2007 Copain Pinot Noir Kiser En Haut
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Tasting notes
Deep red. Powerful aromas of red berries and cherry skin are complicated by anise and dried rose nuances. Nervy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show impressive depth, with silky tannins giving shape to the wine. A tangy note of blood orange comes up with air and carries through the long, impressively energetic finish. Guthrie told me that the pH is 3.28, which is extremely low for a New World pinot and similar to some of the most energetic versions from New Zealand.
Critic scores
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Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
With slightly more fruit and crushed rock, and moving more into the raspberry flavor spectrum is the 2007 Pinot Noir Kaiser En Haut. This again displays some striking minerality that seems to emerge from this Anderson Valley vineyard, but the result is a tightly wound, compact wine that doesn’t deliver all the flavors and depth one expects. (Not yet released) One of my favorite California wine producers, Wells Guthrie, like a champion truffle-hunting dog, seems to unearth top vineyards for his wines. The other 2006 Pinots I tasted, as well as the 2007s, all seem austere, rather attenuated in the finish, and essentially angular. While obviously less charming and fleshy in their youth, I doubt they will age any better since there is not a whole lot of flesh on them. Part of this can be explained by the vintage of 2006, but that wouldn’t explain the same stylistic orientation of the 2007s. Turning to the 2007s, I think these are overall superior wines because of the better vintage. The 2007 Syrahs range from excellent to outstanding, and this seems to be Wells Guthrie’s strongest suit, as it has been in previous vintages. Tel. (707) 541-7474; Fax (707) 541-7575