Bottle 12 of 12. IMHO this is on the downslope - fruit and body fading. Still very nice but not as great as 2-3 years ago. Red fruit, spice and well integrated tannin. Pair with or without food.
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Pop and pour. Lovely, even on day 2 open, though fading a bit today. On the nose: spice, cranberry, soft stems. On the palate: good density, fantastic acidity, crushed stone, soft stems, blackberry, cranberry, soft tang and attenuated tannin on the juicy finish. Fantastic yesterday, when everything was more intense, but excellent today.
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Very nice now. Much better than one I opened in 2016. Softened & integrated, well balanced. Really a pleasure. Notes of boysenberry and spice. Long legs and just enough residual sweetness to highlight the fruit. Just enough acid, tannins are quite soft now, wood is subtle. This would be a great wine for almost any occasion or food. Color is getting lighter; faint bricking around the edges. May improve a bit further over the next couple of years but no reason to wait.
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Rose and spice (cinnamon, pepper and dried herb) scent. Full, rich body (for an Oregon Pinot Noir) with dark fruit, red cherry and earth flavor with ample lively tannins.
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First few sips of this wine on opening were met with skepticism ... young, tangy, somewhat tart red fruit without much depth and a relatively short and unimpressive finish. I immediately berated myself for opening this bottle too early (I generally enjoy West Coast pinots most after 10-20 years bottle age). Over the course of 3 hours in the decanter, there was a spectacular transformation that saw young red fruit replaced by darker and deeper nuanced black/deep red flavors. Wine turned out to be an excellent sidekick to shiitake mushrooms sauteed in olive oil, soy sauce, and chili garlic sauce, and subsequently lovely with cod served with a similar sauce. At the end of the night, nose is still young but with subtle hints of over-ripe strawberries and fresh earth. On the palate fruit is still red but deep and nuanced. 30 second finish wafts between young and mature flavors. I am completely enamored with the final glass. Next bottle 2021+ unless I can find more in the interim.
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I'm wondering now if my last bottle was either somewhat dormant or slightly flawed, since this bottle was nothing short of spectacular. On the nose, vosne like spice, sweet cranberry and wild strawberry, perfumed stems, a hint of soft earth, and a soft touch of oak-induced vanilla. On the palate, excellent acidity, with more dark earth and vosne-like spice. Some stemmy spice and integrated tannin on the finish. An absolutely fantastic PN, in an excellent place.
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Garnet colored, light medium bodied, sprites of black cherry, bright raspberry and black currant fruits accented by mineral, dusty rose, vibrant spices and what the winemaker cites as 'hints of sassafras and gravel' turning to a silky smooth lingering finish with notes of sweet oak.
earthy, smoke. fruit and acid still in balance...I think this has more years left on it than I initially thought. will hang on to last bottle post 2020.
Pleasant, nicely drinkable, focused and with plenty of life. Nothing terribly complex, but good red and dark red pinot fruit. Good for drinking now, and over next few years.
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Prior bottle was almost nine months ago and this wine continues to show at a high level. Mix of black and red cherry, along with floral, vanilla and earth notes on the nose. Medium bodied and accessible from opening, but rounded out with increased balance and depth over almost four hours. More black cherry then red cherry upfront (positive bottle variation?) with plum as opposed to raspberry through the middle and then just slightly tart red cherry towards the back. Fruit was quite pretty showing both nuance and depth, while still being very much in balance with the acidity behind. Glad I opened this bottle when I did. I still believe it can hold at this level for the next 12-18 months with additional life afterwards, but right now feels like peak. The complexity, depth and balance aren't going to get better. I would drink before 2020 to enjoy where this wine is now.
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Still lots of alcohol burn on initial open. After an hour, cherry, red plum and smoky minerals aromas and flavors. Not overly complex or particularly long finish.
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Huh, ~3yrs since my last btl. Doesn't seem so evolved. Nice nose with a touch of spice and cranberry. A touch thin on the palate, with more spicy red fruit, and softer acid than I would like. A touch of chalky tannin on the finish, which leans spicy red fruit as well. Pretty good.
