Archive: USA: Oregon: Pinot Noir
2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($30). Pretty aromas and flavors of black raspberry, cherry and nuanced baking spice notes stay smooth and silky from beginning to end, picking up a light touch of fresh herbal notes in the delicate finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-11-12)
2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Elizabeth’s Reserve ($48). An elegant, lovely wine, with layers of aromatic floral, red raspberry, delicate red cherry, a touch of fresh tobacco and baking spices notes that linger on the balanced, supple finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 6-8 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-10-04)
Archery Summit
2003 Renegade Ridge Estate Pinot Noir ($60). Focused and pretty, with red berry and blueberry flavors that are laced with aromatic baking spices and rich, toasty vanilla. Finishes with a mineral note alongside the smooth, lingering fruit flavors. Very good now and over the next five or six years, or more. (Splurge Wine 10/05)
2001 Pinot Noir Oregon Premier Cuvee ($N/A). A definite mineral note mingles with the red fruit aromas. Pure fruit flavors are laced with rosemary, lavender and tobacco. Drink now and over the next four or five years. (Robyn’s Picks, 08/03)
2001 Pinot Noir Oregon Red Hills Estate ($N/A). Mouthwatering bouquet of ripe black cherry and berry fruit and earth notes introduces a full-bodied wine with loads of ripe raspberry, rich spices, a distinct earthy accent, and a sweet, smoky, lingering finish. Good tannic structure should allow for plenty of aging ability. Drink now and over the next eight to ten years. (Robyn’s Picks, 08/03)
2001 Pinot Noir Oregon Renegade Ridge Estate ($N/A). Lovely, delicate rose and nutmeg aromas introduce pretty red cherry, blueberry, rose and smoky flavors. Silky, elegant mouthfeel. Drink now and over the next six or seven years. (Robyn’s Picks, 08/03)
Argyle
2004 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Nuthouse ($45). Very pretty, with aromatic spice and tobacco accenting the deep black cherry fruit that is powerful and full-bodied, but never over the top. Long, supple, complex, evolving finish. Delicious now and over the next seven or eight years. (Weekend Wine 11/07)
1999 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Reserve ($30). Heady aroma and lovely fruit character – just concentrated enough, but still pretty. Nice spice on the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next eight years. (Splurge Wine, 12/01)
1999 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Nuthouse ($40). Rich and sumptuous, this is a stylish Pinot. Velvety smooth and packing a powerful flavor punch, with an opulent finish. Ready to drink now and over the next six years. (Splurge Wine, 12/01)
1999 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Spirithouse ($50). Sophisticated and elegant, with beautifully integrated layers of red fruit, spice, oak, and smoke. Wonderful lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next eight years. (Splurge Wine, 12/01)
Chateau Lorane 1996 Pinot Noir Oregon ($9). Wild strawberry and red raspberry add some fun to this wine. A smoky touch on the finish pleasantly rounds out this very drinkable wine. Great bang for the buck. (Wine Tasting Party, 04/00)
Chehalem 1997 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 3 Vineyard ($16). Perfectly achieves the velvety texture of a great Burgundy. Gentle tannins frame the sophisticated plum and cherry flavors, and emphasize the delicate raisin and nutmeg undertones. (Wine Tasting Party, 04/00)
Domaine Drouhin 1999 Pinot Noir Oregon ($40). Not surprisingly, Oregon’s outpost of this famous Burgundy producer makes some stunning Pinot Noir. This one is full of luscious cherry and plum fruit, with elegant spice and dark chocolate notes, all on a velvety smooth frame and finish. Wonderful now and over the next four years. (Weekend Wine, 09/02)
ForeFront 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($24). Aromatic black raspberry and cherry fruit is accented with delicate herbal notes and toasted spices, finishing with racy acidity. Ready to drink now and over the next 2-3 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-04-01)
The Four Graces
2006 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Reserve ($42). The word “lovely” just keeps popping up with me about these wines, and here I go again… Lovely — and I was so glad that it didn’t go the way of so many Reserves and just get heavier. It maintains a definite delicacy and feminine character while gaining intensity, with pretty black plum and berry fruit laced with spicy dark chocolate and sweet, fresh tobacco notes that linger on the persistent finish. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years. Locate this wine online or in your area.2004 Pinot Noir Estate Grown Reserve ($35). Very nice, with silky, elegant red currant and berry fruit flavors laced with smoky chocolate, vanilla and floral notes. Finely knit tannins fold into a long, lush finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (Weekend Wine 07/07) Locate this wine online or in your area.
2005 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($25). Pretty red raspberry and strawberry flavors and aromas are laced with red roses, and touches of coconut and earthy, toasted vanilla. Stays smooth and lush from beginning to lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. (Weekend Wine 07/07) Locate this wine online or in your area.
2006 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Estate ($27). On the light, elegant side, with red berry and pomegranate fruit laced with baking spices, chocolate and a delicate earthy note. Nicely balanced — the kind of wine I could drink everyday. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-11-22)
King Estate 1996 Pinot Noir Reserve Oregon ($37). Velvety smooth plum and blueberry are rich and ripe here, backed up by a spicy lavender floral note that is wonderful. This reserve wine shows again why King Estate is one of the leading producers of Oregon Pinot Noirs. (eVineyard Picks, 09/00) Locate this wine online or in your area.
