Friday Night Lights (Jim and Michelene's Place, St. Paul, MN): Light-medium ruby color. Drank a couple glasses over 2 hours. I'd been waiting for the '11 Maresh Vineyard to really deliver, and over multiple bottles it was always good, but never truly memorable. Well that finally changed. The quintessential Oregon experience, for me anyway, was on full display. This had a stunning perfume of wild strawberries, mountain raspberry and blooming wild flowers, with pretty lifted spice notes. The palate is tart and the cool red berries shine in their purity and focus, draped in spice and rose petals with dried forest floor, the weightless palate defies logic with the depth of its flavors and the soaring finish. One to just sit sip by itself and savor every last drop. Outstanding. 95 to 96pts.
Light medium red color with a 15mm bricked transition to clear. The nose shows some great spice notes, cardamom, cinnamon, dried earth, raspberry, hints of anise. The palate is soft and lovely, with cool red berries and spices, very earthy, with mineral notes, coffee bean and a little umami note on the finish.
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Two bottles of this in a row have been very bretty. I don’t see any other notes mentioning this, so I hope my third and final bottle is solid. The risks you take on WineBid…
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Medium red color. PNP, from magnum; drank a glass over an hour. No detailed notes, still drinking well with cool red and darker fruits, earth, and spices. 92+pts.
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Unlike my prior bottles, this was more savory than fruity. Sous-bois and soil, undergirded with black cherry, lacking the brightness it had previously. Still excellent texture, medium-bodied, good line of acid, fine tannins, finishing long and smooth. It seemed fully mature.
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Translucent, light red color. Bright cherry nose. Deep, precise fruit on the palate, cherry, cola, strawberry, a savory note. Very fine tannins, lovely acidity, brilliant balance. A graceful wine. Finishes long and subtle with strawberry notes. In great form right now. Drink over the next 5 to 6 years.
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Bought in magnum at the winery. This is easily one of the greatest Oregon wines I have ever had. Clearly expressive of Willamette and yet shares many similarities with a very good 1er to grand cru Chambolle. Very pretty, nice tart red fruits with some sweet cherries, earth, spice. Long concentrated finish. It’s all here, all in balance.
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Disappointing first bottle. Barnyard a good description upon opening. Fine for my test and not typical of the Arteberry I have had the pleasuring of drinking in the past. Hopefully an off bottle.
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Slight barnyard on nose upon open. Later, strawberry noted on nose. Red fruit on body with balance on the acid side. 2011 was a cool year for Oregon Pinot, and this wine shows that with the lack of weight. Everyone liked it.
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Delicate cherry aromas on the nose. Bright strawberry/raspberry fruit, some earthy notes. Fine tannins, excellent acidity and balance. Finishes long with spice and bracing acidity. I'd drink these over the next 4 to 5 years. 12.6% ABV.
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Thomas Pinot Noir Vertical (Dan's House): Similar to my note from 2016. Lots of pepper on the nose and palate. Good balance, nice acid. Quite light, almost thin.
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Thomas Pinot Noir Vertical (Dan and Elise's, Mpls): Medium plus red color. PNP, drank a glass over 3+ hours. We popped this first to drink alongside of the Thomas vertical. Sweet fruit on the nose, red berries, vanilla, sweet cherry. On the palate some smokey red berries, raspberry, tart cherry, medium bodied, subtle earth. Seems a bit lean to start, and took its sweet time to really flesh out (easily over an hour), but once it did it was impressive. This took on weight and depth, more to a deep cherry and much more classic Oregon earth now. The acid stands out now on the palate and the strawberry comes through on the nose with a floral topnote. 92+ to 93pts at peak.
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PnP at Dan's fantastic Thomas PN vertical dinner. Translucent red with amber on edges. Started fairly tight and semi closed and never seemed to kick it in gear. Faint red berries and spice on the nose. hint of tart red fruit, mineral and forest floor on the stubborn palate. Later this opened up a bit but generally leaner and less forthcoming then the Thomas tonight with their more obvious fruit.
