Brilliant debut from Nick Elliott at Nicora

When I was returning home from World of Pinot Noir in March, I stopped off in Paso Robles to taste at Epoch, Terry Hoage and Herman Story. As the wine business anywhere is somewhat of a small community, I always ask about new producers that may be emerging. I heard the name Nicora at my first stop (uttered in what I took to be ‘real insider skinny’. The next stop allowed me to learn a little more about the credentials of the maker and look at the website. After that, the brand went on my short list of producers to follow up with the next time i was in the area, which was Hospice du Rhone, where I finally met the winemaker, Nick Elliott. As I was moving through the tasting at a pretty fast pace, I asked if we could meet up a week later when I returned from my tasting trip to Santa Ynez. We got that chance yesterday and the results were very impressive… To read the complete reviews on the debut vintage, please register and subscribe at www.pdwr.co

Sharing the Guest Article - Paul Mabray of VinTank

I just published issue four of purely domestic wine report for subscribers but I wanted to provide a way for the public to have free access to the guest article in this issue written by Paul Mabray of VinTank. Click on the image above and the document will open in the issuu.com format. Thanks for visiting!

purely domestic wine report

First review - 2009 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

It was six months ago where I reviewed the previous vintage from Cathy Corison in pdwr | issue one. I received samples last week and put the 2009 into a flight of a dozen other Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from the vintage and it came out very near the top. Corison regularly creates wines that defy the convential wisdom of what should be coming out of the region, creating elegant wines that are a full 2% lower in alcohol than many of its peers. 

2009 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 13.6% alcohol, $70. 1500 cases

Vibrant nose of cherry, plum, lilac and violet with underlying graphite, loam and gravel. The palate has a delicate, floral feel along with blue fruit; berries and plum, in a cut-velvet texture. The emphasis is on restraint and balance through the mid palate, where it develops some supple underlying flavors through the finish of bright red pomegranate, brilliantly polished. Drink 2012 - 2022.

Premiere Napa Valley

Today is the unofficial start of PNV with Peay, Gallica, Drinkward - Peschon, Failla and Hirsch. Probably a few tweets from me before Sunday!

Kosta Browne 2009/2010 Pinot Noir - a Special Report

Special Report 1/13/2012

When it comes to discussing Pinot Noir in California it doesn’t take long before somebody mentions the initials ‘KB’. This acronym is insider shorthand for what is to their fans, sommeliers and critics one of the most consistently high quality yet diversified wineries of its type.

The winery is Kosta Browne, founded in 2000 by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. 

I spent an afternoon at the winery recently where I tasted through the 2009 vintage comprising 11 Pinot Noir and followed that up with an efficient sampling of 2010 barrel samples with winemaker, Shane Finley. 

Content is for subscribers to www.pdwr.co only.