The Pinot Noir & Grenache Thread

[Delectable Blue]

[h=1]COLDSTREAM HILLS Deer Farm Vineyard 2015[/h]$35pb in a 6 pack. 97pts JH, 96pts CM

https://www.langtons.com.au/product...ls/deer-farm-vineyard-pinot-noir?basket=38185

Yes, I got this email and it is very tempting. If Langtons hadn't just screwed up a delivery of mine, leaving it sitting in 40 degree temperatures for nearly a week, I'd be all over this. I think I'll have to wait until the weather cools down before I can order from them again.

 

[jrod]

Yes, I got this email and it is very tempting. If Langtons hadn't just screwed up a delivery of mine, leaving it sitting in 40 degree temperatures for nearly a week, I'd be all over this. I think I'll have to wait until the weather cools down before I can order from them again.

Now, upcoming $5 reserve auction stock?

 

[Delectable Blue]

Now, upcoming $5 reserve auction stock?

Very possibly! They have accepted it as a return. I presume they will then put it back on the market. I very nearly did not return it for that very reason.

 

[qaz]

The Den currently has Stonier 2015 for $16.50, which is the cheapest they've ever been - trying to decide if I should make space for some in my already crowded cellar after buying all that Punt Road 2015 (amongst other wines) last year

(They also have Knappstein Riesling 2016 $11.50)

 

[The Warlock]

The Den currently has Stonier 2015 for $16.50, which is the cheapest they've ever been - trying to decide if I should make space for some in my already crowded cellar after buying all that Punt Road 2015 (amongst other wines) last year

(They also have Knappstein Riesling 2016 $11.50)

FWIW I didn't rate the Stonier 2015 Pinot all that highly, I was attracted by The Den's low price too but found that the lack of complexity and length a real drawback. I know you can't expect too much at the price but i think there's a quality threshold for Pinot and if you go on below it it's not worth bothering with.

 

[vedder50]

FWIW I didn't rate the Stonier 2015 Pinot all that highly, I was attracted by The Den's low price too but found that the lack of complexity and length a real drawback. I know you can't expect too much at the price but i think there's a quality threshold for Pinot and if you go on below it it's not worth bothering with.

I passed after having a look at reviews of the '15 on vivino, as it didn't sound up to scratch, but your comments confirm my assumptions.

 

[qaz]

First Foot Forward 2015 $19.90 @ Cloudwine - 94pts Campbell Mattinson @ Winefront

(to help reach $200 for free delivery, Cloudwine also have Paradise IV Dardel Shiraz 2015 for $74.90 if you who missed it [post=1608206]earlier[/post])

also in case you want more, Different Drop now have Serrat 2015 for $42 - same as Qantas epiQure currently - with 10% off first orders
http://differentdrop.com/2015-serrat-pinot-noir

I passed after having a look at reviews of the '15 on vivino, as it didn't sound up to scratch, but your comments confirm my assumptions.

thanks - based upon both your comments, I decided to give it a miss - quality over value

 

[Wozza]

Pinot lovers, here's my 94 point verdict on the flagship, $80 a bottle Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2014:


It's got lovely structure and I can see it developing into a lovely wine in 5-10 years. It's never a 99 or 98 pointer as the Kiwi wine experts would have you believe. But it's a solid offering with a Wozza 95 potentially there, depending on how it matures in the bottle. A final note on the taste, it does have a sappy note to the finish. So it won't be for everyone. I quite liked it.

Full TN here: http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/65757824

Cheers, Wozza

 

[qaz]

[post=1618421]Besides the Clarence House Estate 2015 and The Elder 2014 I posted about in the Dan's thread,[/post]

Different Drop have 10% off Australian pinots with code PINOTPARTY until Thursday 14th April (combine with 10% off first order, $9 delivery or free with $150+ orders)

Two of the better cheaper ones are perhaps:

- Stoney Rise 2015 $26.10
- Mount Langi Ghiran Undisgorged Sparkling 2011 $31.50

Pinot lovers, here's my 94 point verdict on the flagship, $80 a bottle Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2014:

It's got lovely structure and I can see it developing into a lovely wine in 5-10 years. It's never a 99 or 98 pointer as the Kiwi wine experts would have you believe. But it's a solid offering with a Wozza 95 potentially there, depending on how it matures in the bottle. A final note on the taste, it does have a sappy note to the finish. So it won't be for everyone. I quite liked it.

