Never tasted a Pinot Noir ...

"Dee Dee" wrote in news:f88ads$g8e$ snipped-for-privacy@registered.motzarella.org:

The Otago is a nice bottle as I recall with good fruit and a lingering finish

Try Louis Jadot Pinot Noir, imported from France. About $18.

Scott wrote in news:CNKdnVn1q-1OIzrbnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

Fond as I am of French wine, I find the Jadot PN too oaky for my tastes. My first clue should have been that the PN was prominent and the Bourgogne was an afterthought.

"Dee Dee" wrote ..............

I am gobsmacked at this price - at current exchange rates, this equates to about $NZ20 - it is impossible to get a Central Otago PN for this price - even here in NZ, let alone allowing for shipping costs, two/three tier margins etc.

Mt Difficulty does a second label called "Roaring Meg" which sells in NZ for $NZ25 - and this is a very acceptable wine, so I figure that the Kirkland wine may be similar.

But - the pedantic side of my personality can pick a hole in their descriptions on their website.

Notwithstanding the fact that the 2006 was an early picked vintage, the grapes would not have been harvested until late March 06. (I mean, this IS the Southern Hemisphere!)

Allow several weeks for fermentation, then (as stated) 14 months in French oak) then (help me winemakers!!!) three/four weeks for racking, settling, stabilising, fining, bottling, labeling, packaging, a couple weeks shipping to the USA - importing and transshipment - hold on, that means this wine would be available - in September or October 07 ????

Someone has got their story a bit skew-wiff (oh the pain of being the pedant!)

Anyhow, there has been 100s of hectares of Pinot Noir planted in and around Central Otago over the past 10 years; commentators are silently predicting that CO PN may become the red equivalent of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Me? The best is superb New World Pinot - and at $US16 - well, one can't really go wrong.

Nice reply - many thanks. And I do enjoy labels and information being picked apart. My nature as well; however, wine is not my expertise to do so, so I depend on you.

I did look to see that Kirkland said the Oregon Pinot was stored in French Oak and stainless steel tanks. I did wonder at this statement, pondering "did some of them thar grapes go in French Oak barrels and some of them in tanks." OR was it that they all went first into French Oak barrels, THEN into stainless steel tanks."

Dee

$16.79.http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/ks_wine/?pg=5

I like Meridian Central Coast Pinot Noir from California. My only worry is that Consumer Reports actually agrees! There goes the price (about $10.00 last I looked).

Dan-O

No worry from me Dan-E-Boy. I won't be drinking Pinot Noir from California -- or Oregon again. In fact, after buying/trying a few U.S. wines in the few months or so, they've had their last chance for at least another decade; should I live so long. But, I'll have to limit my drinking to -- let's see, what is it for oldsters like me? 4 ounces a day - or is that every other day?

Dee

Unfortunately with Pinot Noir you get what you pay for. This particular varietal is fragile and not a big producer so the cost for good ones is always going to be high.

I lived in CA and Washington state for 30 years. I've had my share of those wines; no need for further 'testing.'

I think this is what I'll do ;-)) Looks like you're having too much fun to deprive you.

Dee

"Lawrence Leichtman" wrote ...........

Larry, I am not sure if I agree.

In my experience, Pinot Noir certainly is not fragile - but IT IS very particular as to the it's optimum growing conditions, to enable the making of quality wines.

Firstly, PN seems to require a growing environment offer a wide diurnal temperature range - ideally 30degrC days and 5degrC nights - something that either altitude in Ca or the northerly latitudes of Oregon offer.

It is also quite averse to humidity of any great degree, and certainly does prefer a little lime in/under the soil.

I also take issue with your statement that PN is "not a big producer" - in my experience, certain clones can crop up to ten tonnes per hectare - however, I do accept that it is an expensive variety to grow, and that the cost of producing a quality "new world" Pinot certainly does result in prices much higher than (say) Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah.

One think I do not despite - yes, good Pinot is never cheap, and cheap Pinot is seldom good,