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PnP and slow for an hour in a Burg glass and btl prior to dinner. As expected this doesn't require a lot of air. Its in the pocket and drinking great. Translucent red with amber on edges. Aromas typical of a 15yr old plus red Burg with fading red fruit, mineral and forest floor. The semi tart red fruit, mineral and forest floor carry over to the ethereal weightless and savory palate with air. This btl was a little more earthy and reminiscent of Gevrey Chambertin then my last. This is all ethereal elegance with unexpected concentration for its color. You also pick up some licorice, cinnamon and mushroom. Like my previous btls this is a complete delight while always leaving me longing for the next "off vintage" in Oregon. AlC 12.8% Not sure how much this improves but I'm enjoying the heck out it right now. One Left, see if I can layoff for couple years :).
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Fabulous. Light translucent red with a bit of mature brown in the color. Nose of barnyard, prominent pine, raspberry and a bit a spice. On the palate, refined mature Pinot, deep cherry, cedar, menthol and earth. First 20 minutes after decant we’re close to a burgundy experience, started to dwindle by the hour mark. Just fabulous, one of my favorite wines of the year and clearly has some life left.
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elegant West Coast pinot - light, translucent red with raspberry, pine, spice, good acidity. Has become more integrated and subtle, but seems to have a lot of life ahead. Excellent with Columbia river Salmon
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Pop and pour. Cork soaked about 1/5 of the way through. First btl in about 5 years. I love 2011 OPN. This shows some brett, but it is earthy funk, followed by wild strawberry and sandalwood. Deliciously expressive, and Volnay-like delicacy: lighter bodied, dried raspberry and leaves...still some fine tannic grip. Excellent right now, but still has plenty of room to add interesting secondary.
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PnP and slow for 45+ minutes in my Burg glass and btl prior to dinner. As expected this doesn't require a lot of air. Its in the pocket and drinking great. Translucent bright red with slight amber on edges. Aromas typical of a 15yr old plus red Burg with fading red fruit, mineral and forest floor in play. The semi tart red fruit, mineral and forest floor carry over to the ethereal weightless, lacy Chambolle like palate. This is all delicacy and elegance but with unexpected concentration based on the its color. You also pick up some licorice, cinnamon and mushroom. Every bottle I've had of this has been a complete delight while always leaving me longing for the next "off vintage" in Oregon. Recent vintages of this wine have a lot more baby fat and less nuance because the more perfect vintages. Bring on 2007, 2011 & 2013 again ASAP please! AlC 12.8% Not sure how much this improves but I just picked up a couple more online from a cellar sell off, yea!
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Light colour. Lovely delicate pinot nose. Some licorice and a touch of sweetness otherwise very burgundian due to its elegant and delicate style. Good balance and just a very well-made wine. Tasted blind with the crowd guessing it to be a good 1’er Chambolle!
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Really nice wine especially considering the vintage. Ripe red berry fruits, rich spice, and earthy notes on the nose. The palate is ripe for the vintage, but towards the cooler end of the spectrum. Nice balance, I almost wish there was a touch more acidity to freshen it, but overall it is very good.
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Light, nearly translucent red in color. Crunchy red berries and sous-bois predominate. Although the flavors have good depth and intensity, the overall impression is one of airiness and lightness with impressive cut and delineation. This is a superb example of "pinotocity" or whatever that term is to describe a pinot that is very much "pinot." My only bottle; I wish I had more.
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Last bottle of the 2011 maresh vnyrd. Was a bit leaner than I remember and with a streak of green, but most of all brilliant balance btw body, sweet Pinot perfume, and freshness. This went down so very easily. And held up over two days really well. Translucent light ruby red color and weightless feel in the mouth. Just lovely.
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2 hr decant, this is ready! A perfectly balance wine with the elegant style I love so much. A little blood orange note intermixed with nice tannins of red fruits. So lovely, velvet in the mouth.
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Four hour decant; more needed. The nose is fantastic: oolong tea, fall leaves, and cherries. The mouth is tightly wound, and in your face, but the decant helped to soften. This will be amazing stuff in another 5-10 years.
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Domestic Pinot Noir (Edina, MN): Medium red color, lovely ruby hued. Slow-O for 4 hours. Drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Gorgeous, there's amazing purity and class, just a beautifully made wine. Another example of the supposedly lesser, cool vintages shining. The nose has a foie gras torchon note with an animalistic core, pretty red berries, truffle, spice and roses. The palate is in a word elegant; spice, pure, red berries, forest floor, strawberry, subtle wood, and a long lifted finish. Wonderful. My WOTN. 93+pts.
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Drank this after having the 09 - so different and so good. Deeper more nose and got better after an hour or so. Glad I have 3 more this has many good years left.
