My girlfriend (or, as she has now taken to refering to herself, the "demander-in-chief") and I had our traditional "Sunday Wine Night" last night. After all, it was Sunday night...
'01 Martinelli Charles Ranch. Very very good. Brown spices. Cinnimon. A bit of orane rind. Poached pear style fruit. Not overly oaked, but good oak structure and spiciness. Slight buttery note. 91
Despite all of this, I just couldn't get as exited as I wanted to about this wine. Maybe I am just weird, but I continue to prefer the Landmark Damaris in this price range. (I know the preceeding quote has cvome up in a bunch of other TNs I've posted, I just hokd that wine to be the standard bearer, I guess.)
'01 Martinelli Blue Slide Ridge Pinot Noir. This neded time, I won't open my next bottle for 1.5 years, at least. The wine most reminded me of the '99 Domaine Serene Grace vinyard in its dark, almost backward, brooding sense. It was incredibly well structured and complex. But for drinking right now, I actually prefer the less expensive, and much bigger and broader, Moonshine Ranch. Right now, I'd rate this wine a 91.5-92. But I know at some point I would rate it at least a 92.5, if not more.
I agree with your notes on the Blue Slide Ridge. It's a fantastic pinot, with great intensity -but also a measure of finesse. I'd rate it 93P. Should be at its peak in 2 years.
Cheers,
Otis
Posts: 3156 | Location: Chicago | Registered: Apr 03, 2002
tonight,my wife and i open a bottle of the 1999 domaine serene pinot noir grace vineyard. it was a great wine so elegant very dark in color ,the lite fruit coming through,an smooooth. i am not a pinot drinker but this one will bring me back,an the same for my wife. just one more in my cellar.