Wildstock Pinot Noir Oregon Crafted Wine 2013
Wildstock is a Scott Paul label, as such the 2013 is classic Oregon Pinot. It’s delicate and refined, with easy layers of raspberries, iron ore, baking spice and a pleasing top note of Dutch process cocoa powder. Equally light and nimble on the palate, with an alcohol level set at 13.5% ABV. Sample Scott Paul […]
de Lancellotti Lachini Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
de Lancellotti Lachini Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 presents a fresh face—one that is composed of feminine, slightly stemmy raspberries and dewy rose petals. The nose is a bit deceptive, because this intriguing 2013 shows more concentration than one might expect, with caressing, silky layers of Rainier cherries, red forest berries and cranberries swathed in a […]
Scott Paul Pinot Noir La Paulée 2012
The expression of the Scott Paul La Paulée Pinot Noir is very much in line with what I would expect from the 2012 vintage in the Willamette Valley. A year with textbook growing conditions has endowed this Pinot with suitably lush red-fruit notes—black cherries and crushed raspberries are underpinned by notes of iron, forest floor, […]
Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012
Cornerstone’s 2012 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is generously styled, with a perfumy and overtly expressive nose of rose petals and anise inlaid by roasted strawberry, black cherry and blackberries. On the palate, its got depth, dimension and power to spare. Fine, dusty tannins and medium acidity frame out supple black and red fruit that gracefully […]
Winderlea Dundee Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir 2008
Winderlea’s 2008 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Cuvée was blended specifically for ¡Salud!, a non-profit that provides mobile health care to migrant workers in the Willamette Valley. Aside from this, the wine itself has developed beautifully, with classic Oregon Pinot notes of red forest berries, underbrush and dried rose petals. The palate is offers savoriness punctuated by […]
Elk Cove Roosevelt Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
Fruit takes a back seat in the 2011 Elk Cove Roosevelt Vineyard Pinot Noir. This is a portrait in savoriness. Aromas of Spanish roof tile, sun dried tomato, cigar box and sage seamlessly merge into tart cranberries and dried cherry notes. Firm, dusty tannins hem in high-toned red fruit and taught acidity that terminates with […]
King Estate Signature Collection Pinot Noir 2013
The 2013 King Estate Pinot Noir is restrained, and is thinner and tighter than I would like. Sporting twining notes of earth, mocha and cocoa powder, a dab of red fruit. On the palate, it’s quite tart, with high-toned briary forest berries, pomegranate and twig tea—this subdued tone and pitch follows all the way through […]
Brooks Winery | McCrady’s Heritage Red 2014
Another spin-off label from an intensive 2-day blending session that took place at Brooks Winery earlier this year. This particular label is the inspired blend of Sommelier, Cappie Peete of McCrady’s in Charleston, SC. That’s right, if you want to sample this wine, you’ll have to visit the restaurant. And like the other wines that […]
Raptor Ridge Willamette Valley Pinot Gris 2014
Inviting, with lilting sweet aromas of baked apple, white peach, lemon curd and spring flowers. On the palate the 2014 Raptor Ridge Pinot Gris is equally tender and round, held aloft by a delicate vein of acidity that provides just enough lift. This is a delicate, pretty Gris that reminds me of early spring. Medium […]
King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2008
I was lucky enough to have tasted a vertical of King Estate Pinot Gris, the oldest from 1995. While Pinot Gris is a variety that is championed for its ageworthiness, the 2008 Kine Estate Domain defies that logic—it’s fabulously fresh and vibrant with crisp acidity leading the charge. White grapefruit and lime zest intertwine wet […]