Pinot Noir Tasting

Last evening I hijacked a friends dinner party to conduct a wine tasting for Pinot Noir.  I brought the wine, so I don't think she had too much of  a problem with it.  The purpose for the dinner was because we were all hungry and my friend hates being alone.  Perfect reasons for a dinner party.  The menu consisted of grilled leg of lamb, mashed potatoes, green beans and a heirloom tomato salad.  We also enjoyed bacon wrapped water chestnuts, oysters and various crackers and dips.  The food was excellent.

The setting was even nicer.  This friend's home is situated on a large property backing onto a ravine and graveyard so perfect for entertaining.  We actually spend a lot of time at her house and enjoy the yard almost as much as the mosquitos do.  There is a hot tub, a fire pit and ample seating.  The music is...well...eclectic, especially when the remote is in the hands of the hostess: tastes and volume may change with amounts consumed.

The tasting panel consisted of a group of good friends who spend a lot of time together and enjoy each others company.  Some reports peg the average consumption of wine at 1/2 a bottle per week. HA! Amateurs!  Members of this panel do that before the apps hit the table.  This panel is nothing if not experienced in drinking mass quantities.  Their level of appreciation, on the other hand, varies.  Most were also not overly familiar with wine terminology (not a bad thing) and few drink Pinot Noir on a regular basis. In fact, this group has their favourite, usually affordable, standard wine that they drink with everything without much thought to food pairings.  Basically, average drinkers who consume for the sake of the buzz but want to learn more.

Ok, The Line Up:

A BY ACACIA PINOT NOIR 2009
VINTAGES 118927 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 16.95
Wine, Red Wine
13.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: California, USA
By: Diageo Canada Inc

Release Date: Jan 8, 2011 


WAYNE GRETZKY NO. 99 ESTATE SERIES PINOT NOIR 2007
VINTAGES 129056 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 18.95
Wine, Red Wine
12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD
This is a VQA wine

Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: No. 99 Wayne Gretzky Estates

Release Date: Aug 6, 2011 


KIM CRAWFORD PINOT NOIR (V)
VINTAGES 626390 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 19.95

Limited Time Offer
Was: $ 19.95
Now: $ 19.95
Save: $ 1.00                  Apparently math is not a core competency at LCBO
Until Sep 11, 2011

Other Limited Time Offers

Wine, Red Wine
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: Region Not Specified, New Zealand
By: Constellation Wines Nz

Release Date: N/A     

VINCENT MORIN LACOMBE PINOT NOIR BOURGOGNE  VINTAGES 208496 | 750 mL bottle  Price: $ 16.95  Wine, Red Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol. Made in: Burgundy, France By: Vdvf Release Date: N/A  All of the wines were under $20 cad and were selected as an affordable example of an entry level Pinot Noir typical to the region.  Pinot Noir is known for its difficulty to get right and is indicative of a winemakers skills.  Pinots should be a well balanced blend of sweetness, acidity and tannins.  They should have hints of dark red tree fruit such as cherrys and plums as well as pepper and tobacco.  Served with the wines were a strong salami and a mix of mushrooms with herbs, ginger, garlic and shallots on bread.  Pinots are an excellent pairing with lean proteins, Asian and moderately spicy food and herbal foods.  Each wine was served in a fresh, clean glass and the tasting was blind. Each panelist was asked to rate the wines in order of favourite to least favourite 1 - 4.  Each wine scored 4 points for each first place vote, 3 for second, 2 for third and 1 point for fourth.  They also left comments on the cards with what they liked and disliked. The consensus choice with 4 of a possible 6 first place votes and a total of 21 of 24 points was the French representative.  Generally the comments were "well balanced" "peppery" "less harsh" The second place wine was Canada's (yeah!).  Receiving 15 of 24 points, 1 first place vote and 3 seconds. Two people, however, rated it least favourite. "Dry" "peppery" "less harsh" were the typical comments. Third was the New Zealand wine which I was told was the LCBO's number one selling Pinot Noir.  The panel did not agree with only one person rating it their favourite and one second place.  This wine scored a total of 14 out of 24 so only slightly lower than the Canadian.  The panel found this wine lighter in colour and body than the others and too unbalanced for their palates. Fourth was the American wine with no first place votes, 1 second place and the most fourth place votes than any other wine.  It scored ten of a possible 24 points.  Tasters found it too heavy on tannins and much too dry.  They struggled finding the fruit in this wine.  (on a personal note: I think this wine would do best with a roast chicken or turkey than the others but is not a casual wine which may explain its rating with this panel) Let me say that this is not intended to suggest that one wine is better than any other (though hard to argue against any good French wine) but is meant to demonstrate the palate diversity of average drinkers and to, perhaps, breakdown some of the snobbery surrounding Ontario wines.  I think the panel would be much more inclined to try a VQA wine.  I think they were surprised and delighted with their choice.  All 4 wines are very good and I would have no problem recommending them.  Remember, a recommendation is not a guarantee of enjoyment.