Context: acquired from a well-maintained amateur cellar in a mixed case. I’m working through the wines that are past their peak first. And I’m a novice at wine so please forgive amateur-ish notes as I attempt to give back to others on this sub whose notes have guided me well.
The color: weak purple, transparent at the edges of the glass.
The nose: some red fruit on the open, fading fast in the glass. (I interrupted this write-up to place a stopper on the bottle and relocate it to the fridge to prevent too much oxygen so it goes off a cliff.)
The palate: light with a smooth finish. Tannins have fully integrated at this point. Faint red fruit of cherry and cranberry with the first glass giving way to earthy notes with the second glass.
Assessment: on the downward slope from peak with evidence of sound winemaking and technical acumen in the flavor profile at this age. This Pinot noir valiantly outlived expectations. Wine Enthusiast rated it a 91 and that seems well-earned. Paired nicely with pizza with mushrooms.
Update: I just watched a YouTube interview with John and Kathy Zelko. Thanks to both of them for applying their craftsmanship to wine!
by allthisbrains2