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Prior bottle was eight months ago and my notes were virtually identical. Red cherry, floral and mix of mineral, earth and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied with bright red cherry upfront which deepens quickly, adding raspberry, black cherry and tart red cherry. Finishes with vanilla, floral, mineral and earth notes, supported by fine grained tannins. The mid-body shows roundness and silkiness with increasing polish. There's enough structure (both acidity and tannin based) that I feel this wine should be able to hold this level for at least another two years. It may show some minor additional improvement with more cellar time as the middle continues to deepen and the acidity/fruit balance continues to improve. I would say very much in the drinking window, but no rush. I have one more bottle which I'll save for Fall 2018.
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Very nice fruit, a bit heavy for a pinot, but fun to drink and pairs well with a variety of foods. I drank with middle eastern food and it held up well with the spices. finish is medium and the acid is held in balance with fine tannins. Wish I had more of this year.
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similar notes to my sept 2016 tasting. This is in a nice window but I think it still has a few years left on it. I noticed it pick up some complexity and additional length on day 2 so air does improve the experience. I prefer day 2 to day 1 but just slightly. Drink or hold.
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Nearly identical notes to my prior bottle of almost nine months ago (April 2016). Red cherry, vanilla and mineral notes on the nose. Medium bodied (13.6% ABV) with red cherry upfront, moving with a round, silky elegance to deeper notes of plum, hints of raspberry and background qualities of tart cherry. Transitions seamlessly to the finish of vanilla, minerals, floral and integrated tannins. Mid-body of this wine is showing exceptionally well and the overall balance between fruit and structuring notes, as well as the similar notes from the prior bottle show me this wine is at peak. It should have about two years left at this stage and I plan to have my next bottle in Summer 2017.
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About a year since last tasting. Its developing nicely. Nose of cherry earth and spice with hint of flowers. Rich and concentrated cherry smoke. Medium to long finish with a touch of sweetness and acid. Still going on day 2.
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Red fruit, strong floral and mineral notes on the nose. Medium bodied with very good balance. Has shifted from my prior bottle (March 2015) to the red end of the spectrum. Now showing red cherry upfront with minerals and excellent acidity on the finish. Enough acidity to give structure and balance, but in keeping with the fruit. Adds some black fruit notes of black cherry upfront, light black raspberry and some plum the longer its open. Continues to drink quite well and should stay at this level for another year or two. It will last beyond that time, but I don't see room for improvement beyond that window that would justify holding it further.
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It took about an hour it to open. Initially it had tons of smoke on the nose that was blocking most of the aromas and then it opened up to reveal nice red fruits. Good wine.
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Light, earthy nose, very balanced fruit (I mean both red and black berry flavors, not complicated, but not one dimensional, IMHO). Medium finish, medium body. No cola (thank goodness) or over extraction. Kind of midway style wise between burgundy and new world. I like it.
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You know....for the price it's just not that good..finish is short...fruit is one dimensional....I think it isn't more memorable than a castle rock Pinot......maybe I am just in a bad mood...
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Drank this with cedar-planked salmon, and the smokiness of the salmon was quite nice with the flavors of strawberry, smoke, and forest. Medium-bodied for a PN, with a long finish.
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Very tight initially, even through an aerator. When it finally opened up, about an hour, it really shined. Beautiful berries, cherry, toasty spice, and minerals. Beautifully balanced and a hell of a long finish. Agree with other who have described this as Burgundian. Great example from a great vintage. Will let the remaining bottles sit a little longer.
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Most thought it overly sweet. It WAS sweetish, but I think the copious fruit rescued it for the most part. Very fruity on the nose and palate, cherry/raspberry/strawberry dominated.
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Needs about one hour decant to really open up. Complex bouquet of rose petals , cherries , mild vanilla. Medium body pinot with complex profile. Mild tannins. Good sipping pinot . Enjoy the bouquet on this one!
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Lean at the same time very appealing from the onset, and distinctly a more Burgundian than California style. Absolutely gorgeous bouquet with pretty floral and subtle raspberry and cherry notes, which unfold through the smooth and notably long finish. Elegant and beautiful, one of many comprising the outstanding 2012 vintage in Oregon.
