The Pinot Noir & Grenache Thread

[TDC]

Meanwhile I wait for news of Squitchy's much-anticipated arrival at my door.

 

[tgh]

Meanwhile , I have received no reply to my enquiry about my order.

Apart from being a lousy way for the winery to do business , the loss may indeed , be fortuitous.

 

[georgehall]

Meanwhile , I have received no reply to my enquiry about my order.

Apart from being a lousy way for the winery to do business , the loss may indeed , be fortuitous.

I think during winter their hours are restricted to weekends...it took two days to reply to my email midweek.

 

[vedder50]

I'll try decanting for an hour or so next time.

I probably should have mentioned that I had hit mine with the aerator and it was definitely improved over straight from the bottle.

 

[sigmadelta]

I probably should have mentioned that I had hit mine with the aerator and it was definitely improved over straight from the bottle.

vedder, good to know someone else had the same experience. It's certainly a biggish pinot, tannins still evident, and would go very well with things like duck.

 

[qaz]

Meanwhile , I have received no reply to my enquiry about my order.

Apart from being a lousy way for the winery to do business , the loss may indeed , be fortuitous.

i've pm'd you Michelle's mobile number in case it helps

 

[vedder50]

vedder, good to know someone else had the same experience. It's certainly a biggish pinot, tannins still evident, and would go very well with things like duck.

Hmmm...interesting. I found it to be quite the opposite - more smooth, subtle. Bit odd to have different experiences on those characteristics.

 

[Delectable Blue]

Meanwhile I wait for news of Squitchy's much-anticipated arrival at my door.

My Squitchy arrived today. Hopefully yours isn't too far behind.

 

[kermatu]

I think during winter their hours are restricted to weekends...it took two days to reply to my email midweek.

I've emailed them twice re an error in my order (two cases delivered when I only paid for one). No response in 10 days so I'm considering it case closed. Or case drunk, to be more precise.

 

[georgehall]

Squitchy arrived today...big sticker on the front from Aus Post for $35 for the shipping, I paid $10, so fulfilling my order cost them $25. Peanuts in the scheme of things, but quite a good gesture I think.

As for the wine, it needs some air that's for sure, hit it with the aerator and have the rest in the decanter. Quite savoury but a little acidic?? at first.. Hoping it settles with some air. Have been drinking a lot of spiced savoury NZ Pinot recently and this is very different to that.

Tbh I'm a little surprised at the 94 from JH...but quite pleasant

Edit: yep, give it an hour in the decanter and it comes together nicely. No longer disjointed and acidic.

 

[Dudditz]

Squitchy arrived today...big sticker on the front from Aus Post for $35 for the shipping, I paid $10, so fulfilling my order cost them $25. Peanuts in the scheme of things, but quite a good gesture I think.

As for the wine, it needs some air that's for sure, hit it with the aerator and have the rest in the decanter. Quite savoury but a little acidic?? at first.. Hoping it settles with some air. Have been drinking a lot of spiced savoury NZ Pinot recently and this is very different to that.

Tbh I'm a little surprised at the 94 from JH...but quite pleasant

Decanted my first Squitchy tonight and have brought it out for dumplings and duck. Nose isn't bad hint of strawberry and just a tad spice. Palate is a little underwhelming some raspberry and cherry and a load of tannin but just doesn't sing. Not a terrible wine at all but even at $12.50 I'd be inclined to return if this was a fo purchase. Maybe I'm fussy with my pinots but there is better yarra valley out there.

 

[beefarmer]

Decanted my first Squitchy tonight and have brought it out for dumplings and duck. Nose isn't bad hint of strawberry and just a tad spice. Palate is a little underwhelming some raspberry and cherry and a load of tannin but just doesn't sing. Not a terrible wine at all but even at $12.50 I'd be inclined to return if this was a fo purchase. Maybe I'm fussy with my pinots but there is better yarra valley out there.

hmm . . . . . . . . ..

 

[TheRealTMA]

Decanted my first Squitchy tonight and have brought it out for dumplings and duck. Nose isn't bad hint of strawberry and just a tad spice. Palate is a little underwhelming some raspberry and cherry and a load of tannin but just doesn't sing. Not a terrible wine at all but even at $12.50 I'd be inclined to return if this was a fo purchase. Maybe I'm fussy with my pinots but there is better yarra valley out there.

