2009 La Pousse d'Or Santenay 1er Cru Clos Tavannes Pinot Noir
Opened at the last minute on Tues night when it had sufficient fruit but harsh tannins. Would not go with food. So we set it aside for Wednesday, when it presented with no fruit and an oxidative nose. Major disappointment; fed it to the azaleas.
Here's what we drank instead on Tuesday night:
2014 Phelps Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir Becky's Cuvée Columbia Gorge
Sour cherry fruit and stunning spiciness dance on the nose and palate in this barely medium bodied, assertively acidic pinot from the most Burgundian producer in the Pacific Northwest. Last bottle of six, and I should have waited til now on all of them because it has ARRIVED. We just kept going "wow" all the way to the last drop. Rahsaan would love this.
And here's what we drank instead on Wednesday night:
2016 Black Swift Vineyards Pinot Noir Palo Solara Vineyard Okanagan Valley VQA
Still very California-like in flavor profile, but more dark fruit now and less tomato. Firmer structure too, but comes out of the bottle rocking, and a great pairing with braised bacon-wrapped pheasant breast. Drink over the next three years.
