I will be rating both the tasting experience as well as the wines in this segment of our Oregon winery tasting adventure. I am sorry I could not get this written up for the May wine tasting theme, but there were just too many wines to describe, and this is only day 1!
Stone Wolf Winery
Linda Lindsey and Jessica Cechovic were our gracious hosts for our Willamette Valley tour. Jessica arranged a lot of Monday tastings for us at wineries that are normally closed on Mondays. That really helped us out a lot. Plus, Linda gave us the grand tour of the Stone Wolf winery. Great hosts. Look them up if you are going to tour the Willamette valley. Tasting experience: excellent.
Rascal Pinot Noir 2007 $7 best QPR pinot we tasted
Light ruby. Oaky cherry nose. Light cherry midpalate Short-medium finish. A nice drink now pinot for under $10. How can you go wrong with that?
Stone Wolf Barrel Select Pinot Noir 2008 $18 bought 3 bottles
Light ruby. Cherry nose with some notes of oak. Sweet cherry midpalate with juicy acidity and smooth tannins. Medium finish topped off this nicely balanced affordable pinot.
Patricia Green Winery
The winemaker was our tasting leader. Tasting experience: excellent. Lots of information (almost overload) plus anytime I get to taste a library wine, I am happy. Most of the pinot clones planted at Patricia Green are the traditional Pommard clones, plus some numbered clones such as 777.
Willamette Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2009 13.8% abv $22 bought 2 bottles
Ruby red. Earthy cherry nose. Ripe cherry fruit on the midpalate with juicy red berries, fresh acidity and smooth tannins. Medium finish of red fruit. Nicely balanced. Had this wine with lightly seared tuna at La Rambla restaurant in McMinnville and it was a tasty match.
Bishop’s Creek Vineyard 2009 Pinot Noir
Medium dark ruby red. Nice rich cherry nose with hints of black raspberries. Made from 25-year- old vines. Luscious bing cherry midpalate with good acidity and ripe fruit notes. Nice medium-long fruit finish.
Chehalem Mountain, Olenik Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2009 14.2% abv
Ruby red. Oaky nose with some fruit escaping the oak. Opulent midpalate of cherries and raspberries. Nice structure and balance with a smooth finish. Ager.
Balcombe vineyard, Dundee Hills, 2009 14.2% abv Bought one bottle.
Ruby red. Stinky burgundian nose of cherries. Lush rich red fruit, juicy acidity and smooth tannins on the midpalate. Nicely balance with a nice medium to long finish.
Estate Old Vine Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, 2009 13.5% abv Bought 2 bottles.
Ruby red. Earthy cherries and stone fruit on the nose. Luxurious midpalate of ripe black cherries, fresh acidity and silky tannins. Smooth medium to long finish of ripe fruit. Nicely balanced.
Estate Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2008, 13.5% abv
Medium ruby red. Expressive nose of cherries and forest floor. Sensuous midpalate of red fruit and delightful acidity complemented by sweet tannins. Medium-long finish of red fruit and acidity. Good ager that has excellent balance.
Estate Old Vine Pinot Noir, 13.5% abv. 100% Pommard clones
Light ruby. Light barnyard nose with cherry and raspberry accents. Opulent rich ripe red fruit and refreshing acidity on the midpalate. Complex flavors with nice smooth tannins. Smooth medium-long fruit finish.
Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002, 13.5% abv Unfiltered, Library wine
Ruby red with slight orange bricking at edge. Nose is earthy and mushroomy with maturity evident. Rich midpalate of fresh fruit, especially black cherries and red raspberries, juicy acidity and smooth tannins with layers of flavor. Some minerality evident. Nice medium-long finish showing excellent balance. Seamless wine that I would have bought, had it been available.
Penner-Ash winery.
Tasting done with young woman, who was courteous but curt. Experience: below average. She seemed to wonder how we got an appointment to taste on Monday when the winery is usually closed.
Willamette valley 2009 pinot noir 14.5% abv $45
Light ruby. Expressive cherry cola nose. Midpalate shows cherries and red fruit, good acidity but fairly tight tannins. Finish is medium with astringent, grippy tannins. This was probably the most tannic pinot in all of my tastings. Obviously, an ager.
Rubeo 2009 pinot noir blend, 60% pinot and 40% syrah 13.5% abv $20 bought 2
Medium ruby red. Earthy nose with spicy cherries. Cherries and ripe roasted peppers on the midpalate with medium finish of red fruit and acidity. Good structure, may need some aging.
