Feb

5

Loring Wine Company

Filed Under Reds

Today I had the fun experience of meeting Pinot “rockstar” Brian Loring.

Brian’s name is well known around the office, as his wines have been responsible for impressing plenty of our clients lately. I’ve recommended many of the beautiful Pinot Noir gems he has produced for the Pali label and today we had the treat of tasting through six of his 2007 single vineyard Pinots from his personal label, Loring Wine Company.

Brian’s story is an interesting one. He reports that he first discovered his love for the Pinot grape while working in a Hollywood wine shop where he was introduced to the great Burgundies from Domaine Dujac, Henri Jayer and DRC. It was only after he literally tripped over a case of Josh Jenson’s Calera Pinots in the wine shop that he discovered a Pinot he could love that wasn’t made in Burgundy.

Without any formal winemaking training or experience, he was fueled purely by his passion for the varietal and was ultimately taken under the wing of Norm Beko from Cottonwood Canyon where he learned the “hard way” how to make truly great Pinot from California fruit.

Ten years later, Brian Loring is a considered a bit of a super-star with his new school style of Pinots from some of the finest, coveted vineyards from California to the Willamette Valley. It’s important to note that Brian’s intent is not to make Pinots that will age for the long term, rather to produce a wine that shows very well, right now. Very fruit forward, extracted – new school – is his artistic bent. “We’re not your father’s Pinot producer..” he said while cracking opening one of his highly rated screw-capped Pinots.

Here’s what we tasted from the 2007 vintage..

2007 Keefer Ranch Vineyard ~ Russian River Valley ~ WS 92

This wine showed a bright nose of fresh strawberry jam that just about jumped out of the glass. Good legs point to a fair amount of glycerin. On the palate it was intense, young, with good fruit and acid. A very fruit forward Pinot that would likely be very food friendly. 1050 cases.

2007 Rosella’s Vineyard ~ Santa Lucia Highlands ~ WS 92

Much more of a restrained nose than the Keefer, but definitely a weightier mouthfeel. Again, very nice acid but instead of strawberries, I got more of a sweet baked cherry pie experience. 750 cases.

2007 Russell Family Vineyard ~ Paso Robles ~ WS 93

This Pinot has a very impressive, very dark nose. On the palate I experienced more of an overripe strawberry, strawberry-rhubarb pie with a slight hint of mushroom. 725 cases.

2007 Aubaine Vineyard ~ San Louis Obispo ~ WS 93

This is a lighter, even more fruit forward Pinot with lively, bright and very well balanced fruit. 350 cases.

2007 Cargassacchi Vineyard ~ Santa Rita Hills ~ WS 91

Wow. What an example of new school style Pinot: Rich, jammy in the mouth with essense of mushrooms, sweet chocolate covered cherries with a touch of white pepper and earth. 275 cases.

2007 Clos Pepe Vineyard ~ Santa Rita Hills ~ WS 94

Definitely the most beautiful and perfumed nose of the bunch. Good black cherry and blueberry on the palate. Really couldn’t get over the prettiness of that nose and the finish leaves you with even more perfume, but not overbearing by any means. 800 cases.

Contact Jonathan Keller to acquire Brian Loring’s impressive Pinots

Feb

4

Black Coyote Reserve

Filed Under Reds

Today Dr. Bates, the founder and owner of Black Coyote Chateau came to the office and poured his 2005 Black Coyote Reserve Cabernet.


The 2005 Black Coyote Reserve was made entirely from Atlas Peak fruit, grown in red-volcanic soils in a mountain-top environment that consistently remains around ten degrees cooler than the Napa Valley floor. The Atlas Peak region is known for producing intense, low yield fruit. And in the hands of winemaker Marco DiGiulio (Pine Ridge Winery, Atlas Peak Vineyards, Pezzi King, Pepi, Lakoya) the 2005 crop was transformed into an exceptionally fine example of mountain-top Napa Cabernet.

Although this is not the first time I have tasted this wine, it certainly seems to impress me more each time I do.

The first thing I noticed about this wine this time around was the beautiful, luxurious nose, albeit with some restraint. Expressing rich dark fruits that almost seemed to want to cut through the initially tight nose, but it definitely unfolded nicely over the two or so hours it spent breathing in my glass. On the palate, it was soft and elegant. Almost like silk in the glass. I specifically caught a hint of ripe summer blackberry on the finish.

This is a fine example of collectible Cabernet from the Atlas Peak region in Napa. At a mere 800 case production in 2008 and an even smaller 670 case production in 2006 (not yet released) I expect this wine to continue to receive praise in the trade press and likely more price increases in the marketplace. If you like well balanced, complex and elegant top-shelf Napa Cabernets that will age well, you should definitely put away a box (or few) of the 2005 Black Coyote Reserve.

Contact Jonathan Keller to acquire Black Coyote Reserve.

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