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Blackfruit, floral and earth on the very expressive nose. A bit above medium bodied and it deepens considerably the longer it's open, ending up close to full bodied for a pinot. Really began to shine around 90 minutes to 2 hours in. Blackberry and black cherry notes and carries this fruit with a elegant grace. Impressive richness and roundness, but always in balance. Outstanding acidity based structure throughout and especially on the lengthy, mineral dominated finish. Strengths of this wine were its depth through the middle, its structure and its balance. As well as it's drinking now (given some time), I expect even more from it in the future. Outstanding Oregon pinot noir and exactly why I love this region.
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Poured through aerator and still was still quite closed. Took about an hour to finally come around to clean dark fruit and cherry flavors. Interesting earthy and herbal finish, but not particularly complex or long. Hopefully another year or two will allow this to evolve a bit more.
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First, the wine is still tight so rather than decanting the whole bottle, we went with the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator to open it up. We weren't sure how many glasses we would have, but we almost finished the bottle.
The fruit was forward and enjoyable, I tasted strawberry, and other dark berry fruit. No sour cherry which I often taste in Pinots from this region, which the wine maker worked out well.
Now for the oak, at first, the wine finished almost smokey. It wasn't bad, it just was a little more than I like in a Pinot Noir. After an hour, it was gone for us and the finish was just about right. There was a slight mineral taste, just like we have grown to enjoy the valley. It had an earthy component to it I just can't describe well, but it was well balanced.
We actually liked this Pinot a lot, compared to the Amici and Belle Glos that we have had recently.
It was well done and I think most people who like classic Pinots will enjoy this wine and you should like it more if you give it just an hour of time to breathe.
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delightfully dark berries for pinot noir, but keeping its body lythe. Density and purity are two adjectives that come to mind immediately. Long finish, especially for an Oregon pinot. Almost a marriage of Cali and Burgundy.
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Very good pinot, but the WS fireworks aren't quite going off for me. Somewhat simple with a modest finish. Plum, wild berry, flowers, graphite. Pleasant funk on the nose as another taster mentioned. A wonderful smooth, rich texture with pebbly tannins is the highlight. Should develop nicely over the next few years; 91 with room to improve.
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Has great nose of candied red fruits and a slight bit of Pinot funk. On the palate, it's got a solid structure of stout acidity and fine tannins that benefit greatly from decanting and/or time in the glass. Bright red fruits with a lengthy and high-energy finish. Very nice, but it could benefit from a year or more cellar time and/or a good decanting.
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This was better than the two previous bottles. This time, we decanted and left it alone for an hour. There was a fair amount of earth on the nose, followed by good dark fruits. Great acidity, and still juicy on the palate with a subtle tannic finish. We paired this with pork belly with a persimmon/chili compote and it worked very well with the sweet/spicy mix.
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It hasn't been too long since we opened a bottle of this, but this wasn't too different from the previous bottle. Some earth and dark fruits on the nose, very juicy, some tannin on the finish, but nothing that really grabbed me. The wood makes itself known on the finish, contributing some astringence, but I didn't see it on the nose. Anyway, for the price, ``two messengers" is imo better.
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I was neutral on this wine on day 1. At first, I didn't really see a lot of difference between this and the two messengers (in fact the latter seemed more aromatically complex, according to my notes). On the second day this showed rather differently: this was a fairly fruit forward OPN (though not fruit-forward by the standards of a Russian River Valley PN) and very juicy. The acidity on day 1 that left a bit of biting aftertaste has calmed down somewhat and there are lots of raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and a hint of sour-cherry on the palate now. There is only a very slight hint of tannin in the finish.
On another note, I'm somewhat confused on the relationship between this wine and ``the Fire" and ``the Flood", which are by Chapter 24 vineyards, who originally distributed two messengers . Based solely on the description, this appears to be another blend of the different types of soils, but reminds me more of ``the Flood" with its emphasis on darker fruits. I wrote to Chapter 24 to figure this out, since it seems a bit weird. Anyone know?
