In classic Harvest Moon Pinot Noir style, this floral, delicate 100% Pinot Noir has spicy red fruit and subtle herbal notes reminiscent of a cool Summer in Burgundy. Decant and allow to breath prior to 2020.
Harvest Moon Estate and Winery was founded on growing, producing and bottling world-class Russian River Valley wine in a balanced, elegant style. Our premise is that Russian River Valley Zinfandel can be just as layered and complex as any Pinot Noir or Bordeaux variety in the world and receive the same respect. The Pitts family has grown quality grapes in the Russian River Valley since 1976. In 2000, son Randy reverse migrated from San Francisco back to Sonoma County to assume the farming responsibilities at the family’s modest nine-acre ranch. In conjunction with lessons on farming by his Dad and a few viticulture/enology courses at the local junior college, Randy made a barrel of homemade Zinfandel off the ranch’s back block which turned out exceptionally tasty. Quickly concluding that properly farmed and judiciously fermented, Zinfandel has great capabilities of being California’s own wine nobility. The growers-turned winemakers birthed their inaugural vintage in 2002 and look forward to making their Zinprint on the winescene for decades to come.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NY, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Harvest Moon Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $39.99 $13.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Harvest Moon RRV Pinot Noir - $30 = 18.75%
@chipgreen Ok if you are excited, then I’m in for a case. I think we seem to have a similar palate for PN, or maybe this is just my justification (not that I need one) to buy a case. We are dangerously low on PN in the house…
@KCountry I recall tasting your own homemade Pinot Noir and it was quite good! It looks like you’re wanting to keep the whole case but I’d gladly take a couple bottles if you felt like parting with them.
I’d offer to swap '13s for '14s but my '13s are at jmdavidson’s in Chicago because HM didn’t ship to Ohio at the time. I probably won’t be picking them up until September.
@chipgreen Thanks. I’ve been making a whole lot of different things since then, and have been really playing with fruit infusions. The ladies of the neighborhood really like them. Know your audience…LOL.
I’m open to a swap if you want, my only concern is that I’m almost out of PN in the house. I’ll have to hide them in case the Mrs. is looking for some. Let me know, I’m game if you want.
@rjquillin@raiolysis@dbarrym I’d like three, but I’m perfectly willing to defer to others and get them solo depending on how things settle out with all of you in a case deal. Still, keep me in mind if you need help with a case!
@rjquillin@dbarrym@tklivory wow. maybe a two case order? i still haven’t broken into the 6’er of the '13 yet, so we’ll be trying that today… for science… (science!!)
@dbarrym@radiolysis@tklivory I’m thinking this may be a two case offer as well. I think I would like to hang onto at least six, so someone let me know who wants the other half and we’ll go from there.
mousy-sunken-throat
That just isn’t going to get an opportunity for an image.
@dbarrym@radiolysis@tklivory
radiolysis, since I’ve got the Zaca for you, you and the others want to work out a split of the remaining half case?
Two each just seems a bit frugal however…
@dbarrym@rjquillin@tklivory@elmariachi Looks like the '13 really got the office interested to the tune of a full case. So i won’t be in a split for this one. Ron, thanks for getting the ball going!
@dbarrym@radiolysis@rjquillin I’d be good for that, sure! Though I did see @elmariachi say they might be interested, and as I said, I’d be fine to solo if it worked out better for a case amongst others.
@dbarrym@elmariachi@radiolysis@tklivory Dang, missed that.
Well, if interest increases and we don’t want to leave anyone out or short bottles, we still have a couple days to consider a second case so everyone could have additional.
Total including tax and free shipping worked out to $11.70/btl.
I’m confused by the drinking window info: “…tasty now but will benefit from up to a decade in the cellar” and “Decant and allow to breath prior to 2020.” Ok, sounds good. But then: “Drinkable: now till 2020.” So, it will or it won’t age well? Either way, I’m interested, just curious if there’s any clarification!
@Harvest_Moon Randy! Glad to see you here! How many more vintages of this are there? You mentioned on the old site that you were stopping with the still pinot.
@klezman I’ve cut my Pinot production way back. Although I’m Focusing on the bubbles now, I’m still making 4-6 barrels per year. I guess that’s me “not making Pinot anymore”. Ha, I’m in the heart of the RRV! They’d kick me me out if I didn’t make at least 100 cases
@Boatman72 appropriate question! 3-5 from receiving it in mail, although I’d pull the cork sooner, decant and have a chicken pasta in creamy white sauce close by.
What’s up CaseMates! A new forum, familiar peeps. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my Pinot Noir offer. This is not your typical RRV pinot meeting at the crossroads of syrupy, flat cherry cola and Brown sugar (oak). This Burgundian Pinot is elegant and light in its feet. Thank you for supporting! Ask me questions
@klezman@losthighwayz
I can take some if needed. Consistently good and way over delivers on QPR at this price. Plus I like Randy and like helping him reduce inventory.
@CorTot@losthighwayz@i8dacat@javadrinker
I’m buying a case and taking 6. You three can sort out the rest and let me know who owes me I’ll default to 3-4 for lost and 2-3 for either cortot or i8dacat. With two cases likely coming it seems all can get in on the action easily enough.
I’ve got 5 or 6 bottles for lost sitting here as well.
