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Dundee Hills Passport Weekend
Dundee Hills Oregon
Tasted April 17, 2010 - April 18, 2010 by subtlet with 1,151 views
Introduction
Some friend and I took advantage of the Dundee Hills Passport Weekend to go visit some new (to us) producers and some old favorites. It's great to see an event like this which encourages people to go out and taste as well as encouraging the wineries to put some special bottles on the tasting table.
Flight 1 - Lange Winery (6 notes)
White
2009 Lange Pinot Gris Reserve
88 points
The nose reminds me of chamomile flowers along with honey and apples. It's clean and crisp on the palate with good apple flavors showing up in the middle. Things get a little heavier on the finish, and deliver a hit of dusty flavor as well. 88+
White
2007 Domaine Trouvére Chardonnay
88 points
The oak shows itself right away here, and the nose reminds me of kiwi fruit and butter. The acidity is great on the front and mid palate where it's accompanied by bright apple flavors. The apple fades, and a bit of butter shows on the finish. It's a rich Chardonnay, but not overdone for my tastes.
Red
2005 Domaine Trouvére Pinot Noir
88 points
Raspberries, nutmeg, and dirt show on the nose. This wine starts out simple on the palate, but there's a great hint of rhubarb on the mid palate, which complements the strawberry fruit well. The structure settles in later. It's light as well, so it works decently with the other flavors.
Red
2008 Lange Pinot Noir Lange Estate Vineyard Dundee Hills
88 points
The nose is bright and fresh, showing plum and violet scents. Crisp acidity shows all the way across the palate. Some nice raspberry shows up on the mid palate and some moderate oak appears on the finish. The wine is straightforward, and has good texture.
Red
2007 Lange Pinot Noir Lange Estate Vineyard Dundee Hills
90 points
The nose is fully dark with scents of plum, blackberry, and a hint of prunes showing through. The plums deliver squarely on the palate and they are supported by an enjoyable soft texture. A hint of tart strawberries appears on the mid palate and lingers through to the finish along with a mineral note and some soft tannins.
Red
2006 Lange Pinot Noir Lange Estate Vineyard Dundee Hills
90 points
Nutmeg, and dark cherries show on the nose along with a faint citrus note. The wine is very well integrated at this point, with some good acidity showing up on the finish. Delicious dark fruits contribute well on the mid palate, and some apple flavors show later. Everything dries out fully, and there is a hint of heat, but everything is so well integrated at this point that it doesn't cause much trouble at all.
Flight 2 - Torii Mor Winery (6 notes)
White
2008 Torii Mor Pinot Blanc
88 points
The nose is bright and delivers scents of honey, crisp peaches, and pineapple. The wine is clean and clear when tasted, with a soft texture that persists all across the palate. Light green apple flavors, and some good acidity dominate later. 88-
White
2008 Torii Mor Chardonnay
86 points
The nose is on the lighter side with some faint apple and some buttery oak. The oak plays well with straightforward apple flavors on the palate. Everything is even all the way through.
Red
2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Reserve Deux Verres
89 points
This wine is heavy on the nose, showing leather and dark earth piled around lighter strawberry scents. It's quite soft on the palate, with delicate cherry flavors showing through. Acidity plays late, and shows in the middle of the mouth. The fruit is on the lighter side for the whole experience and the texture is enjoyable. 89-
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Red
2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Select
88 points
The nose is dark and complex showing smoke and leather along with dried cherries and light vanilla oak scents. Everything is good and clean on the palate with good acidity showing immediately. Cherry juice shows on the front and mid palate and everything dries out nicely later, with a little bit of dirt showing on the finish. 88+
Red
2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir La Colina Vineyard
87 points
The nose is fruity and clean showing cherry fruit with the skins intact. The wine delivers clean and straightforward cherry flavors on the palate, and some acidity comes into play near the finish.
Red
2007 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Olson Estate Vineyard
91 points
Deep strawberries and rich earth show on the nose, making it quite enjoyable just to smell. It's soft and gentle all across the palate, which I always love. Strawberry flavors and good acidity all linger cleanly through the finish. The wine has lots of finesse, good flavors, and great structure!
