WTN: 2003 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard

• 2003 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (3/20/2007)
  
  At most meals, I serve Lorena wine blind. And she has about a .850 average. I hate it when she serves me blind, as I'm batting maybe .500, and that's being generous with myself. Well, she smelled this, swriled it and looked at it and said, "this is definitely Pinot and no younger than 2003." She hadn't even tasted the damned wine!! I can't compete with that, normally.
  
  But this, as she said, is unmistakable. It screams, "I'm Pinot." It could not be anything other than Pinot Noir from the nose...on the palate, red fruit, a clean line of acidity, mildly spicy (chocolate, cinnamon), not smoky, but it seems like it would be good with grilled hot dogs. Really very nice and resfreshing. I'm pleased Lorena liked, cuz she didn't like it much when she tasted it at the winery. So, now I guess I have carte blanche to buy more. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Jenise]

It's so cool that you finally discovered this winery. Took long enough.

Joseph Swan wines often don't taste too good at the winery. I think it's mostly because Rod makes wines to age for a while, and they're not really ready yet. Also, of course, they're not the fruit bombs that some others make. The need for a few years of patience is why I have quite a lot of that stuff clogging my cellar.

I often think of tasting recent releases at Joseph Swan in much the same way as barrel tasting. I look for the components that will come together in the future.

The Saralee's PN is a recent planting on a fairly steep hillside. The vintages should generally get better over the next years.

[Jenise]

I think it's mostly because Rod makes wines to age for a while

Yeah, we drank our last 95 Steiner pinot last week. And they only started drinking really well about two years ago.

(sigh) I only have '00 Steiner. I do have some '00 Saralee's that I probably ought to test one of these years.

Patience, John!!

It's so cool that you finally discovered this winery. Took long enough.

I'm actually opening another one today at a tasting with Jason.... the '99 Mancini Zin... I've had it before, and it is as good as the Pinots.....

Yeah.. it took me a while to get to Swan, but glad I did.. and maybe it is ok, since I think my palate is ready for this style.. and before, I don't know if it was..

[Jenise]

So true. Swan isn't for beginners--not that I ever thought you were that--but I do remember times when big fruit and oak would too easily turn your head.

Well.. hmmm.. ok.. no comment.. lol

[Jenise]

Hey, it's the same path I travelled. I was just a few years ahead of you.

You are waaaaay ahead of me.. and there is no hope of catching up!!! But it's ok... it's a great journey...

Had dinner with Kriss, Sidney, Ed, Carolyn et al. last night at Memphis in downtown Santa Ana.. all Zins... very nice...

[Jenise]

My gosh, Ed, I think. Flying Dutchman Ed? He was taking off for NZ last I knew...is he still married?

And Carolyn, I don't remember a Carolyn associated with this group, unless this is Kriss's friend, whom I've met. If it's the same one, I'm surprised she's still in So Cal. Would have thought she'd be directing the entire Marriott chain from New York by now.

Yep, yep, yep... (but still not working.. )

yep, the same, and nope.. not yet.. she is a very cool person...