Owen Bargreen Reviews our 2015 & 2016 G. Khan Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard Releases
https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2022/2/11/g-khan
February 2022

I’m excited that Owen Bargreen has published a review for the 2015 & 2016 G. Khan Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard releases. Owen is the founder of OwenBargreen.com, a Level 2 Sommelier from the Court of Masters Sommeliers, and has been writing about wine for more than ten years, having reviewed thousands of wines from around the world. He also writes part-time for Decanter Magazine and recently joined the Vinous Media team.

Owen Bargreen, www.owenbargreen.com, “I was fully enamored by the two G. Khan wines that I tasted which were very different, coming from the 2015 and 2016 vintages. The 2016 G. Khan ‘Radian Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) takes on more of a bright red fruit profile, with stunning tension and a silky mouthfeel. The more subtle 2015 G. Khan ‘Radian Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) is even more salty and earthy with a smooth texture and wonderful sense of weight. Learn more about these outstanding Pinot Noir wines at www.gkhanwine.com and here are my reviews of the new Pinot Noirs by G. Khan. Click here to view more.”

2015 G. Khan ‘Radian Vineyard’ Pinot Noir: 93 Completely different and even more backwards than the 2016 bottling, the 2015 G. Khan ‘Radian Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a stunning effort that shows really good nerve and density, with serious terroir. Needing about an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused, this unveils very pretty red rose petal tones alongside citrus embers, bergamot and smoldering stone accents. The palate is extremely elegant and refined, with fine-grained tannins tight hold in place a very pretty core of guava puree, cranberry and saline drenched blood orange zest.
Click here to view more.

2016 G. Khan ‘Radian Vineyard’ Pinot Noir: 94 The seriously good 2016 G. Khan ‘Radian Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a sensational new wine by the talented James Sparks. Immediately more aromatically expressive than the 2015 bottling, this reveals bright red currant and dried sage notes alongside shades of salted strawberry that all take shape in the glass. Click here to view more.

2016 G. Khan Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard

Sometimes, you come across a wine so good you wish everyone could try it. This is one of those wines. Unfortunately, production is so limited (only 70 cases) so there’s not enough for everyone. But if you have the opportunity to get one, I recommend you do.

This is a highly structured wine. Medium plus acids. Whole cluster fermentation increases tannin levels and adds further structure and depth. Wonderful notes of herbs, baking spices, red fruits, black tea, and a stacked, savory palate. Lengthy finish.

Many thanks to @dad_of_genghis for sharing and kudos @jamessparkswine for crafting this beauty.

A close friend of mine set up a wine brunch at Playa Provisions in Playa Del Rey, CA. The request was made, in advance, for each person to bring at least two bottles of wine. It was here that I met Roy Kim and his G. Khan Pinot Noir.

As one fascinated with the backstory, I wanted to know how Roy went from wine-lover to wine-maker of exceptional Burgundian-style Pinot Noir. Roy’s story took me from his dream to his reality.

Roy grew up in Los Angeles spending much time in his parent’s restaurant. It was the beginning of Roy’s exposure to delicious foods and flavors that ultimately led him to begin his journey into the world of wine. Starting with Napa Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, Roy found himself at ease with the styles and flavor profiles of these wines. However, it was his move to New York City to attend law school, with 12-cases of wine in tow, that opened Roy’s eyes beyond Napa Valley wines.

While in law school, Roy worked for Astor Liquor. Being exposed to wines from Rioja, Italy, and Bordeaux was the spark that ignited Roy’s passion for the wines beyond those he grew accustom to. Ironically, after graduating from law school, Roy went to work at a law firm in Silicon Valley, close to the Napa Cabs and Chards he started with. However, Roy’s new enological adventures introduced him to wines from Champagne and Burgundy. And so his dream began!

In 2009, empowered with an extensive knowledge of both wines and foods, Roy started to think about creating, as he says, ‘A wine that you want to drink by itself but is even better with food, combining the acidity and balance to pair with all types of Asian cuisine and fish, yet has the fruit and depth to pair with red meat.’ Roy had the vision but was not sure how to make his vision come to fruition. By 2015, Roy had become friends with Liquid Farm Winery and winemaker James Sparks. It was this relationship that ultimately led to Roy’s dream becoming a reality.

When talking about his wine, Roy remains humble by stating that, ‘James is an extremely talented winemaker who is fastidious from vineyard to bottle and deserves all the credit for helping me fulfill my vision.’ By combining low-yield, cool climate fruit with natural yeasts, minimal intervention and moderate alcohol levels, G. Khan Pinot Noir was born.

Finally, I asked Roy what inspired him to name his wine G. Khan? Proudly, Roy said that his wine ‘. . . is named after his wonderful and sweet rescue dog, Genghis Khan!’

About the wine:	100% Pinot Noir, 100% Whole Cluster, 777 Clone, 13.2% ABV 70 cases produced
Tasting notes:	Day 1 – Tight with great structure, balance, acidity, and soft fruit notes Day 2 – Wow! A stunning Burgundian-style Pinot Noir that was soft and expressive from start to finish. Every component was in perfect harmony with each other. This was worth the wait!

Roy, thank you for making your dream come true! I look forward to enjoying many more of your dreams in the future!