Old Oregon Pinot Noir - Wine Berserker off-line

Wildwood restaurant - Portland, OR
Tasted Saturday, July 30, 2011 by gripNsip with 1,306 views

Introduction

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Some users and friends from the Wine Berserkers forum scheduled a old Oregon Pinot Noir tasting at Wildwood Restaurant. The group was supposed to be at or over 10 people, unfortunately only 7 peopled showed up. That said, it meant large pours for those in attendance with WAY more wine available than we could consume. Travis was lucky enough to secure one of the private dinner rooms at Wildwood so we were able to have a focused discussion about the wines and wine in general. The wines, as old and some with unknown provenance, turned out to be amazing...

Flight 1 - Warm-up wine: A delicious NV Champagne... (1 Note)

  • NV René-Henri Coutier Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 90 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Aromas of fresh strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. Really delicious smelling. On the palate the strawberries are fresh and delicious, strong mineral notes in the mid-palate, good length to the red fruit on the finish with tart acids. Overall a very delicious wine, refreshing and delicious. It'd be no problem at all to finish the entire bottle...

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Flight 2 - Elk Cove (3 Notes)

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These were all showing surprisingly well. It made me feel better about the stuff that I have in my collection. The 1990 Elk Cove Reserve is among the best Oregon Pinots I have had in my life.

  • 1979 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    This wine changed character seemingly every 5-10 minutes before tightening up 40 min in. Showing a ton of age on the nose along with stewed strawberries, pie cherries and old leather. Interesting to smell, but far more delicious on the palate. Caramel turning into bright strawberry and cherry fruit, surprisingly well structured, definitely relaxed but slow tannin and acidity to keep up with the palate, if just barely. The wildest thing about this wine was the weight on the palate, it was nearly viscous, easily the heaviest weight-wise out of the entire tasting tonight. All of this said, not something I would drink every day, but completely intact, delicious, very old Oregon Pinot Noir. This is the oldest Oregon PN I have had that was still drinking. Also, this was a birth-year wine consumed on my birthday, I would say it has aged better than I have, lol.

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  • 1985 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Wind Hills 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Coming from the 1979 Reserve this was so fresh and alive on the nose. Deep black cherries, some raspberries, and bits of leather and stem aromas. Again very alive on the palate, cherries, raspberries, even some grapefruit as the wine is swallowed, with tart red citrus acidity rising up in the finish. The acidity here is so balanced, with a gentle feel as it carries along a long finish of raspberry fruit. Surprisingly not showing much age on the palate, this is so young feeling still. Myself and others speculated as to what year we would guess this was in a blind tasting and many agreed on early 2000's. Remarkable. Amazingly integrated, very easy palate with balanced structure, long finish. What more could you want? Maybe a bit more age and complexity, I wouldn't be afraid to age this much further, 5-7 years easily.

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  • 1990 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve 95 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Young, fresh red fruit nose, aromas of strawberries and cherries with a citrus edge, like maybe a dusting of lemon zest, just a bit of earth as well. Right off the bat the feel on the palate is velvety and soft. It starts off with ripe grapefruit leading into ripe strawberry, then into dark earth and forest floor, finally ending with red fruit and chalky mineral. Exuberant palate with balanced structure. This wine is showing it's age in all of the right places. Right in that perfect place where youthful and aged flavors meet. Long, complex, powerful, delicious. My WOTN.

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Flight 3 - Cameron (3 Notes)

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Again, these were holding up really well.

  • 1985 Cameron Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Showing aged old wood, rich cherries, vanilla, and earth. There is a sweet edge to the nose, smells really delicious. Very full mouthfeel immediately evident. Peppered red fruit, ripe grapefruit, brown sugar, hints of bitter chocolate as the tannins pick up in the finish. Very well built and structured. Very long finish. This wine is beautifully composed in it's age. Overall very complex and delicious.

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  • 1986 Cameron Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Showing age on the nose, very dark cherries but with a truffled, mushroom edge. Smells interesting. The palate shows peppered red fruit, some herbal notes like rosemary, along with earthy, mushroom notes. Surprisingly tightly structured, the acidity and tannin here could act a bit more gentle. Showing age, still a very delicious wine, but in the company tonight this seemed less integrated and ready.