Full TN here: http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/65757824

Cheers, Wozza

Thanks - how does it compare to the [post=1309176]Kupe[/post] and indeed other top Aus/NZ pinots you've had?

 

[qaz]

Found these at the cellardoor.co pre-Easter storewide sale which ends tomorrow and was wondering if anyone had tried them before?

- Seppelt Drumborg 2015 $25 (Rosemount account)
- Etude Carneros 2009 $32 (Shareholders account)

Etude Carneros 2009 is rated 4.0 on Vivino and 89.2/89.7 on CellarTracker

My Rosemount account also received an offer to update my details to receive $20 credit

 

[Wozza]

[post=1618421]Besides the Clarence House Estate 2015 and The Elder 2014 I posted about in the Dan's thread,[/post]

Different Drop have 10% off Australian pinots with code PINOTPARTY until Thursday 14th April (combine with 10% off first order, $9 delivery or free with $150+ orders)

Two of the better cheaper ones are perhaps:

- Stoney Rise 2015 $26.10
- Mount Langi Ghiran Undisgorged Sparkling 2011 $31.50



Thanks - how does it compare to the [post=1309176]Kupe[/post] and indeed other top Aus/NZ pinots you've had?

The Kupe Escarpment is in a higher price bracket than the Ata Rangi. But ignoring price, the Kupe is hands down better for me. The Kupe has many more layers. And so much greater ageing potential. Back to cost, as a value proposition, the flagship Ata Rangi is possibly a bit overpriced (even taking into account Pinot-flation), at least at this young developmental stage.

I'd sooner rather buy the Kupe, Felton Road and Dry River at flagship NZ levels that I've tried. I haven't had a huge range of top end NZ Pinots. So please take my benchmarking on that notice.

In terms of benchmarking Aussie Pinots, I tend to have a softer spot for NZ Pinot over Aussie Pinot. That said, there's plenty of better flagship Pinots in Aus. Including, the Serrat, some of the Giant Steps, and obviously the higher end Pinots like the Bass Phillips and Mount Mary that I've had.

One thing is clear to me. The Kiwi expert scoring is on a completely different scale to the Aussie scoring. Even taking off a similar Halliday inflation to the Kiwi scores, there's no way the Ata Rangi is in 99 or 98 territory. Not even close.

With all that said, the Ata Rangi is a great drop. Especially if you like a classy wine, with a sappy lick complexity to your Pinot.

Thanks for the tough question!

Cheers, Wozza

 

[qaz]

As mentioned by [post=1621224]ste667 in the Dan's thread[/post], Just Wines has 2015 Giant Steps Applejack/Lusatia Park/Sexton/Primavera for ~$35, excluding $9 delivery and 3.2% Cashrewards - Dexter 2015 is also ~$35

The Kupe Escarpment is in a higher price bracket than the Ata Rangi.

Don't know where you're buying them, but Dan's has Kupe for $69.85 before discounts, Ata Rangi $73.20

I'd sooner rather buy the Kupe, Felton Road and Dry River at flagship NZ levels that I've tried. I haven't had a huge range of top end NZ Pinots.

I still haven't tried Kupe - unfortunately missed it at Pinot Palooza

Felton Road Block 5 and Dry River are good but more expensive - they can be better than Ata Rangi, though not always

In terms of benchmarking Aussie Pinots, I tend to have a softer spot for NZ Pinot over Aussie Pinot. That said, there's plenty of better flagship Pinots in Aus. Including, the Serrat, some of the Giant Steps, and obviously the higher end Pinots like the Bass Phillips and Mount Mary that I've had.

