'97 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir

[ddf68]

Was served this at Thanksgiving this year. I've had it twice in the past, both times it was tight and almost overwhelmingly tannic. The tannins have gone a long way towards resolving themselves, but in doing so they have revealed alarmingly prominent flavors of oak and more oak. The wine is well made, with good concentration (esp. for the vintage) but just way too much wood. This winery is owned, in part, by Robert Parker. You'd think a guy that's drunk as much wine as he has would make a wine that emphasized the fruit of the vine rather than the trunk of the tree.

ddf