Oregon & Washington Tasting 11 March 2016 Stockholm

Very nice tasting event. I was just recovering from a long cold and a bit pressed on time, so did not have time to do all the wines, picked a few perennial favorites such as DDO, but also focused more on Oregon than Washington in the tasting room after the master class on Washington wines, which was very educational.

• 2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/12/2016)

  This was served a little to warm unfortunately. The residual sweetness (1,19 g/100ml) dominated, and on the nose a lot of ripe stone fruit.

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• 2013 SIXTO Chardonnay Frenchman Hills Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/12/2016)

  Served a little bit too warm. Nose dominated by elegant oak and buttered popcorn. Good ripe fruit, decent acidity, some alcoholic heat at the end. 14.2 % alc and 30 % new oak. Coarse but still not without balance.

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• 2011 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/12/2016)

  Fine nose classic Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), full bodied, has grip, but also a noticeable bitterness from the oak at the finish. Mix of red mountain and Yakima valley fruit. Quite elegant if not for the finish.

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• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/12/2016)

  76% merlot, 15% cab franc, 5% Malbec, 4% petit Verdot.
  Very tight nose, almost not giving anything. But nothing wrong with the body and balance, has quite the grip, probably should wait a couple of years for this to come around.

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• 2013 Gordon Estate Syrah 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/12/2016)

  The nose cries out Syrah perfume, medium body, good freshness, silky tannins, a little simple, but very good value and very typical for the variety.

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• 2014 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Arthur

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  As usual, even in a hot vintage like 2014, the Arthur is the epitome of freshness and has the usual zip, always a leader in the more fresh style of chardonnay in Oregon. Drinking like a good 1er cru Chablis in a ripe year. I am not always certain about qpr though, but this was excellent. Recommended.

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• 2014 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Chardonnay

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  First tasting of the first vintage of the Drouhin Roserock Chardonnay, and it did not dissappoint! As elsewhere, the whites from 2014 are doing much better, this included. I have limited experience with previous vintners versions of this vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills designation, but it was great to try this together with the 2014 Arthur.
  i found the Roserock to have just as much freshness but also a little bit more body and complexity at this stage. i understod it had undergone malolactic fermentation whereas the Arthur had not. And still very good freshness. Impressive first effort! I am uncertain about the price point, but if this is cheaper than the Arthur, go for it! recommended.

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• 2014 Cloudline Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  As always quite a bit of a charmer on the nose, open for business. But the structure is slightly better than previous vintages, which I have not been very impressed by. Especially given the challenging 2014 vintage. I was told quite a bit of this vintage of the cloudline 25 % or so was from the Roserock vineyard the acquired a few years ago.

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• 2014 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  One of the better 2014 i tasted so far, still on the lush and dark ripe berry side of things.

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• 2014 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  Actually preferred this to the regular Drouhin Pinot from same vintage. Charming open nose, not the most structured but drinking nicely.

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• 2012 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  Fantastic nose! like many 2012 they are still wide open on the nose, and this just pulls you in. I thought this was tied for Wine of the Tasting. great wine, can't go wrong with this. Highly recommended.

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• 2014 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Zéphirine

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  Lovely lovely wine, the best of the 2014 I tried. I think the Drouhins will have a smash hit with their Roserock pinots and chards! Recommended.
  
  ps I think there is actually a rose variety called Zephirine Drouhin, which seems to have been introduced in North America in the 1860s or so.

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• 2013 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvée

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Ok, relatively open, ripe fruit, lacking a bit zip and structure.

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• 2013 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Arcus Estate

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  Excellent wine! I was surprised to find the new oak toned down from previous vintages of the Arcus which I have tried and never understood the point of. This was magnificent with ripe berries but also freshness, energy and balance. And at USD 100, the price point seemed slightly lower than the all time high for Arcus which I remember at USD 135 at some point, so for the first time: recommended. But still very modern and ripe and totally new world pinot.

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• 2014 Chehalem Grüner Veltliner Ridgecrest Vineyards Ribbon Ridge

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  (3/14/2016)

  good. fresh, balanced, herbal expression, some body.

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• 2013 Chehalem Riesling Corral Creek

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  (3/14/2016)

  good, has energy, freshness, not without character.

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• 2014 Chehalem Pinot Blanc Stoller Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  fine, crispy expression of pinot blanc, has character.

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• 2013 Chehalem Gamay Noir Ridgecrest Vineyards

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  (3/14/2016)

  Very cru Beaujolais like with a core of minerally acidity. This may be what should be planted in many of the warmer oregon vineyard sites... recommended. food friendly.

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• 2012 Chehalem Pinot Noir Ridgecrest Vineyards

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  (3/14/2016)

  exuberant nose, classic oregon pinot noir. recommended.

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• 2010 Chehalem Pinot Noir Ridgecrest Vineyards

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  (3/14/2016)

  Amazing wine. This is up there with the best of the Willamette. Nicely done. Classic Oregon pinot expression with ripe red and dark berries, zip, structure, balance and a lot of complexity on the nose already. Highly Recommended.

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• 2013 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvée

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  good, solid entry level cuvee for oregon pinot noir, warm and open nose, perhaps not the most complex, but always delivers.

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• 2013 Cristom Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  charming and open nose, dark berries, spicy, nicely done. recommended.

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• 2013 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  has structure, but also opulent fruit and a lot of pinosity. recommended.

