2011 A Blooming Hill Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.7% alc., 360 cases,
$20. 100% de-stemmed, 7-10-day cold soak, aged in 30% new French oak barrels. Once racked off the lees,
the wine is cold stabilized and left to age.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Darker raspberry, black
cherry and plum fruit aromas and flavors with a subtle accent of tobacco, tar and pungency. Impressive concentration in this vintage. Balanced dry tannins and some finish. Becomes less interesting as a riper fruit profile emerges over time in the glass. Tasted twice. Good.
2010 A Blooming Hill Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 180 cases, $25. 100% de-stemmed,
7-10-day cold soak, aged in 30% new French oak barrels. Once
racked off the lees, the wine is cold stabilized and left to age.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Medium reddishpurple
color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of ripe
strawberries, black cherries and a hint of mocha. Although the vineyard
struggled with ripeness, the fruit in this wine is definitely ripe with plenty of
satisfying juicy cherry flavor. The wine displays good concentration combined
with modest, supportive fine-grain tannins, and a lasting, fruit-laden finish. Very
good.
2010 DION Vineyard Winemaker Reserve Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
100 cases,
$35. Aged 13 months in 50% new French oak barrels and held in bottle 6 months before release.
·
Moderately
light reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy, but pleasing aromas of strawberry, red cherry and dried Provencal
herbs. A wine with modesty and restraint, but good flavor, featuring tastes of red fruits, savory dried herbs and
gentle oak spice. Soft and elegant in the mouth with lacy tannins. Good (+).
2010 DION Vineyard Limited Release Old Vines Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $35.
Self-rooted, dry-farmed Pommard clone planted in 1976 in
Laurelwood soil at 300 to 500 feet. Aged 13 months in 50%
new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in
the glass. This is one of those wines that you know is
exceptional from the first sip. The beguiling aromas draw you in with notes of
cherries, strawberries, nutmeg and other spices. Smooth, seamless, polished
and flat out delicious, this wine sports middleweight flavors of perfectly ripened
dark red cherries, raspberries, spice and dark chocolate. Supple tannins and a
satisfying cut of acidity in the background. This wine is assertive without weight, showing restraint and
modesty, yet delivering a load of pleasure. Quintessential Oregon Pinot Noir.
2011 Luminous Hills Estate Grown Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc.,
322 cases, $35. Yields 1 ton per acre in this cool vintage. Clones are Pommard, 777, 115 and 667
planted on both volcanic and sedimentary soils.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass.
Aromas of dark cherries, berries and cassis echoed in the flavors with an underlying tarry note and a
tart, citrus-laden cherry finish. Light in weight and easy to drink, this delicately flavored wine will
work nicely with food. Good.
2012 Seven of Hearts Willamette Valley Rosé Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., RS 0.14%, 126 cases,
$15. Sourced from Luminous Hills, Armstrong and Lia’s vineyards.
·
Medium pink watermelon in color
in the glass. Bright aromas of fresh strawberries, watermelon and peach with a hint of pastry cream.
Not a wimpy rosé, but one with a little heft and backbone offering bright flavors of strawberries and
cherries and a finish that is crisp and refreshing. The perfect summer BBQ wine. Very good.
2012 Seven of Hearts Chateau Figareaux Columbia Valley Rosé of Cabernet Franc
12.0% alc., 98 cases,
$18. A direct press after eight days of skin contact at very cold temperatures.
·
Moderately light red rose color in
the glass. Aromas of red strawberries, blood oranges and rose petals. Light, delicate and demure, with red
berry and cherry flavors and a note of green herbs in the background. Juicy, with bright acidity. Decent.
2011 Seven of Hearts Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., 525 cases, $20. Sourced from five
Willamette Valley AVAs. Clones 114, 115, 667, 777, Pommard and Wädenswil. 29% whole cluster.
Aged in 25% new French oak barrels.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Pleasant array of
darker cherry and berry fruit aromas with hints of oak and anise. Very light in weight, but caressing
and flavorful, crisp and charming, with tastes of dark red and black berries and an echo of brown
spice. Good.
2011 Seven of Hearts Armstrong Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., 175 cases, $35.
Willakenzie series sedimentary soils. Clones Pommard and 777.
Aged in 29% new French oak barrels.
·
Light ruby color in the glass.
Delicate aromas of black cherries and dark red roses. Demure on the
palate with plenty of finesse, featuring flavors of black cherries cloaked
in fine-grain tannins, finishing with a pleasing, long kiss of cherries. Not a
blockbuster, but a reflection of the vintage, well-crafted and thoroughly
satisfying. Very good.
2011 Seven of Hearts Lia’s Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., 126
cases, $35. Jory volcanic soils, Clones are Pommard, Wädenswil, Mariafeld and 115. Aged in 20% new
French oak barrels.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Dark red cherries and berries are featured in this
wine which has a tasty core of delicate fruit and some intensity on the finish, but the tannins are mildly
imposing and there is a subtle green undertone of unripeness. Decent.
2010 Tyee Wine Cellars Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 400 cases, $24.99. A blend from
all plantings in the Estate Vineyard from vines 10 to 36 years old.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the
glass. Aromas of fresh red fruits, melon and a hint of wasabi. Good mid palate intensity of red cherry,
raspberry, pomegranate and spice flavors finishing with refreshing acidity, and a rush of tannins on the finish.
Good.
2010 Tyee Wine Cellars Estate Barrel Select Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 100 cases, $34.99. Winemaker’s selection of
favorite barrels of vintage.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the
glass. Dreamy aromas of dark red raspberries and cherry pie glaze.
Delicious array of red and black cherry and berry fruits exhibiting
noticeable presence without pronounced body. Bright, clean and juicy
with firm, balanced tannins that keep the fruit in line, ending with good tension
on the acid-driven finish. The wine becomes silkier and livelier with air. Very
good (+).
