Chehalem Mountains AVA Tasting and After Party Wines

Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN
Tasted Saturday, February 21, 2015 by rocknroller with 456 views

Introduction

This was a nice little seminar featuring wines from the Chehalem AVA. After a few of us went back to our place for dinner and a few more wines.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 2010 Teutonic Wine Company Pinot Noir Bergspitze (white label) Laurel Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    light red color. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. This had been slow-o'd for 28 hours. Nose shows fruit first, cherry, wood spice. The palate is rather acidic, red fruits, cherry, some red berry, very light bodied, medium finish. This was good, rather subtle and understated, which can be just fine; but it lacked some complexity and interest to the flavors.

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  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Medium red color. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. It was nice to have the opportunity to drink this wine again. Lovely nose with cinnamon, spices, dark berry, some cherry and strawberry and gradually the earth emerges too. The palate has nice depth and texture, red fruits, spice, a touch of oak, and silky tannins. This has shown more development since the last time and is just a classy wine.

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  • 2011 Chehalem Pinot Noir Three Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Medium dark red color. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. A nice showing for this wine. Lost of vanilla, cherry, ripe fruit, currants. The palate is more spicy with some wood, good acid, cherry, dry earthy forest floor, vanilla, cherry vanilla cola. 90+pts.

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  • 2011 Anam Cara Pinot Noir Nicholas Estate 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Light medium reddish orange color. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. This had a more subtle nose, muted red fruits, dried spice, some deeper earth follows. The palate has more sweet fruit, strawberry, higher acid, light body, light tannins, sweet fruit with tartness on the end.

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  • 2011 Colene Clemens Pinot Noir Adriane 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Medium red color. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. There's lots of fruit on the nose here, cranberry, currants, cherry, sweet essence, candied cherry, light forest floor, floral. The palate has high toned fruit, cherry, ripe, candied cranberry, medium plus body, youthful, with a sweet red fruit finish. 90+ to 91pts.

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  • 2012 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Clay Court Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Dark garnet red color. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. Nose is brambly, muted, underbrush, dark fruits, some earth and mineral. The palate has firm tannins, some riper fruit, cherry, some blue fruits, huckleberry, blueberry, medium full bodied, more glycerin, long finish, some stems show on the end. Young., may improve

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  • 2012 Bergström Pinot Noir Silice 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Dark red color with a slightly garnet hue. Tasting pour over 15 minutes. Very nice nose, spices, dried earthiness that is really gorgeous, underbrush, red fruits. The palate is vibrant, lots of energy, nice acid, great texture, fine grained tannins, nice balance, the fruits are red and a nicely integrated with the earth and minerality. Loved how this was coming together. Impressive, and should be better in 2 years plus. 92+(+?)pts.

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Flight 2 (5 Notes)

  • 2010 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Light gold color. PNP, drank 2+ glasses over an hour. This just had such a pretty Chablis nose from the start, lemon, meyer lemon, sea shore, and minerals. The palate is vibrant, lifted, lemon, oysters, saline, long with lovely purity. Outstanding stuff.

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  • 2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Medium dark red color. PNP, aerated into glasses. Drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Still showing its stuffing; the nose and palate are lovely with damp leaves, exotic spice, dark red fruits, and florals. Seamless and gorgeous from the attack through to til the end. I never get tired of this. 93+pts.

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  • 2006 The Hess Collection 19 Block Cuvée Mt. Veeder 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Very dark red/purple color. Drank 1 glass from a bottle that had been opened the previous day. The nose brings dark fruits, black and brambly, a touch of menthol, dried herbs. The palate is deep with black fruits, cassis, mint, a hint of eucalyptus, black raspberry, loamy minerals, balanced. This was in a good place and drinking well. 90+pts.

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  • 2007 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Purple red color. decanted for 45 minutes. Drank 1 glass on consecutive days. Lots of nice black and blue fruits, creme de cassis, blueberry, boysenberry, mint, gravel, and some earth. The palate is consistent with creme de cassis, boysenberry, blueberry, nice tannins, dry extract, full body, and good minerality. This shows good restraint and nice balance. I like where this is going. It was solid on day one, 91-91+ and even better on day 2. I consistently enjoy this blend. 92pts.

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  • NV Yalumba Muscat Museum Reserve 92 Points

    Australia, South Eastern

    rich maple syrup color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Oh, this was just singing tonight. Love it, sweet, caramelized, raisin, marinated fig nose. The palate tastes rich and sweet, but not obnoxious, maple syrup and brown butter, maple honey, raisins and a gorgeous depth and texture with a very long finish. 92+ to 93pts.

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Closing

My favorite wines of the Chehalem tasting were the Le Cadeau Cote Est and the Bergstrom Silice.

The evening wines were highlighted by the 2007 St. Innocent Justice, the 2010 Billaud Simon Mont de Mileu VV and the Yalumba Muscat Museum Reserve.

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