$11.70/bottle
@TimW Yes, I liked Esoterica pinot as well. The Winesmith Pinot the last of whcih was selling to Wooters and on special for about $25 a bottle has been my favorite Pinot of the last few years. That would be a good comparison to see too.
@scott0210@TimW You mentioned perhaps my favorite PN recently, the WineSmith, and I think this compares quite favorably, but maybe one rung below it. To my palate, I’d say this is a bit more interesting, especially with some air, than the Esoterica (which I also enjoyed).
@drhellknow@scott0210@TimW Among the last few Woot PNs, the 2013 Esoterica is good, and the 2007 WineSmith RRV is my all time favorite PN. So it is reassuringly high praise for this Harvest Moon PN to be compared to the latter.
@drhellknow@scott0210@TimW The 2013 PN I referred to is the Engracia, which Clark Smith also recommended. I have not tried the 2016 Esoterica yet but glad to hear that you guys like it.
@drhellknow@scott0210@SoSmellyAir@TimW Added Engracia tag. Good news there is now an account. No activity yet, but we’ll see him this week at the launch party. Hope something is in the works.
The 2013 PN I referred to is the Engracia (@engraciawines), which Clark Smith also recommended.
Greetings and good morning from Ohio. I was fortunate enough to get a preview of this little PN to test, and I made a few notes. Disclaimer: I’m someone who enjoys my wines, but I’m not great at going taste-to-words.
I arranged to have this with a friend of mine as the night received this, my wife and I were finishing up a bottle of the Esoterica PN and she informed me that she doesn’t generally like PN because it “just tastes like grapes.” That said, I wasn’t going to squander this opportunity. But on to the wine.
We started this one rather late, despite knowing that the recommendation was to let it take on air. Cork pulled about 20:45, with a small sample poured into two glasses, and the remainder into a decanter to (1) follow directions and (2) see what happens. The nose was very floral for us both, and I kept coming back to wildflowers along the highway right after they’ve been mowed in the hills of Virginia, but that’s oddly specific. As for the taste, I picked up a lot of tart cherries with almost no other fruitiness, some minerality, and a relatively short finish.
We chatted a while, enjoyed a few crackers, talked about snow and travel (one causing the other), and made our way to 21:35 where we made a proper pour. The change was dramatic. Now, the nose was much less pronounced. There were hot fruits, the taste of oak was prominent, it was much smoother than on initial sample. The tartness of the cherries in my earlier sample had changed to something broader and not as pointed, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it spicy. I felt like there was a nice taste of rainwater over granite that tied the whole glass together for me.
I’m not sure how, but that glass and the conversation about it lasted around seventy minutes and we didn’t get to another pour until 23:00. At this point, there was almost no strong fragrance, but we were hoping that what we found in the first hour’s wait would prove truer with the extra ninety minutes. As we drained the decanter into the glasses and took our first taste of the resulting breathing, we were quite pleased. The fruit that had started to appear earlier now had a very pleasant gravity, although hints of tartness that had previously vanished had snuck back in (but nowhere near as much as initial sample). The oak mellowed, and we tried to decide if we were tasting vanilla and couldn’t settle that so I noted possible vanilla. I still found there to be some hints of granite at this point, but it was much less substantial. I really was smooth and easy to drink.
My friend generally has three classifications of wine (which I’m going to butcher, I’m sure): (1) wine that’s a good value (2) wine that’s too expensive and (3) wine that’s a good value at any price; he put this one in that third category. In fact, we both really liked this PN and talked about buying it when it came up today. The way that this matured over the course of a couple of hours made me want to get more—it really was a nice experience to sample this through it maturation in our glasses.
Wow—that turned out to be a lot of words, and many of them unrelated. Whoops. Thanks for the chance to share!
@drhellknow Nice review! I was going to buy a case, but thought I’d read your thoughts before making the final decision. Seems like a no brainer.
Where in OH are you? There are a bunch of us in NE OH that are joining forces and splitting cases, and @chipgreen is also doing his best to get the gang together for wine dinners in the area.
@chipgreen@mrn1 I didn’t mention it in the write-up, but I’m certainly in for a case after that experience. I’m down in Columbus, along with a couple of others (@knmeh7 and @seemannc come to mind) and there’s a few more down toward Dayton and Kettering I’ve seen floating around. I might be able to convince my wife to take a trip NE some time, as long as it’s not for PN.
@jeffreywsnyder I know it’s a strange thing to say, but it reminds me a lot of exactly that. There are a number of reasons I know that taste, only one of which was that I was a kid once. But it’s not weird, really.
Greetings all!
I was lucky enough to be selected to rat this wine although it’s probably not really fair considering we are also HM wine club members.
Bottom line is this is a nice clean/crisp/light PN that would bode well as an addition to your cellular to help diversify your PN choices.
Given our previous experience with all HM wines in the RRV I pulled the cork around 11:00 AM and put half the bottle into the decanter and let it sit for 7 hours.
This wine has a nice medium depth of ruby red color. After decanting for 7 hours the wine was opening up nicely, however a few more hours would have really maximized the potential.
Although I’m a bit stuffed up Mrs. Sosptuba was also a great help in picking out aromas and flavors.
