Liaison Pinot Noir

Rose petals, cherry, wet moss, wild berries, subtle herbs (tarragon?), flirty hint of grape, bubblegum. And that signature wild, almost over the line E&M VA. Fine tannins, very pretty. Substantially more va in one of two bottles opened.

Drinking so well. Lush and deep but energetic and dense. Just glorious aromas. Satin texture and deep, resinous fruit. Sappy and wonderful. Hint of Va on nose and palate works so well here.

The nose jumps out of the glass like it’s barefoot and the glass is on fire. Stunningly expressive. Wild black/red cherries and wild raspberries. A hint of that natural funk that adds and does not subtract. Floral and expansive. Dense. 9.7 nose. Just amazing. Mesmerizing. Palate is sweet, silky and refined. Ripe and sweet tannins and unreal texture. Sappy and so deep. Finish stamps your palate. This is so showing so well. This bottle at this stage in its life is the best Liaison I’ve ever had. So complex on the finish with deep minerals and very serious fruit that busts through all the tannins.

Pretty snazzy PN from GER: first thing I noticed was the profusion of beautifully ripe cherries immediately wafting out of the decanter. So clear so vivid. In the glass it really opens up to yield intriguing & exotic spices, just absolutely gorgeous nose. Akin to some Oregon Dijon clone PNs I’ve had… not overdone, just silky, sexy smooth & polished on palate, decent weight and balance. Finish is only thing holding this back from higher score - bit uneven w/jolt of acidity.

My 5 year old son requested beef Wellington (!) for dinner but I did promise to let him choose so…challenge accepted. To accompany, Enderle & Moll’s entry level PN from 2018. Like a lot of 2018s in the old world it’s uncharacteristically ripe but nevertheless absolutely stunning. Soft as satin, a profusion of cherries and rose petals

Way to young. Needs at least 3 more years. Everything is there the herbs the fruit - on the edge volatile acid - Dark cherry, Raspberries Mexican limes, crushed marble. Down the road this will be brilliant. Now a little bit of an expert only wine - sorry I do not want to sound arrogant.

Well this has come a long way in a year and a half. Opens with a blast of flowers and fruit. Roses and lilac. Really crazy perfume, so unique for pinot noir. Don’t know how this manages to be so consistently high wire, flirting with serious volatile acidity, yet maintaining such balance and cleanness. Florals just open more and more with time, with notes of porcini and savage spice; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom.

Usually the Liaison has an herbal streak. This one does not. It’s more Burgundy ‘like’ than any other vintage I tasted since 2009. Just to get it out of the way the wine is a stunner!!! At its price level the best Pinot money can buy right now if you can find it. Much darker than the 2017. Subdued nose of Cherry. Tart sour cherry just gorgeous and the right amount (not a cherry bomb). Lime. Chalk. Hint of Licorice. A stupid value. I would suggest to drink this without food after dinner. Just to get the depth of flavors in this wine ‘sans’ food. It’s OK now but aging it for 3-5 years will get you to something which will blow your mind. I know E&M personally and to this day I have no clue how they do this - May be it’s the basket press, the grapes or the wood or just their magic touch. While 2017 was difficult 2018 proves again that they are the best in Germany right now.

Wine consumption as an all weather sport: drinking at Sunset on the Hudson- this has lift & depth. Love this wine, & great having my homeboy as company outside

It’s almost ready. Another 6 months for the full orchestra.