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Continue to adore this wine. Has an old world "Burgundian" feel and flavor profile. Nothing over the top. Part of that is the more reserved 2011 vintage speaking. Exceptionally good PN and totally in my wheel house like prior btls. 12.8% alc. Paid $55 and worth it.
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Not sure what went wrong here. Was it just dumb or is this bottle variation or a provenance issue? Reserved red fruit with some occasional subtle hints of forest floor, hoisin sauce and beef stock. Yet it is also showing some of the density from extraction while being light in body, but really there is nothing going. Will this wine ever get out from underneath itself?
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This wine was poured blind. This wine was very obviously new world Pinot Noir, and offered a lot of spice and booze on the nose. Totally odd funkiness, like wet camping gear in mud. The palate is soft and really ripe and luscious with the fruit. Mild acid, and lots of extract. Huge puckering acid on the finish that seems totally out of balance with its other structural components. Aside from that, the palate is left creamy, with lots of puckering red fruit. Pretty lean on the finish despite the luscious fruit on the palate. I was quite surprised when this was revealed because while this was my first time with this vintage, I generally love this wine, and I'd have expected to love this vintage as well. I guess this is why blind tastings are so fun! I wouldn't have thought that acidification would be necessary in 2011, but this wine at least feels like that's happened. This wine definitely showed atypical for a cool Oregon vintage.
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Very pale translucent color. Nose of wild berries with faint whiffs of spice; no overt oak tones or smokiness which allowed pure expression of the wild-berry notes. Palate smooth, with a balanced expression of earthy and mineral notes, spice, and red fruit flavors. Perfectly balanced acidity with barely perceptible, silky smooth tannins on a long finish echoing the palate.
The nose invite more new-world fruit but the palate is much more restrained and balanced. No overt oak notes and no overpowering flavors on the palate. Really nice, elegant expression of pinot that focuses on a light expression of pure fruit. Elegant and smooth; more Burgundian but without the funkiness, austerity, or high-toned acidity. Still early; interested to see where this goes with more age. 93+
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Part of 2011 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting. One of the wines of the night. Incredible nose - Wonderful complex palate of red fruit, minerals and great acidity.
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I served this in my wine course. Low pitched cooking spice nose, cinnamon and cola, but not over the top. Not as much earth as I would have expected. Just not impressing me much relative to expectations.
P.S. After coming back to this after the Keller spatburgunder, comes across as overripe and low dimensional. I guess it's all relative.
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Same bottle as Chablis28. Popped and poured after four older vintages of Beaux Freres ('99, '00, '01 and '02) and this showed beautifully. Very light in color. Soaring nose. Silky and elegant on the palate. Good flavor intensity. Long, pleasing finish. I really wish I'd bought more of this (hopefully '12 and '13 are adequate substitutes).
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Continuing the theme of off vintages = great in Oregon this was stunning. Brad correctly labeled this a "freak". How can a wine from 2011, critically declared an off vintage, show such concentration, finesse and poise at only 4yrs in btl???Is this a fake? Did some one pour DRC in here and re-cork :) Not to mention the soily / minerally tart rainer cherry flavors. This is to be sure, "an old soul" wine. Don't know how long they've been making wine but it taste like it has the skilled hand of a Freddy Mugnier at the helm. This btl was the most quickly drained wine of the night and it came late in the lineup. Yes, I love this wine and regret that I only have 2 left. Blind this would easily be mistaken for $150+ Burgundy. Not my btl tonight. Thanks Dave you'll get to drink some of mine next time.
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This is young and tight, all berries and freshness - wrapped in almost translucent crimson. But the wine has legs and is well balanced. This will last a long time. A masterpiece of lightness and elegance. Blind I would have said high grade Volnay or Chambolle. Glad I have another, which I should remind myself to save for several years...
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Lovely american wine. Bright, translucent red, fresh with earth and raspberry scents. Good weight and acidity. So nice to have an american pinot that's not fat, alcoholic and overdone. I agree that it seems ready now and it doesn't seem like the sort of wine that would improve with long cellaring, but who knows? It is a true West Coast wine and nothing like a traditional red burg. Nice to find a wine that seems to embrace its origin.
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Red berries, candied violets, vanilla, minerals. Extremely complex with terrific balance. This is drinking so well now, I really don't see any point in waiting.