On the nose we were picking up the (usual) green smell from the RRV as well as tart cherry, berry, and maybe even a bit of cranberry. Just poured a small glass now and maybe an ever so slight hint of tobacco?
This wine is light with some great tart acidity on the tongue along with some dark berry.
We consider this a great addition to the cellar for a ‘different’ kind of PN that would serve well for the next few years.
Thanks for the kind comments. I enjoy growing and making this stile of Pinot Noir. I’m keeping 10 cases for my personal stash and will imbibe on them over the next 3-7 years. Decanting and bringing up to room temp always helps. While corporate wine world would not understand this style, Casemates will!
Cheers and watch for the best Zin deal you’ll see in a long time coming around the corner!
@Harvest_Moon thanks for humoring me on this! I’ve been furthering my wine education (thus justifying all the wine purchases and be drinking) My other question is whether it underwent ml?
@Harvest_Moon A screaming Zin offer? As good as the 2009 offering a few years ago that became molarchae’s and my wedding wine? Danger for our overflowing living room!
@novium yes. All dry reds will go thru ml. Otherwise they’re probably referment and kick out sediment, off flavors and tiny bubbles…but not those kind of tiny bubbles.
@Harvest_Moon We still have quite a few left. Along with a few vintages of both the rrv and home ranch zins. Drank a 2005 home ranch a little while ago and it was fantastic.
@conesville Based on a comment you made on a previous offering, it appears you are equating alcohol content with RS / dryness (“dry is the buy - how do you know - alcohol % is the KEY”). Therefore, you are assuming that this PN will be too sweet based on it’s lower ABV than your preference. However, final ABV is only one side to the dryness equation. Not all grapes start with the same amount of sugars (measured in degrees Brix). More sugar at the start = higher potential ABV, with higher potential RS if not fully fermented. However, as this winemaker has noted, these PN grapes were harvested before they got super ripe and sugary. Hence, lower original gravity (Brix) leading to a lower ABV while still being dry.
TL;DR: you simply can’t tell if a wine is “too sweet” based on ABV alone; you need to either factor in initial sugar levels or know what the residual sugar levels are.
@jrbw3 I’ll take some…and I’m picking up the case we ordered of Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel tonight. So, we can meet and split both later? I’m pretty sure we are already splitting the Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel…
@Harvest_Moon Sorry, I was hoping to buy it through this site, and based on the limited information given, that sounds like I’d end up having to give a credit card number over the phone, which is a no.
woohoo - my first CaseMates order - got this back when I was an avid buyer over on Woot Wine-just had a bottle the other night, showing wonderfully-that was a 2013 but I am sure the 2014 will be just as nice
@arianaWCC Guess it was a good thing I was browsing the forums. I’d been planning on buying this tomorrow, but just bought 3 bottles now (if cases are getting skimpy, there’s always the potential for Casemates to have its first sellout).
What the heck. I do like PN, and this is a good one.
@arianaWCC How do I change my order to a case? When I go to order again it says I can’t because I already bought it (the 3 bottles). Would love to have 12!
@theglassrat Okay, quick lesson on using giphy. All slash commands must be the first thing on a newline, and there’s no “#” necessary. Here you go, have a celebration. Thumperchick is the best, of course.
In the spirit of adding to the community, I popped open a 2011 Harvest Moon RRV Pinot.
No decant. Super light color. Fresh and light tartness on the palate. Slight mushroom earthiness on the nose. Lingering finish. Fully open on pop and pour. Light and fresh - maybe not overly complex - definitely not past its prime.
@liquidbluenight - every vineyard has to apply individually to every state. Some states make it harder than others, so not every wine will ship everywhere.
That’s why there’s a different list on every offering for where it will ship.
@jml326 The winery can do some third party shipping shenanigans and get you the wine.
Which is a different than the shipping done by casemates on behalf of the vineyard. It’s complicated.
But, yeah, if you really want it- contact the vineyard and see what they can do.
@apathy0 I understand that vineyard/wineries have to apply to each state, but that doesn’t explain why shipping is available to PA for most but not this one. Do they already have a deal with a distributor in PA that precludes selling to individuals? Or did they just not do the legwork? It’s frustrating because this was the first deal since Casemates launched when I actually wanted to make a purchase.
Well I finally got around to reading the comments and then decided to purchase a case, oh well the cases are sold out but you can still purchase 3 bottles each, oh well at least I am going to get 3
Did anyone else have a bad experience with this wine? I received two Pinots and one Cabernet Sav. even though it was supposed to be three Pinots. Both Pinots were missing their foil capsules and when I opened them they were absolutely awful. Strong vinegary aroma that only got worse when you tasted it. The Cab with the capsule intact was much better. I know some wines don’t use capsules anymore, but the coincidence was noteworthy. I will not try these again.
@AllenO I haven’t opened any from this order, but the Pinot are capsule-less. A coworker tried it and said his were okay. i’ll get more info and see if his tasting notes jive with your experience.
@Harvest_Moon@jml326 Hey all - writing in to casemates.com/support is the only way to reach customer support.
If you have a problem with an order, definitely reach out!