Probably because I’ve had less of them, NZ pinots were the highlight for me at Pinot Palooza last year - I’d have to check my notes for favourites (meant to post a report here but never did), but did later buy Craggy Range Aroha during the AmEx Langton’s statement credit offer

One thing is clear to me. The Kiwi expert scoring is on a completely different scale to the Aussie scoring. Even taking off a similar Halliday inflation to the Kiwi scores, there's no way the Ata Rangi is in 99 or 98 territory. Not even close.

+1

 

[Delectable Blue]

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.

For those of you that are still sitting on some 2012 Squitchy Lane pinot, waiting for it to mellow a little, it might be worthwhile tasting again. I have just opened my second bottle and it has transformed appreciably and become much more accessible. On my initial tasting I rated the wine an 85 on CT. I'm just about to upgrade that rating to a 92. Here are my latest notes:

This bottle presented significantly differently to my first bottle. The nose and the palate are now highly perfumed and floral, and there is no longer an overwhelming bracing acidity to the wine. The palate is dominated by soft strawberry flavours, backed by rose petal and other assorted floral highlights. The flavours are very delicate and detailed and there is no hint of austerity. The tannins are very fine and the finish is long and highly perfumed. Very nice.

 

[beefarmer]

For those of you that are still sitting on some 2012 Squitchy Lane pinot, waiting for it to mellow a little, it might be worthwhile tasting again. I have just opened my second bottle and it has transformed appreciably and become much more accessible. On my initial tasting I rated the wine an 85 on CT. I'm just about to upgrade that rating to a 92. Here are my latest notes:

This bottle presented significantly differently to my first bottle. The nose and the palate are now highly perfumed and floral, and there is no longer an overwhelming bracing acidity to the wine. The palate is dominated by soft strawberry flavours, backed by rose petal and other assorted floral highlights. The flavours are very delicate and detailed and there is no hint of austerity. The tannins are very fine and the finish is long and highly perfumed. Very nice.

Here I am again after a long absence or was that a long absynthe, you make the choice. I haven't been getting the message that someone has posted for a long time but it's all flowing again, a bit like the prostrate. Luckily at this moment, no issues. But I did see the review from what I consider the best reviewer I have ever come across on the forums, and there are many, and that is DB. There are many, but B is so reflective of the subtlety of wine that even he makes me go looking. That's an amazing reviewer !!

Let's not muck about here. The squitchy lane was extremely mediocre. I think you are being diplomatic here DB. Tonight I opened a 2015 Top Paddock Pinot - must be a pinot extravaganza evening i think- and it was really good. It is the Boccaccio cellars ten bucker in Kew Melbourne, the near Kew for the unititiated and if you remember my comments about it 18 months ago, well I still retain them. The best ten buck pinot in Australia.

92 DB after a while? I still think you are being generous. Cheers B !

 

[The Warlock]

For those of you that are still sitting on some 2012 Squitchy Lane pinot, waiting for it to mellow a little, it might be worthwhile tasting again. I have just opened my second bottle and it has transformed appreciably and become much more accessible. On my initial tasting I rated the wine an 85 on CT. I'm just about to upgrade that rating to a 92. Here are my latest notes:

This bottle presented significantly differently to my first bottle. The nose and the palate are now highly perfumed and floral, and there is no longer an overwhelming bracing acidity to the wine. The palate is dominated by soft strawberry flavours, backed by rose petal and other assorted floral highlights. The flavours are very delicate and detailed and there is no hint of austerity. The tannins are very fine and the finish is long and highly perfumed. Very nice.

Good post DB and topical based on my wine of the night.