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Some Fine 2011/2012 Willamette Valley Pinots (SF Wine Trading Company): Red center, lighter edge. Smoky, floral nose. Good core of sweet red fruit with cola and chocolate tones. Rich with obvious wood. After the sweet entry, the wood tannins render the finish somewhat astringent. I don't think I'd mistake this for French Pinot.
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11/23/2023 - Bryan49 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bottle 12 of 12. IMHO this is on the downslope - fruit and body fading. Still very nice but not as great as 2-3 years ago. Red fruit, spice and well integrated tannin. Pair with or without food.
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8/31/2023 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour. Lovely, even on day 2 open, though fading a bit today. On the nose: spice, cranberry, soft stems. On the palate: good density, fantastic acidity, crushed stone, soft stems, blackberry, cranberry, soft tang and attenuated tannin on the juicy finish. Fantastic yesterday, when everything was more intense, but excellent today.
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8/6/2020 - mac-eye wrote: 92 Points
Very nice now. Much better than one I opened in 2016. Softened & integrated, well balanced. Really a pleasure. Notes of boysenberry and spice. Long legs and just enough residual sweetness to highlight the fruit. Just enough acid, tannins are quite soft now, wood is subtle. This would be a great wine for almost any occasion or food. Color is getting lighter; faint bricking around the edges. May improve a bit further over the next couple of years but no reason to wait.
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7/9/2019 - bin905 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rose and spice (cinnamon, pepper and dried herb) scent. Full, rich body (for an Oregon Pinot Noir) with dark fruit, red cherry and earth flavor with ample lively tannins.
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5/16/2019 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 93 Points
First few sips of this wine on opening were met with skepticism ... young, tangy, somewhat tart red fruit without much depth and a relatively short and unimpressive finish. I immediately berated myself for opening this bottle too early (I generally enjoy West Coast pinots most after 10-20 years bottle age). Over the course of 3 hours in the decanter, there was a spectacular transformation that saw young red fruit replaced by darker and deeper nuanced black/deep red flavors. Wine turned out to be an excellent sidekick to shiitake mushrooms sauteed in olive oil, soy sauce, and chili garlic sauce, and subsequently lovely with cod served with a similar sauce. At the end of the night, nose is still young but with subtle hints of over-ripe strawberries and fresh earth. On the palate fruit is still red but deep and nuanced. 30 second finish wafts between young and mature flavors. I am completely enamored with the final glass. Next bottle 2021+ unless I can find more in the interim.
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5/12/2019 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Predominant earth, ash and spice flavor with some dark fruit.
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1/27/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
I'm wondering now if my last bottle was either somewhat dormant or slightly flawed, since this bottle was nothing short of spectacular. On the nose, vosne like spice, sweet cranberry and wild strawberry, perfumed stems, a hint of soft earth, and a soft touch of oak-induced vanilla. On the palate, excellent acidity, with more dark earth and vosne-like spice. Some stemmy spice and integrated tannin on the finish. An absolutely fantastic PN, in an excellent place.
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12/26/2018 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet colored, light medium bodied, sprites of black cherry, bright raspberry and black currant fruits accented by mineral, dusty rose, vibrant spices and what the winemaker cites as 'hints of sassafras and gravel' turning to a silky smooth lingering finish with notes of sweet oak.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/12/maison-lenvoye-attache-pinot-noir.html
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10/28/2018 - Quarked wrote: 93 Points
The perfect medium between new world fruit and old world complexity. One of my favorite pinots!
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8/8/2018 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Floral, ripe fruit and spice scent. More earth tones on the pallet, including some coffee. Ample smooth tannins on the finish.
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7/4/2018 - martyparty56 Likes this wine:
Two minutes after aerating, young vibrant but like a frisky foal but I’m looking forward to the rest of the bottle
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7/2/2018 - wineguy1968 Likes this wine: 91 Points
earthy, smoke. fruit and acid still in balance...I think this has more years left on it than I initially thought. will hang on to last bottle post 2020.
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6/21/2018 - nectar14 Likes this wine:
Pleasant, nicely drinkable, focused and with plenty of life. Nothing terribly complex, but good red and dark red pinot fruit. Good for drinking now, and over next few years.
