“As a ‘cub reporter’ representing Eve’s Wine 101 my husband Jon and I attended a Duckhorn tasting held by Tanya Green at her wine bar, Wine 661. We arrived early, so there weren’t too many tasters yet – which was perfect, as we received personalized service from Tanya (who, by the way, always serves impeccably).
We started with:
2012 Decoy Pinot Noir
Color: Clear, silver rim, light legs, watery
Nose: Blackberry, tannins, alcohol-ish
Taste: Light, smooth, buttery, spice, black cherry, smoky
Entry level wine, flavor in the back.
Not a fan, will do in a pinch
2012 Decoy Merlot
Color: Purple to the rim, barely able to read print, no legs
Nose: Raisin, currant, leather
Taste: Fruit forward, red pepper, spice
Better wines available for less.
2011 Duckhorn Merlot
Color: Purple/crimson, silver rim, nice legs
Nose: Rose, floral, light metallic
Taste: Velvety smooth, spicy, licorice, cardamom
Definite improvement over Decoy
2011 Goldeneye Pinot Noir
Color: Can read print through it, clear rim, great legs burgundy in color
Nose: Strawberry, leather, white pepper
Taste: Smooth, cherry, light/medium bodied, cinnamon, sweet
This is the BEST Pinot Noir we’ve ever tasted
2010 Duckhorn “The Discussion”
Color: Print barely readable, nice legs, unassuming
Nose: Smoky, spice, pomegranate, fuller, fruitier
Taste: Smooth, red pepper, full bodied
Acceptable, but have had better for a lesser price
Conclusion
We tried all of theses wines for only $25.00 per person, and all of the bottles of wine could be purchased at a discounted price. We personally didn’t buy any, but anyone who loved these wines stood to get a great deal. We will continue to patronize Wine 661, especially these tastings.
