The Pinot Noir & Grenache Thread

[Steady]

Signing on to this thread. I have developed a new liking for Pinot, the more I drink it!

Exactly the same thing here.

Any favourites you want to share?

 

[Pushka]

Any favourites you want to share?

I think it’s the opposite. I do like some of the McLaren Vale offerings though, which is where I tried my first over Christmas. Leconfield is good but I’m a novice so it might be rank to ‘the experts’ here.

 

[ellen10]

Any favourites you want to share?

I am no expert, but after a visit to the Mornington Peninsula early last year we have recently enjoyed a few of our purchases.

They include: Stonier Pinot Noir, 10 Miles by Tractor, Baillieu 2015 Pinot, Quealy Pinot (a quirky little winery)

 

[Saltywings]

Make that three of us...must be a hat trick today!

 

[Deleted member]

Drinking a Mike Press today.
Courtesy of Buzz. (Thanks Buzz)
He reckons it’s not a great year. But I’m enjoying it

 

[Steady]

I think it’s the opposite. I do like some of the McLaren Vale offerings though, which is where I tried my first over Christmas. Leconfield is good but I’m a novice so it might be rank to ‘the experts’ here.

I didn’t know Leconfield had a Pinot in their range

 

[Steady]

21212 dinner Edinburgh with these wines. White was very strange. So was the sommelier. Very strange wine list with not much recognizable.

Next night at Kyloe, a fabulous Argentinian Malbec from the Eco Valley for 2/3rds the price.

A bit OT for the PN thread TRTMA

 

[TheRealTMA]

A bit OT for the PN thread TRTMA

Ah! Whoops wrong thread! Thanks. Moved it.

 

[Pushka]

I didn’t know Leconfield had a Pinot in their range

My bad. Cab Merlot. Told ya I was a beginner.

 

[qaz]

Drinking a Mike Press today.
Courtesy of Buzz. (Thanks Buzz)
He reckons it’s not a great year. But I’m enjoying it
View attachment 124809

more still available

I am no expert, but after a visit to the Mornington Peninsula early last year we have recently enjoyed a few of our purchases.

They include: Stonier Pinot Noir, 10 Miles by Tractor, Baillieu 2015 Pinot, Quealy Pinot (a quirky little winery)

if you like mornington pinot, then perhaps try Allies Assemblage

Been drinking the 2017 Allies Assemblage. Good quaffer IMHO
Allies Assemblage Pinot Noir 2017
Haven't tried the 2015 so can't compare.

whatever happened to @sigmadelta who bought the 2015 but hasn't been on here for a while?

 

[ellen10]

if you like mornington pinot, then perhaps try Allies Assemblage

Looks interesting thanks for the recommendation.

 

[qaz]

as posted in the Dan's thread, you can currently have up to 38.1% off at BWS:

• Ata Rangi Pinot Noir $52.62
• Stefano Lubiana Pinot Noir $37.76
• Kooyong Pinot Noir $32
• Bay of Fires Pinot Noir $28.47
• Punt Road Pinot Noir $16.71

if anyone in Melbourne can help with buying a bottle of 2017 Punt Road, then that would be appreciated - you could even use my Woolworths Rewards number

$31.99 @ My Wine Guy (pm me for $30 referral code)

$25 Vinomofo - Little Yarra Pinot Noir 2015 - Red Wine ($25 referral credit)

 

[The Warlock]

Pinot Poolaza 2018 Tickets just gone on sale....anyone know of any promotional codes?

SYDNEY 2018 | PINOT PALOOZA

 

[JohnM]

Several years ago I went through a Pinot frenzy stage. I recently looked through my stored wines and decided that I needed to clean out the last of the 2010 Pinots (Aus & NZ) as I suspected they may be losing their lustre.

I was right. While none of the wines were over the hill (all had been kept in wine cabinets since purchase), distinctiveness was gone - especially among the Australians. They all tasted much the same - not exactly what I bought them for.

What universally came through was acidity - so they had held together but had lost freshness and certainly none had any 'wow factor' remaining.

Individual sub-labels may be difficult to pick up, but all were different (eg. the three Felton Roads are all different; Main Ridge is a Half Acre and an Acre).

My broad bottom-line conclusion based on this lot (and based on my memory of drinking their siblings earlier): drink Aus Pinots within about 4 years and all but the most exceptional NZ Pinots within about 5 years to best appreciate them.

Essentially, they are modern wines that do not need age to shine.




Next: some 2011's...

 

[Major]

I regard Pinot Noirs as similar to the Beaujolais style of wines. They should be consumed when they are young and fresh.

I am not a fan of aged Pinot Noirs

 

[Daver6]

I regard Pinot Noirs as similar to the Beaujolais style of wines. They should be consumed when they are young and fresh.

I am not a fan of aged Pinot Noirs

I've had some aged Beaujolais and that stuff can age and age well. I'm talking 35+ years old.