Tasting Notes
In classic Harvest Moon Pinot Noir style, this floral, delicate 100% Pinot Noir has spicy red fruit and subtle herbal notes reminiscent of a cool Summer in Burgundy. Decant and allow to breath prior to 2020.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$488.66/case at Harvest Moon (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Harvest Moon Estate & Winery
Owner: The Pitts Family
Founded: 2000
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Harvest Moon Estate and Winery was founded on growing, producing and bottling world-class Russian River Valley wine in a balanced, elegant style. Our premise is that Russian River Valley Zinfandel can be just as layered and complex as any Pinot Noir or Bordeaux variety in the world and receive the same respect. The Pitts family has grown quality grapes in the Russian River Valley since 1976. In 2000, son Randy reverse migrated from San Francisco back to Sonoma County to assume the farming responsibilities at the family’s modest nine-acre ranch. In conjunction with lessons on farming by his Dad and a few viticulture/enology courses at the local junior college, Randy made a barrel of homemade Zinfandel off the ranch’s back block which turned out exceptionally tasty. Quickly concluding that properly farmed and judiciously fermented, Zinfandel has great capabilities of being California’s own wine nobility. The growers-turned winemakers birthed their inaugural vintage in 2002 and look forward to making their Zinprint on the winescene for decades to come.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NY, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 5 - Thursday, Mar 8
@Harvest_Moon is here to answer questions.
(Check out their User Profile for recent activity.)
@drhellknow brings us a LabRat Review.
@sosptuba had to bring in an extra nose.
Harvest Moon Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $39.99 $13.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2014 Harvest Moon Estate & Winery Pinot Noir New CT
2014 Harvest Moon Estate & Winery Pinot Noir Old CT
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Harvest Moon RRV Pinot Noir - $30 = 18.75%
What’s this? Ohio is back on the ship-to list for Harvest Moon? Hooray!
@chipgreen Ok if you are excited, then I’m in for a case. I think we seem to have a similar palate for PN, or maybe this is just my justification (not that I need one) to buy a case. We are dangerously low on PN in the house…
@KCountry I recall tasting your own homemade Pinot Noir and it was quite good! It looks like you’re wanting to keep the whole case but I’d gladly take a couple bottles if you felt like parting with them.
I’d offer to swap '13s for '14s but my '13s are at jmdavidson’s in Chicago because HM didn’t ship to Ohio at the time. I probably won’t be picking them up until September.
@chipgreen Thanks. I’ve been making a whole lot of different things since then, and have been really playing with fruit infusions. The ladies of the neighborhood really like them. Know your audience…LOL.
I’m open to a swap if you want, my only concern is that I’m almost out of PN in the house. I’ll have to hide them in case the Mrs. is looking for some. Let me know, I’m game if you want.
Don’t see a still PN of this vintage in CT. Is this the bubbly?
Humm, guess not. Strange it’s not already there however.
@rjquillin probably a new release. I think he’s trying to run through his still PN inventory.
@CorTot looking further, I see there is a '15 as well. I seem to have some of the '13. Guess I need to see if I can locate it.
@rjquillin this is a 100% RRV still Pinot offer
@Harvest_Moon Thanks Randy. Initially I just didn’t see the CT entry. Klez has repeatedly talked you up, and I understand why.
/giphy harvest moon
In for one…this was my favorite game back in the day
OK San Diego.
Let’s get up enough interest for a case to split.
@rjquillin I’ll gauge interest at work. I’m sure I’ll be in for some.
@rjquillin let me know, will take up to 1/2 case.
@rjquillin @raiolysis @dbarrym I’d like three, but I’m perfectly willing to defer to others and get them solo depending on how things settle out with all of you in a case deal. Still, keep me in mind if you need help with a case!
@rjquillin @dbarrym @tklivory wow. maybe a two case order? i still haven’t broken into the 6’er of the '13 yet, so we’ll be trying that today… for science… (science!!)
@dbarrym @radiolysis @tklivory I’m thinking this may be a two case offer as well. I think I would like to hang onto at least six, so someone let me know who wants the other half and we’ll go from there.
mousy-sunken-throat
That just isn’t going to get an opportunity for an image.
I’ve got those two whites too for someone.
@dbarrym @radiolysis @tklivory
radiolysis, since I’ve got the Zaca for you, you and the others want to work out a split of the remaining half case?
Two each just seems a bit frugal however…
@rjquillin I’m in for at least a couple of bottles. I’m in downtown if that matters.
@radiolysis @rjquillin @tklivory i’ll take up to four if that works out - dealing with cold/flu so only checking in occasionally over the weekend.
@dbarrym @rjquillin @tklivory @elmariachi Looks like the '13 really got the office interested to the tune of a full case. So i won’t be in a split for this one. Ron, thanks for getting the ball going!
@dbarrym @radiolysis @tklivory Since radio is out (with his own case split), you two want to do three each?
Case is purchased.
@dbarrym @radiolysis @rjquillin I’d be good for that, sure! Though I did see @elmariachi say they might be interested, and as I said, I’d be fine to solo if it worked out better for a case amongst others.
@dbarrym @elmariachi @radiolysis @tklivory Dang, missed that.
Well, if interest increases and we don’t want to leave anyone out or short bottles, we still have a couple days to consider a second case so everyone could have additional.
Total including tax and free shipping worked out to $11.70/btl.
@rjquillin May I join in for 3 bottles? My office is in Del Mar Heights. Look forward to meeting up.
