Help me decide - Oregon Pinot Noir

Going to a blind tasting tonight and am directed to bring an Oregon Pinot Noir to taste along side of other undisclosed Oregon Pinot Noirs.

I have two, but I'm unfamiliar with both and can't find much information on them. Any thoughts on which would be better?

2005 Bighorn Cellars - Yamill County
2005 Domaine Drouhin - Willamette Valley

Thanks for your insight.

Carrie,

I can't speak to the Bighorn, but I have tasted the '05 Drouhin. My notes included "floral nose, rich and silky, lots of dark fruit". It was quite good, but would probably improve with a few years of aging. I didn't buy any due to the fact that it came in at more than $40. For another $10 I was able to pick up the Argyle Nuthouse, which is one of my favorite Oregon Pinots. However, the Drouhin should be a solid selection for the blind tasting.

I would lean to the Drouhin over the Big Horn - even though I have not tasted the latter. Bighorn is a Napa winemaker that has a vineyard in Oregon and makes their Pinot at someone elses winery up there. Drouhin is one of Oregon's true pioneers and has been making wine there for a long time. It just better represents Oregon.

Be sure to let us know about the tasting results...

Sam and Ray, thanks for your thoughts. The point about being an Oregon pioneer is a good one. I'll be interested to compare tasting notes on the Drouhin and others. I'll swipe the comment cards when we're done.
Thanks again.

[Jenise]

Carrie, I'll third the choice of the Drouhin. For one, it's good wine, I've had it twice in the last two months. Quite deep and earthy with bing cherry and plum fruit and a nice smoky edge. Will age wonderfully; drinks well now. If you have the luxury of throwing it into a decanter for an hour and then returning it to the bottle before you leave for the tasting, do so: the wine will show even better. Secondly, what Ray said. The house of Drouhin a venerable old Burgundian institution, and where Oregon is now full of interlopers from Napa Valley and France who moved there to make wine, Drouhin was the first to recognize it's potential and set up camp there. They sent one of their daughters, Veronique, there to manage the operation. And they've made wonderful wines ever since. They make just three: a white they all Arthur, a regular red and a Laurene vineyard red. As I said, they age superbly. I just picked up some 92 Laurenes at auction!

Thanks for the information Jenise. I look forward to trying it. Hmmm, perhaps I will decant first. Is that cheating though?

[Jenise]

I know you winked, but not cheating at all. If the purpose is determining the best wine, then it's to the wine's advantage to show as well as it can. Nothing's more 'unfair' to either the taster or the wine than judging it when it's not ready--can't tell you how many times I've realized on the very last sip that the wine was only just starting to open up!

Quick report--

The format was different than times in the past. No one made "public" notes on the individual wines. The purpose was to find out everyone's single favorite wine of the evening. Kind of fun for a change. What made it interesting was that there were 12 of us and 7 wines, and every single wine received at least one vote except one of them. Most, including the Drouhin received two votes and one received three. That was the Jezebel, and a good deal at only $17.99 a bottle.

I agree with all of your comments on the Drouhin. It was a very delicious wine, but tasted the slightest bit harsh in comparison to some of the others and will be much better in a few years. (Jenise, I ran out of time to decant. Those darned duck pizzas! They were a big hit though. )

My favorite of the night (along with one other person) was Four Graces. It was full bodied but smooth as silk with lots of spicy fruit. I'd never heard of it, but will definitely buy some.

[Jenise]

It was a very delicious wine, but tasted the slightest bit harsh in comparison to some of the others and will be much better in a few years.

Too bad you didn't have time to decant, it would have smoothed out those awkward edges. But it sounds like the evening was a success, so all's well.