Leon's Oregon Offline

Wine Pages get-together to try out a variety of Oregon wines

• 2010 Johan Vineyards Method Champenoise Brut Nature 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Mmm - tasty. Pleasant mousse, rich, slightly sweet (although apparently zero dosage - ripe fruit?), a little oxidative. Seemed to divide opinion, but I'd happily drink this again.

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• 2016 Morgen Long Chardonnay Yamhill Vineyards 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  This really benefited from not being too cold, and from aeration, as at first it was very dumb and underwhelming. Eventually some oak, lemon and cream came through, and with further development the woodiness became increasingly exotic and intoxicating. That said, I found that this wine fell between the two stools of richness and precision, and ultimately didn't win me over.

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• 2015 Brick House Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge 87 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Clean lactic nose, with some floral influence. Slightly green on the palate. Didn't make a huge impression.

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• 2016 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc 87 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Complex, but not that pleasurable: bitter, tangy, honey, smoke, gooseberry, flowers, some exotic fruit coming through with time, yet very dry. Glad I tried this, but not hankering for a second glass.

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• 2010 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Oregon 89 Points

  USA, Oregon

  High-toned, smoky nose reminds me of a trip to the Jorvik Viking Centre in the early 1990s. A bit 'dirty', but also floral. More like Nebbiolo than Pinot Noir. Interesting!

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• 2013 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  A nice balance - gamey but fresh, tangy and tasty, some blackcurrant and cherry fruit, not obviously NW in style.

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• 2014 Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn's 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Oh dear. Very sweet, with hints of coffee - the bad side of NW Pinot. Cherry drops and confection. Not badly made, but lacks finesse and savour.

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• 2010 Cristom Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Exotic, smokey and bitter, with rosehip, violet and fruit tea. Powdery and old-school, but no lack of richness. Enjoyed by all tonight.

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• 2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Nose of old cheese burned off to reveal a typical mature Pinot. Palate was rich and jammy with brambly fruit - high-toned and tasty.

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• 1986 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Still fresh (or, at least, acidic) after all these years. Quite a musty nose at first, but ultimately aromatic and exotic. Well-balanced and demanding to be drunk.

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• 2011 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Really nice balance between fruit and secondary flavours. A pleasant richness. At its sweet spot?

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A funny one - no bad wines, and no bad bottles either, but nothing really stood out either. Given these wines are not cheap, consensus was that we will continue to buy Burgundy - but want to test the Oregon Pinots against equivalent Burgs, too!