May 17, 2018 - Soter Tasting with James Cahill (Knightsbridge - Northbrook IL): Popped and poured. Wonderful aromas of ripe black cherry with sweet spice, nicely matured. Good flavors, slightly less exciting and balanced vs the nose. Still a good combination of freshness and earth, just with a slightly tannic finish. My last bottle from a case purchased from the winery at release, this bottle was better vs my previous bottle opened one year ago.
March 16, 2017 - - Crimsom color. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a medium finish - I never expected a 15 year old Oregon Pinot to last like this. Still full of fruit, good finish. Wish I had more than this last bottle.
January 7, 2017 - Fully mature black fruit, good concentration. Best when popped and poured, less interesting an hour later.
January 21, 2016 - Mature black and blue berry aromas and flavors with some umami, cooked mushroom character. Still a trace of pronounced new oak spice. Still drinking nicely, but time to drink up.
May 1, 2015 - I'm not sure what the oak treatment was, but this has a toasty, spice driven nose. Color is quite crimson and vibrant. Dark fruit palate, smooth and sweet and delicious. Repeat toast, spice, and cinnamon finish which is a little too much as it seems to hide the purity of the fruit.
January 21, 2015 - You know, this was a mighty tasty drink! Sure, I wish it had a bit more acid and grip, but it was delicious and had that stuffing in the middle... Nice!
July 22, 2014 - med. garnet, w/paling rim; modest aromatics, muted dried cherry, damp woodsy elements, brown spices & anise seed; med+ weight; developed, pretty & suave on palate, subtle black cherry, mulch, bark, more brown spices, like cinnamon & star anise; mature, but not tired, w/balanced acidity on the close.
grilled quail w/cracked coriander & lemon thyme; summer ragout of zephyr squash, blue lake & wax beans, corn & butterbeans, cherry tomatoes w/mint & basil salsa verde
January 7, 2013 - Nice, somewhat more restrained than the last bottles we've had. I'm not sure if this indicates a trend toward decline, or mere bottle variation. Pretty nose of typical OR Pinot earthy funk, but less in-your-face fruit on the palate, allowing greater acidity to emerge. Result is a more elegant wine, but I'm concerned that if the fruit continues to fade the wine will be unbalanced.
December 11, 2012 - Faint red fruit on the nose. Seems a bit faded after opening. Hopefully air will help
November 4, 2012 - 16th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective (Same Old Place): A top 3 wine out of 35 in this blind tasting. Deep black cherry fruit with spice and structure and length... and... and. Difficult to leave. 90 on day 2