Flight 3 - Thistle Wines (6 notes)
White
2008 Thistle Wines Pinot Gris
88 points
Pears and light honey show on the nose along with a hint of rhubarb. Pears appear on the palate, and they are crisp and clean. Everything is pretty light here, but the flavors also show good length, and the acidity is pleasant. 88+
White
2008 Thistle Wines Pinot Blanc
88 points
This is very floral on the nose, with some light pear scents showing as well. The light pears appear on the palate as well, and the skins of the pears are noticeable. Lots of acidity here, and it works well for me. 88+
White
2007 Thistle Wines Chardonnay
89 points
Limes, peaches, and a hit of butter on the nose to provide a rich character without going too far. Some clean pear flavors show when tasted as well as balanced acidity and an excellent peach note on the mid palate. This is clean all the way through.
Red
2006 Thistle Wines Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
86 points
Cherries and Oregon funk on the nose. The cherry flavors on the palate are direct, the tannins have a dusty character, and the acidity is enjoyable and present across the whole palate.
Red
2007 Thistle Wines Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
84 points
This nose is dark and heavy with leather and cherries in the forefront, and faint tar and smoke notes in the background. The cherry flavors are direct, and the acidity is gentle. The oak is decent, but not too integrated yet, and there is a bit of heat.
Red
2003 Thistle Wines Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
89 points
The age is showing here, with dried cherries on the nose, and some copper scents as well. The cherry fruit delivers well on the palate, and the fruit is full and enjoyable. The acidity is well balanced, and mature tannins dry everything out later. 89+
Flight 4 - Black Walnut Inn (2 notes)
Red
2007 Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard Pinot Noir
88 points
Maybe the name is getting the better of me here, but I can swear that I can smell walnuts on the nose of this wine, tied in with some nice dark cherries. The walnuts play on the palate as well, along with mature fruit and even acidity. Unique.
Red
2008 Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard Pinot Noir
89 points
Blackberry and plum scents show in the glass along with faint cinnamon scents. The acidity here is wonderful and bright all the way through the experience. Juicy blackberries deliver nicely, and even tannins dry everything out well.
Flight 5 - Dusky Goose Winery (3 notes)
Red
2007 Dusky Goose Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
90 points
Strawberries and violets show on the nose along with some faint oak scents. Soft cherries appear on the palate, and a hint of rhubarb shows up in the middle. The use of oak is excellent here. Soft tannins and good structure linger gently on the finish, and the wine is soft through the whole experience.
Red
2007 Dusky Goose Pinot Noir Rambouillet Vineyard
89 points
Blackberries dominate the nose here, and there is a hint of something syrupy. Everything is very clean on the palate. Clean blackberries with a hint of stems show through, and everything is already integrated well with the tannins on the finish.
Red
2003 Dusky Goose Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
91 points
Strawberry scents show on the nose as well as full on vanilla oak, and a hint of dark earth. The fruit on the palate is rich and ripe with lovely blackberry flavors filling the mouth. The tannins dry out the sides of my mouth, and the vanilla oak contributes very nicely to the whole experience. This is a big pinot, but it's done quite well. 91-
Flight 6 - Dobbes Family Estate (6 notes)
White
2008 Wine By Joe Pinot Gris
88 points
The nose shows full on pear scents. Pear flavors appear on the palate as well. They are clean and crisp and accompanied by some good acidity. 88+
White
2009 Wine By Joe Pinot Blanc
88 points
This nose is dominated by honeydew melon scents. It delivers some nice green apples on the palate with some good acid that becomes kind of tart later. The experience is short, but still well done.
Rosé
2009 Wine By Joe Jose's Rose
85 points
Strawberries and clean floral scents show on the nose. The strawberries deliver on the palate with some good acidity. Simple and straightforward rose.
Red
2007 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Grande Assemblage Cuvée
85 points
Dark cherries show on the nose along with a bit of heat. The texture on the beginning and mid palate is well done, with light cherry and spice flavors showing through. Some heat shows on the palate as well, but the acidity is solid throughout the experience.
Red
2006 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Griffin's Cuvée
85 points
Blackberries show on the nose, along with stems and hint of oak. The oak is expressed as vanilla on the palate, and it shows with some good blackberry flavors and some heat.
