2008 Colene Clemens Vineyards Estate Reserve Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 440 cases, $36. Inaugural release (along with an Estate bottling) from a 23-acre estate vineyard planted in 2006 in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The winemaker is Steve Goof, who spent several years as an assistant to Beaux Frères winemaker Mike Etzel. Clones are 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. Aged in 50% new French oak barrels. · The nose is dominated by oak with very little fruit to the front. Discreetly intense flavors of black cherries with prominent accents of grilled mushrooms and toasted oak. The tannins are restrained, and the texture is satiny, but there is too much oak on board now. The oak may integrate over time, but I suspect this will always be an oaky wine. Decent. Reviewed April 11, 2011

Winery: Colene Clemens Vineyards
From article: Noiregon: First Look at 09s and Late Release 08s