This was opened at Otis' Cellar Diminishment Party last weekend with 5 other Pinots. Lets get controversial here. I know there are a lot of fans of this wine on the board (some members even put it on their top 10 lists); however, out of the 4 Pinots I tried at this event, this wine was my least favorite. I will also note that this wine only received 1 3rd place vote putting it in a 5 place tie for 24th place.

In fact, this wine should not even be labelled Pinot Noir in my opinion. Sure it contains Pinot Noir grapes but it contains none of the elegance or nuances that I expect in a fine Pinot Noir. I think GMT in Japan was correct when he called this a "love it or hate it" wine. Although I did not hate it, I definitely am not a fan. However, I will conceed that fans of big, alcoholic, concentrated wines (like Zin) will find this to their liking. My note:

Inky purple/red color. This wine is too ripe and showing some heat which hints at its 15.5% alcohol. Thick and concentrated with high glycerin/acidity. Notes of blackberry, spice and a little cinnamon on the finish. 86-87 points.

VM

VM et al,

I appreciate your TN. As a Martinelli lover, I found this wine to be one of the single best PN I've ever tried, including DRCs. (Well, I'd take the DRC :-) but I love the Martinelli.) I can understand why a person who isn't a fan of "over the top" wines might not like this, but I question whether you had a slightly off bottle. Over the course of my wine-drinking career, this is one of only two PN that I have ever purchased more than 4 of (the other was also a Martinelli). Enough people on these boards are enamoured enough with this wine that, while you shouldn't run out and try another bottle, I would be very interested to read another TN of yours on this bottle, should you have another occasion to consume it.

a

I didn't try this bottle on Saturday, but I had it recently with cbmac in London.

I rated it 89P, and agree with VM that it is extremely extracted and tastes more like a zin or syrah. I personally prefer Martinelli's single vineyard bottlings, since they tend to have more subtlety and finesse.

Cheers,

Otis

1999 Martinelli Pinot Noir Reserve - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (3/29/2006)

Scubarex brought this to dinner on Tuesday to a local fine dining restaurant which was waiving corkage. A PinotZin. The 15.5% alcohol showed on this wine. Awkward and unbalanced which is consistent with my prior tastings of this wine. The wine mellowed out a little with some air but never pulled it together. Too much oak. Too much alcohol. Too much everything really. If this were labelled a Zin it would be more varietally correct. Not my style. Others may like it. 86 points.

This was blown away by the 2003 Williams Selyem RRV Pinot we poured at the same dinner. The 2000 Martinelli PN Reserve that I had last year was much better as well.

VM

Please allow me to play secretary.

A

lot of

people

disagree.

I know whose

palate

to trust.

Am I supposed to change my opinion of this wine because others like it? It is not my style. Simple as that. I understand that those who like superconcentrated wines will like it. I said that in my original post. Others who like a more integrated and Burgundian style will not like it. I believe Tom Mortimer (maker of Le Cadeau) called the Martinelli you poured for him during your Oregon visit a PinotZin as well. Different palates like different wines.

VM

PS. Excellent use of links. However, the link you provided with the word "disagree" links right back to this thread and my 86 point score.

quote:

Originally posted by Vino Me:
Am I supposed to change my opinion of this wine because others like it? It is not my style. Simple as that.

You're absolutely right.

quote:

Excellent use of links. However, the link you provided with the word "disagree" links right back to this thread and my 86 point score.

You're absolutely right about that also, but the next poster, Whiner, on that thread wrote, "I found this wine to be one of the single best PN I've ever tried, including DRCs."

Forget it. I guess I shouldn't have posted that. I love this wine and it seems many disagree with you, but I'm certain you wouldn't have posted what you did if you didn't believe it, especialy knowing how many others loved this wine. Actually, I should have posted it but in less inflammatory terms.

Kumbaya, m'lord, Kumbaya...