Red
2006 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Cuvée Noir
86 points
Oregon funk on the nose, along with blackberries and some oak. The vanilla from the oak and the blackberry fruit work well with balanced tannins, but some heat detracts a bit from the experience.
Flight 7 - The Four Graces Winery (5 notes)
White
2009 The Four Graces Pinot Gris
85 points
Crisp, greenish pears and bread crust show on the nose. The pear flavors are even on the palate. A little sweetness shows too, but things are a bit disjointed.
White
2009 The Four Graces Pinot Blanc
87 points
The nose on this wine is quite light, but it shows faint notes of ripe pears and something green. The texture is very enjoyable, and some nice rich pear flavors show up on the finish. Floral notes show on the mid palate, along with the mysterious "green" note from the nose. Toward the finish, some light acidity shows on the sides of the mouth.
Red
2007 The Four Graces Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
87 points
Leather, black pepper, and dark cherry scents show in the glass. While I wouldn't say it's a "rustic" pinot noir, it puts images of rustic things in my mind. Interesting. When tasted, apples and bright blackberries show up. The structure is well done with some light earthy flavors as well as even acidity and tannins.
Red
2007 The Four Graces Pinot Noir Reserve Dundee Hills
88 points
Bright cherries and barnyard show on the nose. The wine delivers clean and soft cherry flavors along with some apples and a hint of honey. The acidity is even and enjoyable.
Red
2007 The Four Graces Pinot Noir Reserve Dundee Hills
89 points
The nose is interesting here, with oranges, cherries, and some mineral notes showing. It has good texture on the palate with a soft feel. Bright and dark cherries show at different times on the palate, and some apple flavors and even oak notes appear as well.
Flight 8 - Sokol Blosser Winery (5 notes)
White
2008 Sokol Blosser Pinot Gris
87 points
Apples and pineapples show on the nose along with a faint note of tree bark. The wine has some very nice apple flavors, and some good acidity. Pear flavors show late along with a dusty sensation.
White
2008 Sokol Blosser Pinot Gris Estate Cuvée
89 points
Red apples appear on the nose, with the apple peels intact. There is a heavier mineral scent too that is kind of interesting. Everything is very clean, and the wine delivers pure apple flavors all across the palate. The acid on the finish is refined but distinct, and the whole wine gives me an impression of purity.
Rosé
2009 Sokol Blosser Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir
85 points
The nose is simple and shows citrus and strawberry scents. The wine is light and simple but it still shows very ripe strawberry flavors on the mid palate, and some even acidity. 85+
Red
2007 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
86 points
The nose is kind of rugged and shows leather, minerals, and some strawberry scents. Lighter cherry flavors show on the palate, as well as a hint of rhubarb later. All of the flavors are very light.
Red
2007 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée Dundee Hills
89 points
The nose shows dark cherry and barnyard notes. It shows some wonderful cherry flavors on the palate. The fruit is ripe and delicious through the whole experience. The structure is on the firm side, and the finish contains hints of sweet cherry. A little bit of rhubarb shows up on the mid palate as well.
Flight 9 - White Rose Wines (5 notes)
Red
2007 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Quiotee's Lair
87 points
Dark earth and dark cherries show on the nose along with a faint scent of roses. The wine is delicate on the palate with rose and strawberry flavors. The structure is even here, but it will benefit from some integration over time.
Red
2007 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Dragon's Bluff Vista Hills
91 points
Dark cherry scents and grapefruit appear on the nose along with some even oak. The wine is crisp with grapefruit and strawberry flavors dominating. The acidity is full and bright and it cleans everything up very nicely leaving a hint of watermelon flavor on the finish.
Red
2007 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard
92 points
The nose is deep and rich with leather, pomegranates and some smoke showing. When tasted, the wine delivers the soft luscious texture that I dearly love in high quality Oregon Pinot Noir. Ripe, clean, cherry flavors show as well as minerals, and some nice acidity later to clean things up.
Red
2005 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard
92 points
Dark cherry scents dominate here, backed up by some strawberry scents and some sawdust. The wine starts out light and then it explodes into tart, ripe cherry flavors. Cherry skin and floral notes show through on the mid palate, and every thing lingers long through a clean and excellent finish.
