Hidden Bench Felsesk Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹 Slightly shy on the nose with aromas ripe cherries, pomegranates, underbrush, graphite, spices and light smoke. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, slightly rustic with fuzzy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with sour-edged flavours of cherries and plums with underlying earthiness and minerals.

🔸 I fell in love with this Pinot, when I visited the winery last December. This is complex style of Pinot which would shine at the diner table. I can really see this wine being paired with a Coq au Vin. There is so much going on in this dish that the flavours of this Pinot would pair beautifully. Great potential to score even higher with a few extra years in bottle. Certainly glad that I have a few more bottles left. Cheers my wine friends🍷

Henri de Villamont Chorey-les-Beaune 2015, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

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Beautiful nose on this Pinot with aromas of cherries, cranberries, stewed plums, underbrush and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, flavourful with soft tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with wild berry fruit, savoury notes and an underlying earthiness.

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Definitely a very enjoyable Pinot with lots of flavours and very smooth. Does it represent a good value? At $50 Canadian dollars before taxes, I would have to say no. Would I purchase this Pinot again? Absolutely 🙂 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Meyer Family Vineyard Old Block Pinot Noir 2015, McLean Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points 

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Intriguing nose with aromas of wild strawberries, plums, tart cherries, pomegranate, violets, baking spices, smoke and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with balanced acidity and silky tannins. The finish is medium length with flavours of smoky cherries, sweet oak and leafy underbrush.

Purchased this gorgeous Pinot at the winery in September of 2017. For me, it beautifully blends of sweet and sour fruit and earthy flavours. The result is a complex and very flavourful Pinot with superb texture. An exquisite wine from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialists at Meyer’s. Needless to say, I am a big fan of this winery. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

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🍇 Pinot Noir 100%⁣
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🧐 Alcohol 12.5%⁣
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🍁 My Score 90 Points ⁣
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🧩 -Wild ferment in tank for 20 days⁣
     -Aged in a blend of new to three year old French oak barrels for 16 months.⁣
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Beautiful nose with aromas of cherries, plums, rhubarb, forest floor, savoury herbs and smoky notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dusty tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length, elegant with flavours of sweet and sour fruit, earthy and smoky notes lingering.⁣
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Quite surprising that in such a hot vintage, Blue Mountain was able to produce such an elegant Pinot. Not that I am that surprised since these are the style of wines I am accustomed to from this winery. This is the reason why I count myself among their loyal fan base. Quite a delicious Pinot experience. Cheers my wine friends 🍷⁣
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René Bouvier Le Chapitre Bourgogne 2008, Ac Burgundy, France

A pretty ruby red in color, this Pinot Noir opened up with aromas of sour cherries, red currants, beets and light earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, light bodied (alcohol comes in at 12.5%), lean, dry, austere with very little fruit, lively acidity and dusty tannins. This wine's finish is short and tart. It was recommended that I should wait a few years before opening (which I did) but I cannot see this Pinot Noir getting any better, I wonder if this wine was made with any fruit at all. Not particularly memorable or pleasant, score 84 points.

Purchased February 19, 2011 LCBO Vintages New Release (209602) at $19.95 

Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir from 5 to 27 year old vines.  Over 50% of this vintage was fermented with wild yeast, with maturation in new to three year old French oak for 10 months and alcohol commes in at 12.5%

This wine opened up with a sumptuous bouquet of ripe berry fruit, red currants, savoury spices, light floral and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied with a silky smooth texture, a delicious spicy, sweet and sour fruit profile, fresh acidity and fine grained tannins. Very nice finish on this Pinot, quite consistent, smooth with spicy fruit flavours and an underlying minerality. This is a very elegant Pinot Noir, loved the low alcohol, minimum amount of oak, very feminine and pretty. Gorgeous, score 93 points. 

Purchased at the Vancouver International Wine Festival February 28, 2013 at $24.90

Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

From the very good 2010 vintage in Ontario, this Pinot Noir maturation took place in French oak for over 10 months and alcohol comes in at 13%.

This wine opened up with an attractive bouquet of wild strawberry, plum, gentle wood spices and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, light-medium bodied with soft seductive fruit and spices flavours, fresh acidity and silky tannins. The ending is so smooth with those same soft berry fruit, sweet spices and fine tannins lingering. What you get from this Pinot Noir is a wine with great harmony, elegance and finesse, exactly the style of Pinot Noir that hits all the right notes for me. Strongly recommended, score 91 points.