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What yofog said a couple days ago about;Volnay, raspberry and briary. Could also talk about sour cherry. This seems a tad more closed and linear right now than when I had it four months back. This is very old school and could easilly be a Kermit Lynch import. I found it a less friendly and less dimensional tonight than the earlier btl. Either needs age to flesh out a bit or may never change and remain a perfect reflection of 2011. OTOH, I'm on the tail end a cold and that may have impacted my experience.
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Brilliant wine that reminds me of great Volnay, very raspberry, like a pile of raspberries, but dusty, briary raspberries, and fresh cranberries, too. Will be beautiful in 7/8 years.
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Night 2: This seemed a bit primary on the palate to me last night, so I decided to give it some proper air time. The nose is complex - dusty raspberry patch, ripe strawberries, and lots of mineral components. It's very 2011. The mouth feel is where this wine really grabs you. It's juicy and balanced with a very, very long evolution and with the structure to warrant cellar time. Hold for 2-4 years, in my opinion.
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This was opened with a hanger steak...not a particularly good pairing since the steak just dominated this wine. We continued with this wine after dinner and then it was more expressive. Very nice high toned fruits on the nose and a fair amount of sandalwood. A hint of tannin on a nice finish. The acidity was nice, but hit only certain spots on the midpalate; there was a lot of sour-cherry and cranberry. This was consistent with other 2011 Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have tasted, and since this is a vintage that I have rather enjoyed for its restraint and subtle notes, I'll wait for a better food pairing... Nevertheless, this does seem to be drinking rather well now.
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Champagne and Pinot Noir Tasting: This bottle was singing from the get-go. Soaring nose of elegant red fruit with just a touch of spice. In the mouth this is barely mid-weight, with a silky smooth texture and perfect balance. This was wine of the flight and wine of the night. Many thought this was the DRC.
solid pinot…lighter style that is quite evolved for such a young wine. Burgundian style with secondary flavors of earth, smoke that merrier well with lighter fruit character that makes for a good food partner. Acidity, strutter and verve of the wine was solid as well
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Whoa nelly, this wine is absolutely outstanding for the vintage. Wonderful nose showing funky earth, dark fruit and spices. The palate has absolutely wonderful mouthfeel and flavor intensity and yet feels nearly weightless on the palate. Dark red fruit, grapefruit, clay and gravel show on the palate. Already balanced, already integrated, this is drinking fantastic now but has what I think is a very bright future. The best 2011 OPN I have tried so far, this is really, really good. 93+
4/5/2024 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Friday Night Lights (Jim and Michelene's Place, St. Paul, MN): Light-medium ruby color. Drank a couple glasses over 2 hours. I'd been waiting for the '11 Maresh Vineyard to really deliver, and over multiple bottles it was always good, but never truly memorable. Well that finally changed. The quintessential Oregon experience, for me anyway, was on full display. This had a stunning perfume of wild strawberries, mountain raspberry and blooming wild flowers, with pretty lifted spice notes. The palate is tart and the cool red berries shine in their purity and focus, draped in spice and rose petals with dried forest floor, the weightless palate defies logic with the depth of its flavors and the soaring finish. One to just sit sip by itself and savor every last drop. Outstanding. 95 to 96pts.
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10/7/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Light medium red color with a 15mm bricked transition to clear. The nose shows some great spice notes, cardamom, cinnamon, dried earth, raspberry, hints of anise. The palate is soft and lovely, with cool red berries and spices, very earthy, with mineral notes, coffee bean and a little umami note on the finish.
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8/10/2023 - OregonLoafer wrote: flawed
Two bottles of this in a row have been very bretty. I don’t see any other notes mentioning this, so I hope my third and final bottle is solid. The risks you take on WineBid…
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4/30/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Medium red color. PNP, from magnum; drank a glass over an hour. No detailed notes, still drinking well with cool red and darker fruits, earth, and spices. 92+pts.
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12/4/2022 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Opened for Thanksgiving. No notes taken, but this was still showing really well and seems like it is good for at least a few more years.
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1/6/2022 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
Unlike my prior bottles, this was more savory than fruity. Sous-bois and soil, undergirded with black cherry, lacking the brightness it had previously. Still excellent texture, medium-bodied, good line of acid, fine tannins, finishing long and smooth. It seemed fully mature.