Led up the garden path here? .....

or perhaps "It's easy to get a wine lover to buy cheap Pinot Noir, but you can't make them drink it!"

 

[qaz]

Langton's Global Pinot Noir Mix 6pk $375 ($62.50/bt):

* Chard Farm The Viper Pinot Noir 2013
* Foxes Island Renard Pinot Noir 2010
* Sangreal by Farr Pinot Noir 2013
* Bicknell FC Pinot Noir 2014
* Dominique Mugneret Vosne-Romanée 'Alliance des Terroirs' 2012
* Nicolas Rossignol Pommard 'Les Vignots' 2010

I've emailed them twice re an error in my order (two cases delivered when I only paid for one). No response in 10 days so I'm considering it case closed. Or case drunk, to be more precise.

i've pm'd you Michelle's mobile number in case it helps

 

[vedder50]

Shared a Squitchy with a friend this afternoon and must say I enjoyed it. Didn't find the nose floral like other Pinots and I thought it a touch dryer. I would really have liked to line it up against another Pinot or 2 for a direct comparison.

I purchased a dozen Squitchy and it's just not me. Sorry.
Give me the Mike Press any day At $15.83 (think I paid $12.50 as a member) over the Squitchy.

I'm still waiting for my Pinot mentor to review this wine and the review might be that it's cough.

That was a quick change of heart Buz.

Seems most people enjoyed it that first got on it, but late comers not so much. Maybe expectations were too high from my post for the late comers - but I stand by it - hard to find a sub $15 pinot worth drinking, while other varieties it's much easier to find value.

 

[Delectable Blue]

Decanted my first Squitchy tonight and have brought it out for dumplings and duck. Nose isn't bad hint of strawberry and just a tad spice. Palate is a little underwhelming some raspberry and cherry and a load of tannin but just doesn't sing. Not a terrible wine at all but even at $12.50 I'd be inclined to return if this was a fo purchase. Maybe I'm fussy with my pinots but there is better yarra valley out there.

I cracked my first Squitchy tonight. Initially it was quite thin and acidic, with very little fruit evident on the palate. The tannins quite prominent. After a 3 hour decant the wine had softened appreciably, but still tasted slightly acidic and sharp. Flavour wise there was not a lot going on, the red cherry and green strawberry flavours were very subdued, and whilst there was some secondary complexity, with a hint of potpourri and wet straw, there was no real depth to the flavours. After a further 2 hours the flavours really started coming together into a coherent whole. So a very long decant is highly recommenced. On its own that heightened acidity was a little bracing, however it meant that the wine paired very well with richer foods (beef wellington specifically).

There was a question earlier about how the Squitchy compared with the H&J Layla. They are really two very different wines. The flavour profiles are quite different, with the Layla sitting in the black cherry and ripe strawberry spectrum, driving an underling sweetness. In comparison the Squitchy is dominated by green strawberry flavours, with some red cherry notes. The lack of sweetness delivering a more austere savoury profile. There is also a fundamental difference in the richness and mouthfeel. Layla has a rich opulence to it, with a generous vanillin core that is missing in the Squitchy. Layla is layered and silky where the Squitchy was initially much thinner, almost one dimensional, with the complexity only developing after significant air-time. Layla tastes like it’s carrying bottle age beyond its years, where the Squitchy tastes years younger than it really is.

The Squitchy has been described as a subtle wine. I would certainly agree with that assessment. I would also describe it as somewhat of a chameleon, dependant on sufficient breathing time to show its true colours. It is certainly not a bad wine, but I do find myself searching for more complexity. If it had a bit more funk, some barnyard or forest floor notes, with a richer mouthfeel I would rate it quite highly.

I suspect that that the wine is probably going through a dumb phase at the moment. The one positive is that the tannins and acid should allow for some continued bottle development in the coming years. Lets hope so, because the wine promises a lot, but doesn’t yet quite deliver on that promise.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Try this instead...

Nothing dumb about it.

 

[sigmadelta]

I opened the Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot 2015 this evening. On opening it was slightly sour and characterless. After an aerate and decant for an hour it had not improved much. No tasting notes, and I wish there had been. I got these from different drop and they are going back. No more mac for me i think until he starts providing tasting notes, this is inexcusable.

