Lovely nose of oak balanced by red fruit and florals. Palate is just gorgeous—red and purple fruits matched with flowers and a bit of mineral earth. Some oak as well. Medium light body but with so much finesse. Even though this drinks beautifully now its best days are in 15 years. 94
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Superlative Oregon Pinot Noir that rivals any Grand Cru Red Burgundy. Perfect balance of fruit and tannins that you would identify it as a much older vintage. Did not decant. Poured directly from bottle to glass with a sharp tannic finish. After 30 min in glass & open bottle, the wine showed its power & grace. Matched perfectly with Osso Bucco.
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PnP in a group blind tasting, this was paired with an 18 Nicolas Jay. Same bottle as Nutty08.
Compared to my last bottle in January this showed super primary, like a barrel sample. Not nearly as composed or refined, nor as dark fruited. This was oaky, lactic, with raspberry cream, and too candied for any spice nuance. Not at all flawed, and I’m chalking this one up to bottle variation, but I’m keeping my hands off remaining bottles for several years…
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Pinot Blind: Not decanted and that may have doomed this. Nose had a harsh burnt rubber note with some rather candied red fruits. Seemed very disjointed. Best to reserve judgment
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Opened 3hrs+ b4 dinner. Might have helped to decant but I simply slow-oxed in Riedel Burgs & btl. Yea, its a bit early for this but I had 3 & couldn't wait any longer to try one :). Tannins need further resolution & there's room for all the elements to harmonize more in 3-10yrs. That said the fruit purity is breath taking & this already delivers plenty of wow deliciousness. If you have less than 2 wait till 2029+. If you have 3+ & more patience than I, wait till 2025+. A modest 13.4% alc is always appreciated. A very pretty semi translucent red color! Thanks John!
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The first thing I gotta say is I must’ve opened this up way too early… And I’m sorry… But if I tasted this blind there’s no way I would’ve identified this as Pinot noir or from Oregon… It was so big, bold, Tanic, and tightly wound. On the nose it showed very dark fruit, pomegranate, baking spice, perhaps black cherry. On the pallet it just didn’t evolve beyond the Tanic notes… Clearly a lot of structure but this one was robbed if it’s time.
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Not going to rate this as it needs yyyyyeeeeaaaarrrrs in the cellar. It currently shows a very heavy hand of oak, and blinded - most called it California. Not sure if it's a vintage thing or bottle variation, but this is definitely not the Thomas that I've grown to love.
Wow. One of the best wines I had in recent memory. I was thinking it’s too early to open, but was told by Thomas that it’s good right after the release before they shut down for a few years. Was so glad I tried this one young. Amazing dark fruit, some spice, smooth mouth coating tannins and long finish. Bravo.
Just a little bit of a funky nose that blew off quickly. After that some red fruit, a little cinnamon-nutmeg thing going. In the mouth a bit darker fruit, a touch of spice, soft and round but enough acidity not to come across as flabby. Easy to drink and delicious. We'll wait on the next bottle a couple years to see where it goes but certainly no harm in drinking now.
Pretty marvelous pinot, with red to black raspberries, deep and brooding with a lovely spice note, length and richness. It’s pretty primary, even a little lactic on day 1, but really delicious. This is a fabulous wine to age. Have no doubts about it.
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Quite noticeable nutmeg and pleasant oak out front which quickly settles down, and that massive funky Thomas Spices and Smokey dark cherry fruit emerges. Really concentrated and quite pure flavors with nice tart/tang acid to balance on the palate, but still with a medium-long savory finish… the kind you want settling in all parts of your mouth. More, please. Supposedly theses Thomas wines age quite well too. Buy. 94-96+
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Figured I'd do my public duty and take one for the team.
Pale ruby, translucent, thin
Nose w/ tart cherry, bramble. Same on palate at 5 min after opening. Acidity is definitely up front but not overpowering. Tannins are fairly reserved and uniformly grainy. Will see how this evolves through the night.
Pleasant now but definitely prepubescent. However, I wouldn't call this an awkward 6th grader, more like that kid who could grow a moustache at age 12. As many have said before, these elegantly bridge Old World and New World Pinot.
Will wait at least a couple of years before opening again. Glad I have a bunch more as the delayed gratification is definitely rewarded with these.
UPDATE: 2hrs in, has fleshed out into a more nuanced blackberry jam and strawberries. Acid has become more in balance. Very nice for how young it is.
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This is _beautiful_! Popped-and-poured with a fish dinner and oh. my. goodness. The nose is delicate but characteristic of pinot noir. The red fruit flavors dance between what someone else called "chunky" tannins. Some good acidity, but you can really tell that something great is waiting to be born.
Good thing there are 9 more where that came from. I can't wait to see how this develops over the next decade or two.
Somebody's gotta make the first sacrifice to see what we're dealing with; might as well be me. Dark fruit up front, boysenberry. A little baking spice on the middle before the body takes over... not quite chunky but certainly thick tannin. Acidity is present but not blown-out like other some 2019s, Cameron etc.
