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Black Tower Dornfelder Pinot Noir

Early in January, I tried Black Tower Dornfelder Pinot Noir for the first time. My parents served it with dinner, although I don't remember what food was on the menu. At the time, I found that I liked it, so I headed to the LCBO to pick up a couple of bottles a week or two later. I cannot be sure what changed, whether it was because I was drinking it with food the first time or some other unknown atmospheric change, but I was much less enthusiastic about the wine the second and third times.

Although I didn't keep tasting notes (something I'm not really sure how to do properly yet), the thing I remember most about the wine was how weak it tasted and smelled for a Pinot Noir. While Pinots tend to light-bodied, the Black Tower Pinot was far too light, with a very fruity taste, mostly reminiscent of the grapes wine is made from. Certainly not a complex Pinot, Black Tower was a recent vintage (I'm inclined to say 2005, but I neglected to write the year down before tossing the bottles in the recycling bin) that I probably will not buy again. As a table wine, it was acceptable, but the quality was only a notch or two above some of the do-it-yourself wine-making places. For the same price tag (about $12), there are better Pinot Noirs.

posted by Chris @ 1:18 PM