I'm quaffing a bottle of Jack Estate Coonnawarra Mythology Shiraz 2012, a wine that got some bad press on here when VM were knocking it out some time back. It's noticeably acidic although palatable and tannins are fine but evident. Oak seems slightly unintegrated but the fruit is there and it makes me wonder how this wine will be in 10-20 years time. There is some secondary complexity emerging and let's face it some wines can be deceiving as your experience with the Pinot backs up.

As for the Mythology, it's no fine wine at this stage but who's to say it's not one for the long term. It's also interesting to see how the critics differ in opinion around the long term value of some young tannic reds.

 

[Delectable Blue]

Let's not muck about here. The squitchy lane was extremely mediocre.
...
I think you are being diplomatic here DB.
...
92 DB after a while? I still think you are being generous. Cheers B !

Firstly, welcome back. I was getting ready to send out a search party.

Generous? Maybe, but I just call them the way I see them, and tonight to me the squitchy is drinking like a 92 pointer. That's not to say that next time it might be back to 85 points, or who knows what. I don't strive for perfect objectivity, I just try to capture what is in front of me at any point of time. At the end of the day I'm nothing but a highly flawed individual, giving my honest opinion. But that's all it is, just an opinion.

 

[CLT Aussie]

For those of you that are still sitting on some 2012 Squitchy Lane pinot, waiting for it to mellow a little, it might be worthwhile tasting again. I have just opened my second bottle and it has transformed appreciably and become much more accessible. On my initial tasting I rated the wine an 85 on CT. I'm just about to upgrade that rating to a 92. Here are my latest notes:

This bottle presented significantly differently to my first bottle. The nose and the palate are now highly perfumed and floral, and there is no longer an overwhelming bracing acidity to the wine. The palate is dominated by soft strawberry flavours, backed by rose petal and other assorted floral highlights. The flavours are very delicate and detailed and there is no hint of austerity. The tannins are very fine and the finish is long and highly perfumed. Very nice.

I boomed on the Squitchy back when it was on and your description matches perfectly with my recollection of opening each bottle and enjoying (?) a glass and keeping the rest for the next day when it had improved immensely! unfortunately I don't have any left to compare to now...

 

[qaz]

Anyone tried 2015 Josef Chromy or Mt Difficulty, which are currently $23.33 and $35, respectively, from The Den?
Both are rated 4.0 on Vivino, with the Josef Chromy given 91pts by Huon Hooke

Cracka also again has the 2015 Hardys HRB for $26.99, or now $18.66 using the [post=1618421]$50 voucher[/post], excluding delivery and Cashrewards
https://www.crackawines.com.au/product/2015-mystery-96-point-premium-pinot-noir

 

[vedder50]

Let's not muck about here. The squitchy lane was extremely mediocre. I think you are being diplomatic here DB. Tonight I opened a 2015 Top Paddock Pinot - must be a pinot extravaganza evening i think- and it was really good. It is the Boccaccio cellars ten bucker in Kew Melbourne, the near Kew for the unititiated and if you remember my comments about it 18 months ago, well I still retain them. The best ten buck pinot in Australia.

It's funny, having tried both of these wines I had the complete opposite view to you Bee. I liked the squitchy - found it subtle and smooth, but still with some subtle complexity that opened up. At $12.50 per bottle - steal. I bought 4 bottles of the '15 Top Paddock on a trip to BC and thought it was rubbish. It sort of tasted like a shot of soda water had been added to pinot.

 

[qaz]

2015 Oakridge Willowlake Pinot confirmed as an absolute ripper also A smoky, meaty, herby, cranberry delight!

Took qaz's advise on this one and also enjoyed.

At the floral end of the spectrum, lifted and fragrant. Pale red brick in the glass with a pale hue. Red cherry, pomegranate with a hint of leaf litter on the nose. The palate was light and elegant with layered tannins. Impressions of wild raspberries and stewed rhubarb. Looking forward to seeing how this one develops.

~$23 at Cracka using WYZAWINE (ends today)
https://edm.crackawines.com.au/products/2015-oakridge-local-vineyard-series-willow-lake-pinot-noir