Siduri Santa Rita Hills 2011 Pinot Noir

Siduri Santa Rita Hills 2011 Pinot Noir, $22.99-$32.99, 92+ points, poured blood-red trending garnet toward the broadly transparent circumferential ring.
Cinnamon, floral plum, and blackberry were excellent aromas.
The medium body carried good acidity and mildly building tannin.
Flavors of red and black fruit were delicious!
Finished long with notes of coffee, pomegranate, spice, damson plum, red cherry liqueur,  and a perfect 14.1% alcohol.
Willamette Valley will have its work cut-out for them this year! 'Cause, as I've heard: "All these California wines are sooo good!"

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Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve 2012 Pinot Noir

It's been 3 years

 and six vintages ago

 that I tasted my first Kendall-Jackson

 Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir Red Wine, and

I make a curious observation: I paid less this time around!

Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve 2012 Pinot Noir, $13.59-$18.99, 88 points, appeared bright ruby trending cranberry red with a clear rim.

Aromas of red raspberry, toasty red cherry, and licorice were good.

Medium-bodied with good acidity and mild tannin carried pleasant flavors of red fruits and cola notes.

Finished fair on the trailing palate, spice, a well integrated 13.5% alcohol, and a hint of spearmint.

 

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Flag Hill 2013 Cayuga White Wine

Flag Hill 2013 Cayuga White Wine,
 $10.39-$13.95, 87 points, poured a lovey bright golden color trending clear at the glass shallows.
Aromatically semi-sweet with apple, peach, and honeysuckle.
Light-plus body carried fair acidity with a medium sweet pear, apple, honey, and just a hint of citrus flavors. Texturally, this wine is a quaffer, but it was very good as a cold aperitif as well.
Finished fair with black pepper, a hint of tangy slightly tart tangerine, and a well integrated 10.5% alcohol.
Cayuga white wine is a mid-season ripening grape coming from crosses of the hybrids Schuyler and Seyval Blanc. Paired well with sautéed sea scallops.
I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I liked this white wine, being that dry wines are my thing, however I can think of many reasons why you'll want to try the Flag Hill 2013 Cayuga White Wine, not the least being that Jeff Chidester recommends it.

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Cline Sonoma Coast 2012 Pinot Noir

Cline Sonoma Coast 2012 Pinot Noir, $11.99-$17.99, 88 points, appeared cranberry red trending ruby with a clear rim and considerable draping.
Subtle grape smell was balanced with a hint of orange peel.
Barely medium-bodied with good acidity and mild tannin carried a very grapey flavor profile that trailed into the long finish of this very dry Pinot Noir with some of that 14.5% alcohol, spice, and mint.

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Merriam Vineyards Russian River 2012 Pinot Noir Cuvée

Merriam Vineyards Russian River 2012 Pinot Noir Cuvée, $19.99-$24.99, 92+ points, displayed a somewhat murky (unfiltered) pomegranate red with a broad transparent ring at the glass wall.
Aromatic marjoram, cardamom, black and red fruits, hints of coffee, and a gentle floral component were excellent.
A profoundly sophisticated medium body carried good acidity, gentle persistent tannin, and flavors that mirrored the aromas with a hint of strawberry and pomegranate.
The long silky finish concluded with mint, eucalyptus, and mild spice.
The more I discover Merriam Vineyard's wines, the more I'm confident that I'll be receiving more than I paid for in quality and value!

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Pepin Condé Elgin 2012 Pinot Noir (South Africa)

 

Pepin Condé Elgin 2012 Pinot Noir, $10.39-$24.99, 91 points, poured bright ruby toward blood red with a broad clear rim and light "tearing" (synonymous with legs, draping, or sheeting of wine on the glass wall).

Earth notes, a hint of clove, and a whiff of flowers were excellent aromas!

Medium weight with very good acidity and mild tannin carried rich strawberry, red cherry, and hints of pomegranate.

Finished quite long with a well integrated 14% alcohol, ginger, white pepper, mint, tobacco and eucalyptus notes.

I had no preconceived notions on this very lively and well balanced little gem, but as I see it, this one is looking to be the best QPR PN of my 2014 Thanksgiving Season!