Red
2003 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir Michelle
89 points
The age is evident on this wine already. Dried cherries, smoked salmon, and a copper note show on the nose. The cherries taste dried on the palate, but the acidity is still bright. A hint of strawberry flavors show through. The tannins are gentle and the fruit is rich. Some gentle heat shows on the finish.
Flight 10 - Durant Vineyards (5 notes)
White
2009 Durant Vineyards Pinot Gris
84 points
Ripe pears and some earthy notes show on the nose. Rich white plum flavors show on the palate along with some pears and a bit of heat on the end.
White
2008 Durant Vineyards Chardonnay
87 points
Apple and oak show on the nose, with both components well balanced. The flavors deliver on what the nose suggests, and they are balanced on the palate as well. Straightforward and enjoyable.
Red
2008 Durant Vineyards Pinot Noir Lark Vineyard
89 points
Tasted as a barrel sample. The nose is quite light, but cherry scents and some faint brown sugar show through. The wine is crisp and bright on the palate with cherry flavors and some decent acid. The fruit is enjoyable and everything is light and clean.
Red
2008 Durant Vineyards Pinot Noir La Casita Vineyard
89 points
Tasted as a barrel sample. This vineyard contains older vines and is planted on shallow, rocky soil. Strawberry scents show on the nose along with some darker oak notes. The structure on the palate is full, but not overbearing. Some citrus and cherries show up, and a bit of vanilla that points to significant, but not over-done oak.
Red
2008 Durant Vineyards Pinot Noir Heron Vineyard
88 points
Tasted as a barrel sample. This vineyard is planted on deep, rich soil. The nose delivers full on cherry scent with no distractions. The cherries show on the palate as well, and some vanilla oak appears later. The acidity is nice and even, and becomes zippy on the finish. A little more time to integrate will serve this well as the components are solid currently, but not working together as well as they could. 88-
Flight 11 - Cottonwood Winery (7 notes)
White
2006 Cottonwood Winery Sauvignon Blanc Kira Skye
84 points
Rich melon scents make up most of the aroma on the wine with some apple scents appearing in the background. On the palate, it's light with some sweet grape flavors and a floral note. The acid seems to be on the lower side for a Sauvignon Blanc.
Red
2006 Cottonwood Winery Pinot Noir Marina Piper
87 points
Dark cherries and some sort of steak sauce appear on the nose. Crisp cherry flavors show when tasted, as well as oak and some good acid. The fruit is fully ripe and enjoyable on the mid palate.
Red
2002 Cottonwood Winery Pinot Noir Brigette Catherine
88 points
Aged cherry scents show on the nose. The wine has a good texture and an enjoyable mid palate delivering even cherry flavors. The acidity is still full and the flavors are consistent across the palate.
Red
2002 Cottonwood Winery Syrah Raya Jade
88 points
The nose is dark and rich showing blackberries, a hint of meat, and cloves. Even blackberry flavors start out on the palate, and a hint of pie crust and brown sugar shows through later, which I'm inclined to attribute to a good use of oak.
Red
2003 Cottonwood Winery Syrah Raya Jade
88 points
This has an interesting nose showing black pepper, currants, and a floral note. The blackberries are rich and syrupy on the palate making for a heavier mouth feel. Some spices show along with the fruit.
Red
2004 Cottonwood Winery Syrah Raya Jade
87 points
Deep dark plums and apples show on the nose along with some honey notes. Sweet blackberries appear on the palate, and they are even across the front and mid. The structure comes into plate later on, but some heat shows as well.
Red
2005 Cottonwood Winery Syrah Raya Jade
88 points
The nose is rich and enjoyable and delivers apple and plum scents. The fruit is clean and crisp and shows blackberry and bright apple flavors on the mid palate. The wine is juicy, and the evolution of the acidity later is quite nice. 88+
Closing
After two full days of fun, I am again quite thankful to be living so close to the Dundee Hills. White Rose and DePonte(specific notes not taken for this event, but I have notes on their wine elsewhere) continued to impress, my first taste of Dusky Goose delivered on fairly high expectations, it was fun to meet the guys from the Durant Vineyard, and I look forward to exciting things from Thistle in the future.