2007 Lynmar Estate Quail Hill Vineyard (Bliss Block) Pinot Noir (94 Points)

DATE CONSUMED

Sunday, September 25, 2011

VINTAGE

2007

WINERY/PRODUCER

Lynmar Estate

VARIETAL

Pinot Noir

TYPE OF WINE

Red

COMPOSITION

100% Pinot Noir

SUBNAME/NICKNAME

N/A

VINEYARD DESIGNATION

Quail Hill Vineyard (Bliss Block)

REGION/A.V.A.

Russian River Valley

ALCOHOL CONTENT

14.4%

PRICE PAID

$63

WHERE BOUGHT/HOW PROCURED

Winery’s wine club

BOUQUET

Very earthy nose (especially chalk!), hinting/suggesting at fantastic terrior, along with white pepper, black and red fruit (blackberries and cherries), with delicate floral and smoke/tobacco fragrances thrown into the mix.

TASTING NOTES

Up front, the wine’s red and black fruit are most pronounced, especially black cherries, plums, raspberries, and blackberries, along with spices like white and/or black pepper and herbaceous herbs like sage/rosemary.  Midway through, a hint of creamy oak and the wine’s FANTASTIC terrior shine brightly; you can really smell and taste the chalky soils of Lynmar’s estate in this bottle!  This gorgeous wine has an incredibly soft, supple, silky finish with a PERFECT balance of acidity and tannins on the follow-through.

This is one of the smoothest, most elegant Pinots we’ve had all year.  Like any good, quality Pinot, the tasting profile goes miles deep and is as complex, interesting, and intriguing as one of the Coen Brother’s better movies.

We joined Lynmar’s wine club because when we first visited their tasting room, we were very impressed at how they sit you down at a table and bring over glasses of their current offerings, versus how most tasting rooms operate (belly-up to the bar).  Every single glass of wine we tatsed was out-of-this-world; that is when one should join a wine club!

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

We took this bottle to Marche Moderne in South Coast Plaza, our favorite restaurant in Orange County.  I had a grilled Spanish octopus salad with potatoes and chorizo (it was every bit as good as this wine!) and the wine paired wonderfully with my appetizer.  This wine would also go well with all of the typical Pinot pairings, like salmon, duck, prime rib, as well as lamb shanks, grilled beef, and a spiced pork loin.

AGING POTENTIAL

I would imagine this wine would continue to age well for another 5 to 10 years but is drinking beautifully right now.

SCORE

94

Q.P.R. (QUALITY-TO-PRICE RATIO) (POOR, FAIR, GOOD, EXCELLENT)

GOOD