Palate: Cherry, black cherry, red berries, berry, teaberry, strawberry, raspberry, plum, prune, raisin, herbs, basil, peppermint, baking spices, white pepper, tobacco, earthy, oak, well-balanced between tannin acidity and sweetness, fleshy, rich, classic.įinish: Eucalyptus, mint, anise, barnyard, woody, smooth, silky, satisfying, fantastic.įollowing harvest, the hand-picked Pinot Noir Grapes for this wine were sorted, destemmed and fermented in open-top tanks, after which the wine was transferred to French oak barrels (15% new) for aging for 8 months before bottling.Īroma: Cherry, strawberry, black raspberry, deep blackberry, currant, sweet plum, raisin, lots of fruit, oregano, spice, cinnamon, black pepper, ash, leather, oak, earthy, bright. Following harvest and fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was aged for 10 months in 100% French oak.Īroma: Dark cherry, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry, plum, figs, dried cherry, dried pineapple, mixed spice, pink peppercorn, wood, oak, smoke. Grapes for this wine hailed from vineyards noted for morning fog and cool afternoon maritime breezes, providing a long, gentle ripening of the fruit. The appelations are identified for each brand. The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. There were no bronze medals awarded for this tasting. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. The judges wrote down their impressions of each wine on score sheets. Only ice water and white peasant bread were available to cleanse the palate. Each of the wines were poured into fresh wine glasses from new sealed bottles and served at room temperature. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. (Best 2020-2032) - May, 2016 (JD)įind More: California Coast - Vol.The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 14 recent release California Pinot Noirs with 16 members of our wine judging panel. Today, La Côte is most impressive for its remarkable purity and overall elegant personality, but this is sure to continue to develop and gain further even complexity with additional bottle age. On the palate this is fine-tuned and well structured with gorgeous silky tannins making for an absolutely lovely mouthfeel. It opens with gorgeous aromas of black raspberries, wild red berries and pomegranate, woven together with muddled rose petals, spices and a subtle ash/mineral character. This single vineyard Pinot Noir is fermented with 100% whole bunches and aged for 20 months in 20% new Ermitage barrels which give wonderful characteristics to the wine. The 2014 'La Côte' Pinot Noir is an striking beauty from Domaine de la Côte.

Folie a deux wine pinot noir 2014