Argyle.
Tasted just their bubblies. Will report on the pinot focused bubblies I purchased. Tasting experience with counter person: very good.
2006 Knudsen vineyard brut, 80% pinot noir, 20% chardonnay 13.5% abv bought one
Clear straw. Nutty nose with hazel nuts and a hint of strawberries. Midpalate has well integrated fruit and sparkling acidity, tingly tannins and lemony nuts. Excellent balance. Medium to long finish of smooth juicy acid and fruit.
2008 Black brut 100% pinot noir 14.5% abv bought 2 bottles
Clear ruby. Ripe strawberry nose. Midpalate has considerable fruit power for a sparkling wine with ripe red fruits, especially strawberry and pomegranate. Tannins are smooth but firm and well integrated. Finish is probably one of the fruitiest I have ever tasted in a sparkling wine with medium to long length and good acidity. I really liked this bubbly. It will be great for Christmas or other special occasion.
Winderlea winery.
Tasting done with youthful man who was quite personable. Rating for tasting experience: excellent.
Rose 2010 100% pinot noir 13.5% abv $23, bought 3 bottles
Orangey pink as in a tropical sunset. Strawberry and green gage plum nose with some herbal notes. Strawberry and red raspberry midpalate with bright acidity. Nice medium finish of red fruit and palate cleansing acidity. Classic rose that I really liked.
Dundee Hills 2009 Pinot noir 14.5% abv $35
Ruby red. Earthy/forest floor nose with some red fruit notes. Midpalate has light red fruit with hints of tart cherries and red raspberries. Enjoyable medium to long finish with a touch of heat at the end.
Ana vineyard 2008 Pinot noir 13.5% abv $45 Made with 2 clones – Pommard and 777.
Ruby red. Expressive nose of cherries spread over a forest floor in the spring. Midpalate has tasty red fruit, smooth tannins and palate refreshing acidity. Medium finish with red fruit and some tannins at the end.
Winderlea vineyard 2008 pinot noir 13.3% abv $50
Ruby red. Light barnyard cherries on the nose with a hint of smoke. Good solid cherry midpalate with light tannins and juicy acidity. Medium finish of noticeable tannins. An ager.
Winderlea vineyard 2009 pinot noir 14.8% abv $50
Ruby red, but a shade darker than the 2008. Rich fruity nose of ripe red fruit, mostly tart cherry. Ripe tart and black cherries on the midpalate with good acidity and smooth tannins. Finish is medium to long red fruit with a hint of heat at the end.
Carlton Cellars.
Tasted with the assistant winemaker. All wines have Oregon place names. Experience: very good.
Ghost Hill 2010 Pinot noir blanc 13.5% abv
Just a hint of color. Fruity nose of strawberries and pineapple. Tropical fruit midpalate with silky tannins and good acidity. Nice medium finish of tropical fruit.
Agate Beach 2010 Pinot noir rose 13% abv 50/50 pinot noir/pinot gris
Light pink. Ripe pear and strawberry nose. Midpalate elegantly delivers the promise of the nose with ripe pear and ripe strawberries about 50/50 with refreshing acidity and light tannins. Medium fruity finish. Nice rose.
Seven Devils 2009 Willamette Valley pinot noir 14.3% abv $20 bought 2
Clear ruby. Light earthy nose with cherry and dark fruit. Nice midpalate with sweet fruit of cherries and plums with refreshing acidity and smooth tannins. Soft fruity finish with medium length. 40% estate fruit and 60% other Good pinot to drink in the next year or two.
Cape Lookout 2008 Pinot noir 13.4% abv $30 bought 2
Ruby. Lidght nose of earthy wood and some cherry. Rich midpalate of ripe creamy cherries with good tannic structure and hints of down woody debris with forest floor. Nice juicy acidity. Medium to long finish of smooth fruit. Nicely balanced. 100% estate fruit. Probably an ager.
Roads End 2008 Pinot noir 13.% abv $45 bought 2
Medium ruby. Light barnyard with red fruit and a hint of smoke on the nose. Luscious black cherry midpalate with silky tannins and balancing acidity. Long finish of smooth red fruit. Great balance. 80% estate fruit. Drinking well now, but an ager, I think.