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Blindtasting Thursday 28 January 2010

The big freeze in Norway continues but the blind tasting panel has kept it's performance hot hot, something that was confirmed through the tasting last Thursday;

Wine # 1
Medium red colour with slightly brick coloured rim, with discrete smell of smoke, flowers. On the palate juicy, well balanced with nice acidity and a good length. Somewhat sweet on the aftertaste. the panel shoots for Pinot Noir from a warmer climate than France like perhaps down under or due east in USA.
Stangeland Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2006, 324 NOK or 35€ Score 17,20 and a P
Stangeland Vineyards & Winery

Wine # 2
Wine 2 was a similar style, perhaps more jammy like and thus more like the Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir tasted late last year. It was slightly more acidic but still well balanced juicy soft and elegant. Again the panel went for "hot" Pinot and was right again! The higher acidity of this southernmost vineyard in the world was explained by higher altitude and cool nights.

Felton Road Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, New Zealand ca 320 NOK (35€) Score 17,20 or P
Introduction -- Felton Road Wines -- New Zealand Wine -- Winery in Central Otago, New Zealand

Wine # 3
Wine 3 was unfortunately off, but the host came with a back up plan and the panel immediately had to adjust its palate to peppery rock solid syrah wine from the upper Rhone valley. Abs no doubt among the expertise that this was in Rhone, perhaps not Hermitage or Cote Rotie but St Joseph maybe? The answer was Cornas, which is the neighbour area to St Joseph. What a performance!!! The wine needs time to mature though as the tannins were tough.

Domaine Vincent Paris Granit 30 , Cornas 2007 Score 16,3 or P 
Domaine Vincent Paris - Producteur - France - CORNAS


Wine # 4
Ah! back to Pinot Noir, back to basic, back home, this is not far from Beaune, perhaps not a Beaune 1er, Gevrey or Chambolle. Should maybe go south from Beaune, but not Pommard, so we stop in Volnay due to the discrete lovely smell of "cool" cherries and the long silky but slightly acidic taste. A young wine, but not a too old Volnay 1er cru. It would perhaps benefit from some time if possible...(bloody good right now as well). The vintage is not hot, so 2005 is out while 2007 is perhaps too young. So 2006 ??? My god! Premium performance from a cold swept Panel!! Glorious!

Volnay 1er cu "Caillerets" 2006 by Bouchard ca 500 NOK Score 18,20?
 http://www.bouchard-pereetfils.com/en/fiches/Volnay_Caillerets_ancienne_cuvee_Carnot.pdf

Winter Wine Barrels, photograph by Larry Miller
Above picture of the Stangeland barrils, also apparantly subject to the "Big freeze". Perhaps they too are waiting for the melt down?

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