DWDG FEBRUARY 2008 - Hector's on Henderson (2/20/2008)

New World Pinot Noir with New American Cuisine

• N.V. Michel Arnould & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve - France, Champagne, Verzenay, Champagne (90 pts.)
• 2004 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay Cahill Lane - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIML88. Yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Sulphuric nose albeit much more tamed than the previous tasting with some underlying aromas of butter and vanilla (hard to detect past the sulphur aroma). Flavors of base minerality with some notes of pears and apples. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (88 pts.)
• 1996 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  WIMLNR. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slightly cloudy throughout. Nose of leather, briar patch, "red hills dirt" and a hint of dill. Flavors of red berries and Bing cherries. Medium acidity, fully resolved tannins, medium body. Based on this bottle I'd say "drink now" but I have slight feeling that maybe this bottle suffered from poor provenance at some point and was therefore prematurely aged. No rating as a result. Still, some interesting components were still present.
• 2003 Windward Pinot Noir Monopole - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
  WIML85. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass. dusty looking throughout. Nose of orange peel, camphor and maybe some berries. Flavors of bitters right up front with some berries and orange zest. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. Not a very pleasurable wine to drink. (85 pts.)
• 1992 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  WIML90. Tasted February 20, 2008 from magnum. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Dusty nose with hints of anise, potpourri and mixed red fruits. Flavors of orange, Bing cherry and a hint of eucalyptus. Also some tiny notes of bitters on the finish. Medium acidity, fully resolved tannins, medium body. Drink now. (90 pts.)
• 2000 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir Famous Gate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  WIML90. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. "Pinot funk" on the nose with some notes of black cherries and black berries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and a hint of bitters on the finish. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (90 pts.)
• 2005 Bergström Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  WIML90. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black berries, black cherries and a hint of smoke. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and bitters. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Drink now with an hour or so in the decanter to start or continue to hold. (90 pts.)
• 2003 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  WIML91. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, hint of roasted meat, mixed crushed berries and floral elements. Flavors of black cherries, rich berries, plums and tiny hint of bitters on the medium to long finish. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
• 2006 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  WIML89. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roasted coffee, black berries, plums and florals. Flavors of black cherries and black berries. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Fairly short finish. Drink over the short term. (89 pts.)
• 2004 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIML91. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries and some dark chocolate notes over a slightly earthy frame. Flavors of black cherries and black berries, rich and full on the palate. Vibrant acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
• 2005 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  WIML87. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Subdued nose with a hint of grapefruit up front followed by some florals and some mixed berries. Flavors of grapefruit up front with some thin berry flavors following. Drink over the short term. (87 pts.)
• 2004 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  WIML90. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, slightly cloudy looking. Classic "Rosella's" nose with notes of grapefruit following by some rich berry notes on both the nose and palate. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. (90 pts.)
• 2001 Beran Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  WIML82. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Weedy and stemny nose with additional notes of fertilizer. Thin berry flavors on the palate. Light acidity, tannins and body. Drink now. (82 pts.)
• 2004 Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  WIML89. Tasted February 20, 2008. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roasted coffee dominates. Flavors of black cherries with a hint of a metallic finish. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. (89 pts.)
• 2004 Lucia Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  WIML90. Tasted February 20, 2008. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. "Fish oil" up front (don't ask) with some notes of wet stones and eucalyptus. Flavors of rich berries and cherries on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (90 pts.)
• 2005 L'Angevin Pinot Noir Sonoma Stage Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  WIML89. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roasted coffee, white pepper and mixed dark fruits. Flavors of rich berries almost to the point of being jammy with some plums on the finish. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. (89 pts.)
• 2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Cohn - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIML91. Tasted February 20, 2008. Opened and decanted about 2 hours before double decanting back into the bottle for transport to the restaurant. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of toasted caramel with some graham crackers, dark roasted fruits, cinnamon and white pepper. Hint of currants on the palate up front followed by some stewed plums and black cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full body. Drink now with 2-3 hours in the decanter or continue to hold. I'll likely extended the drinking window on my two remaining bottles. (91 pts.)
• 2003 W.H. Smith Pinot Noir Maritime Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  WIMLNR. Tasted February 20, 2008. OK, I just don't get it and don't anybody give me any crap about this being an off bottle. Dark garnet color, clear hue throughout. Hint of grapefruit on the nose with a touch of coffee and plum. Light note of grapefruit on the palate as well with a mixed bag of berries and cherries. Seems completely disjointed on the palate to me. As I said, I just don't get it and no rating as a result. I have two of these in the cellar which will likely hit the auction block.