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6/16/2018 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful, exotic, brooding, black cherry, saturated, really a mouth-filling bottle.
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6/8/2018 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Prior bottle was almost nine months ago and this wine continues to show at a high level. Mix of black and red cherry, along with floral, vanilla and earth notes on the nose. Medium bodied and accessible from opening, but rounded out with increased balance and depth over almost four hours. More black cherry then red cherry upfront (positive bottle variation?) with plum as opposed to raspberry through the middle and then just slightly tart red cherry towards the back. Fruit was quite pretty showing both nuance and depth, while still being very much in balance with the acidity behind. Glad I opened this bottle when I did. I still believe it can hold at this level for the next 12-18 months with additional life afterwards, but right now feels like peak. The complexity, depth and balance aren't going to get better. I would drink before 2020 to enjoy where this wine is now.
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12/16/2017 - jwolf99 wrote: 91 Points
Still lots of alcohol burn on initial open. After an hour, cherry, red plum and smoky minerals aromas and flavors. Not overly complex or particularly long finish.
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11/28/2017 - ddingley Likes this wine: 92 Points
Might have improved a bit over the last year. Very well balanced and enjoyable with nice silky finish
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10/14/2017 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Huh, ~3yrs since my last btl. Doesn't seem so evolved. Nice nose with a touch of spice and cranberry. A touch thin on the palate, with more spicy red fruit, and softer acid than I would like. A touch of chalky tannin on the finish, which leans spicy red fruit as well. Pretty good.
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9/22/2017 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Prior bottle was eight months ago and my notes were virtually identical. Red cherry, floral and mix of mineral, earth and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied with bright red cherry upfront which deepens quickly, adding raspberry, black cherry and tart red cherry. Finishes with vanilla, floral, mineral and earth notes, supported by fine grained tannins. The mid-body shows roundness and silkiness with increasing polish. There's enough structure (both acidity and tannin based) that I feel this wine should be able to hold this level for at least another two years. It may show some minor additional improvement with more cellar time as the middle continues to deepen and the acidity/fruit balance continues to improve. I would say very much in the drinking window, but no rush. I have one more bottle which I'll save for Fall 2018.
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6/2/2017 - Dr. Claret Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice fruit, a bit heavy for a pinot, but fun to drink and pairs well with a variety of foods. I drank with middle eastern food and it held up well with the spices. finish is medium and the acid is held in balance with fine tannins. Wish I had more of this year.
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5/17/2017 - phattyjrb wrote: 93 Points
Terrific
Drinking wonderfully
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1/23/2017 - wineguy1968 Likes this wine: 92 Points
similar notes to my sept 2016 tasting. This is in a nice window but I think it still has a few years left on it. I noticed it pick up some complexity and additional length on day 2 so air does improve the experience. I prefer day 2 to day 1 but just slightly. Drink or hold.
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1/20/2017 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nearly identical notes to my prior bottle of almost nine months ago (April 2016). Red cherry, vanilla and mineral notes on the nose. Medium bodied (13.6% ABV) with red cherry upfront, moving with a round, silky elegance to deeper notes of plum, hints of raspberry and background qualities of tart cherry. Transitions seamlessly to the finish of vanilla, minerals, floral and integrated tannins. Mid-body of this wine is showing exceptionally well and the overall balance between fruit and structuring notes, as well as the similar notes from the prior bottle show me this wine is at peak. It should have about two years left at this stage and I plan to have my next bottle in Summer 2017.
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12/25/2016 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking so well right now, such an underrated wine.
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11/25/2016 - ddingley Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice Willamette wine--light to medium body, Burgundian minerality, smooth
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9/21/2016 - wineguy1968 Likes this wine: 92 Points
About a year since last tasting. Its developing nicely. Nose of cherry earth and spice with hint of flowers. Rich and concentrated cherry smoke. Medium to long finish with a touch of sweetness and acid. Still going on day 2.
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7/17/2016 - Jobu wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous note. Really just need patience.
