The Pinot Noir & Grenache Thread

[Sedimental]

Just imagine it's a first date Sedi. Start slowly admiring what both of you have brought to the table. Sedi, don't ruin the date with any old wine glass. You have to look your best, bring out something special, something befitting of the exhilaration of anticipation. (Although that has been questioned. More on that latter.) So a fine wine glass is necessary. As someone who has been on the odd date, I like to bring my Rogaska expert pinot out. No muckin' around there, imbibing royalty. Large bulb, fine stem, no thorns. Sounds like a flower doesn't it, perhaps a rose, perhaps befitting the fernery that surrounds the initial vine in a winery. A femine touch to perhaps the most feminine of wines. For another time, a description of varietal and a person who befits the name.

So, as you pour you admire. But before that, just like a date, scent and colour are so important. Does the wine come dressed in moccasins smelling of the perfumery at David Jones? Does it come with knee high boots from Peppermint Grove. Is the oak the finest French or tossed in pieces? How do I think of this **** when I haven't even had a drink. I dunno.

Then the excitement really takes over. All your friends have told you about this new date. Cheap, sure. Cheap and nasty, hopefully not. Premature exciteability was never your problem. But in the back of your mind, your pals have taken her out and givin her the flick after one date. That can't be good, as you were looking for a longer term relationship, possibly even twelve dates. Like one of my stock market expressions, don't pass over someone's old girlfriend. You take the next vital move. Your lips are about to lock. The tension is building and building, all these voices in one ear saying, chanting, screaming at you but in the other ear there is just one...... one lonesome, solitary, quivering, almost angelic voice that sounds like the lead singer of Pearl Jam. He loves the number 50. He is cautiously optimistic because he knows one thing that's very important. This new wine leaves the Top Paddock for dead and as far as I am concerned, I believe him. Call me a fool if you may, but his reputation is on the line here.

So back to you Sedimental. We see your lovely pictures with the lovely wines you drink. We love the cows, the wild animals. But what we will really love is for you to give us all the inside story of how your first date ended up. .........

Having just arrived home from Sydney, and whilst half way through reading your advise bf, much to my annoyance, there was an unexpected knock at the door! And there, in the filtered light of the foyer, a chaperone delivers tonight's date......

 

[beefarmer]

Having just arrived home from Sydney, and whilst half way through reading your advise bf, much to my annoyance, there was an unexpected knock at the door! And there, in the filtered light of the foyer, a chaperone delivers tonight's date......

just like a pair of knickers, give the squitchy some air. Like now.

 

[tgh]

Arrived home from the Airport to find (drum roll) a box of Squitchy…...

 

[sigmadelta]

Arrived home from the Airport to find (drum roll) a box of Squitchy…...

I've had two bottles so far. Both aired and decanted for a few hours. It's great.

 

[qaz]

I opened the Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot 2015 this evening. On opening it was slightly sour and characterless. After an aerate and decant for an hour it had not improved much. No tasting notes, and I wish there had been. I got these from different drop and they are going back. No more mac for me i think until he starts providing tasting notes, this is inexcusable.

Sorry to hear

Re no tasting notes - didn't the Winefront review on Different Drop help?

I cracked my first Squitchy tonight...

About as good a description about the subtleties and idiosyncracies of a pinot I have ever read...

Thankyou for a fantastic comparison DB !

+1

Thanks to you DB, I'll have to give the Squitchy another chance

 

[beefarmer]

I've had two bottles so far. Both aired and decanted for a few hours. It's great.

Nah...couldn't be..........................................................................................................or could it? Think of the clothes line , a bit of airing hey !

So how does it compare to others? Could it be the sea air influencing your decision?

 

[Buzzard]

That was a quick change of heart Buz.

Seems most people enjoyed it that first got on it, but late comers not so much. Maybe expectations were too high from my post for the late comers - but I stand by it - hard to find a sub $15 pinot worth drinking, while other varieties it's much easier to find value.

I can't explain it. Perhaps the bottle I shared at my friend's house was left open to breath before we consumed it. As mentioned in other posts breathing seems to be the way to go for this wine. The one I had at home was not given time to breath. Maybe this is why the Fo ask you to try another bottle just in case you have a different experience.

 

[sigmadelta]

Nah...couldn't be..........................................................................................................or could it? Think of the clothes line , a bit of airing hey !

So how does it compare to others? Could it be the sea air influencing your decision?

Ha ha! Pirates Don't Drink Pinot, or maybe they do. But only if it's 1er Crew.

I'd better add some content to make this a legit post. Yes I did read the DD blurb on the Mac Forbes but it didn't taste like that to me. Oh well, better luck next time!

 

[TDC]

I picked Squitchy up from the post office yesterday afternoon. The box was open at the top and falling apart at the bottom. I managed to get all the babies upstairs safely but it could have been a disaster.

 

[beefarmer]

I've had two bottles so far. Both aired and decanted for a few hours. It's great.

How does this commentary on the Squitch differ from your ideas ?Good colour; the bouquet, while complex, is the calm before the storm of the palate, which strikes the second the wine enters the mouth, and doesn't abate until long after the wine has gone from the glass. Its great character is the fusion of plum/black cherry fruit with a savoury carpet of spices and sweet earth. Quite simply, a very great pinot.

