Wine Notes > Vertical Tasting Notes
Although your own palate will best define aging readiness for you, here are our thoughts on 14 vintages of Reserve Pinot Noir, 12 vintages of Ian's Reserve Chardonnay, and 5 of INOX Chardonnay, with advice on when to serve, so you don't have to go into your cellar to assess them (0-4 * ratings & drinking status / 0-T-H = over the hill). Note: All wines were tasted in April 2009.
Reserve Pinot Noir (1994 to 2007)
(Prior to 2002 this wine was named Rion Reserve)
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995
1994 *** NOW/O-T-H: dry, dusty, mineral, sweet red fruit wisps, dark chocolate.
1995 **+ NOW: sweet fruit, orange rind, expansive, nice balance, coffee, supple tannin.
1996 **** NOW: orange tea color, but exotic spice, orange, cedar box, amazing silky texture and balance, sweet long finish!
1997 ** NOW: dried red fruit, lean, slightly reductive, a bit hard, nice finish and acid.
1998 **+ NOW: dried red fruit, big extraction, slight Brett, rustic tannin, cedar.
1999 ***+ NOW: big, broad, dense, sweet red-fruited 3-D Pinot, prune, mineral, chocolate.
2000 **+ NOW: red fruit, spice, supple, slight Brett, sweet and slightly dried, short.
2001 ** NOW: red fruit, slightly reductive, rich palate, wood, slightly drying, cedar.
2002 *** NOW/HOLD: round, soft, cherry/cranberry fruit, forest, seashell, complex.
2003 **+ NOW: intense, black color, overripe character, big, sweet, amarone, tannin, tar.
2004 **** NOW/HOLD: deep red raspberry/cherry, delicate, silky, complex, great spice.
2005 ***+ HOLD: red-black fruit, brown edge, mineral-earth, tight, tannin, creamy texture.
2006 **** NOW/HOLD: big, sweet, soft, intense lifted red fruit, great spice, full, balanced.
2007 ***
HOLD: bright, light, intense sweet red fruit, acid, fine tannin, light palate weight now.
Ian's Reserve Chardonnay (1996 to 2007)
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996
1996 ** O-T-H: golden, oxidized, ripe fleshy, rich palate, acid still there.
1997 *** NOW: yellow, fresh fruit, spice, honey, light, great acid, barrel, balanced.
1998 **** NOW: gold-yellow, custard, spiced pears, tropical, rich, big, creamy, prime.
1999 O-T-H: gold-brown, oxidized-aldehydic, acid still there.
2000 ** NOW: yellow-green, grapefruit, brioche, spicy, slight bitterness, mineral, oak.
2001 *** NOW: wet stone, gardenia, corn, peach pit, creamy, acid balance, young.
2002 *** NOW: platinum-yellow, crème caramel, mineral, butter, rich, broad, balanced.
2003 **+ NOW: green-platinum, gardenia, alcohol, tropical-banana, short, acid OK.
2004 *** NOW: platinum-yellow, white peach, mineral, bruised fruit, rich, supple, weight.
2005 **** NOW/HOLD: platinum-yellow, complex citrus-honey-biscuit-brioche-cream, great texture and balance, huge but focused.
2006 ***+ NOW: platinum-green, tropical, lemon curd, perfect mineral-blossom aroma, acid, creamy.
2007 ****
HOLD: platinum, white blossom, gardenia, talc, firm, acid, Meyer lemon, sexy.
INOX Chardonnay (2003 to 2007)
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002
2003 *** NOW: platinum-blonde, mineral, white fruit, sea spray, slight reduction, chalk, smoke, rich, round.
2004 *** NOW: platinum-blonde, quince, melon, lychee, menthol, fleshy, full palate, great texture and balance.
2005 *** NOW/HOLD: steely, mineral, bruised peach, wet stone, bright, rich, sweet, apricot, perfect balance.
2006 ***+ NOW: jasmine, sweet fruit, hard candy, tropical-citrus-apricot fruits, slight bitterness, acid, a little alcohol, full palate.
2007 **** HOLD: intense white blossom, ginger, mineral, white peach, lime zest, vibrant acid-balance, long finish.
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