Purchased March 30, 2013 at the Wine Rack in Ottawa at $19.95

Domaine Jean-Marc Pavelot Les Bressandes Beaune 1er Cru 2007, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

This Pinot Noir poors a dull, opaque ruby in color and opened up with aromas of dark plum, black cherry, black tea, dried flowers, damp earth, saddle leather and smoky notes. On the palate, medium bodied, dry earthy and rustic mouthfeel with low acidity and woodsy tannins. This Pinot Noir finish is short with oak dominated flavours. This is really not my style of Pinot Noir, seriously lacking finesse and too oaky for me. Not something I would want to revisit, score 87 point.

Purchased February 2011 LCBO Vintages Classic Collection (206219) at $45.00

Norman Hardie County Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

 

This excellent pale ruby coloured Pinot Noir from cooler Prince Edward County opened up with aromas of cranberry, plum, strawberry, cinnamon, spicy and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, light bodied with alcohol coming in at 11.9%, youthful, fresh with bright acidity and light tannins. Very good length on the finish with spicy red fruit flavours and great energy. Great balance with this Pinot, love the low alcohol and ripe red fruit flavours, strongly recommended for fans of lighter Pinot Noir. Score 90 points.

Purchased September 15, 2012 LCBO New Release (125310) at $35.00

Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2008 VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada

From the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist, Le Clos Jordanne, this is a very masculine and slightly rustic style of PN. Maturation took place in French oak, 35% new oak and the remaining barrel percentage was a mix of used oak (from one to four years old barrels) with alcohol coming in at 12.5%.

A very exotic bouquet on this PN with aromas of sour cherry, pomegranate, forest floor, smoky, gentle wood spices with a strong stony minerality. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavours of blueberry, vanilla and wood smoke with a silky smooth texture, fresh acidity and fine tannins. This wine finish is long, smooth with complex flavours lingering. Again, this is another wine where the cork wasn’t exactly up to par, with dry wine on the foil and a soft, slightly wet cork. This PN is definitely not fruity or elegant, this is a more masculine, slightly edgy, mineral driven kind of PN. I would have preferred a little more fruit, but Le Clos Jordanne still managed to make a very interesting and enjoyable wine in a challenging vintage. Score 88 points.

Purchased August 6, 2012 at the Wine Rack in Ottawa for $35.00

NK'Mip Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir 2008, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

NK'Mip Cellars (pronounced in-ka-meep) is North America's, first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. Qwam Qwmt (pronounced kw-em, kw-empt) as spoken by the Osoyoos Indian Band  translates to "achieving excellence" and is their premium tier of wines. The winery and vineyard are located in town of Osoyoos (160 kilometers from the US border and the state of Washington) in Southern Okanagan Valley, Canada's only dessert with 1450 Celsius degree days and 8 inches average annual rainfall. 

I have enjoyed many of NK'Mip wines in the past and still have their Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Qwam Qwmt Merlot 2008 and Mer'r'iym 2008 (Bordeaux blend) in my cellar. As you may know by now, I prefer cooler climate Pinot Noir (PN) which are lighter and more delicate. This wine opens up with aromas cherry jam, pepper, tobacco and dried earth notes. On the palate, the texture feels a little bit heavy with concentrated flavours, low acidity and firm tannins. I am not sure you could make a pure delicate Pinot Noir in Osoyoos, its just to warm. This PN is definitely a more muscular style which would appeal to fans of most California Pinots. In the future, I will stick with their delicious full bodied Merlots, Syrah and Bordeaux blends Score 88 points.

Purchased at the Wine Barrel in Victoria BC July 18, 2011 for $30.10

Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir 2009, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

I have enjoyed the last 3 or 4 vintages of Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir, I truly enjoy it's elegance and easy drinking quality. This 2009 vintage opens up with aromas of wild ripe strawberries, plums, rhubarb, cherry coke and cinnamon spice.  On the palate, medium bodied, cherry pie and baking spices flavours, fresh acidity with silky smooth tannins. This Pinot’s finish is rather short, the alcohol at 14.5% is slightly noticeable with sweet and sour fruit lingering. Certainly as good as previous vintages, it is enjoyable, very aromatic and smooth, which should appeal to many. Score 89 points.    

