WTN: 2006 Hayman & Hill Pinot Noir

WTN: 2006 Hayman & Hill Pinot Noir - Sanat Lucia Highlands

Purchased at the local wine mart for $16.

Color: Deep red

Nose: Quite faint. Oak and a jumble of fruit.

Taste: Smokey oak, cherry, spice and burnt toast. Too oaky for my taste, and no single element really shines through. It did mellow a little in the glass, but the burnt toast element remained somewhat unpleasant. Not a bad wine, but not suited to my palate. I would definitely pay the extra couple of bucks for a Bourgogne.

I am a retailer here in Oregon. I tasted this producer a couple vintages back. It was pretty good for under $20 Pinot. When I tasted the 2006 I felt it was very typical of much of the under $20 category and did not smell or taste like real Pinot Noir. It is hard to find much out there that smells and tastes like Pinot Noir, but there are some. Bishops Peak from California, Alloro and Stafford Hill from Oregon, Mt. Riley, Allan Scott, and Villa Maria from New Zealand all seem to be very good for under $20. Last week I also tasted on from Argentina, Alamos Selection 2006 that was very good and $15.

Sam, I tasted the H-H pinot an few vintages back and FWIW, I was not all that impressed. Like you, I recall thinking that I'd rather spend a few scheckels more for something else.
BPa