Ok, so updating interest…
3 @SoSmellyAir
2~? @elmariachi
3~4 @dbarrym but you also mentioned solo, for a case?
3 @tklivory
4~6 @rjquillin
So, it seems anywhere from 15 to 20 would cover identified interest.
Have I missed anyone else?
@wei2go any interest for you? Some number of us from ww that like what Larry does @tercerowines also like what Randy does here.
@klezman, you want to help fill out the second case down here and collect it later or are you guys all set up there?
@dbarrym @klezman @rjquillin @SoSmellyAir @tercerowines @tklivory @wei2go I’ll take up to 6 bottles if that helps get the second case. Is there a DM function on this site? Don’t want to leave my mobile number on here and get flooded with really bad gifs…
@elmariachi @klezman @rjquillin @SoSmellyAir @tercerowines @tklivory @wei2go no solo for me but will take up to a half case.
@dbarrym @elmariachi @klezman @SoSmellyAir @tklivory @wei2go
Not yet, but we’ve been given this ‘whisper’ thing where only those addressed see the message.
So check your whisper.
I’m confused by the drinking window info: “…tasty now but will benefit from up to a decade in the cellar” and “Decant and allow to breath prior to 2020.” Ok, sounds good. But then: “Drinkable: now till 2020.” So, it will or it won’t age well? Either way, I’m interested, just curious if there’s any clarification!
@LambruscoKid this Pinot will go 3-7 years. There’s enough acidity and tannin to carry but decanting will allow earlier enjoyment.
@Harvest_Moon Randy! Glad to see you here! How many more vintages of this are there? You mentioned on the old site that you were stopping with the still pinot.
@klezman I’ve cut my Pinot production way back. Although I’m Focusing on the bubbles now, I’m still making 4-6 barrels per year. I guess that’s me “not making Pinot anymore”. Ha, I’m in the heart of the RRV! They’d kick me me out if I didn’t make at least 100 cases
@Harvest_Moon Thanks for the info! I’m looking forward to trying some soon and some later
@Harvest_Moon good to know! Molarchae and I will be happy to continue enjoying them for years to come! Alongside your three zins, of course.
@Harvest_Moon Hey Randy, on the cellaring - “…3 to 7 years” from now or from 2014 vintage? Thanks
@Boatman72 appropriate question! 3-5 from receiving it in mail, although I’d pull the cork sooner, decant and have a chicken pasta in creamy white sauce close by.
What does “crushed via gravity” mean in a wine?
Means the must wasn’t pumped. It was crushed down into a t-bin. Pumping/serrating the skins isn’t what thin-skinned Pinot wants. Cheers
@Harvest_Moon neat, thanks.
What’s up CaseMates! A new forum, familiar peeps. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my Pinot Noir offer. This is not your typical RRV pinot meeting at the crossroads of syrupy, flat cherry cola and Brown sugar (oak). This Burgundian Pinot is elegant and light in its feet. Thank you for supporting! Ask me questions
@Harvest_Moon I can’t wait to see more offers from Harvest Moon. Your wine is delicious!
SoCal split needed! Who’s in? If we weren’t too full we’d just take a case. Maybe six bottles for us?
@klezman
@klezman I’ll take 4
@losthighwayz OK…anybody else in for a pair? Or we could go 7-5.
@klezman @losthighwayz i’m up a 3?
@klezman Based on your hype alone we might just go for the case. Like others have mentioned in other threads, dangerously low on PN in our household.
@klezman @losthighwayz
I can take some if needed. Consistently good and way over delivers on QPR at this price. Plus I like Randy and like helping him reduce inventory.
@javadrinker We aim to please
This one hits our sweet spot, especially for this price.
@CorTot @losthighwayz @i8dacat @javadrinker
I’ll default to 3-4 for lost and 2-3 for either cortot or i8dacat. With two cases likely coming it seems all can get in on the action easily enough.
I’m buying a case and taking 6. You three can sort out the rest and let me know who owes me
I’ve got 5 or 6 bottles for lost sitting here as well.
$11.70/bottle
@CorTot @i8dacat @javadrinker @klezman @losthighwayz
I’m a little late to this but if all the bottles aren’t spoken for I’d be down for anywhere from 1-4 bottles if someone wants to unload some
@CorTot @i8dacat @javadrinker @losthighwayz @swizzel Easy…somebody else get the second case and figure out how to distribute it
@CorTot @i8dacat @javadrinker @klezman perfect. Ill take 4. Looks like we need to set up a gathering soon to exchange vino!
Any Lab Rats on this offer?
@Boatman72 its still early , labrats are probably sleeping,
@Boatman72 Yup - I’ll get my notes together now
I’d love to see an objective comparison of this to the Esoterica pinot (which I’ve really liked).
@TimW Yes, I liked Esoterica pinot as well. The Winesmith Pinot the last of whcih was selling to Wooters and on special for about $25 a bottle has been my favorite Pinot of the last few years. That would be a good comparison to see too.
@scott0210 @TimW You mentioned perhaps my favorite PN recently, the WineSmith, and I think this compares quite favorably, but maybe one rung below it. To my palate, I’d say this is a bit more interesting, especially with some air, than the Esoterica (which I also enjoyed).