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12/21/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 92 Points
Translucent, light red color. Bright cherry nose. Deep, precise fruit on the palate, cherry, cola, strawberry, a savory note. Very fine tannins, lovely acidity, brilliant balance. A graceful wine. Finishes long and subtle with strawberry notes. In great form right now. Drink over the next 5 to 6 years.
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11/25/2021 - Hon. Uncle Phil Likes this wine: 96 Points
Bought in magnum at the winery. This is easily one of the greatest Oregon wines I have ever had. Clearly expressive of Willamette and yet shares many similarities with a very good 1er to grand cru Chambolle. Very pretty, nice tart red fruits with some sweet cherries, earth, spice. Long concentrated finish. It’s all here, all in balance.
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8/28/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Annual Wine Group Summer Event - BBQ Brisket at Siggy's (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Small glass from Magnum. Medium red color, medium bodied, red fruits, florals, earthy and great spicebox, still a bit grippy from magnum tonight. Really good, best pinot tonight. Mags are going to need a bit more time to be at peak.
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2/21/2021 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pleasure to the last bottle.
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1/1/2021 - cweiner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent
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12/11/2020 - cweiner wrote: 90 Points
Disappointing first bottle. Barnyard a good description upon opening. Fine for my test and not typical of the Arteberry I have had the pleasuring of drinking in the past. Hopefully an off bottle.
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5/2/2020 - piedmoose Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slight barnyard on nose upon open. Later, strawberry noted on nose. Red fruit on body with balance on the acid side. 2011 was a cool year for Oregon Pinot, and this wine shows that with the lack of weight. Everyone liked it.
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4/18/2020 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicate cherry aromas on the nose. Bright strawberry/raspberry fruit, some earthy notes. Fine tannins, excellent acidity and balance. Finishes long with spice and bracing acidity. I'd drink these over the next 4 to 5 years. 12.6% ABV.
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4/2/2020 - lolo66 wrote:
decent but seems to have lost its luster. I thought this would have been longer lived.
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11/23/2019 - Nanda wrote: flawed
Blind Pinots (Prairie Grass Cafe): Badly corked.
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9/9/2019 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Thomas Pinot Noir Vertical (Dan's House): Similar to my note from 2016. Lots of pepper on the nose and palate. Good balance, nice acid. Quite light, almost thin.
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8/29/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Thomas Pinot Noir Vertical (Dan and Elise's, Mpls): Medium plus red color. PNP, drank a glass over 3+ hours. We popped this first to drink alongside of the Thomas vertical. Sweet fruit on the nose, red berries, vanilla, sweet cherry. On the palate some smokey red berries, raspberry, tart cherry, medium bodied, subtle earth. Seems a bit lean to start, and took its sweet time to really flesh out (easily over an hour), but once it did it was impressive. This took on weight and depth, more to a deep cherry and much more classic Oregon earth now. The acid stands out now on the palate and the strawberry comes through on the nose with a floral topnote. 92+ to 93pts at peak.
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8/29/2019 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
PnP at Dan's fantastic Thomas PN vertical dinner. Translucent red with amber on edges. Started fairly tight and semi closed and never seemed to kick it in gear. Faint red berries and spice on the nose. hint of tart red fruit, mineral and forest floor on the stubborn palate. Later this opened up a bit but generally leaner and less forthcoming then the Thomas tonight with their more obvious fruit.
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7/19/2019 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
PnP and slow for an hour in a Burg glass and btl prior to dinner. As expected this doesn't require a lot of air. Its in the pocket and drinking great. Translucent red with amber on edges. Aromas typical of a 15yr old plus red Burg with fading red fruit, mineral and forest floor. The semi tart red fruit, mineral and forest floor carry over to the ethereal weightless and savory palate with air. This btl was a little more earthy and reminiscent of Gevrey Chambertin then my last. This is all ethereal elegance with unexpected concentration for its color. You also pick up some licorice, cinnamon and mushroom. Like my previous btls this is a complete delight while always leaving me longing for the next "off vintage" in Oregon. AlC 12.8% Not sure how much this improves but I'm enjoying the heck out it right now. One Left, see if I can layoff for couple years :).
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6/15/2019 - Arottenstein Likes this wine:
Fabulous. Light translucent red with a bit of mature brown in the color. Nose of barnyard, prominent pine, raspberry and a bit a spice. On the palate, refined mature Pinot, deep cherry, cedar, menthol and earth. First 20 minutes after decant we’re close to a burgundy experience, started to dwindle by the hour mark. Just fabulous, one of my favorite wines of the year and clearly has some life left.