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4/24/2016 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red fruit, strong floral and mineral notes on the nose. Medium bodied with very good balance. Has shifted from my prior bottle (March 2015) to the red end of the spectrum. Now showing red cherry upfront with minerals and excellent acidity on the finish. Enough acidity to give structure and balance, but in keeping with the fruit. Adds some black fruit notes of black cherry upfront, light black raspberry and some plum the longer its open. Continues to drink quite well and should stay at this level for another year or two. It will last beyond that time, but I don't see room for improvement beyond that window that would justify holding it further.
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4/4/2016 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious, great rich fruit, medium body, heady but restrained nose of spice, plum, red cherry. Beautiful balance.
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1/16/2016 - MDvino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious Pinot. Very light and balanced old world style.
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1/3/2016 - IvanKrazy Likes this wine: 90 Points
It took about an hour it to open. Initially it had tons of smoke on the nose that was blocking most of the aromas and then it opened up to reveal nice red fruits. Good wine.
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12/16/2015 - fambrough Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light, earthy nose, very balanced fruit (I mean both red and black berry flavors, not complicated, but not one dimensional, IMHO). Medium finish, medium body. No cola (thank goodness) or over extraction. Kind of midway style wise between burgundy and new world. I like it.
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12/6/2015 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 89 Points
You know....for the price it's just not that good..finish is short...fruit is one dimensional....I think it isn't more memorable than a castle rock Pinot......maybe I am just in a bad mood...
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11/27/2015 - Quarked wrote: 92 Points
Drank this with cedar-planked salmon, and the smokiness of the salmon was quite nice with the flavors of strawberry, smoke, and forest. Medium-bodied for a PN, with a long finish.
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10/30/2015 - jwolf99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Notes consistent with prior bottle; still took an hour to open even when using aerator
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8/22/2015 - Jobu wrote: 93 Points
Very tight initially, even through an aerator. When it finally opened up, about an hour, it really shined. Beautiful berries, cherry, toasty spice, and minerals. Beautifully balanced and a hell of a long finish. Agree with other who have described this as Burgundian. Great example from a great vintage. Will let the remaining bottles sit a little longer.
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8/19/2015 - wineguy1968 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice. Improved a bit on day two. These should develop nicely over the next few years. Glad I have more
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7/13/2015 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 90 Points
Most thought it overly sweet. It WAS sweetish, but I think the copious fruit rescued it for the most part. Very fruity on the nose and palate, cherry/raspberry/strawberry dominated.
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6/13/2015 - critter friend wrote:
Elements of both good fruit and minerality.
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4/30/2015 - ravbik wrote: 92 Points
Needs about one hour decant to really open up. Complex bouquet of rose petals , cherries , mild vanilla. Medium body pinot with complex profile. Mild tannins. Good sipping pinot . Enjoy the bouquet on this one!
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4/17/2015 - MB Wine Guy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lean at the same time very appealing from the onset, and distinctly a more Burgundian than California style. Absolutely gorgeous bouquet with pretty floral and subtle raspberry and cherry notes, which unfold through the smooth and notably long finish. Elegant and beautiful, one of many comprising the outstanding 2012 vintage in Oregon.
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3/22/2015 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blackfruit, floral and earth on the very expressive nose. A bit above medium bodied and it deepens considerably the longer it's open, ending up close to full bodied for a pinot. Really began to shine around 90 minutes to 2 hours in. Blackberry and black cherry notes and carries this fruit with a elegant grace. Impressive richness and roundness, but always in balance. Outstanding acidity based structure throughout and especially on the lengthy, mineral dominated finish. Strengths of this wine were its depth through the middle, its structure and its balance. As well as it's drinking now (given some time), I expect even more from it in the future. Outstanding Oregon pinot noir and exactly why I love this region.
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2/7/2015 - jwolf99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Poured through aerator and still was still quite closed. Took about an hour to finally come around to clean dark fruit and cherry flavors. Interesting earthy and herbal finish, but not particularly complex or long. Hopefully another year or two will allow this to evolve a bit more.
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1/18/2015 - DTown Vino Likes this wine: 92 Points
First, the wine is still tight so rather than decanting the whole bottle, we went with the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator to open it up. We weren't sure how many glasses we would have, but we almost finished the bottle.