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• 2014 Maison Noir Wines Chardonnay Knock on Wood

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  simple, steel tank chard, a tad bit too warm fruit for my tastes

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• 2013 Bergström Chardonnay Old Stones

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  good, straddles the middle between rich, oaky opulent fruit and fresh and narrow expression of chardonnay. not the most complex, but very easy drinking and versatile wine.

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• 2013 Evening Land Vineyards Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  very tight nose at this juncture, quite a bit of new oak, elegantly done, but still waiting to integrate fully, crispy mid palate and finish. recommended.

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• 2013 Cristom Chardonnay Germaine Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  nice oregon chard, good balance between rich fruit and zippy freshness and elegant oak

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• 2013 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  good charming pinot that still has not fully started to express itself.

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• 2013 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  (3/14/2016)

  Wow, very different from all the other oregon pinot noirs I tasted at this event: a dead ringer for more cool climate pinot, perhaps this needs to go some more miles in the cellar before the nose opens up, it is shut tight, but on the palate, excellent freshness, balance, structure. Not a heavy wine, more red fruit and freshness. Food friendly and perhaps even borderline austere *Burgundian*. So if you're in the market for big rich fruited pinot, seek elsewhere. One of the best QPR in Oregon. Recommended.

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• 2013 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Illahe

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  This was considerably more warm fruited and bigger than the puits sec, has some heat on the finish. Not as interesting.

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• 2014 Adelsheim Chardonnay Caitlin's Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Fantastic! Has a great chardonnay nose with expensive but deftly applied oak. Quite some body, ripe, sweet fruit that continues seamlessly into a crisp and long refreshing finish. Highly recommended.

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• 2014 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Warm ripe fruit and a lot of pinosity on the nose, but a tad simple.

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• 2012 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  (3/14/2016)

  Wow! Ripe, mature berries of all sorts on the wide open nose, elegantly oaked, fresh, excellent structure. Highly recommended! Ready to drink now or hold for up to ten years.

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• 2013 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Bryan Creek Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  (3/14/2016)

  Very good, ripe and expressive with a lot of pinosity. Lacks a little structure mid palate to be fully top notch. More tightly wound than the ribbon springs equivalent at this stage. Recommended.

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• 2013 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Ribbon Springs

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  (3/14/2016)

  One of the greatest Oregon Pinot noses every vintage. Love it! So expressive and seductive! Quite big wine and full of all sorts of dark berries and an earthy complexity, but never jammy or too sweet, perhaps a little soft mid palate but great finish. Highly recommended.

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• 2014 Omero Cellars Pinot Noir Meredith Mitchell

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville

  (3/14/2016)

  Simply brilliant! Highly recommended if you can get it. One of the few 2014 Oregon Pinot tasted so far I can wholeheartedly recommend.

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• 2012 Au Bon Climat Hildegard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  The nose is full of elegant new oak and white flowers, fine, perhaps a bit mute palate, lacks that final zing to really stand out but a very well made wine no doubt. Mix of varieties.

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• 2009 Au Bon Climat Nebbiolo Bricco Buon Natale

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Ripe, warm fruit, has tannic structure and varietal characteristics, but lacks freshness.

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• 2013 Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Has quite a body, I believe it has a lot of oak, undergone full mall, but still a fresh wine. Recommended

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• 2013 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Tavola

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Simple, but fine, has way more structure than the 2013 tavola.

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• 2014 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Tavola

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Too warm and soft fruit.

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• 2011 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Very fine and expressive Pinot with that cool vintage expressive nose and more restrained body. Good qpr. Recommended

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• 2014 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Ok but not really my cup of tea.

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• 2013 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Fine, very oaky, ripe fruit, new world Chardonnay but good freshness and very good in its style. Recommended

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• 2013 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  (3/14/2016)

  Very approachable, open nose, ripe fruit, good freshness, a point of balance, even if it is a classic (i.e. not a small wine...) napa cab. not bad at all. Recommended.

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• 2012 Girard Winery Artistry

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Sloeberries, round, smooth mouthfeel, rather big and soft style. Has freshness, but not really any complexity to speak of. Good but at this price point in Sweden there are better alternatives.

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• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Syrah

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Good, warm ripe fruit, full bodied, but some Syrah structure on this.

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• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Good value, clean fruit, structure, fine. Recommended

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• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Even better than the Columbia valley cab, more serious and structured. Needs to lay down for some years I think. Recommended.

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• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee Estate Seven Hills Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Big but beautiful and seriously structured red blend. Needs cellaring. Recommended - if you like forward and modern Bordeaux blends with a lot of new oak, done in a stylish and balanced manner.

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• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogée Pepper Bridge Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (3/14/2016)

  Very good and seriously structured wine, quite big but with fine balance and lots of classic Bordeaux aromas.
  60 % cab Sauvignon
  20% merlot
  15 % Malbec
  5 % Cabernet franc
  
  Needs cellaring for many years I believe. Or a serious steak. Recommended. And at almost half the price of comparable Napa valley blends - and just as big.

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Oregon Pinot noir is very good, the mid level pinots are great early drinkers, the better single vineyard wines are very good. But the dollar is very expensive right now in sweden for third year running and it is starting to show for the prices, making several good wines rather uncompetitive compared to European Pinot and Chardonnay.

Vintages, generally:
2010 excellent
2011 excellent
2012 very good, expressive, drinking really well right now and probably for next five to ten years
2013 varies quite a bit from producer to producer, some really high notes and some more average efforts. Many of the better examples seem to have a more tight nose.
2014 too warm for most vineyards. Given high prices, I'd generally avoid this vintage, with some noticeable exceptions, for the Pinot noirs. Some very good white wines though!