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5/9/2019 - vindictive wrote:
elegant West Coast pinot - light, translucent red with raspberry, pine, spice, good acidity. Has become more integrated and subtle, but seems to have a lot of life ahead. Excellent with Columbia river Salmon
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4/18/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour. Cork soaked about 1/5 of the way through. First btl in about 5 years. I love 2011 OPN. This shows some brett, but it is earthy funk, followed by wild strawberry and sandalwood. Deliciously expressive, and Volnay-like delicacy: lighter bodied, dried raspberry and leaves...still some fine tannic grip. Excellent right now, but still has plenty of room to add interesting secondary.
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3/17/2019 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red-fruited, elegant, love cooler "off" vintages in OR
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12/28/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
PnP and slow for 45+ minutes in my Burg glass and btl prior to dinner. As expected this doesn't require a lot of air. Its in the pocket and drinking great. Translucent bright red with slight amber on edges. Aromas typical of a 15yr old plus red Burg with fading red fruit, mineral and forest floor in play. The semi tart red fruit, mineral and forest floor carry over to the ethereal weightless, lacy Chambolle like palate. This is all delicacy and elegance but with unexpected concentration based on the its color. You also pick up some licorice, cinnamon and mushroom. Every bottle I've had of this has been a complete delight while always leaving me longing for the next "off vintage" in Oregon. Recent vintages of this wine have a lot more baby fat and less nuance because the more perfect vintages. Bring on 2007, 2011 & 2013 again ASAP please! AlC 12.8% Not sure how much this improves but I just picked up a couple more online from a cellar sell off, yea!
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5/2/2018 - larsth wrote: 92 Points
Light colour. Lovely delicate pinot nose. Some licorice and a touch of sweetness otherwise very burgundian due to its elegant and delicate style. Good balance and just a very well-made wine. Tasted blind with the crowd guessing it to be a good 1’er Chambolle!
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9/15/2017 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Really nice wine especially considering the vintage. Ripe red berry fruits, rich spice, and earthy notes on the nose. The palate is ripe for the vintage, but towards the cooler end of the spectrum. Nice balance, I almost wish there was a touch more acidity to freshen it, but overall it is very good.
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9/15/2017 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light, nearly translucent red in color. Crunchy red berries and sous-bois predominate. Although the flavors have good depth and intensity, the overall impression is one of airiness and lightness with impressive cut and delineation. This is a superb example of "pinotocity" or whatever that term is to describe a pinot that is very much "pinot." My only bottle; I wish I had more.
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8/12/2017 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last bottle of the 2011 maresh vnyrd. Was a bit leaner than I remember and with a streak of green, but most of all brilliant balance btw body, sweet Pinot perfume, and freshness. This went down so very easily. And held up over two days really well. Translucent light ruby red color and weightless feel in the mouth. Just lovely.
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12/16/2016 - Louvin Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hr decant, this is ready! A perfectly balance wine with the elegant style I love so much. A little blood orange note intermixed with nice tannins of red fruits. So lovely, velvet in the mouth.
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6/10/2016 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
Ripe fruit featuring strawberries. Minerals and medium finish. Should age over the next five years.
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6/5/2016 - jhieb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Four hour decant; more needed. The nose is fantastic: oolong tea, fall leaves, and cherries. The mouth is tightly wound, and in your face, but the decant helped to soften. This will be amazing stuff in another 5-10 years.
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5/31/2016 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Pinot Noir (Edina Country Club): Lots of pepper on the nose and palate. Good balance, nice acid. Quite light, almost thin.
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5/29/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Domestic Pinot Noir (Edina, MN): Medium red color, lovely ruby hued. Slow-O for 4 hours. Drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Gorgeous, there's amazing purity and class, just a beautifully made wine. Another example of the supposedly lesser, cool vintages shining. The nose has a foie gras torchon note with an animalistic core, pretty red berries, truffle, spice and roses. The palate is in a word elegant; spice, pure, red berries, forest floor, strawberry, subtle wood, and a long lifted finish. Wonderful. My WOTN. 93+pts.
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5/29/2016 - mzimberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Edina Country Club Domestic Pinots: Wonderful ruby. Exotic spices on the cherry nose. Spicy, delicate, pure, quite balanced. Still on the young side.
