I thought I’d do a quick feature on the three wines from yesterday’s Sonoma in the City event that caught my attention. Especially as I’ve already posted in detail about the wines I’ve enjoyed the most this week (the Rinaldi line-up, Felton Road, and Vieux Télégraphe CnP Blanc) plus I didn’t really drink much in either the “value” or “local” categories.
Landmark Damaris ’07 Reserve Chardonnay – Great intensity, great balance between oak, leesy puffed wheat characters and fruit (red apple skins). Fantastic long minerally finish. One of the best Chardonnays from a room full of good Chardonnay. Represented by Landmark Selections – not sure if this particular label is available in our market, but at $40 USD, it would probably come in around $80+
Flowers Andreen-Gale ’06 Pinot Noir – Quite light in colour, spiced raspberry and strawberry. Very pretty and soft – more feminine style. Flower’s Chardonnay was quite good as well. Represented by New World Wines and costs $88.
Schug ’07 Carneros Pinot Noir – I liked this Pinot because it had a slight earthy and stinky character that I didn’t see in very many of the others. Cherry cola, good acid and good length. The whole Schug line-up was quite interesting – Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, & Merlot). Again, I’m unsure about availability, but at $28 USD we’d probably be looking at just under $60 in our market. Represented by Crush Imports.
Other interesting and delicious stuff: Thomas George Viognier and Zinfandel, and all the Dutton-Goldfield wines – especially the Freestone Hill Pinot Noir.
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7 Responses:
September 25th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I’ve gotta respectfully throw up a “speedbump” here.
While I think the Flowers Andreen Gale ’06 Pinot is pretty-good Pinot – it (and some others including Anthill Farms Tina Marie) are “pretty” and elegant but the prices have me thinking that the price/quality relationship just doesn’t deliver the goods.
If I do my homework, I can find some Premier Cru Burgundies for the same (or less) money that, to me, have far more depth of flavour and persistence for $88 bucks a bottle.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but relative value is in the mouth and the wallet of the winedrinker. I still don’t feel I am getting enough for my dollar out of most California, Oregon and Kiwi Pinot these days.
If somebody can point me in the direction of a Pinot from any of these countries that “delivers the goods” (and I’m not not talking gobs of fruit or creamy/toasty oak) for $40 (heck, even $50) and under, then I’m all ears.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I agree with Khristian on the Price Ratio, If I was in the US buying at there Prices yeah go for it. But at Canadian Prices it just makes it so hard, Don’t get me wrong I think all the 2007 were great except for the Sebastian Pinot (There other reds were good).
September 26th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Khristian,
Totally agree. I was pointing out a few things I liked, but I didn’t touch on price/quality ratio and should have. Would I pay $88 (or realistically more) in a wine shop for a bottle? Probably not. Next time I’m in California would I pay $40 USD? Yes.
Because top quality Pinot Noir is rarely inexpensive in the first place, by the time it’s being sold in our market, we’re paying a premium ($50+) that makes you question whether there’s value there or not. Wines like Mercurey and other well researched Burgundies, like you mentioned, can probably offer more.
I’d like to hear other people’s opinions on premium new world Pinots that they would consider to be decent value. Maybe I’m crazy, but I like the Felton Road Calvert enough to pay the $66 price tag.
Then again, maybe we should all forget about the pricey Pinots and just drink Beaujolais! I wouldn’t have a problem with that.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:50 am
We are in an “expensive minefield” here.
Pinot is my ultimate source of expensive letdowns but when it hits the heights it is also my source of greatest joys (not counting old German Riesling and Loire Chenin).
It is like anything vinous – find a producer you like and stick with them. The BC prices have skewed the equation for us and I think it has lulled us into either submisiion or total rejection of wines at a certain price.
I keep searching for those “sweet spot” Pinots that deliver the goods in a more modest price bracket. I used to like the J Daan from Oregon and I wish there was a less expensive version from Rippon here, Delta Hatter’s Hill was always quite good but the prices are going up.The Matetic EQ from Chile used to be good as had the Leyda Lot 21 but they have left me cold the last couple of vintages.
My problem is I like (but can’t afford) good Burgundy and the old stanby satellite regions (Santenay, Savigny Les Beaune, Mercury, Givry, Fixin,etc) have become expensive as well.
I guess this is part of the “thrill of the chase” that keeps us winegeeks searching for that price/quality holy grail of Pinot Noir.
Ours the task eternal!
September 27th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I have paid 65$ for a bottle of Dutton Cherry Ridge Syrah but it was a splurge. SO its not out of the question but its like one of those twice a year [tho I am going to grab two bottles of Pontet-Canet 2006 at BCLD on Oct 3rd....]
October 1st, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Try these producers available at Marquis.
westrey – OR
talley – CA
cameron – OR
All of their basic pinots are around $40 and are pretty damn great.
Also for old world goodness try a pinot from Arbois, especially Jacques Puffeney.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
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