ChangeMe 
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2042
 | | 03-13-2005 06:20 PM |
| I forced myself to wait the obligatory 2 weeks after delivery, but popped one of these last night. This is a very pretty pinot. Chocolate covered cherries in a glass, but not in your face about it. Slightly more refined and elegant than the 2002, and remarkably integrated for such a youngster. 92+ Gary points. I'm glad I asked for some extra bottles of this.  | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts: 2764
| | 03-13-2005 07:11 PM |
| After tasting this at a dinner with Brian Loring on Thursday, I am really sorry I am not on this list. It was one of the wines of the night.
Mike | | | |
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davidandrose
Aurora, CO
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1687
| | 03-14-2005 02:05 AM |
| I don't know if you took decent notes Thu (I didn't) but I'll try my best for tomorrows dinner. Understand you and Jill won't be there. Maybe compare on Wed/Thu. | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9561
| | 05-09-2005 01:28 AM |
| Tasted at the "Aged California Pinot Tasting" at Casa Rigisich... Wow. WoW! Wow, this is good stuff. So much better than the 2002 version, broad, rich, full of fruit, finishes long and fine. I don’t think this is one for the cellar, but WOW is it good now. | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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Landshark
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3725
| | 05-09-2005 06:03 AM |
| drank one tonight very, very nice | | | |
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TimLinCA
Danville CA
Grape Puncher
Posts: 824
| | 05-11-2005 02:52 AM |
| Wow! *Better* than the 2002??? That's scary!
Tim | | | |
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Al HooKoo
Las Vegas, NV
Wine Thief
Posts: 2627
| | 05-16-2005 03:51 PM |
| I opened one Friday night and decanted for about an hour.
Not many aromas coming out and it tasted very flat with a bitter finish.
I doubled decanted hoping to get some life out of it.
There was a little more fruit coming out, but the finish was still unpleasant.
I saved half the bottle for the next day, but there was no improvement.
I was very disappointed as this is my first bad experience with an August West.  | | | |
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David Sullivan
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2276
| | 05-16-2005 03:57 PM |
| Quote:
I opened on Friday night and decanted for about an hour.
Not many aromas coming out and it tasted very flat with a bitter finish.
I doubled decanted hoping to get some life out of it.
There was a little more fruit coming out, but the finish was still unpleasant.
I saved half the bottle for the next day, but there was no improvement.
I was very disappointed as this is my first bad experience with an August West.
Was this the first 03 you have had? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Puncher
Posts: 886
| | 05-16-2005 03:59 PM |
| Quote:
I opened on Friday night and decanted for about an hour.
Not many aromas coming out and it tasted very flat with a bitter finish.
I doubled decanted hoping to get some life out of it.
There was a little more fruit coming out, but the finish was still unpleasant.
I saved half the bottle for the next day, but there was no improvement.
I was very disappointed as this is my first bad experience with an August West.
Had to be a bad bottle. You don't have to work to find fruit in this wine. It is richer than the `02 and has an abundance of deep black cherry flavors in the midpalate. It should only take an hour of air for this to flesh out. Tasted three times.
Contact Ed. August West | | | |
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DJ Hombre
Napa Valley, California
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1367
| | 05-16-2005 04:18 PM |
| i think decanting in the first place might have shocked the juice to all hell. | | | |
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Al HooKoo
Las Vegas, NV
Wine Thief
Posts: 2627
| | 05-16-2005 04:19 PM |
| Quote:
Was this the first 03 you have had?
Yes, this was the first '03 I opened.
I had 3 of the '02's. Each one was great.
I agree with Bob it had to be a bad bottle.
I think I will let Ed know just so he can keep a count of bad bottles. | | | |
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Matt Letson
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1339
| | 05-16-2005 05:26 PM |
| Had my first bottle last Thursday night and it was exceptional--plenty of fruit, spice and a great finish. I'd put it right there with the 2002 Siduri Rosella's. A great bottle of wine | | | |
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Al HooKoo
Las Vegas, NV
Wine Thief
Posts: 2627
| | 05-16-2005 05:27 PM |
| I e-mailed Ed. He already replied with a very generous offer to replace the bad bottle of wine. I am the first to report a bad bottle to him.  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2042
| | 05-16-2005 05:40 PM |
| I had my second one on Friday. This wine is good to go with about 30 minutes decanting.
Sorry for your bad experience, AlKooHoo. | | | |
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DJ Hombre
Napa Valley, California
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1367
| | 05-16-2005 07:31 PM |
| Quote:
I e-mailed Ed.
He already replied with a very generous offer to replace the bad bottle of wine.
I am the first to report a bad bottle to him.
With your next bottle don't decant. It's unnecessary - and I bet it probably had something to do with the performance of your first bottle. The August West isn't really one to age, as it's great right out of the bottle.
I might very well be wrong - but I would place money on the decanting being too much for the wine - causing it to be flat. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 05-18-2005 09:53 PM |
| Had a pop&pour bottle last night. This wine is absolutely wonderful. The more I drink the better I love it. The only problem is that the more I drink the less I have.
Duh. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13785
| | 06-13-2005 05:59 PM |
| - 2003 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (4/19/2005)
Elegant and tasty, this was delicious. Aside from the plenty of fruit being there (very well integrated), I got notes of caramel-cremes, cherry vanilla, strawberry buttercream and tiny notes of spice and creme de menthe. De-lish. 91 points.
Had this at the DC Crü April dinner at Corduroy. (91 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker! | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1907
| | 07-26-2005 03:33 PM |
| - 2003 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (7/23/2005)
My last bottle! Wanted to hold one to see how it developed, but I was weak!
5-spice, cherries, raspberries and even a little cherry coke on the nose. Beautiful flavors of black cherry, raspberry, earth and even a little blueberry. A little more complex than my last bottle a couple of months ago. Long finish. Paired well with grilled Salmon. (92+ pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker! | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Destemmer
Posts: 61
| | 07-27-2005 05:25 PM |
| Hell,
I still got close to a case of both 2002 & 2003 AW.
Every time I open one up it is better than the last one.
Let them sleep.
TTT | | | |
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David Sullivan
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2276
| | 07-28-2005 03:19 PM |
| Quote:
Hell,
I still got close to a case of both 2002 & 2003 AW.
Every time I open one up it is better than the last one.
Let them sleep.
TTT
How'd you get a case of each? | | | |
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