@drhellknow I thank you for the reply! But my checking account curses you, as I think I might have to pull the trigger on this one, too.
@drhellknow Hey, thanks knowing that you also like the Winesmith, it sounds like for this price, I’ll have no problem enjoying a few bottles.
@drhellknow @scott0210 @TimW Among the last few Woot PNs, the 2013 Esoterica is good, and the 2007 WineSmith RRV is my all time favorite PN. So it is reassuringly high praise for this Harvest Moon PN to be compared to the latter.
@drhellknow @scott0210 @TimW The 2013 PN I referred to is the Engracia, which Clark Smith also recommended. I have not tried the 2016 Esoterica yet but glad to hear that you guys like it.
@drhellknow @scott0210 @SoSmellyAir @TimW Added Engracia tag. Good news there is now an account. No activity yet, but we’ll see him this week at the launch party. Hope something is in the works.
The 2013 PN I referred to is the Engracia (@engraciawines), which Clark Smith also recommended.
Greetings and good morning from Ohio. I was fortunate enough to get a preview of this little PN to test, and I made a few notes. Disclaimer: I’m someone who enjoys my wines, but I’m not great at going taste-to-words.
I arranged to have this with a friend of mine as the night received this, my wife and I were finishing up a bottle of the Esoterica PN and she informed me that she doesn’t generally like PN because it “just tastes like grapes.” That said, I wasn’t going to squander this opportunity. But on to the wine.
We started this one rather late, despite knowing that the recommendation was to let it take on air. Cork pulled about 20:45, with a small sample poured into two glasses, and the remainder into a decanter to (1) follow directions and (2) see what happens. The nose was very floral for us both, and I kept coming back to wildflowers along the highway right after they’ve been mowed in the hills of Virginia, but that’s oddly specific. As for the taste, I picked up a lot of tart cherries with almost no other fruitiness, some minerality, and a relatively short finish.
We chatted a while, enjoyed a few crackers, talked about snow and travel (one causing the other), and made our way to 21:35 where we made a proper pour. The change was dramatic. Now, the nose was much less pronounced. There were hot fruits, the taste of oak was prominent, it was much smoother than on initial sample. The tartness of the cherries in my earlier sample had changed to something broader and not as pointed, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it spicy. I felt like there was a nice taste of rainwater over granite that tied the whole glass together for me.
I’m not sure how, but that glass and the conversation about it lasted around seventy minutes and we didn’t get to another pour until 23:00. At this point, there was almost no strong fragrance, but we were hoping that what we found in the first hour’s wait would prove truer with the extra ninety minutes. As we drained the decanter into the glasses and took our first taste of the resulting breathing, we were quite pleased. The fruit that had started to appear earlier now had a very pleasant gravity, although hints of tartness that had previously vanished had snuck back in (but nowhere near as much as initial sample). The oak mellowed, and we tried to decide if we were tasting vanilla and couldn’t settle that so I noted possible vanilla. I still found there to be some hints of granite at this point, but it was much less substantial. I really was smooth and easy to drink.
My friend generally has three classifications of wine (which I’m going to butcher, I’m sure): (1) wine that’s a good value (2) wine that’s too expensive and (3) wine that’s a good value at any price; he put this one in that third category. In fact, we both really liked this PN and talked about buying it when it came up today. The way that this matured over the course of a couple of hours made me want to get more—it really was a nice experience to sample this through it maturation in our glasses.
Wow—that turned out to be a lot of words, and many of them unrelated. Whoops. Thanks for the chance to share!
@drhellknow WOW, great review! I do not see how I am going to resist a case. This PN seems just right for me…
@drhellknow Nice review! I was going to buy a case, but thought I’d read your thoughts before making the final decision. Seems like a no brainer.
Where in OH are you? There are a bunch of us in NE OH that are joining forces and splitting cases, and @chipgreen is also doing his best to get the gang together for wine dinners in the area.
@chipgreen @mrn1 I didn’t mention it in the write-up, but I’m certainly in for a case after that experience. I’m down in Columbus, along with a couple of others (@knmeh7 and @seemannc come to mind) and there’s a few more down toward Dayton and Kettering I’ve seen floating around. I might be able to convince my wife to take a trip NE some time, as long as it’s not for PN.
@drhellknow “Rainwater on granite”?
@jeffreywsnyder I know it’s a strange thing to say, but it reminds me a lot of exactly that. There are a number of reasons I know that taste, only one of which was that I was a kid once. But it’s not weird, really.
@drhellknow Great job fellow Buckeye!! From the NE OH worlds with @mrn1, @chipgreen, and others!
Randy, I popped a 2013 from the last woot offer (killer deal) and really enjoyed it. Thoughts on this 2014 to that?
@kaolis ditto, here. The WW offer is a nice bottle at a killer price. I’d like some words of comparison before I exacerbate the overstock issue.
@kaolis @sandbarhappy more tart red fruit, spicy, a touch more French wood on the ‘14! Cellar
/giphy intelligent-excitedly-whistle
I am definitely in for a case!
Ahh! No NC…blasted!
@dgfait Same issue here, though I believe my credit card issued a sigh of relief.
@dgfait @jwhetzel reach out to the winery for shipping options. They can help! 707-573-8711
/giphy manageable-daring-llama
Great price on some great wine!
