2002 A to Z Pinot Noir

[dananne]

Willamette Valley, Ore.

Now here's a dandy QPR Pinot. Dark ruby color around the edges, with more purple hues inside. Flavors follow the strawberry-cherry nose, but other nice cola and red spice elements kick in giving it nice complexity. Very fresh taste and good varietal character. Decently long, clean finish. Great fruit, and not flabby. Everything said "harmony." 13.5% alc. Received as a gift, but retails around $15. FWIW, WS 88. WS also says to '06, but this is drinking so nicely right now that I wouldn't wait that long. Well made and at a nice price point. Can't really ask for much more.

[Drew]

And I think I've seen it in these here parts...

Drew

[dananne]

I'm guessing you'd like it more than the Armida and Stratford [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

BTW, I was glad to see you had a hit with the Rosemblum Zin. Seemed like you were stuck with several misses in a row -- and on vacation, no less.

[winoweenie]

Sorry I missed this post D but as I've mentioned meeny times the eyes are the 3rd thing to go. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[dananne]

Not a problem, WW. The third thing, huh? We'll, now I know what to look forward to after the first two [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/eek.gif[/img]

[dananne]

Tried the '03 of this recently, and I didn't like it as much as the '02. More grapey and stemmy, a bit tougher, tannic, and masculine than I remember the '02 having tasted. Comes in a screwcap now, FWIW, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is on the alternative closures issue. Anyway, it may flesh out a bit given time, and it might have worked better with food, but there are better out there right now for the $. Paid $16 at a local liquor and wines store. Alc. 13.5%.

[winoweenie]

By the-by I thunked I posted on this sucker now that my memory's functioning. WW

[dananne]

WW -- If memory serves, I believe you posted on the '02 version around the same time this thread started. Of course, the memory is the 3rd thing to go, and . . . well . . . I forgot what I was going to say. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Anyway, you liked the '02, as well, though the '03 just isn't up to snuff.

[winoweenie]

The thread said 02 so thazs why I mistooked it. WW

[joeyz6]

Had this wine tonight with dinner. I'd bought it during one of the big Sam's sales, for about $14, last year. I admit, I was somewhat lukewarm on the wine. I didn't think it was flawed in any way, but at the same time, there wasn't a whole lot of complexity beyond the nice red fruit and tangy acidity. A touch of smoke, perhaps, and just a flutter [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] of vanilla and spices. Nonetheless, it was a rather pleasant quaffer.

[TheEngineer]

I tried the 2003 today (the screw cap version) in combination with five other Pinots Noirts from California (2002 and 2003s). This one above all of the others was lush and ripe. Big juice with a bit of structure and it certainly was an okay/good drink but unfortunately came up at the bottom for me in a list that included:

Belle Glos Clarke and Telephone
Domaine Alfred Califa
Brickhouse Willamette
Papapietro Perry Peters
Tandem

I know that they are at different price points but I don't know which costed what (no price tags). I think of the above I prefer the Papapietro the most. Good structure, a gamey taste with good fruit and complexity. Elegant with a bit of smokiness and a cherry scent on the finish. Almost everyone at the shop immediately noticed the twist top and commented on it. 8 to 2 against versus for this closure type.

[This message has been edited by TheEngineer (edited 01-15-2005).]