talking about..56 comments on the best Pinot Noir’s by followers of your WLTV…it doesn’t get any better than this and everyone has one for one reason or another …time…place ..price…this is all a tribute to you…your honesty and saying it just the way you see it….so many wines and so little time…wish I had made up that line but I think you might of had something to do with it…love your shows more than ever…

Len

Two words Kosta Browne!
Cohn Vineyard 2003

Awesome! Love it!! I have added you to my iTunes video blog subscription.

You say interaction…how about someone to interact with?

My favorite Pinot ever? 1978 Chalone, followed closely by 1980 Chalone. Kistlers aren’t bad either.

-Bob

Gary,

I am not big on Pinot.

Last month I got Frei Brother’s Reserve Pinot on friend’s recommendation.

Well, I didn’t like it a bit. Sweer grape juice, no personality.

Gary, you are as animated as ever, but you will appear more convincing if you stop cursing during your discussion. By the way, the best Pinot I’ve had was Turley Rattlesnake ’97.

Gary, You were on Fire in this show. I’m totaly addicted to your raw and real approach to wine. I swear I told a 50 people to watch this show. You have given me some great advice and guidance on wine. ok, I’m a long time pinot noir fan. My favorite now is Shug 2004.

I’m not entirely sure what the rest of the viewers think, but in my mind, there is a misconception that pinot must be expensive for it to be good. I should admit first off, that I’m a recent college grad, so my pricepoint for wine is somewhere in the $8-$15 dollar range. I’ve had pinot for more and I’ve had it for less. That being said, my favorite pinot noir thus far has been by Echelon. For a bottle that won’t break the bank it is sure to please a pinot drinker; both the 2004 and 2005 were very good.

Gary, I’m not a huge drinker of pinots, but one does stand out. My wife was preparing a birthday meal for me about in 1999 (I think). She’d gotten two bottles across the river in Stockton, NJ for my birthday. One was Mueller Winery Emilys Cuvee Pinot Noir…to go with the lamb chops. Very full bodied and luscious. The other bottle was a 1995 Harlen Estate. We haven’t had that one yet.
Keep up the good work on the WinelibraryTV. It’s fun to watch … and we actually learn things here and there. Something that cannot be said for TV these days.
Gary Beesley

I’ve been drinking Three Miners pinot after buying few bottles in New Zealand a few years ago. The 2004 vintage is awesome and won’t disappoint. It has a delicate finish that lingers even for those without a sophisticated palate. Excellent show.

Gary, great to see you spotlight Central Otago. I had the opportunity to visit a few of the wineries (Amisfield, Gibbston Valley, Mt. Difficulty, Rockburn) while on vacation early last year. There are many very good pinot producers. Unfortunately, we hardly get any of them in the U.S. Hopefully the Three Miners will do well and you will carry more wines from Central Otago in the future.

I will have to ponder the best pinot…

Best pinot: In 1982 I was new to wine. My Father had recieved a gift of a single bottle of burgundy from a client, and he didn’t care for red wine, and told me to knock myself out… it was a 1969 Chambole-Musigny and it was so good that it made me cry. It also started me on a 24-year (so far) search for that same experience. Wish I had saved the label– but I’ll recognize it if I ever see it again.

I want to second the question I read above: What’s YOUR favorite pinot, Gary?

Hi Gary! My friend e-mailed me your site and I intend to e-mail it on!! Love the style enjoy listening to you and your thoughts on the “wine of the day”. My favorite Pinot? 2003 Monteray Bay. My friend and I were making wine and had to toss a coin for this limited wine. WE WON! It has a rich earthly smooth easy finish. It is a great bottle…luckily we made 26 bottles!! I still have 2 bottles which I am saving for a very special person to share with. It is the kind of wine that makes you want to go ummmmmm. I am looking forward to the next visit from you. thanks 🙂

1975 La Tache Bridges Restaurant in Danville, CA in 1996. Amazing wine but $300 for the bottle. Bridges has a great wine list and wonderful food. Even though this was expensive it was $200 more at the French Laundry. By the way, the 3 Miners is a great buy and the 2003 was good price point for such a good wine. Keep up the reviews. Just wish you guys carried a few more of the wines you review.

The best bottle I ever tasted was 2002 Beaux Freres Williamette Valley at last October’s Wine Experience in NYC.

It was so soft and delicate it was like drinking liquid flowers.

http://winecentric.blogspot.com

Gary,

The best Pinot I had was a 1993 Millot Echezeaux from Vosne-Romanee. I bought this one on a close out at $45 because the merchant hadn’t tried it for a few years. It was stellar and I brought it to a Turkish restaurant that doesn’t have a corkage fee. At a normal price of $100-130, this would still be a great wine, but not the value it was at $45. It had the lovely old pinot aromas of leather and game, with good acidity and some really nice secondary flavors on the palate. Storage wasn’t ideal for the wine, so it probably accentuated the aging process a little. My girlfriend and I really loved this one…

Thanks for the blogging,

Peter

I recently was in NAPA and had two Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir’s 2001 & 2004. I liked both for different reasons. The 2001 was softer and had more fruit. The 2004 had a lot of fruit too but was as drinkable. I think it’s too young, but with potential to be better than the 2001. I don’t know this to be true, but I feel that the grapes are from the same appelation. Maybe from different sections. Anyway, I would like your opinion versus the Three Miners. Thank you.
Also, I would like to see you test some wines you really don’t like and say why! Although, sometimes your facial expressions contradict your words.

My favorite Pinot is from the Mornington Peninsula in Australia – Merricks Creek Close Planted 2004 (the 2003 rocked too). I had it with the winemaker while overlooking his vineyards…amazing wine and experience. Cool climate elegance combined with “true to Burgundy” winemaking. Like Central Otago (have been there too, beautiful spot and wines) Mornington Peninsula is a region to watch for great Pinot. From the US, Sineann Resonance VY 2004 – I’m a big fan of Peter Rosback.

Thanks for keeping it interesting Gary!

Not only the best Pinot Noir, but one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted was the 1999 Domaine Henri Gouges, Nuits St-Georges, “Les Pruliers.” Complex in a way I had never before experienced. Liquefied silk dropped on the tongue and spread throughout the entire mouth. I credit this bottle with introducing me to truly great wine.

Best – who can talk from best. What Pinots are drinking great right now.

Merry Edwards – Klopp Ranch 2002
Windy Oaks 2003 Reserve
Williams Selyem – 2003 or 2 Westside Road

Had amazing Williams Selyems in the past. They probably hit the best mark with a few Pommards but I can’t remember which.

Best wine ever. Heitz Martha’s 1974 – got it as a wedding gift. Holy cow! Drank it with a bunch of friends before we knew what the hell we were doing when it came to wine. It’s still all that memorable!