Trick question – It is always the right time for Pinot Noir!
To say Pinot Noir is unpredictable would be an understatement, but when it is good, WOW, simply mind blowing. But how do you know when it is best for you? Why would you trust another person’s opinion to tell you?
Today I opened a 1990 Coldstream Hills for the Yara Valley, Australia. A favorite wine of James Halliday (do your own research to know why).
They even date the cork!!!!
In the glass for me it was soo ‘clean’… a velvet smooth palette with a sweet component of soft leather, truffle/mushroom with a hint of olive.
The bottom line is I loved it, despite the online recommendation that it is past its best. This made me think… I wonder if it was past its best, perfect or still had more to go for ‘My Palette’… So I am keen to try a vertical tasting and make my way up through the 90’s to 2000. I will of course let you know how I go.
Author: Stuart
The Wine Wankers 
Pinot Noir is deliciously unpredictable, though plenty of air certainly seems to help, doesn’t it? I must say I am becoming a Wine Wanker sycophant, as I find myself nodding through an awful lot of what you write.
I would always echo your sentiment above: ‘best’- for whom? Wine is so subjective- the most intimate of decisions- the almost indecipherable architecture- I can almost always find something to rave about in most bottles… Before simply just ‘raving’…
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Its true, I did decant half the bottle! it helped it to open up…. Glad you like what we write, this is the place for raving on about wine so please keep your comments coming!
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Truffle/mushroom with a hint of olive?! Sold!
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When I read it back it does sounds funny to enjoy those flavors in a drink, but it’s true. (FYI – you have a great blog!)
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I bet but I just don’t think I have had anything taste like that- awesome! And thank you!! 😀
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Sounds like a great score Stu! Save some for me!! 😉
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Pinot is a varietal that complete wine drinkers appreciate!
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Thanks for the like on my poem “midnight in wonderland.” What a cool site. Informative, too. Good to see you enjoying yourself here.
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I had the WORST Pinot Noir last weekend. The bottle lasted 4 days. I had to force myself to drink it. I’m glad your experience was a lot better.
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Pinot Noir is a tricky grape to grow, hence the expensive prices… my advice is when you find a good one, remember the region it was grown, then buy only from vineyards in that region… You will have a good one trust me! if not use it for cooking 🙂
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Back home in Cote Chalonnaise, Bourgogne, if it is a Cote Chalonnaise I might wait up to 6 years for best appreciation but a great Bourgogne Pinot Noir might have to wait double.
Alright, we are all snobs in France (and even worse in Japan!)!
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I’m back. Wanted to thank you for pulling me into the action on the follower count issue. Still not resolved but I appreciate your thinking of me like that. Re: the other post: I could go for some lamb right now.
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🙂
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I go to school in Canada and we just now are learning about this in the classroom.
Thanks for helping me with the last little bit of my report.
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