Enjoyed these four Pinots over a few days as we celebrated my wife’s four decades.
A bit of a mix of vintages and the prices ranged from about $30-$70 so hardly a fair fight but it was what we could get our hands on.
Carrick and Cristom were our clear favourites.
My attempt at some tasting notes in the comments below.
by Defiant-Change-5151
7 Comments
CARRICK 2019 🇳🇿
Succulent, juicy, beautifully balanced – a wine that’s very comfortable with itself.
Perfumed and brimming with dark character: liquorice, violets, plum, black cherry, smoke. Fruity and savoury notes in harmony, leaning more towards the latter – a Bannockburn Pinot.
Smooth, silky mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity.
Single block, organic, 100% Abel clone. Ten months on oak, 15% new.
Second favourite of the week.
SAVIGNY-LÈS-BEAUNE 2021 🇫🇷
Nothing disagreeable in this red Burgundy, but at the same time a bit underwhelming.
Red fruit still youthfully bright, supported by the usual cast of leather, forest floor, cloves, vanilla (12-14 months on oak, c.30% new). Darker fruit and an unexpected savoury note of bacon comes through later and adds interest. Acidity keeps things fresh.
Elegant and well made, if slightly (but not unforgivably) straightforward. Maybe drunk a little too young.
CRISTOM 2019 🇺🇸
Gorgeous expression of Pinot with superb structure and finesse.
Juicy with red and black berry fruit, vanilla, leather, forest floor, and a floral note (maybe violets).
Lovely acidity, a hint of minerality, and great ageing potential.
Cristom’s flagship Pinot (although cheaper than their single vineyard offerings); this is a blend from 22 vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley (52% estate fruit). 11 months on French oak, 30% new (well integrated). Pick of the week.
NOM 2023 🇿🇦
My first Elandskloof wine.
Beautiful light colour. Bright acidity.
A lovely flavour profile of sour cherry, raspberry, cranberry, smoke, mushroom – but the fruit is very slightly stewed and a bitter note of black tea / liquorice detracts a little. Also present: what the tasting notes describe as the “unique orange rind character imparted by the vineyard site.”
Mercurial as more of the bottle disappears – struggling to figure out which direction it wants to pull in.
Cristom Mt Jeff, can’t go wrong with this banger. Loved my first bottle that I went out and bought more immediately. Everyone I introduce it to loves it. Haven’t tried a 6 year old one yet, just 21 and 22.
The savigny defo needs more time. Good line up though.
havent had Cristom yet, not exactly cheap here. After this post, maybe I should try..
If you haven’t already try some German PN, spatburgunder. In-cred-a-bull! Light and smoky, it’s damn near a perfect expression of Pinot
Y’all as an avid, avid French wine lover and burgundy fiend… Oregon pinots and chards have won me over. I joined DDO’s club recently, the first and only club I’ve been in, their stuff resonates with me that much. The quality coming out of the Willamette is astounding.
Ooooh love Saurwein!