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  • 1987 Cameron Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Flawed

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    The group said this was corked before I was able to get to it, so I dumped it. A bummer.

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Flight 4 - One-offs (4 Notes)

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  • 1985 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Oregon 88 Points

    USA, Oregon

    The nose showed sweet cherries, dried mushroom, and some potpourri. Smells youthful. The palate starts off with great balance of flavor and structure, beautiful strawberry fruit, chalk, raspberries, earth. Starting into the finish the acidity gets very strong, over-powering the flavors on the finish, keeping things rather short. Very interesting and complex, showing age, if only the strength of the acidity on the finish was a bit more in line with the flavor perhaps this would be much better.

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  • 1985 Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Delicious nose showing dark chocolate covered strawberry and cherries. The palate shows bright cherries and red fruit. Showing less age than I expected for how old this wine is. Very light feel on the palate but with great flavor intensity and balanced structure, the acidity right in line with the palate and late-hitting tannin. Overall very delicious, still completely alive. While not the most complex, every other step this wine made was perfect.

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  • 1997 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Brickhouse Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Very youthful still. Bright cherry nose with a healthy dose of potpourri. The palate shows those cherries along with strawberries and grapefruit. Strongly structured still, strong tart acidity on the finish with grippy tannin. Very bright all around. Could stand to age longer, but very delicious now.

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  • 1998 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Toasted oak, strawberry pie, pepper, earth. Smells delicious! Large in the mouth, balanced flavor of baked cherries, dark caramel, mushroom and earth. Long palate with beautiful acidity keeping things together, late hitting tannin that falls right in line as this wine tapers through the finish. In a great place now but could easily stand to age longer based on the intensity and structure. Overall very delicious and right in that place where it's showing a bit of age but is still youthful, awesome. 92+

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Flight 5 - DDO Laurene (3 Notes)

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My palate was just starting to get a bit weak by this point, thankfully these wines were all on the very large, more intense side of things.

  • 1994 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Smells of rich cherries, slightly rich and savory, almost like an entire cherry pie with baking spices. Smells delicious. The palate is very coating with a full intensity. Powerful rich cherry fruit, along with hints of stone fruit, reminding me of a nectarine. Some savory notes here too and dry earth. Still youthful tasting, bright full acids help keep the intense fruit in check. I love intense wines like this, very powerful, complex and long.

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  • 1998 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    The nose shows deep, rich cherries, some pie crust, and a little vanilla. The palate is full intensity right from the start, bright acidity along with ripe grapefruit, pomegranate, rhubarb, cherry and baking spices. Some age showing as well. Lots of structure still in play and it balances fairly well with the flavor intensity of the wine. Drinking good now but still has many years to go.

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  • 2000 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Earthy, rich nose with cherries, mushroom, and stems. The palate shows a full intensity, huge mid-palate length with cherry, pomegranate and earth. Deep, long lasting flavors, very young. Strong structure, needs more time in bottle for sure although you aren't killing babies if you crack one now. Very long and delicious finish.

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Flight 6 - Beaux Freres (3 Notes)

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  • 1993 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Interesting nose of cooked Rhubarb, pie cherries, and strawberry, smelling a bit old. The palate is soft strawberries, some earth. Surprisingly simple on the palate, but it's still tasty wine. Very relaxed feel to the structure, both the acidity and tannin behind the already soft fruit. Drink em if you got em.

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  • 1995 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

    Rich nose here, cherries, chalk, caramel and vanilla. Smells delicious. The cherries and caramel play strongest on the palate along with chalky mineral, earth and stems. Grippy tannin and strong acidity present but fairly balanced to the intensity of the palate. Showing just a bit of age leading into the long finish. A very good bottle that still has many years left.

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  • 1996 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

    Certainly smelled good and tasted good, unfortunately I was to caught up in conversation to write down descriptors.

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Closing

What an amazing educational experience. In the past I've had many old Oregon Pinots that were completely shot by the mid-90's. To have so many youthful and delicious wines that are this old, it completely changes the way I look at these wines as far as aging potential goes. Thanks again to those involved that helped make this event such a success, and thanks for sharing these great wines with me.

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Dan disagreed with the 1996 BF lol

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