Gismondi on 2014 Pinot Noirs
New reviews on all 5 of our 2014 Pinot Noirs from Anthony Gismondi today!
93 Points ~ Micro Cuvee Pinot Noir 2014
“Only 110 cases of Micro Cuvée were made, all grown at McLean Creek Road. The fruit was picked from the 6th thorough the 21st of October and it is clear it was picked at selection. The Micro Cuvée is all about winemaker Chris Carson and his personal selection barrels that make what he terms the “most harmonious blend” of McLean Creek Road Vineyard. The grapes are mostly from the Pommard Clone 91 block with a small additions form the 114 block and the 667-777 block. Carson picked one new French oak 500-litre puncheon, a one-year-old French oak puncheon and a 228 litre barrel to make the blend. This is full blown new world pinot, a bit reminiscent of Central Otago. Round, silky and ripe on the palate, the fruit is a mix of dark plums and cherries with a spicy, dried thyme undercurrent. Full and long and persistent it is clearly harmonious. Bravo”
92 Points ~ Old Block Pinot Noir 2014
“The ‘Old Block’ is one of the original 1994 plantings (clone unknown) and is part of the largest block of pinot noir (one acre) at McLean Creek Road. It has a steep southerly aspect to capture the full range of the sun and in 2014 it got all the sun and more. The site was replanted in 2009 and it only came into full production in 2014. Finesse, length, sweet pinot notes and silky tannins are the story here and it looks as if these vines will have a bright future. Love the brightness and the absence of oak influence. Take note competitors.”
91 Points ~ Reimer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014
“East Kelowna is home to this juicy, spicy, alive pinot noir. The nose is mix of jasmine and super ripe black cherries. The attack is sweet pinot with silky, round, juicy, soft fruit awash in ripe, red berries, dried herbs and a touch of brown spice. Love the balance here between acid and alcohol and the back end persistence. This is a new level of quality for pinot for BC. The grapes were harvested October 30. The vineyard, moderately steep, has a northwesterly aspect with slightly heavier alluvial and windblown deposits making up a silt loam overlaying a gravel loam. Grilled salmon, whole roasted chicken or mushroom risotto would be a dream.”
90 Points ~ McLean Creek Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014
“The nose is a mix of rhubarb and strawberry with a touch of forest floor. The attack is firmer and drier than the ‘Okanagan blend’ with more spice and mid-palate weight and surprisingly some grippy tannins in the back end. I would leave this alone for three years to give it some time to settle in. Definitely a candidate for duck or grilled salmon. Mclean Creek Road Vineyard is on the home site. Its relatively steep slope, faces south, west and north west and sits over a mix of stony/sandy alluvial and glacial deposits. The vines mix five different Burgundian clones, both Pommard and Dijon, on three distinct blocks. Each block is managed separately using organic principles. The wine spends 11 months in French oak, 24% is new.”
89 Points ~ Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir 2014
“The gentle, minimal intervention style at Meyer filters all the way down to the introductory pinot simply labelled ‘Meyer’. It bears an Okanagan Valley designation and blends fruit from the home property Mclean Creek Road Vineyard in Okanagan Falls, Reimer Vineyard in South East Kelowna and two East Kelowna sites. Destemmed and cold soaked it undergoes a long fairly warm fermentation. It is all hand plunged and post maceration it spends ten months in 100% older seasoned French oak barrels. Certainly the ripest OK pinot we have tasted from Meyer, but what makes this better than past years is the juicy character of the wine. Cran-cherries, rhubarb, raspberry fruit covers the palate with that silky mouth-filling pinot texture. Fine quality and style and perfect with chicken or duck and or mushroom dishes. Good value. A mix of California and New Zealand meets BC.”
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