J.L. Kiff Rosé of Pinot Noir 2017
Shimmering, translucent carmine red, J.L. Kiff’s 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir is made from grapes sourced from the proprietor’s nine-acre vineyard just outside McMinnville. Its deep color is the result of four days of skin contact—a pretty, perfumed mélange of Queen Anne’s cherries, strawberries, and cinnamon stick tumble from the glass. There is some perceptible […]
J.L. Kiff Pinot Noir 2012
J.L. Kiff’s 2012 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir is both vivid and fresh and is coronated with a wreath of raspberries, alpine strawberries, dried mint, anise, and pomander ball. It’s limpid garnet in the glass, and is slightly darker in hue than the other vintages in the vertical we tasted—I am told the 2012 includes a small […]
Bergström Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
One of Oregon’s most revered vineyards, Dick and Deirdre Shea have farmed this extraordinary 140-acre site for over 25 years. Thin, low-fertility soil overlay sandstone bedrock—here, the vines are forced to burrow deep in search of moisture and nutrients. The 2016 vintage slowly unfurls to reveal smoky, sexy layers of crushed lavender, seedy raspberry, black […]
Bergström Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir 2015
Bergström’s sublime 2015 Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir was one of the more restrained as compared with the rest of the lineup we tasted. Red and black fruit, anise and cola aromas glide above the firmament, well above a base layer suggestive of freshly turned tilth. It’s more broad-shouldered on the palate as well, slightly weightier, […]
Beaux Frères Gran Moraine Pinot Noir 2015
From a small, narrow vineyard aptly named The Tongue, Beaux Frères 2015 Gran Moriane Pinot Noir is made from Dijon clones planted in transitional volcanic marine uplift. Coastal influence has graced it with lavish aromas of ripe blue fruit, black raspberries, underbrush, lilacs, and a dusting of cocoa powder. The profile is more masculine in […]
Angela Estate Pinot Noir 2012
Angela, sweet Angela, you sang just as I’d hoped you would…with a lovely floral countenance of hibiscus flowers, rose petal, clove and baking spice swirl above richer, denser notes of black cherry, boysenberry and forest floor. Concentrated without being heavy, these wines are a masterpiece from Ken Wright, expressing Pinot’s full range and potential. The […]
Angela Estate ‘Abbott Claim’ Pinot Noir 2012
A blend of Pommard and clones 777 and 115, all rooted in ancient marine sedimentary soils that form the foundation and consequently the backbone of the 2012 Angela Abbott Claim Vineyard. Textbook growing conditions combined with this stellar site have yielded a wine with heady, rapturous aromas of hibiscus, musky black tea, mushrooms, truffles, smokey […]
Brooks Duex Vert Vineyard Melon de Bourgogne 2015
Brooks Melon de Bourgogne Duex Vert Vineyard 2015″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>Pleasantly surprised by Brooks’ 2015 Melon de Bourgogne, with it’s filigreed nose of ripe pear, honeysuckle and chalkboard dust. It’s not as lean and leesy as some of my favorite examples from Muscadet Sèvre et Maine (Melon de Bourgogne is the variety used in Muscadet). […]
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 […]
Soter Mineral Springs ‘White Label’ Pinot Noir 2012
Soter’s 2012 Mineral Springs ‘White Label’ Pinot Noir has a unique story in that it is crafted from an unidentified “heirloom” clone. Who cares what the clone is, the results are spectacular. The perfect combination of concentration and finesse, the nose is a romp through a damp and earthy forest glen, fields of lavender, and […]