'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

[winoweenie]

ddf68. What makes you think big Bob can`t make a mistake like the rest of us dummies? winoweenie

[ddf68]

Sorry, didn't mean to give the impression I think Big Bob is infallible. '97 was Beaux Freres' 8th vintage, they've got a good reputation, and I considered the wine to be well made, especially in comparison with the many weak Oregon '97 Pinots I've had, so I'm figuring, IMHO, they know what they're doing and,therefore, intended the result they got.

ddf

[Thomas]

Big Bob expresses that he is passionate about wine and food; why then are so many of his high-scoring wines averse to a meal?

[Bucko]

The only Beaux Freres to even slightly impress me was the 1994. I have tried them all with an open mind -- just not impressed at half the price.

Bucko