Torii Mor Tasting

Organised by Torii Mor's importer (Bid for Wine), and wines provided free of charge.

• 2011 Torii Mor Pinot Gris 87 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Pale grey white. Floral, peachy, smokey nose. Reasonably viscous on attack and mid-palate, waxy and floral across the middle. A density to it, but also some elegance. Bright acidity. Really quite long with a positive finish. Nicely balanced and with interest. Nothing metallic here. Can see this working with food, as a quaffed road an aperitif. ***

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• 2010 Torii Mor Pinot Blanc 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley

  Fractionally less pale. A rounder, less fragrant nose, more muted. Smooth, slightly oatmeal across the front of the palate. Obviously less expressive than the PG, but none the worse for that. Good food wine. There's some pleasant acidity in the background that comes through more on the finish as it breathes. A slight smokiness too. I really quite like is. ***

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• 2010 Torii Mor Pinot Noir 85 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Pale ruby. Quite light and bright. Slightly strawberry, dusty fruit. Served too warm, but focuses nicely with a few seconds of ice cube. Pretty and easy drinking, not unlike a light Sancerre. **1/2

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• 2009 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Reserve Deux Verres 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Blind. Mid ruby. Again, slightly dusty red-fruited nose. Quite smokey. There's a slightly configure element to the fruit on the nose, but some minerality too. Pretty and lovely with some depth. ***

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• 2007 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  Blind. Similar mid ruby. Bright. Far more forthcoming on the nose, quite strawberry and sweet red fruited. Good lift, albeit with a slightly confected edge. Quite positive and surprisingly elegant on the attack and through the mid-palate. A bit sweeter and a bit fuller but still in the light, elegant mould. Too easy. The charm of the red fruit is upfront and it finishes quite short and seemingly a title superficial. ***

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• 2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Select 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Blind. Fuller ruby colour, denser. Slightly smokier, more mineral nose. Similar on palate, darker fruit and nicely mineral. Fresh acidity. Nice, and reasonably positive finish, but lacks a bit of complexity towards the end. ***

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• 2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains Select 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  Blind. Again, darker. Ruby with a slightly garnet edge. Dark red fruit on the nose. Doesn't't have the slight dustiness of one and three. Strikes me as a decent 07 burgundy might. Very nice. ***1/2

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• 2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Select 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Blind. Full and quite deep ruby. Dark red fruited. Slightly lactic nose. Seems nicely cool but the lactic element is still evident on the palate. Reasonable balance and some minerality. Very decent. ***

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• 2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Member's Reserve La Cuillere 86 Points

  USA, Oregon

  Blind. Deep, quite dense ruby. Dark red fruit. Doesn't have the lactic element of the previous wine. Initially it seems more minerally and with better line, but as it warms up (was served really quite cool) it starts to show a lot more alcohol than the others. A tad hot and a little out of kilter for me after a promising start. Bare ***

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• 2007 Nicolas Potel Chambertin 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Blind. Mid ruby. A little lighter, more of a strawberry jam element on the attack that may intensify as it warms up. Good depth here and something in reserve. Some interest here. There's a touch of oak too that becomes more apparent with air. Bare ***(*)

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• 2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Olalla 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valley

  Blind. Deeper colour. Slightly darker fruited. Fresh with good acidity. Quite dark fruited. A bit more tannin here. Currently a little dry on the finish. ***

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A very pleasant selection that in this lighter (2007) Oregon vintage one would have been reasonably hard pressed to place as new world. Relatively light, red fruited and elegant wines with good acidity. It was only the 'Founder's Reserve' that came across as more stereotypically hot. I'd want to try a riper vintage before buying that, but these 07s are lovely and at the price I'll be buying.

Thanks to Lionel for organising.