The fruit was forward and enjoyable, I tasted strawberry, and other dark berry fruit. No sour cherry which I often taste in Pinots from this region, which the wine maker worked out well.
Now for the oak, at first, the wine finished almost smokey. It wasn't bad, it just was a little more than I like in a Pinot Noir. After an hour, it was gone for us and the finish was just about right. There was a slight mineral taste, just like we have grown to enjoy the valley. It had an earthy component to it I just can't describe well, but it was well balanced.
We actually liked this Pinot a lot, compared to the Amici and Belle Glos that we have had recently.
It was well done and I think most people who like classic Pinots will enjoy this wine and you should like it more if you give it just an hour of time to breathe.
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1/17/2015 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 92 Points
delightfully dark berries for pinot noir, but keeping its body lythe. Density and purity are two adjectives that come to mind immediately. Long finish, especially for an Oregon pinot. Almost a marriage of Cali and Burgundy.
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12/27/2014 - tomherer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good pinot, but the WS fireworks aren't quite going off for me. Somewhat simple with a modest finish. Plum, wild berry, flowers, graphite. Pleasant funk on the nose as another taster mentioned. A wonderful smooth, rich texture with pebbly tannins is the highlight. Should develop nicely over the next few years; 91 with room to improve.
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12/6/2014 - ewsds wrote: 91 Points
Has great nose of candied red fruits and a slight bit of Pinot funk. On the palate, it's got a solid structure of stout acidity and fine tannins that benefit greatly from decanting and/or time in the glass. Bright red fruits with a lengthy and high-energy finish. Very nice, but it could benefit from a year or more cellar time and/or a good decanting.
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12/5/2014 - bin905 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful, well-balanced, has everything going in the right proportions.
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10/27/2014 - Aravind Asok wrote:
This was better than the two previous bottles. This time, we decanted and left it alone for an hour. There was a fair amount of earth on the nose, followed by good dark fruits. Great acidity, and still juicy on the palate with a subtle tannic finish. We paired this with pork belly with a persimmon/chili compote and it worked very well with the sweet/spicy mix.
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10/26/2014 - yofog wrote:
Completely gorgeous nose on this, packed with fruit but still displays excellent cut.
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9/28/2014 - wineretriever wrote: 88 Points
Good structure but lacking in fruit.
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9/24/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
More power, richness, but still with the clean and cut of Burgundy. This is very well done.
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7/14/2014 - Aravind Asok wrote:
It hasn't been too long since we opened a bottle of this, but this wasn't too different from the previous bottle. Some earth and dark fruits on the nose, very juicy, some tannin on the finish, but nothing that really grabbed me. The wood makes itself known on the finish, contributing some astringence, but I didn't see it on the nose. Anyway, for the price, ``two messengers" is imo better.
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5/18/2014 - Proof_Of_Life Likes this wine: 91 Points
too early; pj did not like as much...
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5/14/2014 - Aravind Asok Likes this wine:
I was neutral on this wine on day 1. At first, I didn't really see a lot of difference between this and the two messengers (in fact the latter seemed more aromatically complex, according to my notes). On the second day this showed rather differently: this was a fairly fruit forward OPN (though not fruit-forward by the standards of a Russian River Valley PN) and very juicy. The acidity on day 1 that left a bit of biting aftertaste has calmed down somewhat and there are lots of raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and a hint of sour-cherry on the palate now. There is only a very slight hint of tannin in the finish.
On another note, I'm somewhat confused on the relationship between this wine and ``the Fire" and ``the Flood", which are by Chapter 24 vineyards, who originally distributed two messengers . Based solely on the description, this appears to be another blend of the different types of soils, but reminds me more of ``the Flood" with its emphasis on darker fruits. I wrote to Chapter 24 to figure this out, since it seems a bit weird. Anyone know?
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4/12/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Some Fine 2011/2012 Willamette Valley Pinots (SF Wine Trading Company): Red center, lighter edge. Smoky, floral nose. Good core of sweet red fruit with cola and chocolate tones. Rich with obvious wood. After the sweet entry, the wood tannins render the finish somewhat astringent. I don't think I'd mistake this for French Pinot.
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