Oak Knoll 2000 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($10). Dried cherry and red berry flavors are accented with light spices and oak notes. Light- to medium-bodied, with a boost of fresh acidity in the finish. An interesting departure from the warmer climate California Pinots in this tasting, this Oregon Pinot was not nearly as ripe or lush as the other, but generally liked by all. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 09/04) Locate this wine online or in your area.
Ponzi Vineyards
1999 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Reserve ($55). Exotic, spicy bouquet introduces a core of concentrated black plum and berry fruit that picks up spice and juicy raspberry into the generous finish. Delicious now and will continue to improve in the bottle for another three or four years (Weekend Wine, 09/02)
1997 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($19). Straightforward plum and cherry flavors dominate this flavorful wine. A whisper of herb and fennel gives balance. Clean finish, nice tannins. (Wine Tasting Party, 04/00)
Rex Hill 1999 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($24 at release) Came across this bottle the other evening — one of those bottles that probably had been hanging around longer than planned. (Oh, if only there was a plan…) What a lovely surprise it turned out to be! With plenty of pretty fruit still present and bright. Smooth, silky, with integrated spices that lingered on the finish. Note to self: buy more Rex Hill — some for now and some for later. Much later. Locate this wine online or in your area. (Picks & Nibbles 04/08)
Sokol Blosser
1997 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley ($20). Loved this wine! Layers of cherry, black raspberry, and prune are set-off by a wonderful minty through-line. Nice finish. Drinking very well now, but should age for at least a few years. (Wine Tasting Party, 04/00)2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills ($36). Supple and pretty, delicate but with body and complex flavors — raspberry and cherry laced with cocoa, light earthy notes, toasted vanilla and a touch of fresh tobacco leaf. Generous length. Very good now and should evolve beautifully in the bottle — over the next 4-5 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-02-05)
2006 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills ($40). Delicate, elegant, but still intense and showing some grip, this is lovely stuff. With pretty black fruits — currant, cherry, berry — and subtle coffee, wet earth and exotic spice notes. Generous, supple finish. Delicious now and over the next six to eight years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-04-08)
2003 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills ($28). More ripe and broad than previous vintages, but not overripe. With lush black plum and cherry fruit laced with sweet vanilla, espresso and chocolate notes that come together on the smooth, mouthfilling finish. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years. (Weekend Wine 03/06)
2002 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills ($26). Really liked this wine (our one Oregon Pinot in this tasting!), with its pretty anise-scented cherry and mushroom aromas and flavors, toast and coffee notes, nuances of earth and truffle, and velvety smooth structure. Finishes long and supple. Very good now and over the next six or seven years. (Weekend Wine 06/05)
1999 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Old Vineyard Block 27 Year Old Vines ($69). Funky, earthy nose with minty tones; deep purple color. Focused black cherry and blackberry fruit, with complex layers of leather, tobacco, roasted hazelnut and spice. Ready to drink now and over the next five to seven years. (Winery Spotlight, 04/04)
Stoller
2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills SV Estate ($40). Lovely stuff — with medium bodied, delicately colored and scented wild strawberry and black raspberry fruit that is laced with touches of dried herbs, rich earth and anise. Long, supple finish. Very nice. Ready to drink now and over the next 5-8 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2011-07-07)
2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills JV ($25). Pretty and appealing for its delicate, pure red berry and cherry fruit, aromatic warm spices and floral notes, and lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 5-7 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-10-04)
Tom Eddy 2005 Pinot Noir Oregon ($55). Despite its simple “Oregon” wine label designation (thanks to the aforementioned irrational wine labeling regulations), this wine has some impressive pedigree — the grapes are from the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA in the northern Willamette Valley, with vineyard neighbors that include Penner-Ash, Cuneo, Ken Wright and Lemelson. Velvety smooth, with pretty red cherry fruit laced with aromatic florals, a touch of spicy ginger, toasted vanilla and caramel notes that linger on the elegant finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (Weekend Wine 06/07)
Torii Mor 2001 Pinot Noir Oregon ($17). Delicious – what a find! Lovely, bright, focused red berry fruit is supple and laced with light herbal notes and sweet vanilla. Ready to drink now. (Richard’s Picks 02/05)
WillaKenzie 2000 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Pierre Leon ($35). Juicy blackberry and cherry fruit is laced with chalky mineral notes, mocha, and black pepper. Nice acidic structure. Persistent finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. (Robyn’s Picks, 08/03)
Willamette Valley Vineyards
2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Whole Cluster Fermented ($19). An array of pretty berry aromas and flavors — raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry — are laced with smoky baking spices and toast. Finishes bright and focused. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-04-01)
2006 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Whole Cluster Fermented ($18). Juicy red cherry and berry fruit is smoothed out with pretty vanilla and clove notes, with a long, supple finish. Ready to drink now. (Party Planning 06/07)
2005 Pinot Noir Oregon Estate Vineyard ($40). Concentrated and aromatic, with black cherry and currant fruit accented with clove, floral and mushroom notes that fold into a bright, mineral-laced finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
2005 PInot Noir Oregon ($24). Pretty and smooth, with floral, mineral and spice accents to the moderate red berry fruit. Finish is light but nice. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
2004 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Estate Vineyard ($40). Pretty red cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors are nuanced with tea, white pepper, light cream and sweet earth. Loved the racy acidity. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (Richard’s Picks 06/06)
2003 Pinot Noir Oregon ($20). Easy to fall for, with its smooth, concentrated red cherry fruit accented with an array of baking spices, toast, milk chocolate, and sweet tobacco flavors. Focused finish leaves you wanting more. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (Richard’s Picks 06/06)
