2010 Andrew Rich Verbatim Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 833 , $30. Rich’s blend that best captures the
vintage and the expression of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Sourced from Ribbon Ridge, La Colina, and Momtazi Family
vineyards. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels.
·
Moderately
light reddish-purple color in the glass. Immediately appealing
upon opening the bottle with fresh red cherry and berry aromas accented
with notes of spice and sandalwood. Dances lightly on the palate, and delivers
plenty of Pinot flavor. Impeccably balanced with supple tannins, finishing with a
cherry focus that lingers. Captures the 2010 Willamette Valley vintage perfectly.
2010 Archery Summit Premier Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $35.99. 100% estate grown
and estate bottled. Sourced from five vineyards.
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Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the bottle. At this
early stage this wine is dominated by oak and tannin. Aromas of black cherries and coffee-scented oak. Soft
in the mouth with a gentle cherry flavor, largely buried in oak and tannin. Tasted the next day from a previously
opened and re-corked bottle, the lovely fruit core had begun to emerge and the oak was better integrated.
Give this wine a few years in the cellar. Good.
2010 Argyle Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $17.50, screw cap. “Double macerated” - once before
fermentation and again after fermentation.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of strawberries, cherries
and herbal oak. Soft in the mouth with lighter weight flavors of red cherries and berries and a dusting of oak.
An easy drinker with no special message. Decent.
2010 Cardwell Hill Cellars Estate Bottled Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., $24.
Wädenswil (1985), Pommard, and Dijon 115, 777. Aged 10 months in French oak.
·
Light reddishpurple
color in the glass. Very shy aromas of redder fruits and underbrush. Tasty red cherry and
strawberry fruits, lifted by good acidity and framed by supple tannins. Very flavorful, with the
aromatics lagging behind at this early stage. Good.
2010 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $40.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple
color in the glass. Typical Dundee Hills aromas and flavors of red cherries and wild strawberries. Very
light, even thin, with a lacy delicacy, offering polished tannins and a bright, cherry-driven finish. Not particularly
expressive at this stage, lacking interest and impact, but based on the history of this wine picking up interest
over time and having excellent age ability, I would give it a chance. Decent.
2010 Evening Land Red Queen Seven Springs Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 311
cases, $75. From a specific vineyard block that sits at the highest point of the hill, where the volcanic Basalt
rocks come closer to the surface. 30% whole cluster fermentation in an open-top oak fermenter. Aged 14
months in 30% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. Fruity nose with an
array of dark red cherry and berry aromas. Elegant and silky on the palate, with a delicious core of dark red
Pinot fruits complimented by oak, finishing with a hint of spice and savory herbs. Impeccable balance and
easy drink ability at this early stage. Very good.
2010 Evening Land La Source Seven Springs Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 971
cases, $60. 100% de-stemmed, 4-5-day cold soak in open top oak and cement fermenters. Aged 14 months
in 25% new French Oak. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. Marked reduction upon
opening with aromas of matchstick and wood shed, leading to light flavors of red cherries and berries, oak
vanillin and sulfur. The wine was then decanted and re-tasted later in the day and the following day. The
reduction largely resolved with much more expressive aromatics and flavors with bright, fresh flavors of ripe
dark berries. Good.
2010 Ken Wright Cellars Shea Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.75% alc., $44.
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Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Pleasing
aromas of black cherries and dark red berries with a hint of vanillin and
sandalwood. Reasonably concentrated flavors of dark cherries, berries and
currants with a subtle note of oak and herbs. Nicely balanced with supple
tannins. This wine is slow to give up its charms. When tasted the following
day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the aromatics were much
more expressive with scents of cherries, spice and cut flowers, and a delicious
black cherry core had emerged, offering good intensity and length. Decant if
you must drink now. Very good.
2010 Klee Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $17. From winemaker Chris Berg of Racine Wine Co.
and Roots Wines.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of brandied cherries with a hint of oak.
Bright and juicy flavors of strawberries and cherries accented by subtle oak. Light in weight, even a bit shallow,
with mild tannins and easy drink ability. Will work fine with summer bbq or lounging by the pool. Decent.
2009 Kramer Vineyards Yamhill-Carlton Brut Sparkling Wine
12.5% alc., pH 3.10, TA 0.90,
Residual Sugar 0.3%, 149 cases, $24. 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir.