 

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Spy Valley Marlborough NZ 2011 Pinot Noir

Spy Valley Marlborough NZ 2011 Pinot Noir, $19.54-$24.99, 88 points, appeared cranberry red with a broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Strawberry, red cherry, mushrooms, and a hint of cinnamon were very good aromas.
This medium-bodied red wine carried good acidity and moderate tannin with what I sense as glycerol (controversial element in wine).
Flavors of oxymoronic sweet red cherry (I'm fairly sure this is supposed to be a dry red wine), strawberry, and pomegranate made-up a trio of red fruits, but a hint of blueberry translated into the long finish with a notable 14% alcohol, coffee, mint, and fairly good spice notes.

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Kendall Jackson Estate Outland Ridge 2012 Pinot Noir

Kendall Jackson Estate Outland Ridge 2012 Pinot Noir, $27.99-$34.99, 93 points, poured a deep pomegranate red with a broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
A rare bouquet of sea breezes, red cherry, chocolate, cedar, and red licorice were subtle, but outstanding!
Medium-plus bodied with good acidity, moderate and layered tannin carried a bouquet mirrored flavor profile with oak upon an elegant texture; maybe too oaky for some.
Finished long on spice, escalating tannin, eucalyptus, hints of coffee and the 14.5% alcohol.

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Oyster Bay Marlborough 2012 Pinot Noir

Oyster Bay Marlborough 2012 Pinot Noir, $13.59-$19.99, 86 points, appeared a bright cranberry red with a broad clear rim.
Began aromatically earthy with red cherry and a hint of cinnamon.
Light-plus bodied with good acidity and mild-plus tannin carried strawberry and red cherry flavors with a hint of cola.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, a hint of pomegranate, eucalyptus, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
Paired near perfectly with roasted turkey, gravy, butternut squash, fries, and rye toast.

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Pinot Noir (New Zealand)

Pinot Noir by "Pinot Noir New Zealand"

This list is a work in-progress and is designed to help 'Smart' phone users easy excess to my list of  New Zealand Pinot Noir wines, though few, still I hope to make searching reviews easier than going to the general 'Index of wines'.

Brancott Estate Marlborough 2011 Pinot Noir, $8.49-$14.99, 86 points
Kim Crawford 2018 Pinot Noir (New Zealand), $16.19-$19.99, 86 points

Matua 2018 Pinot Noir NZ, $14.39-$16.99, 86 points
Mt. Beautiful North Canterbury 2014 Pinot Noir (New Zealand), $16.99-$21.99, 89 points

Mohua Central Otago 2012 Pinot Noir, $14.39-$17.99, 86 points

NOBILO ICON Marlborough, NZ, 2017 Pinot Noir, $12.74-$15.99, 87 points
Oyster Bay Marlborough 2012 Pinot Noir, $13.59-$19.99, 86 points

Roaring Meg Central Otago New Zealand 2011 Pinot Noir, $11.74-$19.99*, 90 points
Roaring Meg Central Otago New Zealand 2015 Pinot Noir, $17.84-$22.99, 90 points

Seaside Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir (New Zealand), $11.89-$15.99, 88 points

Spy Valley Marlborough 2010 Pinot Noir, $20.99-$23.99, 89 points
Spy Valley Marlborough NZ 2011 Pinot Noir, $19.54-$24.99, 88 points

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Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Carneros 2012 Pinot Noir

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Carneros 2012 Pinot Noir, $24.99-$29.99, 85 points, poured a candy-apple red with a broad clear rim.
The three of us tasting this wine found the nose to be a bit like rubber and wet cement, but after breathing for hours, the wine's nose transformed into a toasty cherry (barely acceptable).
Medium-plus body with fair acidity and mild-plus tannin carried a rather dull plum and cherry fruit.
Finished fair with hints of mint, some of the 14.5% alcohol, and mild spice notes.
Commentary: There certainly could have been something wrong with this bottle, though no signs were apparent with the cork, and it was a fairly young wine. RM has always been a great wine for me, but this, not so much!