 

[qaz]

I've ordered some Serrat Pinot that I'm looking forward to trying.

AusCellardoor have the 2015 for $40.41 using VIVINO for 10% off

AusCellardoor apparently received 5 dozen of each of the Serrat PN/SV/C - with SV selling out within the hour

From the [post=1488795]Dan's and Other thread[/post] with the help of AnonymousCoward, they respectively scored 96/98/98pts in the 2017 Wine Companion

Other pinots scoring 98pts were 2014 Bass Phillip Premium, 2015 Rochford Premier, 2014 By Farr Farrside, with each available for $200/$80/$75, respectively, from Langton's - good for those with a voucher or an AmEx offer

Else, Farrside is $68 at Summer Hill Wine Shop, $72 at Randall's

 

[sigmadelta]

How does this commentary on the Squitch differ from your ideas ?Good colour; the bouquet, while complex, is the calm before the storm of the palate, which strikes the second the wine enters the mouth, and doesn't abate until long after the wine has gone from the glass. Its great character is the fusion of plum/black cherry fruit with a savoury carpet of spices and sweet earth. Quite simply, a very great pinot.

Hi Beefarmer, I cannot argue with that description. Possibly my interpretation of tannin is actually a carpet of spices or vice versa, or a mix of both.

 

[blackcat20]

AusCellardoor apparently received 5 dozen of each of the Serrat PN/SV/C - with SV selling out within the hour

From the [post=1488795]Dan's and Other thread[/post] with the help of AnonymousCoward, they respectively scored 96/98/98pts in the 2017 Wine Companion

Other pinots scoring 98pts were 2014 Bass Phillip Premium, 2015 Rochford Premier, 2014 By Farr Farrside, with each available for $200/$80/$75, respectively, from Langton's - good for those with a voucher or an AmEx offer

Else, Farrside is $68 at Summer Hill Wine Shop, $72 at Randall's

Glad I bought the Serrat Pinot as well then!

 

[beefarmer]

Hi Beefarmer, I cannot argue with that description. Possibly my interpretation of tannin is actually a carpet of spices or vice versa, or a mix of both.

So does this summation of fruit character lie closely with what you tasted? Yes, the savoury carpet could have pulled the wool over your eyes if infact it was the tannins, but we are glad you enjoyed it. Your score.....and others please....

 

[vedder50]

So does this summation of fruit character lie closely with what you tasted? Yes, the savoury carpet could have pulled the wool over your eyes if infact it was the tannins, but we are glad you enjoyed it. Your score.....and others please....

Have you sampled bee or just speculating awaiting arrival?

 

[sigmadelta]

So does this summation of fruit character lie closely with what you tasted? Yes, the savoury carpet could have pulled the wool over your eyes if infact it was the tannins, but we are glad you enjoyed it. Your score.....and others please....

Yes i think the fruit description is accurate. There is quite a lot going on there and i would say the fruit is quite powerful, dense even. The thing is that the character of Le Squitch, let us call it, changes from one daynto the next. I would be happy to pay more than $20 for it as a bargain buy, $12.50 is a steal. Points... not sure about that but i think its similar to some of the martinborough pinot i had a few years ago.

 

[qaz]

For more, the acclaimed 96-97pt 2015 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Single Vineyard pinot noirs (and chardonnays) have been released recently and are likely to sell out soon - they're $50 ($45) at most retailers, including Different Drop, where you can receive 10% off your 1st order using 10OFF after subscribing to their newsletter (free delivery if spending $150+)

AusWine (Australian Wine Centre) has 94-95pt 2015 Giant Steps Yarra Valley for $25.50 using NEWCUST for 10% off

Different Drop has 94-95pt [post=1489628]2015 Stoney Rise[/post] for $26.10 using HALLIDAYPICKS for 10% off until next Wednesday

Prince Wine Store (South Melbourne) has a free [post=1489629]Martinborough Growers Expo[/post] on tomorrow/Saturday

 

[sigmadelta]

AusWine (Australian Wine Centre) has 94-95pt 2015 Giant Steps Yarra Valley for $25.50 using NEWCUST for 10% off

Different Drop has 94-95pt [post=1489628]2015 Stoney Rise[/post] for $26.10 using HALLIDAYPICKS for 10% off until next Wednesday

Prince Wine Store (South Melbourne) has a free [post=1489629]Martinborough Growers Expo[/post] on tomorrow/Saturday

Out of interest, has anyone tasted any of the Giant Steps Pinots? I've just got hold of the 2015 Primavera, but only the one bottle. I'm reluctant to drink it for a few years.

 

[Delectable Blue]

Out of interest, has anyone tasted any of the Giant Steps Pinots? I've just got hold of the 2015 Primavera, but only the one bottle. I'm reluctant to drink it for a few years.

I purchased some of the 2015 Applejack Vineyard Pinot last night via a VinoMofo VIM offer. However I don't think I'm likely to try the first bottle for twelve months or so. I think it's still a little young at the moment.

 

[blackcat20]

Out of interest, has anyone tasted any of the Giant Steps Pinots? I've just got hold of the 2015 Primavera, but only the one bottle. I'm reluctant to drink it for a few years.

We drink quite a bit of the Sexton and really enjoy it.