·
Faint yellow color in
the glass with a good bead. Complex nose with an array of scents including green apple, lemon zest,
white peach, roasted nuts and dough. Flavors of green apple, lemon and toasted brioche are lifted
by bright acidity, and hang on through the long, bone dry finish. Highly enjoyable. Very good.
2010 Kramer Vineyards Estate Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.58,
125 cases, $20. From a sustainably farmed estate vineyard, including various clones from several
blocks. Winemaker is Trudy J. Kramer. 100% de-stemmed, 10-day cold soak, aged 10 months in
33% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Love the nose
which is fragrant with aromas of exotically spiced black cherries with a hint of toast. Over time in the
glass, the scent of cardamom spice and rose petals emerge. Moderately rich essence of black
cherries and cranberries with a black tea, tar and citrus note in the background. Has some backbone, but the
tannins are ripe and not intrusive. Highly enjoyable now. Very good.
2010 Kudos Reserve Yamhill-Carlton District Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $20. From the NW Wine Co. in McMinnville
under the direction of Laurent Montalieu. A big seller at Total Wine &
More in California. Aged 10 months in oak.
·
Moderately dark reddishpurple
color in the glass. Delicate scent of black cherries and black
raspberries with a subtle note of oak. Middleweight flavors echo the
nose with a little minerality in the background. Sturdy tannins, yet very soft in
the mouth. This wine aims to please now. Good.
2010 Longplay Lia’s Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc.,
$20. Todd Hansen is the grower and Aaron Hess is the winemaker.
·
Light garnet color in the glass.
Scent of cherries and faint oak, picking up intensity and desirability over time in the glass. Light and
elegant, with tasty cherry fruit flavor accented with a hint of spice and oak. Very delicate, with
gossamer tannins, but delivers some solid flavor. Good.
2010 Sonría Shea Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.7% alc.,
$60.
·
Moderately light reddish-color in the glass. Very pleasant perfume of redfruited
tart with a hint of mocha. Smooth, gentle and seamless, with restrained
flavors of red fruits, rhubarb and herbs, somewhat buried in tannins at this stage.
I like this wine for its lacy restraint and elegance. Should pick up fruit expression
over time as the tannins become better integrated. Very Good.
2010 St. Innocent Shea Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 922 cases, $36. Yields
2.6 tons per acre. 100% de-stemmed, 2-day cold soak, aged 16 months in 35% new French oak, bottled
without fining.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Demure aromas of red berries, bramble, spice and oak.
Tasty core of dark red cherries, berries and pomegranates, nicely spiced and somewhat savory with
complimentary oak in the background. On the lighter side, but displays very charming fruit framed by bright
acidity, finishing with noticeable length. Very good.
2010 St. Innocent Temperance Hill Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 583 cases, $28.
From blocks planted in 1984 and 1995. Yields 1.5 tons per acre. 100% de-stemmed, 2-day cold
soak, aged 16 months in 32% new French oak, bottled unfined.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color
in the glass. Aromas of black cherries and toasty oak. Elegant, yet offering some richness of red
fruit flavor underpinned with notes of tea and tarry oak. Round and polished, soft in the mouth,
finishing with a dark cherry bonus. Becomes more expressive over time in the glass indicating
decanting is beneficial at this early stage. Good (+).
2010 St. Innocent Zenith Vineyard Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 704 cases, $30.
Clones 777 and 667 from older blocks and young vine Pommard. Yields 1.4 tons per acre. 100%
de-stemmed, 2-day cold soak, aged 16 months in 40% new French oak, bottled without fining.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy nose initially, opening slowly over time to reveal
inviting aromas of black plum, blackberry and subtle oak. Middleweight flavors of dark red and black
berries, backed by well-proportioned firm tannins, finishing with a pleasing note of raspberries. Very
soft in the mouth with seamless balance. Will benefit from further bottle age. Very Good.
Note: TeBri Estate wine is distributed throughout Oregon and sold at all Markets of Choice and a limited
number of Fred Meyers, Roth Supermarkets, and a number of fine wine merchants in Oregon and California.
Both the Estate and Select Pinot Noir are available online at Oregon Wine Merchants and Northwest Wines
and the wines can be purchased directly from the winery by emailing them at Pinot@tebri.com.
