1995 Frederic Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$395.00USD

This kept improving after the cork was pulled but it took at least an hour to blow off its bottle stink.  At the two hour mark it finally hit its apogee.  If opening soon, give it some air.  From a vintage that does have its issues, this showed very well.  Ruby in color with some browning, clear.  The nose initially had some wet cardboard, but thankfully that blew off, so doubtful it was an off bottle.  In fact, at the two hour mark it showed cherries, dust, cedar and slight dry forest floor.  Medium bodied.  At the two hour mark, the palate had nice cherries, some slight macerated cherries

2019 Joseph Drouhin Pinot Noir Bourgogne Laforet, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

A nice value in red Burgundy  (Pinot Noir) wine from a top negociant.  Ruby in color, magenta swirls, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, some sandalwood and a bit of nutmeg.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice, easy drinking, cherry flavors.  Short finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work nicely with salmon or lighter foods.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2017 Sineann Pinot Noir Wy'east, USA, Oregon, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Deep rub y in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherry fruit with some baking spices.  With air, black cherry fruit emerges.  Full bodied (especially for a Pinot Noir).  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Some depth.  It keeps opening with more and more air.  Light tannins.  This is accessible now but should continue to mature and evolve for the next fifteen years.  It just depends on how you like your Pinot Noir.  Great on its own, this would work great with roasted duck or chicken (or turkey).  A really nice value in Pinot Noir.  

2018 Weingut Schaffer Pinot Noir, Germany, Reinhessen, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is labelled as Pinot Noir (not Spatburgunder) from Germany.  14% abv.  Very pale, light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is warm with camphor and light cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, light cherries, slight anise.  This is light and easy, but for the money, a nice wine to serve at parties.  Drink on its own or will work with pasta or chicken.  Drink now.

2011 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Not a great vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir, Thomas handled the vintage deftly.  This one is in a nice spot right now.  Getting close to peak but still some youthfulness.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, slight nutmeg, and a hint of earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Lovely sinewy texture.  On the palate, nice cherry and sour cherry fruit with underlying spice.  Good backbone of acidity.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  No hurry on this, it should go another ten years based on this bottle.  It doesn't seem like it wil

2019 Simi Pinot Noir Reserve, USA, California, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is a 100% Pinot Noir from California's Russian River Valley.  It is designated as a "Reserve" although there doesn't appear to be any such designation on the label.  The way to tell is that it does say Russian River Valley on the label.  Either way, this is an outstanding Pinot Noir and more than fairly priced for the quality.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has fresh cherries with slight cherry pie filling, licorice and slight cola notes.  While not a delicately styled Pinot, it is also not huge.  More middle of the road for a California Pinot.  Medium to full bodied.

NV Guinigi Prosecco Italy, Veneto, DOC Rosé, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

I preferred this version to the regular version although both are good.  This seems to have more weight and complexity but your mileage may vary.  Blended from Glera and Pinot  Noir grapes in Friuli and the Veneto.  They both have the same attractive style packaging.  Pale salmon pink with silvery hues in color.  A large amount of medium sized bubbles.  On the nose, aromas of strawberries, oranges and minerality.  A lovely texture with only 11.5% abv.  Medium acidity.  On the palate, flavors of strawberries and oranges with underlying minerality.  Clean, long finish with apple notes.  This

2002 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Hard to beat Gouges for a combination of price, quality and ageability in Burgundy.  At age 19, this one is still youthful although drinking well.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some black cherries, slight sandalwood and just a hint of funk.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Cherry fruit with some earthiness underneath.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  This should continue to drink well for another decade.  It drinks well on its own but will work better with food.  Roast chicken would be a nice match.  

2002 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is showing some age, but for my tastes was very nice.  The cork crumbled trying to remove it.  The wine came out quite funky but after about 15 minutes started drinking well and by the end of the evening was in top form.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright with a purple core.  Once the bottle funk blew off, there was some cherry notes, fresh and dried, along with merde/barnyard and a slight minty note.  This is mature and the tannins are all just about resolved.  The palate had cherries, black cherries with a nice complexity.  Served blind to friends, some found it old and others t

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