Pinot Noir lovers spoke out loud and clear at the 7th Annual Pinot Noir Summit. In an unmistakable statement of preference, they embraced wines of elegance and varietal authenticity rather than burly Syrah-like Pinots, the muscular Pinot Noirs made popular by a few influential reviewers and their publications.

 

Over 300 adventurous Pinot Noir lovers, seeking true splendor in the glass, delighted in tasting forty-four luscious Pinot Noirs in a blind tasting at The Pinot Noir Summit. The award winning wines were selected by a professional panel in a series of blind tastings from a field of 267 wines. The wines at the Pinot Noir Summit represented the best of the best from this year’s Pinot Noir Shootout.

 

The Shootout is the only competition where the judges’ conclusions are put to the test by an unbiased panel of wine lovers. All results and comments are gender specific.

 

    7th Annual Pinot Summit Results:

    Men:
    First Place
     - David Bruce 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    Second Place
     - Claiborne & Churchill 2006 Twin Creeks Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
    Third Place
     - Left Edge 2007 Bodega Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

    Women:
    First Place
     - Left Edge 2007 Bodega Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    Second Place
     - Lucienne 2006 Lone Oak Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
    AND
     - David Bruce 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    Third Place
     - Brutocao 2006 Estate Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

    Shootout Panel Results:
    Men:
    First Place
     - Left Edge 2007 Bodega Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    Second Place
     - Heart O' The Mountain 2006 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains
    Third Place
     - David Bruce 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

    Women:
    First Place
     - Bohemian 2007 Freestone Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
    Second Place
     - Segue 2007 Filligreen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
    AND
     - Sonoma Coast Vineyards 2006 Freestone Hills Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    Third Place
     - Claiborne & Churchill 2006 Twin Creeks Pinot Noir, Edna Valley

 

The women delegates at The Pinot Noir Summit selected Pinots viewed as silky, elegant, velvety, and well-balanced by the female judges, wines displaying finesse over structure.

 

Complete results: http://www.affairsofthevine.com/7th-pinot-noir-summit-results.php

 

Unique aspects of the PN Shootout:

 

• The most comprehensive and focused tasting of Pinot Noir in the US, utilizing an incredibly diverse panel of experts.
• Just 32 wines are tasted by the experts per day, allowing the judges to be completely immersed, focused and fair to the wines.
• There’s no palate fatigue as a factor.
• The wines are tasted completely blind without reference to appellation, vintage or price.