WTN: 2004 Leyda Pinot Noir, Cahuil Vineyard

Needed a charming Pinot Noir to tonights chicken with dill and lemon and grabbed this one from the cellar. Bought in the tax free shop at Arlanda airport some years ago. I really did not have much idea what to expect nor when the optimum time would be to drink this wine, so I felt I needed to check.

2004 Leyda Pinot Noir, Cahuil Vineyard, Leyda Valley, 14% abv.
Medium deep colour just barely beginning to get a pale orange rim.

Most charming nose, very Pinotish with loads of ripe strawberries and smoke from a wood fire. A slight whiff of oriental spices and sandalwood. The alcohol is balancing on a thin knife edge, sometimes peaking through a bit too much, but mostly it is keeping its head just below the surface. Any oak this wine has been treated with is beautifully integerated, I think even Otto would agree (sic!)

Sweetish fruit is what attacks the palate, but a fine, refreshing acidity saves the wine and keeps the sweetness at bay. The overall impression is of a juicy fruitiness, smoke and spices. The tannins are definitely in the background and a bit dryish. The finish is a bit fiery with the alcohol shining through slightly, but mostly it is delightfully peppery and refreshing. A charming wine, slightly lacking in structure. A bit more tannins would have given a bit more mouthfeel and structure, but it has but a good persistence. I would guess the wine could well have been given a couple more years in the bottle, but am not sure it would have benefited vastly from it. One of the better Chilean Pinots I have had and it definitely makes me want to explore these wines further. Any further information on this wine and the reputation of its producer would be very much appreciated. Oswaldo, maybe?

Happy Easter!
/Anders

Sorry, no info on Leyda! Have been shying away from Andean wines lately because the acidity, even when balanced, often seems added and poorly integrated. Your description rings very true for the finer ones, but the nature of the acidity often bothers me. Glad to hear it didn't bother you with this one.

Leyda? Here you go>>>>

http://www.wineanorak.com/chile/vinaleyda.htm

Bob to the rescue!


"Going back to chopping wood".

I used to like Leyda's cheap Pinot, Las Brisas, but found the most recent vintage available (2008) quite unpleasant and spoofy. But I recall the earlier ones did have great Pinosity - I think it was the '04 that first became available here. So I can understand that another '04 Pinot from Leyda could be very good.