CORKAGE

We hope to do this every Friday.  Taste a wine that's under 25 bucks, coming to us recommended by some reputable source or other.  Tasters:  Myself and all the boys who work down here, editors and shooters, a very bright crew, not wine experts by any means, but definitely articulate, artistic people with strong opinions.  Who like to drink.  Perfect.

2005 Estancia Pinot Noir, Stonewall Vineyard

Color: very light, ruby, pretty, see-through -- potential positives in a California pinot.  Lovely nose of flowers and strawberries and cherries.  Pretty, very pretty nose, a spot of earth making it more complex.  Oohs and ahs from all the guys on the nose -- which I'm happy about, I don't have a group of guys here who need a huge, masculine wine to be impressed.  On the palate:  completely different!  The guys are immediately groaning their disappointment.  Very surpisingly different from the nose.  Earthier, somewhat metallic, not pretty.  Kevin says "dirty" or "dirt".  My sense is I want to like it, there's possible complexity here, possibly some darker, woodsier notes that could make this wine special.  But tasting again, there's just no fruit on the palate.  Medicinal.  Where's the pretty fruit?  Cherry cough medicine.  Other comments from the group:  drying finish.  Harsh.  Metallic. 

Tasted again fifteen minutes later.  A bit more resolved, rounded, even a touch of lushness.  Smell and  taste coming closer together.  More in balance.  Still disappointing, though.  The guys try again, they're thoroughly unimpressed.  

Tasted again 10 minutes later:  it's not going to magically turn into something else.