A day in the valley

leatherpalate and I were taking a trip out to portland and naturally we were going to do some wine tasting. This was the only day where we could get out and do some serious tasting, so we just picked places at random (except for DDO)

• 2009 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Arthur 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: fat and buttery nose with tones of marmalade, new oak, orange peels and some citrus tones as well
  
  taste: full bodied with medium acidity with rich and creamy tones of butter, orange peels, citrus tones and some oak tones as well
  
  overall: though not my style, it does hold the style well. Full bodied and rich on both the nose, this is definitely for those that like a bigger style of chard

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• 2008 Joseph Drouhin / Drouhin-Vaudon Chablis 1er Cru Moirein 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  nose: crystalline and precise nose of lemon peels, mineral tones, white fruits and a good bit of fresh picked citrus tones. Nice and crisp while being very aromatic as well
  
  taste: lighter bodied with high acidity and fresh tones of lemon peels, mineral tones, white fruits and some flinty tones on the back end. Quite young and the acidity is bothersome at this point
  
  overall: this does need some time to fully show itself. Well balanced and precise on both the nose and palate while showing off much of what is fun with chablis

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• 2009 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  nose: nice and upfront nose of dark plums, dark red cherries, and dark berries. Nice depth with a good plushness to the nose
  
  taste: pretty medium/full body with medium+ acidity with balanced and forward tones of dark plums, dark red fruits, dark berries and a touch of tobacco tones
  
  overall: this has a nice plushness to it on both the nose and palate. Well balanced as well with an easy going style to it

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• 2008 Joseph Drouhin Savigny-lès-Beaune 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune

  nose: nice and fragrant nose of fresh picked berries, earth tones, dark red cherries and bits of dark florals
  
  taste: pretty medium body with medium/high acidity and some stiff tannins that show off the youth of the wine. Balanced and elegant tones of berries, earth, dark red cherries and some bits of fresh red fruits as well
  
  overall: this was a nice village savigny. Well balanced with a pretty freshness to it. This could use a couple of years to fully show itself, but is a nice village wine right now

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• 2007 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: elegant and savory nose with very fragrant tones of fresh picked red fruits, earth tones, berries and tones of violets. Well balanced with nice depth though it is a bit tight
  
  taste: pretty medium body that is a bit on the lighter side of the spectrum with medium/high acidity as well. The acidity is pretty sharp right now along with balanced and savory tones of red fruits, earth tones, berries and a touch of red florals
  
  overall: This is a pretty young laurene. If it can put on some weight and have the acidity balance out a bit, this could be an extremely pretty pinot. Well balanced and fragrant with a more elegant take

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• 2009 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Appellation Series Dundee Hills 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: perfumed and elegant nose of ref fruits, berries, floral tones and bits of spices as well. Nice depth with a pretty quality to the nose
  
  taste: sexy medium feel with medium acidity and plush tones of red fruits, spice tones, berries and some bits of raspberries. Well balanced with good depth
  
  overall: This was completely open for business. Very charming and elegant while also being very open on the nose. This wine is fully ready to go and I can't see how aging will do too much for it

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• 2008 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Dragon's Bluff Volcanic Rock Select 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  nose: very tightly wound but showing excellent layering already with very good depth and melded tones of red fruits, berries, floral tones, and bits of red cherries
  
  taste: gorgeous medium body with medium+ acidity with some plump tannins. Polished, and though not fully showing, tones of red fruits, floral tones, and red cherries
  
  overall: this was wound really tight. Shows a lot of promise and can improve a lot once it starts to fully open up

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• 2008 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Dragon's Bluff North Valley Reserve 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  nose: great depth with a real stunning nose of red fruits, berries, fresh picked roses, violets and loads of spice tones. Very good layering with a lot of class as well
  
  taste: beautifully suave and sexy medium feel with medium+ acidity. Great depth and though wound tight, it possesses elegant and refined tones of red fruits, berries, rose petals, violets, spice tones, and some herbal whole cluster tones
  
  overall: This is a real monster in the making. Absolutely gorgeous on both the nose and palate with beautiful layering as well. Lots of class and poise, this needs time to really show what it can do

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• 2008 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Sovarae White Rose Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: tight nose, but what it was showing was very pretty and floral with tones of violets, fresh picked berries, herbs, red fruits and some spice tones as well. There is a very vosne quality to the nose that is very attractive
  
  taste: feminine and plush medium feel with medium+ acidity. Deep and gorgeous tones violets, herbs, red fruits, red florals, and red cherries show themselves. It is holding back a bit on the palate as well and the acidity is prominent
  
  overall: This feels like it will turn into a complete stunner. Very floral on both the nose and palate that just completely adds to its attraction. Great depth as well with a real suave style to it

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• 2010 Stoller Chardonnay JV Estate 87 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: fresh and crisp nose of white peaches, lemon peels, and bits of citrus tones as well
  
  taste: lighter bodied with medium+ acidity and crisp tones of minerals, white peaches, lemon peels and bits of citrus tones
  
  overall: a very good and crisp chardonnay. On the lighter side while being very refreshing at the same time

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• 2008 Stoller Chardonnay 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: more rich with creamy tones of meringue, pears, red apples, and some citrus tones. Very good depth and good richness as well
  
  taste: fuller bodied and balanced with rich tones of creams, meringue, pears, and red apples tones. Lower acidity with good depth on the palate too
  
  overall: This was a quality chard. Done in a slightly bigger style, but that really wasn't a negative. Full bodied but not overdone with good richness to it on both the nose and palate

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• 2010 Stoller Riesling 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: fresh and crisp nose filled with tones of pears, peaches, and a dose of mineral tones
  
  taste: lighter feel with medium+ acidity and crisp tones of pears, peaches, minerals, and a lot of white fruits
  
  overall: very impressive for such young vines. Good depth on both the nose and palate. I'd be very interested to see how these wines are as the vines get older

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• 2010 Stoller Pinot Noir Rosé 87 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: fresh and aromatic nose of berries, red fruits, strawberries and bits of mineral tones
  
  taste: nice medium body, but lacking noticeable acidity with tones of red fruits, minerals and strawberries
  
  overall: if this had some decent acidity this would be real nice. It falls short a bit on the palate but is very good on the nose

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• 2008 Stoller Pinot Noir JV Estate 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: balanced and pungent nose of berries, smoke, red fruits and some bits of red florals
  
  taste: excellent medium body with medium acidity and tones of berries, red fruits, red florals and some red cherries
  
  overall: a very good entry level pinot. Well balanced on both the nose and palate with decent depth that would be expected

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• 2007 Stoller Pinot Noir SV Estate Dundee Hills 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: very perfumed and lovely nose filled with tones of berries, dark red cherries, spice tones and bits of violets
  
  taste: pretty and suave medium/full feel with medium+ acidity along with balanced tones of berries, dark red cherries, spice tones and bits of dark red fruits as well
  
  overall: this also possessed a pretty dark ruby color. Well balanced and showing some expected youth, this feels like another 2-3 would do a great job

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• 2009 Stoller Tempranillo 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  nose: robust and rich nose filled with tones of black cherries, graphite, blackberries and some tones of dark fruits
  
  taste: full bodied with big and chewy tannins that show off how young it is. Medium+ acidity along with balanced and powerful tones of black cherries, graphite, and dark red fruits
  
  overall: This was very young, but very impressive. There was good depth on both the nose and palate. It would be very interesting to see where this goes in a few years

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The vineyards were beautiful with lots of great wine to taste. Unfortunately we have to cut things a bit short due to a reservation in portland. But, this was just the tip of the iceberg for me