Purchased April 28, 2011 LCBO Vintage product (954834) at $24.95

Domaine Gille Côtes De Nuits Villages 2008, Burgundy, France

Pale ruby in colour, now imagine if you close your eyes, you could believe you are in a garden with aromas of beetroot, dried mushroom, earthy barnyard, cherry, rhubarb and violet notes. Now that’s Pinot Noir for you, love it.  On the mouthfeel, medium bodied (13% Alc.), lively acidity, dusty tannins and sour cherry with sweet baking spices flavours. Good length on the finish, slightly gritty, rustic tannins with an interesting earthy notes duking it out with the sour edged flavours of cherry and plum. Very nice wine here with excellent value for money Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Score 89 points. 

This wine was purchased April 2, 2011 LCBO New Release (210864) at $24.95

Churton Pinot Noir 2008, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

This wine comes across at halfway between the style of a California Pinot and a Burgundy Pinot with the aromas of wild berry fruit, plum jam, clove, cinnamon stick, soft leather and attractive earthy notes. This medium to full bodied Pinot has a velvety smooth mouthfeel with Pinot characteristics good acidity and grainy tannins. The finish is long, smoky, slightly hot (alcohol at 14%) with ultra ripe fruit flavour. Not an elegant Pinot for sure, but very smooth and enjoyable. Score 88 points.

This wine was purchased September 17, 2011 LCBO New Release at $36.95.

Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA

This lovely medium ruby in color Pinot Noir opens up with sweet and sour cherry, plums, strawberry, cola, cinnamon and sweet oak. The mouthfeel is lively with fresh acidity, generous alcohol at 14.5% and silky smooth tannins. The finish is medium length with flavours of vanilla, sweet oak and crush strawberry. A Pinot Noir that is lacking finesse and complexity at this price, but the aromatics and mouthfeel are very pleasant. Enjoyable but not memorable.

This wine was purchased April 16, 2011 LCBO New Release at $ 29.95.

Josef Chromy Pinot Noir 2009, Tasmania, Australia

Holy cow, I love a Pinot Noir that's smell a little barnyard (a common characteristic in some Pinot Noir, i.e. earthiness), its like going to the country without leaving the city. Paired right, this can add to the enjoyment of both the food and wine. This light bodied Pinot opened up with red cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, barnyard and smokiness. The mouthfeel was well balanced with lively acidity, good tension between red fruit, rhubarb and oak characteristics like tobacco leaf and smoke, plus silky smooth tannins. This wine has a complex and elegant finish. This is a Pinot Noir that strikes a good balance between fruit and earthiness, strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased on April 16, 2011 LCBO New Release at $ 27.95

Ant Moore Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand

This Pinot Noir is youthful and fresh with bright red cherry, plum, vanilla and earthy on the nose. The mouthfeel is definitely fruitier than earthy, with lively acidity, silky tannins and cherry cola flavour in mid palate. A very enjoyable Pinot, with berries, sweet spices and light tannins on the finish. A little overpriced but a well made Pinot Noir with a very stylish label and ageing potential. 

This wine was purchased on April 16, 2011 LCBO New Release at $24.95

Domaine Roux Père & Fils Côte De Beaune Villages 2009, Burgundy, France

A beautifully aromatic wine, with strawberry, cherry, sweet spices and violet on the nose. Unfortunately this is where the good news ends; this Pinot Noir mouthfeel is thin with sour fruit, racy acidity and puckering tannins. This wine finish is long, tart and spicy. This is not a balanced wine in my book, not enough fruit to balance the high acidity and tannins. Over time the tannins will soften up, but it is hard for me to think that this wine will get any better.

This wine was purchased April 2, 2011, LCBO New Release at $17.95

Carrick Pinot Noir 2007, Central Otago New Zealand

This Pinot as a sophisticated bouquet of cherry, plums, savoury, violet and slight earthiness. On the palate, medium body with fresh acidity well integrated tannins and cherry, chocolate and cedar flavours on the mouth feel. The finish is long with spicy cocoa. Very enjoyable and intense Pinot here, well done.

This wine was purchased on April 16, 2011 LCBO New Release at $34.95