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Mohua Central Otago 2012 Pinot Noir

Mohua Central Otago 2012 Pinot Noir, $14.39-$17.99, 86 points, poured a bright pomegranate/cranberry red with an obligatory clear rim.
The nose opened a bit vegetative, but hints of clove and red cherry were okay.
The body on this Pinot was barely medium, and carried good acidity with mild tannin.
Cola flavor with a slightly sweet red cherry and a hint of marzipan were good.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, gentle spice notes, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
This post is almost as much about the "Simply Delish" pumpkin bread as it is about the wine; I've tasted this with a couple of Pinot Noir red wines and have been blown over by how well they paired with it and some spread butter. I bought mine at Hannaford's Super Market in Bedford.

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Morgan Santa Lucia Highlands Twelve Clones 2007 Pinot Noir

Morgan Santa Lucia Highlands Twelve Clones 2007 Pinot Noir, $21.99-$31.99, 92 points appeared pomegranate toward copper red with a clear rim and considerably more leggy than the 2012.
Still a beautiful bouquet of leather, black cherry, cedar, cinnamon, and clove impressed.
The medium-plus body carried good acidity, layered mild tannin, and an abundance of nuanced flavors within its luscious texture. Flavors of blackberry cordial (14.2%alcohol), hints of mint, cardamom, bourbon and white pepper were outstanding.
Finished long on the trailing palate, lingering mineral notes, black pepper, and eucalyptus.
Well, what can I say, but Cali Pinot Noir can age well; is it the rule for Cali PN? Probably not.

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Morgan Twelve Clones Santa Lucia Highlands 2012 Pinot Noir

Morgan Twelve Clones Santa Lucia Highlands 2012 Pinot Noir, $22.99-$28.99, 92 points, appeared a rainbow of reds, with deep ruby, flashes of maroon, and pomegranate red bounded by a broad transparent rim.
Black olive, earth, black cherry and coffee notes made for a lovely bouquet.
The medium-plus body carried good acidity with moderate tannin.
Flavors that mirrored the bouquet were amplified by the luscious texture, and finished long on an accelerating spiciness, black tea, and hints of the 14.3% alcohol.
Paired with traditional Thanksgiving cuisine and a remarkably wonderful dark pumpkin bread made in Manchester, New Hampshire, which I hope to reveal in a forthcoming post.

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Paraiso Vineyards Santa Lucia Highlands "Faite" 2012 Pinot Noir

Paraiso Vineyards Santa Lucia Highlands "Faite" 2012 Pinot Noir, $19.99-$64.99, 91 points, poured pomegranate red trending ruby with a broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Grape smells (yes, grape) with cherries, a touch of clove, cedar, and a gentle floral component were quite good.
The medium body gave a sense of being more full and definitely richer than one might expect; having fair acidity and mild tannin facilitated a rather sleek and luscious texture.
Flavors were bright cola, coffee, cherries, red licorice, and pomegranate.
Finished well with the trailing palate, a bit of black cherry cordial (14.3% alcohol), damson plum, and long, but gentle spice notes.
As the first of my Thanksgiving Pinot Noirs, I'm off to a great start, This wine was a power-buy at the NHLS, and if I had bought it this week instead of two weeks ago the price would have been about $15.

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Pinot Noir Means Autumn In New Hampshire

  I love and hate Autumn! I love that it's time for me to taste Pinot Noir wines for Thanksgiving, the colors, smells, and the festive ambience, but I hate its foreboding of winter's trials and distresses, with snow storms threatening to strand me on the roads to work, back aches or worse clearing away the mounds of the white stuff, the cost of heating oil, and Jack-Frost nipping at my nose.
  With that said, my aim here is to let NHWM viewers know that the search for great Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving dinner in NH is on again, though later than last year (don't forget all the great Zinfandels Red Wines recently reviewed, which also are great choices for that Thanksgiving dinner as well).
  So, keep an eye out for the next several reviews of Pinot Noir red wines found and bought right here in New Hampshire USA, keeping in mind that Pinot Noir is probably the overall best pairing red wine for Traditional Thanksgiving cuisine.

 

Complete List of Pinot Noir Red Wines
 

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Sainte Anne 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine

Sainte Anne 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine, $10.00-$16.98, 88 points, poured near black at the core transitioning to an inky Burgundy purple/red and a clear rim.
The aroma was near "dumb" with barely a hint of plum and cedar.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and grainy firm tannin which without would have given this red wine of little blackberry, black currant, and plum flavors a failing grade.
Finished fairly long on an accelerating spiciness, savory, mint, and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot.
I think a few words of commentary are in order: This being a $10 Red Bordeaux with such a good score speaks volumes as to its relative value; as a common-man's Red Table Wine, few Red Bordeaux Wines will match the 2009 Sainte Anne's QPR.
I bought this wine at the Derry Hannaford's Super Market on close-out, and intend to pickup more if there are any left!

