TN request

[Sam M]

Anyone have tasting notes on Dalton petite Sirah 2010?

Also , read a positive note on the Pacifica Pinot noir. Anyone taste this yet?.

Sam

[David Raccah]

Have not had the new Dalton PS yet - here are my notes on the Pacifica PN:

2010 Pacifica Pinot Noir - Score: B+ to A-
This is one of the first kosher wines from Oregon (there is another one from AlexEli and City Winery) and a wine whose grapes were sourced from the Willamette Valley and Hood River Valley (Phelps Creek Vineyard). The nose on this dark ruby colored wine is heady with vibrant almost burnt toasted oak, along with classic varietal aromas of cherry, raspberry, and plum. The mouth on this full bodied wine is wound pretty tight but yet surprisingly approachable with more toasty oak, nicely integrating tannin, that carries the fruit, mineral notes, and crushed herb, into a nice mouth coating mouthfeel. The finish is long and spicy with a hint of vanilla.

A nice wine but I actually liked the Goose Bay Pinot as much, which is more reasonably priced. Surprisingly, I cannot remember any other Pinot Noir at the Herzog IFWF, other than these two. Loved the Meritage!

David

[Pinchas L]

Hi David,

Yet, the Goose Bay is mevushal, whereas the Pacifica is not. Is the price discrepancy that pronounced? I recall seeing the Pacifica in a New York wine shop for about $26, which is pretty close to that asked for the Goose Bay. At that price, I do intend on sampling the Pacifica, though I haven't done so yet, and it will probably take me awhile to get around to it.

-> Pinchas

[David Raccah]

Yep, the Pacifica is not Mevushal, where as the Goose Bay is mevushal. The GB is drink up now, but nice, while the Pacifica is going no where with its tannin and body and good acidity, from the Oregon cold, but not a huge winner.

As usual, Pinchas you are correct, the cost of the Pacifica PN is not that high, around 24 or 25 at good kosher wine merchants. I saw the first one on the list, which is selling it at 30 and was wondering about the 10 dollar upside?

If you are holding it - get a bottle and try it side by side with the new 2009 Four Gates Pinot, The 2009 Galil Pinot, and the Ella Valley Pinot and see which you like better.

I would pass on the Yarden Pinot, not a favorite of mine

David

[Sam M]

Thanks David,
I was hoping to improve on the goose bay and I wasn't thrilled with the yarden either. I just checked and the four gates is not currently available. I gave the Pacifica to my brother to try . Let's see how he likes it.

Sam

[Craig Winchell]

Pacifica Pinot was the first wine I tried at the Herzog tasting, and Goose Bay was the second. I was not enamored with the Pacifica at all. It was a cool climate Pinot from a downright cold year. As such, it was handicapped by difficulty ripening, and doesn't impress the way a fully ripe cold-climate Pinot would. Decent low-intensity flavors in a thin, watery package. The Goose Bay was better, in that it was riper and higher intensity, but it was a bit reduced (but without H2S character). I think the guys know how to make wine, but I wasn't impressed. The technology of production, though, was noteworthy. The fermentations took place in fermentation bags, completely excluding any nonJews from the system, and therefore eliminating kashrus issues. And because the fermentation bags percolate wine over the skin cap automatically, no need for pumping over or punching down (if indeed there would have been a way to do that). Ingenious devices that are the wave of the future.

[YoelA]

Lotsa luck on getting the Ella Valley PN in New York. I was lucky to find any in Israel.

[David Raccah]

Indeed a tough find. There may be some Livni or Tanya as well, as they are brought in by Red Garden imports.

David