My #3 of the night.
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12/23/2015 - harrisonptrh wrote:
Drank this after having the 09 - so different and so good. Deeper more nose and got better after an hour or so.
Glad I have 3 more this has many good years left.
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12/12/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
Continue to adore this wine. Has an old world "Burgundian" feel and flavor profile. Nothing over the top. Part of that is the more reserved 2011 vintage speaking. Exceptionally good PN and totally in my wheel house like prior btls. 12.8% alc. Paid $55 and worth it.
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9/26/2015 - yossarian.livez wrote:
Not sure what went wrong here. Was it just dumb or is this bottle variation or a provenance issue? Reserved red fruit with some occasional subtle hints of forest floor, hoisin sauce and beef stock. Yet it is also showing some of the density from extraction while being light in body, but really there is nothing going. Will this wine ever get out from underneath itself?
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9/5/2015 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 87 Points
This wine was poured blind. This wine was very obviously new world Pinot Noir, and offered a lot of spice and booze on the nose. Totally odd funkiness, like wet camping gear in mud. The palate is soft and really ripe and luscious with the fruit. Mild acid, and lots of extract. Huge puckering acid on the finish that seems totally out of balance with its other structural components. Aside from that, the palate is left creamy, with lots of puckering red fruit. Pretty lean on the finish despite the luscious fruit on the palate. I was quite surprised when this was revealed because while this was my first time with this vintage, I generally love this wine, and I'd have expected to love this vintage as well. I guess this is why blind tastings are so fun! I wouldn't have thought that acidification would be necessary in 2011, but this wine at least feels like that's happened. This wine definitely showed atypical for a cool Oregon vintage.
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7/4/2015 - budosyu wrote: 93 Points
Very pale translucent color. Nose of wild berries with faint whiffs of spice; no overt oak tones or smokiness which allowed pure expression of the wild-berry notes. Palate smooth, with a balanced expression of earthy and mineral notes, spice, and red fruit flavors. Perfectly balanced acidity with barely perceptible, silky smooth tannins on a long finish echoing the palate.
The nose invite more new-world fruit but the palate is much more restrained and balanced. No overt oak notes and no overpowering flavors on the palate. Really nice, elegant expression of pinot that focuses on a light expression of pure fruit. Elegant and smooth; more Burgundian but without the funkiness, austerity, or high-toned acidity. Still early; interested to see where this goes with more age. 93+
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5/15/2015 - batsojr Likes this wine:
Fantastic purity of flavor
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4/16/2015 - gfish Likes this wine: 93 Points
Part of 2011 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting. One of the wines of the night.
Incredible nose
- Wonderful complex palate of red fruit, minerals and great acidity.
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2/14/2015 - juffer Likes this wine: 88 Points
I served this in my wine course. Low pitched cooking spice nose, cinnamon and cola, but not over the top. Not as much earth as I would have expected. Just not impressing me much relative to expectations.
P.S. After coming back to this after the Keller spatburgunder, comes across as overripe and low dimensional. I guess it's all relative.
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1/23/2015 - BradE wrote:
Wow, this was truly a freak. It screams class, and was beguiling. Loved it.
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1/23/2015 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 94 Points
Same bottle as Chablis28. Popped and poured after four older vintages of Beaux Freres ('99, '00, '01 and '02) and this showed beautifully. Very light in color. Soaring nose. Silky and elegant on the palate. Good flavor intensity. Long, pleasing finish. I really wish I'd bought more of this (hopefully '12 and '13 are adequate substitutes).
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1/22/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 97 Points
Continuing the theme of off vintages = great in Oregon this was stunning. Brad correctly labeled this a "freak". How can a wine from 2011, critically declared an off vintage, show such concentration, finesse and poise at only 4yrs in btl???Is this a fake? Did some one pour DRC in here and re-cork :) Not to mention the soily / minerally tart rainer cherry flavors. This is to be sure, "an old soul" wine. Don't know how long they've been making wine but it taste like it has the skilled hand of a Freddy Mugnier at the helm. This btl was the most quickly drained wine of the night and it came late in the lineup. Yes, I love this wine and regret that I only have 2 left. Blind this would easily be mistaken for $150+ Burgundy. Not my btl tonight. Thanks Dave you'll get to drink some of mine next time.