 

[beefarmer]

I cracked my first Squitchy tonight. Initially it was quite thin and acidic, with very little fruit evident on the palate. The tannins quite prominent. After a 3 hour decant the wine had softened appreciably, but still tasted slightly acidic and sharp. Flavour wise there was not a lot going on, the red cherry and green strawberry flavours were very subdued, and whilst there was some secondary complexity, with a hint of potpourri and wet straw, there was no real depth to the flavours. After a further 2 hours the flavours really started coming together into a coherent whole. So a very long decant is highly recommenced. On its own that heightened acidity was a little bracing, however it meant that the wine paired very well with richer foods (beef wellington specifically).

There was a question earlier about how the Squitchy compared with the H&J Layla. They are really two very different wines. The flavour profiles are quite different, with the Layla sitting in the black cherry and ripe strawberry spectrum, driving an underling sweetness. In comparison the Squitchy is dominated by green strawberry flavours, with some red cherry notes. The lack of sweetness delivering a more austere savoury profile. There is also a fundamental difference in the richness and mouthfeel. Layla has a rich opulence to it, with a generous vanillin core that is missing in the Squitchy. Layla is layered and silky where the Squitchy was initially much thinner, almost one dimensional, with the complexity only developing after significant air-time. Layla tastes like it’s carrying bottle age beyond its years, where the Squitchy tastes years younger than it really is.

The Squitchy has been described as a subtle wine. I would certainly agree with that assessment. I would also describe it as somewhat of a chameleon, dependant on sufficient breathing time to show its true colours. It is certainly not a bad wine, but I do find myself searching for more complexity. If it had a bit more funk, some barnyard or forest floor notes, with a richer mouthfeel I would rate it quite highly.

I suspect that that the wine is probably going through a dumb phase at the moment. The one positive is that the tannins and acid should allow for some continued bottle development in the coming years. Lets hope so, because the wine promises a lot, but doesn’t yet quite deliver on that promise.

About as good a description about the subtleties and idiosyncracies of a pinot I have ever read. It underlines the fact that Victorian wines from this region, high in acidity and hence longevity need stacks of airing before they become approachable. I know Jack about Squitchy but if you were to talk to their winemaker, I would assume they would say that this beast will live till it's fifteen. Vedder probably put did the Mollydooker shake on it, as I would to enhance things, but it aint a bad wine per se. The problem possibly is that it's being sold as a baby. Now, why would you do that? Because the Fo will pay you in 30days and that gives you money to buy barrels for the next season. Simple cash flow issues. I have six of these as I went halves with another PNThread punter. It is obvious that others have taken one for the team and mine will sleep for a while.

I too bought the more vivacious Layla and whilst she is the blonde compared to the ginger nut, both are worthwhile dates. Thankyou for a fantastic comparison DB !

 

[georgehall]

About as good a description about the subtleties and idiosyncracies of a pinot I have ever read. It underlines the fact that Victorian wines from this region, high in acidity and hence longevity need stacks of airing before they become approachable. I know Jack about Squitchy but if you were to talk to their winemaker, I would assume they would say that this beast will live till it's fifteen. Vedder probably put did the Mollydooker shake on it, as I would to enhance things, but it aint a bad wine per se. The problem possibly is that it's being sold as a baby. Now, why would you do that? Because the Fo will pay you in 30days and that gives you money to buy barrels for the next season. Simple cash flow issues. I have six of these as I went halves with another PNThread punter. It is obvious that others have taken one for the team and mine will sleep for a while.

I too bought the more vivacious Layla and whilst she is the blonde compared to the ginger nut, both are worthwhile dates. Thankyou for a fantastic comparison DB !

The comment from the winery is that it must be drunk in the next 18 months and that's why they were selling it so cheap. Which to me shows they don't believe it has any more cellar time.

But I agree with DB. Over this weekend I've had two bottles on the go. One I opened on Friday and decanted and finished that night. Enjoyable sure, but a bit acidic and not very complex, but was a bit more settled after an hour.

The other I opened on Saturday afternoon and finished tonight, and my god the difference was amazing. Drinking it tonight with 24 hours open reminded me of a Beaujolais made from Gamay.

I think they my have sold it short expecting the best to come in the next 18 months....I think that has another 5 years in it...

Might be wrong, but I'm going to tuck a few away just in case...what's the worst that can happen?