I know what it’s like to always be second.

QOTD: Probably the 2006 Phillips Hill Oppenlander that I bought 6 of when Toby offered the last 100 cases at half price. It needs at least 5hrs air time to really shine right now but when it does it’s real bright and at $21 it was a steal. Thank you Toby.

winner: http://www.bergstromwines.com/08_delancevin_pn.html

QOTD: Gotta give props to Roessler Cellars ( http://www.roesslercellars.com/ ) since it’s my family name (not actually related). I’ve really enjoyed their Blue Jay, especially the 2006, though they’ve made a name for themselves off of the super-premium Savoy and the ubiquitous La Brisa. Certainly not an under-the-radar winery, but some solid stuff.

I’m confused about your comment regarding the Kosuge style. Do you not like the over-the-top style bc it doesn’t taste good or bc you recognize that it’s not true to the grape varietal? If you got this same taste from a bottle of syrah would you have taken umbrage and scored it similarly? Maybe I should call in on Thursday and ask you this question 😀

Thanks for a though-provoking episode!!

Gary,

About 5 weeks ago I (twice) posted a question about your new upcoming radio show.
No one responded.

I guess my ‘dream’ was correct.

Too bad I don’t have satellite radio.

I wish you all the best on your new venue.

I do like my Pinot. I will try and look for the 08′ Bedrock here in the Chicago area. Very nice on the Pinot, the Burgundy play on the Bedrock and being Russian River Valley hooked me. QOTD: 07′ Castle Rock Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, RRV probably the best Pinot’s out of California.

QOTD…Sojourn 2006 Pinot like velvet
http://www.sojourn.com

love the pink shirt today, Gary

You’re looking tan there Homey…..weekend in the Hamptons??? Hummm….maybe it’s the pick shirt?? Looks like that fresh diet is doing you some good. I need to get on it as soon as I get home since they won’t deliver to me here at the shore house.

I like big wines and I can not lie…!!!!

QOTD: I had a 2005 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Confluence Vineyard……and I liked-it-a-lot…. 🙂

Great show and thanks for digging into some boutique Pinots. GV, what’s your take on Mendocino Pinot’s? QOTD: Phillips Hill Ring of Fire. Had it last Sat night with some friends and we all loved it. Paired perfectly with big honkin’ Porterhouse, canellini beans and grilled squash. Need to order more.

John, where can I get in on the deal Toby struck with you? Sweet and nice going!

QOTD: One of my favorite Pinots from Oregon is Beaux Freres, 2008 pinot noir, The Beaux Freres Vineyard
http://www.beauxfreres.com/tastingNotes08.htm
93 WS 94 ST

Knew I should have taken him up on that offer. ;(

Truly am a Happy Person. Much Joy in my Heart!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Winecrazy
Good call. Tasted there just after their opening and everything they poured was impressive.
A bit pricey but not to much so.

About a week ago I was at an event in SF where they had a big wine tasting tent. Robert Sinskey Vineyard had a Pinot that I really liked. Very well balanced. I think it was their Los Carneros 07, But I’m not positive. It might of been the best wine I tasted that day and the best pinot I’ve had in a while. I’d be interested to know what you and Mister V thought. http://www.robertsinskey.com

No, basic contentness, year-round. Just enjoy offering a little sarcasm from time to time.

Those are Rainier cherries, GV.
QOTD: Probably the Red Silk PN, only because of its Alsacian origin- it was my first PN (or red of any type, for that matter!) from Alsace. I’d love to try more reds from the region at some point because I hate to judge something like that from one bottle, but I’ll just leave it as whites are what it’s known for for a reason…

Same to you!

Good to see the nerd coming out early in the week. The description of the Bedrock has got me looking to buy some now.

In your reference to the “tobacco smell” of the Bedrock, I believe I know what you are trying to say. The smell is much sweeter than a “regular” tobacco leaf. You neighbor probably smoke machine made cigars that use mainly homogenized wrapper leaves. Mainly they are more paper than anything. The smell reminds me of smelling a freshly opened pack of cigarettes. Its the freshness of the tobacco that’s appealing. Maybe that helped.

QOTD: I’ve going to have to say Belle Glos Meiomi. For $20, its hard to beat!

QOTD: I haven’t had much pinot lately; I’ve been sticking to either whites because of the heat of the summer or Italian reds. I like the way you were talking about the Bedrock though, I’ll have to check it out.

Great show.. i must say New Zealand, Craggy Range “Te Muna Road” Pinot Noir 2008

The most interesting Pinot Noir I tasted recently came from Chile (excellent tip GV). Veramonte Ritual 2008 Pinot Noir. It had a little bit of the barnyard stink I like, with mineral and earth tones.

The US pinots from lesser-known producers that really knocked me for a loop over the last year are the 2005 Adrian Fog Savoy Vineyard (http://www.adrianfog.com/), and the 2007 Hirsch and Oppenheimer Vienyards from Failla (http://www.faillawines.com/) (Ehren Jordan, the winemaker from Turley’s own winery).

Tasted the Fog for the first time at a restaurant in town and was pretty nutty over it for awhile.

Tasted the Faillas (in addition to their Sonoma Pinot, a Chardonnay, and a Syrah) when the rep from the winery was visiting town. I thought they would be way over the top, knowing the type of wine Jordan makes at Turley, but they were very restrained, elegant and balanced. When she asked me what I thought, I told her it’s honestly the first time I sat down with anyone selling wine and enjoyed everything they brought, and that’s true. And I was telling the truth; I’ve even told winemakers I didn’t like their wines before.

For best pinots I’ve hard from big-name producers throughout the world in the last year:
2007 Paul Hobbs Lindsay Vineyard
2002 Mommessin Clos de Tart
2003 Domaine Dujac Charmes Chambertin
1988 Groffier Clos de Beze

Good show, and a good showing from these wines. Haven’t had much Cali Pinot lately either, though I had a few of 2007 Nuit-St.Georges while I was in Montreal for my much abbreviated vacation. Markups were even reasonable.

QOTD: I had one had Au Pied du Cochon in Montreal that was phenomenal…my wife has my notes for her scrapbooking though. Their house brew was pretty decent too.

Absolutely true… fat Pinot syndrome. The push for lush, textured wine has been a powerful one here in Australia–loads of extract, mounds of solids, mid to high rs and high alcohol. The trend has fallen away to some extent but the idea that less beefy wine is too ‘watery’ and therefore somehow less serious persists. But the difference in quality is huge. Central Otago Pinot show off both styles perfectly. Those from the basin are rich and thick and kinda one-dimensional (a dash of Syrah?), while those from higher altitudes are ‘watery’ and amazingly complex. Not sure how much this comes down to wine making etc.. but it holds true.
One of my fav Otagos: http://www.valliwine.com/

I always thought Mourvedre, sitting nicely between the classic stereotypes of the well structured old-world wine and the fat, rich new-world wine, should do really well–a mid point on the way back from the land of phat wine. I hear there is loads of it in Cali. How is it received these days?

Thanks heaps for the episode! Great stuff as usual.
Cheers.

Had a bottle of Domaine Chandon pinot noir rose- unoaked. It was beautiful, delicate and interesting.

I agree, he has the right coloring for pink! Much better than lavender 😉