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Bonny Doon Vineyard Central Coast 2011 Albariño

Bonny Doon Vineyard Central Coast 2011 Albariño, $10.99-$18.99, 90 points, appeared a light straw yellow trending near water clear at the shallow of the glass.
Lovely floral notes dominated the nose, but gentle melon, amber fruits, and the slightest petrol notes were excellent.
Light-plus-bodied with good acidity carried flavors that mirrored the nose, and finished with lemon zest, watermelon rind, ginger, and a well integrated 13.2 alcohol.

  
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Halloween Wine and Décor featuring Once Upon A Vine Red Wine, Wicked Bold 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine, and Chronic Cellars Paso Robles Purple Paradse 2013 Red Wine

Halloween Wine and Décor is an interesting host's dilemma: While I'm hosting dinner on an 'evil' night of pranksters, should I serve wine that is apropos to the event of knockings at the door, door bells, howls of "Trick or Treat", or growls of "Candy please!"? I don't know why, but there are and have been lots of wines that fit the occasion; here are a few I have reviewed that have slipped-knotted into my bog's bag of tricks or treats;-)

The following reviews were the product of a blind wine tasting.

Once Upon A Vine California 2012 Red Wine,

 $9.99-$11.99, 86 points, appeared ruby colored with a clear rim.

The aroma was dominated by black currant.

Medium-bodied with fair acidity and mild tannin carried okay flavors of black currant, black licorice, and coffee notes.

Finished long on the trailing palate, plum, spice, and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol.

 Zagarrón Wines Wicked Bold Cab-ah-nay // (Cabernet Sauvignon), $8.10-$9.00, 84 points, appeared deep ruby colored with just a tinge of sunburst orange at the clear rim.
Black currant with tobacco notes were just okay for me.
The medium-plus body carried fair acidity with a strident, yet manageable tannin.
The flavors were accompanied by astringency, but black currant managed to be quite noticeable with black pepper and black licorice notes.
Finished okay on spice, plum, that black currant, tobacco, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
I bought this wine at the Londonderry, NH Hannaford's Supermarket.
Varietal was of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chronic Cellars Paso Robles Purple Paradise 2013 Red Wine,
 $11.99, $17.99, points, 90 points, appeared a bright cranberry red color with a broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall.

Lovely aromas of red raspberry, sea breezes, clove, and cinnamon impressed.

The light-plus body carried excellent acidity and tight transient tannins.

Red fruit flavors were light and delicious, having a bit of bourbon with a bright spiciness that accelerated into the long finish, and gathering a hint of the well integrated 14.5% alcohol; all of which were balanced and satisfying.

Varietals were, 70% Zinfandel, 14% Syrah, 11% Pitite Sirah, and 5% Grenache.

This is my choice for a red wine on the Halloween dinner table.

Links to Halloween Wines:

Halloween Wines Ghost-pines-zinfandel

Chronic Cellars Paso Robles "Suite Petite" 2014 Red Wine, $14.99-$24.99, 86+ points

Ghost-Pines-Chardonnay

Ghost-Pines Cabernet Sauvignon

 Ghost-Pines-Merlot

Ghost-Pines-Red Wine

Big House Beasly Old Vine Zins

2007-Misfit (BRUJERIA) Red wine-south-east-Australian

Vampire vineyards-north-coast 2008 Merlot

Vampire Pinot Noir

Casillero-del-diablo-cellar-of-devil 2010 Chardonnay

Big-house-beastly-old-vines-2008-2009 Zins

Velvet-devil-2009-merlot
 

Bad-boy-bordeaux-2005-merlot

Debauchery-sauvignon-blanc-Chile

Sin-Zin-Alexander-valley-2007-zinfandel

Lunatic Red Wine 2010
Lunatic Red Wine 2014

Lust-Zin

Jezebe-2009-white-wine 

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