Tagged : Pinot Noir

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Howling Bluff Pinot Noir

2009 Vintage – Suma Quies Pinot Noir

Tasted: August 2011

Ooh, I like this one. After loving the 2007 vintage, and liking but feeling a bit mixed on the 2008 vintage, the latest vintage — 2009 — from Howling Bluff Winery is excellent. This is the wine I’ve been waiting for, and wait I did! I actually had to track this down because it sold out so quickly after its release — likely on account of some of the big awards it won. Regardless of awards and accolades, I like this particular Pinot because it has a bit of heft to it. Fuller body than some of the Burgundian Pinots I’ve had as of late, but certainly not brutish. This one sets a nice balance between intense flavours of cherry and raspberry and light touches of earth, oak, and subtle hints of sausage. It’s a complex blend of flavours with good structure for aging and pairing with a wide range of foods from eggplant, to chicken, to a rich alfredo sauce ravioli dish. It’s too bad it will be difficult to find any more of this!

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Orofino Pinot Noir

2008 Vintage
Tasted: January 2011

I really like Orofino. I’ll start by saying that. Located in Keremeos, BC they are a humble farmer’s winery. The Pinot Noir is bright on the palate with fresh raspberries and cassis as the dominant initial flavours. It’s a light to medium body red and I think it’s the perfect match to halibut, cod, sablefish, poultry, and even meat. The back end flavours bring about some sausage and deli meat mixed in with some vanilla from the French Oak. At $34 (winery price) it’s not cheap, but certainly worth a go! Be sure to pop into the Similkameen on your next trip to the Okanagan. Good things are happening there.

 

 

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Black Cloud Pinot Noir

2008 Altostratus Pinot Noir
Tasted: October 2010
Review originally posted at: ChrisStenberg.com
This one’s a smoky, earthy, cassis tasting Pinot that is on par with the more complex reserve style Pinot Noirs available here in the valley (the other style being the typically lighter, fruitier, less oaky, cheaper kind). It’s not too heavy though and has a healthy amount of tannins for a Pinot Noir, which indicates good aging potential. At $28 this one is actually about $7 cheaper than most of the competition, but it performs on an equal level.

Aside from quality, the appeal of this wine is the discovery. You need to go out of your way to find it. There is a certain humility in its  understatement, which is even reflected in the blurb on the back of the bottle where winemaker Bradley Cooper gives props to his grape growing partners and the vineyard in which the grapes came from. This is cool to me. Wine making can be a very egocentric pursuit, but there is something to be said for a captain who gives equal credit to his team. I like that.

 

 

2006 Black Cloud Pinot Noir
Tasted: December 2010
Black Cloud Wine is one of the more illusive wines from the Naramata Bench, and that in itself makes it an adventure. The ’06 vintage is the first vintage for this Pinot Noir only winery, and it is an earthy homage to the OK Falls terroir in which the grapes were grown. Compared to some of the lighter, fruitier wines of this varietal, the Black Cloud brings some genuine bollocks to the game. It’s a bold Pinot worthy of accompaniment by steak and other meaty dishes. On its own it is nothing but sumptuous. Chocolate and black cherry dominate the nose while the initial sip brings ripe raspberry and cassis. The finish brings about that OK Falls dirt mixed in with some pepper and a little oak. It’s a bit dryer than other local Pinot Noirs, but we like that from time-to-time. Drink it naked on the rug next to the fire with a hot date…if you can find one. Yes, we mean if you can find any of those things. Combine them all and you’ll have a winning evening.

 

 

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Mezzacorona Pinot Noir

Mezzacorona hails from the Dolomites along the Italian Alps, a region known mostly for Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. You can read more about the Mezzacorona Winery at their website.

2008 Vintage
November 2010

This is a nice light bodied Pinot Noir with cherry and earth on the nose and ripe strawberry fruit on the palate. Mid palate there is a bit of a raisin or date flavour that plays subtly. The finish brings about a caramel flavour. The whole thing is a little reminiscent of a chocolate covered strawberry. Drink with poultry or fish, lean roast beef, or on it’s own under the Tuscan sun. This is a great value wine costing about $15 at BC Liquor Stores.

Resources:

Mezzacorona Pinot Noir

BC Liquor Store Listing

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Black Cloud Wine Pinot Noir

2006 Vintage

Tasted: October 2010

This is the original vintage of the Black Cloud Pinot Noir which was created by Bradley Cooper, winemaker at Township 7. In comparison to the 2008 Altostratus Pinot Noir, a newer version of the Black Cloud, this one is a little earthier,  with ripe berry throughout. This is a nice sipper that would pair well with poultry or fish, or for drinking just on its own. I picked up a bottle for $20 at Township 7, and for that price I have to say that it’s a steal. Look for interesting things from Black Cloud Winery and read my more detailed account of the 2008 Altostratus Pinot Noir here.

Cheers!

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Stoneboat Vineyards Pinot Noir

2008 Vintage

Tasted: October 2010

This is one of my favourite Pinot Noir’s in the valley. It’s light body with a big strawberry bouquet. Crisp raspberry and strawberry on the palate with a lingering “berry meets earth” finish. The Stoneboat Pinot strikes a balance between body, oak, and fruit. It’s delicate and sexy, but not lacking in substance — the perfect balance of fruit, oak, and dirt. Tannins are present but silky smooth. I’d pair this with halibut, trout, or eggplant. Poultry would be a good match too. If you drink it all by its lonesome don’t worry. It’s good like that too.

At $24 per bottle I’m a fan for sure.

Serve at 16ºC for optimum enjoyment.

Stoneboat Winery