I’m looking for someone in SE WI or NE IL to split a case on this one.
Greetings all!
I was lucky enough to be selected to rat this wine although it’s probably not really fair considering we are also HM wine club members.
Bottom line is this is a nice clean/crisp/light PN that would bode well as an addition to your cellular to help diversify your PN choices.
Given our previous experience with all HM wines in the RRV I pulled the cork around 11:00 AM and put half the bottle into the decanter and let it sit for 7 hours.
This wine has a nice medium depth of ruby red color. After decanting for 7 hours the wine was opening up nicely, however a few more hours would have really maximized the potential.
Although I’m a bit stuffed up Mrs. Sosptuba was also a great help in picking out aromas and flavors.
On the nose we were picking up the (usual) green smell from the RRV as well as tart cherry, berry, and maybe even a bit of cranberry. Just poured a small glass now and maybe an ever so slight hint of tobacco?
This wine is light with some great tart acidity on the tongue along with some dark berry.
We consider this a great addition to the cellar for a ‘different’ kind of PN that would serve well for the next few years.
/giphy windy-sopping-silver
/image oh my
Thanks for the kind comments. I enjoy growing and making this stile of Pinot Noir. I’m keeping 10 cases for my personal stash and will imbibe on them over the next 3-7 years. Decanting and bringing up to room temp always helps. While corporate wine world would not understand this style, Casemates will!
Cheers and watch for the best Zin deal you’ll see in a long time coming around the corner!
@Harvest_Moon Oh WOW, thanks for the heads up! Looking forward to your great Zin deal!
@Harvest_Moon In for PN, in for Zin!
@Harvest_Moon Is it a 100% Zin-fun-deal?
@Harvest_Moon Out of curiosity, what’s the pH on this pinot?
@novium probably 3.4 ish ph
@Harvest_Moon thanks for humoring me on this! I’ve been furthering my wine education (thus justifying all the wine purchases and be drinking) My other question is whether it underwent ml?
@Harvest_Moon A screaming Zin offer? As good as the 2009 offering a few years ago that became molarchae’s and my wedding wine? Danger for our overflowing living room!
@novium yes. All dry reds will go thru ml. Otherwise they’re probably referment and kick out sediment, off flavors and tiny bubbles…but not those kind of tiny bubbles.
@klezman I remember that deal.
@Harvest_Moon We still have quite a few left. Along with a few vintages of both the rrv and home ranch zins. Drank a 2005 home ranch a little while ago and it was fantastic.
NYC brethren… This looks too good to pass up. Anyone up for a split? Mostly so I can fund the Zin deal that @Harvest_Moon just mentioned!
@InVinoVeritas Sign me up! I’ll take 2, more if you need me to. Probably can only fetch 2 at a time though.
@InFrom willkimmail [google]
@InVinoVeritas I’ll take two. Thanks!
@InVinoVeritas I might be game
+1!
Too sweet for me
@conesville This is going to be the standard comment on each wine now?
@conesville Based on a comment you made on a previous offering, it appears you are equating alcohol content with RS / dryness (“dry is the buy - how do you know - alcohol % is the KEY”). Therefore, you are assuming that this PN will be too sweet based on it’s lower ABV than your preference. However, final ABV is only one side to the dryness equation. Not all grapes start with the same amount of sugars (measured in degrees Brix). More sugar at the start = higher potential ABV, with higher potential RS if not fully fermented. However, as this winemaker has noted, these PN grapes were harvested before they got super ripe and sugary. Hence, lower original gravity (Brix) leading to a lower ABV while still being dry.
TL;DR: you simply can’t tell if a wine is “too sweet” based on ABV alone; you need to either factor in initial sugar levels or know what the residual sugar levels are.
@conesville @LambruscoKid
Wtf?! Maybe a little to serious concerning comments on the internet
/giphy awful-cocky-crate
Casemates virgin here- anyone in Missouri or Iowa want to split?
@stevekirks I’m in stl. Where are you? I’d be in for 6
@chefjess @stevekirks Also in STL and I could go 4-6… @outofhand?
You two do the split. I’m in Springfield and not sure when I’ll make it up to STL again. Thanks for chiming in!
@james @outofhand @stevekirks I’ll get the case.
@chefjess 6
@james 4-6
@outofhand?
@dave interested?
@shawn interested?
@james case is ordered.
@chefjess @dave @james @outofhand @shawn @stevekirks I would take 6 if anybody wants to split another case.
Chicago area folks, I’d be in to split a case.
@jshaver I’d be in for up to 4.
@jshaver If you can bring them to the loop, I’ll take 2-4.
FWIW, this is one of my favorite wines from the good old Woot Wine days
A case to share with friends. Can’t wait.
/giphy flighty-morose-sunflower
/giphy pleasing-motionless-leaf
@jrbw3 Go Leafs go! Gotta love Tie Domi.
SEMichigan folks, let me know if you want a share.
@jrbw3 I’ll take some…and I’m picking up the case we ordered of Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel tonight. So, we can meet and split both later? I’m pretty sure we are already splitting the Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel…
@jrbw3 If you want to split it 3 ways, I’m in for four bottles. Just north of Ann Arbor.
@kasandrae sounds good!
