In a recent tasting of 12 California and Oregon Pinots, and French Red Burgundies a surprise wine arose among the pack of highly rated and highly regarded wines.
The line-up included:
- Domaine Faiveley “Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru” 96 Vinous
- Domaine Dujac “Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru” 96 Vinous
- Domaine Robert Groffier “Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru” 95 Vinous
- Domaine Armand Rousseau “Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru” 95 Parker
- Brick House Pinot Noir “Les Dijonnais” 95 Parker
- Patricia Green Pinot Noir” Freedom Hill Vineyard Perspicacious Cuvée” 96 Vinous
- Sequitur Pinot Noir “Ribbon Ridge” 95 Vinous
- Bergström Pinot Noir “Bergström Vineyard” 95 Vinous
- Domaine Drouhin-Laroze “Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru” 95 Parker
- Domaine Armand Rousseau “Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru” 95 Parker
- Brick House Pinot Noir “Les Dijonnais” 95 Parker
- LaRue “Thorn Ridge” Pinot Noir 94 Vinous
Our group of 15 tasters rated the top 3 wines as follows:
LaRue “Thorn Ridge” (7 First, 5 Second, 1 Third rate votes)
Domaine Dujac “Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru” (5 First, 4 Second, 3 Third rate votes)
Patricia Green Pinot Noir” Freedom Hill Vineyard Perspicacious Cuvée” (3 First, 3 Second, 6 Thrid rate votes)
So the winner of the Euro/American Pinot Noir tasting… LARUE “THORN RIDGE” PINOT NOIR
Along with their legendary Klopp Ranch Vineyard, Ted Klopp and his daughter, Lauren, farm Thorn Ridge Vineyard. It is a steep eastern-facing sloped vineyard planted on Goldridge sandy loam soils. This wine is a blend of two blocks from the vineyard that are planted to Pommard and 115 clones. Thorn Ridge is located just west of the town of Sebastopol where a heavy marine influence gives notes of dark fruit integrated with spicy undertones to the wine.
LaRue 2015 Thorn Ridge, Sonoma Coast
GGWC 74.99
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Winemaker Notes: “Dark fruit aromas of lush plum and brambly blackberry immediately burst from the glass and play off of the spice notes of sage, anise, and thyme. On the palate, the acidity is bright and flavors of cherry, strawberry, and cranberry intermingle with notes of oak spice. The mouth-filling tannin is present, yet integrated and lingers on the finish.”
Vinous 94 Points: “The 2015 Pinot Noir Thorn Ridge offers lovely density and mid-palate pliancy to play off the more energetic notes that are typical of this Sonoma Coast site. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint and star anise add an exotic flair to this very pretty, silky Pinot from Katy Wilson.”
Also check out:
LARUE 2017 CHARDONNAY “CHARLES HEINTZ” SONOMA COAST
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