 

[tielec]

I've never had 35-year-old Beaujolais but I have had 10-15 year-old Morgon, and some of them have been sensational. Allegedly this village produces some of the more age-worthy expressions of Gamay.

Regarding pinot, I agree with the prevailing sentiment here. Although many of the wine writers that I have read (particularly from the 90s) say that fine Burgundy can go 60 years, I have yet to experience a great old pinot.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I've had some aged Beaujolais and that stuff can age and age well. I'm talking 35+ years old.

Really all depends on the wine makers' techniques. And some (many) Burgundies need at least 10+ years or more. Quite a few are paint strippers with tannins that tear your tongue out when young!

Had a very nice Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers that was 20 years old and excellent drinking. Many Willamette valley Oregon Pinots age well.. Some NZ wines do well after 5-10 years but recent ones seem to have too much sugar and not enough acid to age particularity well. We shall see!

 

[qaz]

Cellar One after $20 welcome credit:

• Eddystone Point 2016 (HH95) $15
• Stonier Jimjoca Single Vineyard 2015 (HH93) $21.67

Cellardoor.co after $25 welcome credit:

• Coldstream Hills 2017 (CM(WF)93) $16.83
• Coldstream Hills Red Selection 6pk $160 ($26.67/bt)
  • 2017 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir
  • 2015 Coldstream Hills Deer Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir
  • 2015 Coldstream Hills The Esplanade Pinot Noir
  • 2016 Coldstream Hills Dr's Block Pinot Noir
  • 2015 Coldstream Hills Merlot
  • 2015 Coldstream Hills Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
• Coldstream Hills Mixed Selection 6pk $160 ($26.67/bt)

Jean-François Ganevat Back Vintages @ Blackhearts & Sparrows

Prince Wine Store Haute Couture 6pk $495 delivered ($82.50/bt):

• Dutton Goldfield Dutton Ranch 2014
• Hospice de Beaune 1er Cru Cuvee Guigone de Salins 2015 (Jane Eyre)
• Ata Rangi 2015
• Chatto 2016
• Moorooduc Estate Robinson Vineyard 2015
• Bernhard Huber Alte Reben 2013

A feast for pinot lovers
In the pink: Three pinot noirs of contrasting styles

Not (yet) as cheap as the 2015 which was mentioned on Winefront after being posted here, MWG also has the 2016 Riorret Lusatia Park (TL97, HH95, JH94, CM(WF)93+, RD17.5/20) for $31.65, whilst the 2017 (CM(WF)95) is at AusCellardoor for $35.91 delivered after 10% off (pm me for code)

2017 $25.91 delivered @ Cracka after 8.5% Cashrewards & $50 voucher (pm me for code)

I'll keep an eye out for the Mewstone for you.

Did you ever end up trying it?

Several years ago I went through a Pinot frenzy stage. I recently looked through my stored wines and decided that I needed to clean out the last of the 2010 Pinots (Aus & NZ) as I suspected they may be losing their lustre.

I was right. While none of the wines were over the hill (all had been kept in wine cabinets since purchase), distinctiveness was gone - especially among the Australians. They all tasted much the same - not exactly what I bought them for.

What universally came through was acidity - so they had held together but had lost freshness and certainly none had any 'wow factor' remaining.

Individual sub-labels may be difficult to pick up, but all were different (eg. the three Felton Roads are all different; Main Ridge is a Half Acre and an Acre).

My broad bottom-line conclusion based on this lot (and based on my memory of drinking their siblings earlier): drink Aus Pinots within about 4 years and all but the most exceptional NZ Pinots within about 5 years to best appreciate them.

Essentially, they are modern wines that do not need age to shine.


View attachment 128801

Next: some 2011's...

With perhaps the possible exception of the 2006 Ata Rangi, of which I still have some, being a birth/anniversary year, the pinots that I've purchased and drunk at 8yrs+ of age have been good, though not necessarily all so distinctively amazing such that I can recall them at the moment:

Of the labels you've shown, I've had an 8yo 2008 Dry River and 12yo 1997 Bass Phillip Reserve, with a 2008 Main Ridge Half Acre to be opened soon.

I bought a mixed dozen from the 2004 vintage, with the last two, Ashton Hills Reserve and Wantirna Estate Lily, consumed at around the 12yo mark.

Then there has also been the 2005 Hillcrest Premium, which I acquired with the 2010 and 2015 after trying them at their open day last year when every vintage made was available to taste.

The wines that I purchase to cellar are generally done so with the view that they'll still be at least fine 5-8yrs later.

However, I do agree that it isn't essential for most modern wines to need time to shine - traditionally it's been recommended to buy 6-12 bottles of a wine to help follow its development and determine one's preferred age, but fortunately vertical tastings and back-vintages/museum-releases can come to the rescue as well

 

[drron]

In the last week I had this old Aussie Pinot and would have liked to have had 1 or 2 more.

.
I felt it was at it's best.