This pinot noir flirts with great ideas but they lose ground to its aggressive darkness. Thick and heavy (heavier than I expected from this variety), the nose (and the beautiful labeling) certainly do promise some mild tannins and robust cherry flavor, but immediately my tongue detects the harsh bite of far too many of those tannins. It's an almost bitter start, which leads immediately into a very heavy body - the earthy tones are not unwelcome, but they are far too flat for me and lack the kind of complexity I enjoy from pinot noir. The aftertaste leaves an admittedly enjoyable mouth feel: dry, but in a nice way. Still, the ever present and overpowering tannic tinge is enough to spoil the experience, and while it may provide great evening sipping to someone with different tastes it simply is not for me.
This pinot noir flirts with great ideas but they lose ground to its aggressive darkness. Thick and heavy (heavier than I expected from this variety), the nose (and the beautiful labeling) certainly do promise some mild tannins and robust cherry flavor, but immediately my tongue detects the harsh bite of far too many of those tannins. It's an almost bitter start, which leads immediately into a very heavy body - the earthy tones are not unwelcome, but they are far too flat for me and lack the kind of complexity I enjoy from pinot noir. The aftertaste leaves an admittedly enjoyable mouth feel: dry, but in a nice way. Still, the ever present and overpowering tannic tinge is enough to spoil the experience, and while it may provide great evening sipping to someone with different tastes it simply is not for me.
Jan 6th, 2016
Oregon, USA