Kudos to @drhellknow @sosptuba @dave @thumperchick for making the LabRat banner happen for reports. Nice touch appreciated for the old timers.
Millersville, MD - I just bought a case and am willing to share half…
Looks like this would be nice to pick up, but alas, no Indiana. I’ll have to see if it’s already distributed here!
@andrd call the winery bybey csn help get the deal to you.
@Harvest_Moon Sorry, I was hoping to buy it through this site, and based on the limited information given, that sounds like I’d end up having to give a credit card number over the phone, which is a no.
I’ve always enjoyed the harvest moon RRV wines I’ve ordered back on wine Woot. Sad to see CT is no longer an option for delivery.
@Grabeck989 contact the winery. They can get it to you!
I am looking forward to this!
/giphy envious-doleful-tomato
woohoo - my first CaseMates order - got this back when I was an avid buyer over on Woot Wine-just had a bottle the other night, showing wonderfully-that was a 2013 but I am sure the 2014 will be just as nice
I’d like to buy a case (thank you casemates . . .), but I’ve currently got more wine than money (curse you casemates . . .) Anyone in Northern Virginia want to split case? Post on https://casemates.com/forum/topics/nova-buyers-group#5a916d863f562d0f905ea257
Wow! Cases gone already. Guess I’m in for 3 (instead of 12)
@theglassrat We just added a few more cases, but they will go quickly!
@arianaWCC Guess it was a good thing I was browsing the forums. I’d been planning on buying this tomorrow, but just bought 3 bottles now (if cases are getting skimpy, there’s always the potential for Casemates to have its first sellout).
What the heck. I do like PN, and this is a good one.
@theglassrat That scare me so I am in for a case,
/giphy #oval-obscene-education
@arianaWCC How do I change my order to a case? When I go to order again it says I can’t because I already bought it (the 3 bottles). Would love to have 12!
@arianaWCC @theglassrat I’ve cancelled your original order, so you can now reorder for a case.
@arianaWCC @Thumperchick
/giphy celebration
@arianaWCC @Thumperchick Ok I don’t know how to do the GIFs. But awesome, thank you!!
@theglassrat Okay, quick lesson on using giphy. All slash commands must be the first thing on a newline, and there’s no “#” necessary. Here you go, have a celebration. Thumperchick is the best, of course.
/giphy celebrate wine
In the spirit of adding to the community, I popped open a 2011 Harvest Moon RRV Pinot.
No decant. Super light color. Fresh and light tartness on the palate. Slight mushroom earthiness on the nose. Lingering finish. Fully open on pop and pour. Light and fresh - maybe not overly complex - definitely not past its prime.
Wait, why no shipping to PA for this one?
@liquidbluenight - every vineyard has to apply individually to every state. Some states make it harder than others, so not every wine will ship everywhere.
That’s why there’s a different list on every offering for where it will ship.
@apathy0 that makes sense except the winery is responding to some saying contact the winery directly and they can make it work. So how does that work?
@jml326 The winery can do some third party shipping shenanigans and get you the wine.
Which is a different than the shipping done by casemates on behalf of the vineyard. It’s complicated.
But, yeah, if you really want it- contact the vineyard and see what they can do.
@apathy0 I understand that vineyard/wineries have to apply to each state, but that doesn’t explain why shipping is available to PA for most but not this one. Do they already have a deal with a distributor in PA that precludes selling to individuals? Or did they just not do the legwork? It’s frustrating because this was the first deal since Casemates launched when I actually wanted to make a purchase.
/giphy pervasive-knockout-wallaby
@dbarrym @elmariachi @SoSmellyAir @tklivory @wei2go
Anyone grab that second case yet?
I could, but it’ll add $12 shipping /$1/btl.
seems these posts can get buried/suppressed.
Just checking…
@Harvest_Moon Any more cases available. We have a ready and willing to purchase group in the Twin Cities.
Well I finally got around to reading the comments and then decided to purchase a case, oh well the cases are sold out but you can still purchase 3 bottles each, oh well at least I am going to get 3
@Harvest_Moon Congratulations Randy on the first sell out!
SoCal peeps: check out gourmet woot gatherings tab!
Drinking a 2012 RRV Zin tonight in your honour, Randy!
We had a bottle of this yesterday, my wife loves it!
Did anyone else have a bad experience with this wine? I received two Pinots and one Cabernet Sav. even though it was supposed to be three Pinots. Both Pinots were missing their foil capsules and when I opened them they were absolutely awful. Strong vinegary aroma that only got worse when you tasted it. The Cab with the capsule intact was much better. I know some wines don’t use capsules anymore, but the coincidence was noteworthy. I will not try these again.
@Harvest_Moon @Thumperchick
Tagging people might get you help faster, but also writing to them. On your order click I need help and explain your issue.
@AllenO I haven’t opened any from this order, but the Pinot are capsule-less. A coworker tried it and said his were okay. i’ll get more info and see if his tasting notes jive with your experience.
@AllenO I’m 5 bottles into my case. No vinegar yet. I’m definitely enjoying them.
@AllenO scratch that, I can’t read. I got this wine mixed up with a different PN. Contact support. They can probably sort it out.
@Harvest_Moon @jml326 Hey all - writing in to casemates.com/support is the only way to reach customer support.
If you have a problem with an order, definitely reach out!