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12/1/2014 - fine137 wrote: 91 Points
Very light on its feet, burgundian but with just a bite of citrus. I'm not sure I see this as a long term ager.
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8/30/2014 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is young and tight, all berries and freshness - wrapped in almost translucent crimson. But the wine has legs and is well balanced. This will last a long time. A masterpiece of lightness and elegance. Blind I would have said high grade Volnay or Chambolle. Glad I have another, which I should remind myself to save for several years...
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5/6/2014 - vindictive wrote:
Lovely american wine. Bright, translucent red, fresh with earth and raspberry scents. Good weight and acidity. So nice to have an american pinot that's not fat, alcoholic and overdone. I agree that it seems ready now and it doesn't seem like the sort of wine that would improve with long cellaring, but who knows? It is a true West Coast wine and nothing like a traditional red burg. Nice to find a wine that seems to embrace its origin.
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5/3/2014 - cartime Likes this wine: 95 Points
Red berries, candied violets, vanilla, minerals. Extremely complex with terrific balance. This is drinking so well now, I really don't see any point in waiting.
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4/25/2014 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
What yofog said a couple days ago about;Volnay, raspberry and briary. Could also talk about sour cherry. This seems a tad more closed and linear right now than when I had it four months back. This is very old school and could easilly be a Kermit Lynch import. I found it a less friendly and less dimensional tonight than the earlier btl. Either needs age to flesh out a bit or may never change and remain a perfect reflection of 2011. OTOH, I'm on the tail end a cold and that may have impacted my experience.
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4/23/2014 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
Brilliant wine that reminds me of great Volnay, very raspberry, like a pile of raspberries, but dusty, briary raspberries, and fresh cranberries, too. Will be beautiful in 7/8 years.
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4/21/2014 - jhieb wrote: 91 Points
Loads of terroir, but light on fruit. I'm not surprised by this, given the cool year. Still a standout within the Willamette valley.
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3/22/2014 - MoserJP Likes this wine: 92 Points
Night 2: This seemed a bit primary on the palate to me last night, so I decided to give it some proper air time. The nose is complex - dusty raspberry patch, ripe strawberries, and lots of mineral components. It's very 2011. The mouth feel is where this wine really grabs you. It's juicy and balanced with a very, very long evolution and with the structure to warrant cellar time. Hold for 2-4 years, in my opinion.
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3/15/2014 - Aravind Asok wrote:
This was opened with a hanger steak...not a particularly good pairing since the steak just dominated this wine. We continued with this wine after dinner and then it was more expressive. Very nice high toned fruits on the nose and a fair amount of sandalwood. A hint of tannin on a nice finish. The acidity was nice, but hit only certain spots on the midpalate; there was a lot of sour-cherry and cranberry. This was consistent with other 2011 Oregon Pinot Noirs that I have tasted, and since this is a vintage that I have rather enjoyed for its restraint and subtle notes, I'll wait for a better food pairing... Nevertheless, this does seem to be drinking rather well now.
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1/7/2014 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 94 Points
Champagne and Pinot Noir Tasting: This bottle was singing from the get-go. Soaring nose of elegant red fruit with just a touch of spice. In the mouth this is barely mid-weight, with a silky smooth texture and perfect balance. This was wine of the flight and wine of the night. Many thought this was the DRC.
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12/30/2013 - fine137 wrote: 92 Points
Nothing specific here other than a very restrained, pleasant style. Will be interested to see where this goes in a few years.
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11/28/2013 - JBVino wrote:
solid pinot…lighter style that is quite evolved for such a young wine. Burgundian style with secondary flavors of earth, smoke that merrier well with lighter fruit character that makes for a good food partner. Acidity, strutter and verve of the wine was solid as well
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7/5/2013 - martyd wrote: 92 Points
Though early in the vintage cycle this wine killed it early! I'm looking forward to trying it over the next few years.
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6/28/2013 - gripNsip Likes this wine: 93 Points
Whoa nelly, this wine is absolutely outstanding for the vintage. Wonderful nose showing funky earth, dark fruit and spices. The palate has absolutely wonderful mouthfeel and flavor intensity and yet feels nearly weightless on the palate. Dark red fruit, grapefruit, clay and gravel show on the palate. Already balanced, already integrated, this is drinking fantastic now but has what I think is a very bright future. The best 2011 OPN I have tried so far, this is really, really good. 93+
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