All in: Surprisingly accessible at this point, I was honestly expecting the 2019 to be as undrinkable as the 2011 was at release, instead this is delicious and like drinking young Burgundy where it's both good now and you can see the potential for much more... and I'm still waiting a couple years to open the next bottle.
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2/17/2024 - Rbhan12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a wow wine that is still a baby.
Lovely nose of oak balanced by red fruit and florals. Palate is just gorgeous—red and purple fruits matched with flowers and a bit of mineral earth. Some oak as well. Medium light body but with so much finesse. Even though this drinks beautifully now its best days are in 15 years. 94
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2/7/2024 - larsth wrote: 94 Points
Restaurant purchase. It is very young and primary but already very enjoyable. Red-fruited and impeccable balance.
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10/29/2023 - Bakerbd wrote:
Black cherry, blackberry, forest floor. Early check in, but this needs a lot more time
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10/4/2023 - winefloat Likes this wine:
Slow ox for a few hours, drinking fantastic now.
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5/29/2023 - norsktorsk wrote: 94 Points
better after some air time. like 30 min
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3/24/2023 - smoothjazz Likes this wine: 98 Points
Superlative Oregon Pinot Noir that rivals any Grand Cru Red Burgundy. Perfect balance of fruit and tannins that you would identify it as a much older vintage. Did not decant. Poured directly from bottle to glass with a sharp tannic finish. After 30 min in glass & open bottle, the wine showed its power & grace. Matched perfectly with Osso Bucco.
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11/19/2022 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Rich, delicious full-bodied dark strawberry fruit with forest floor flavors, excellent structure, ample tannins and finish, needs time
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6/11/2022 - jviz wrote:
PnP in a group blind tasting, this was paired with an 18 Nicolas Jay. Same bottle as Nutty08.
Compared to my last bottle in January this showed super primary, like a barrel sample. Not nearly as composed or refined, nor as dark fruited. This was oaky, lactic, with raspberry cream, and too candied for any spice nuance. Not at all flawed, and I’m chalking this one up to bottle variation, but I’m keeping my hands off remaining bottles for several years…
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6/10/2022 - Nutty08 wrote:
Pinot Blind: Not decanted and that may have doomed this. Nose had a harsh burnt rubber note with some rather candied red fruits. Seemed very disjointed. Best to reserve judgment
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4/1/2022 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
Opened 3hrs+ b4 dinner. Might have helped to decant but I simply slow-oxed in Riedel Burgs & btl. Yea, its a bit early for this but I had 3 & couldn't wait any longer to try one :). Tannins need further resolution & there's room for all the elements to harmonize more in 3-10yrs. That said the fruit purity is breath taking & this already delivers plenty of wow deliciousness. If you have less than 2 wait till 2029+. If you have 3+ & more patience than I, wait till 2025+. A modest 13.4% alc is always appreciated. A very pretty semi translucent red color! Thanks John!
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3/12/2022 - passion4wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
The first thing I gotta say is I must’ve opened this up way too early… And I’m sorry… But if I tasted this blind there’s no way I would’ve identified this as Pinot noir or from Oregon… It was so big, bold, Tanic, and tightly wound. On the nose it showed very dark fruit, pomegranate, baking spice, perhaps black cherry. On the pallet it just didn’t evolve beyond the Tanic notes… Clearly a lot of structure but this one was robbed if it’s time.
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2/28/2022 - geoffreychambertin wrote:
Not going to rate this as it needs yyyyyeeeeaaaarrrrs in the cellar. It currently shows a very heavy hand of oak, and blinded - most called it California. Not sure if it's a vintage thing or bottle variation, but this is definitely not the Thomas that I've grown to love.
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2/23/2022 - davudvl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. One of the best wines I had in recent memory. I was thinking it’s too early to open, but was told by Thomas that it’s good right after the release before they shut down for a few years. Was so glad I tried this one young. Amazing dark fruit, some spice, smooth mouth coating tannins and long finish. Bravo.
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2/17/2022 - domco wrote:
Just a little bit of a funky nose that blew off quickly. After that some red fruit, a little cinnamon-nutmeg thing going. In the mouth a bit darker fruit, a touch of spice, soft and round but enough acidity not to come across as flabby. Easy to drink and delicious. We'll wait on the next bottle a couple years to see where it goes but certainly no harm in drinking now.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/29/2022 - jviz wrote: 95 Points
Pretty marvelous pinot, with red to black raspberries, deep and brooding with a lovely spice note, length and richness. It’s pretty primary, even a little lactic on day 1, but really delicious. This is a fabulous wine to age. Have no doubts about it.
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1/9/2022 - Wine G Likes this wine: 95 Points
Quite noticeable nutmeg and pleasant oak out front which quickly settles down, and that massive funky Thomas Spices and Smokey dark cherry fruit emerges. Really concentrated and quite pure flavors with nice tart/tang acid to balance on the palate, but still with a medium-long savory finish… the kind you want settling in all parts of your mouth. More, please. Supposedly theses Thomas wines age quite well too. Buy. 94-96+
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12/18/2021 - Theodore S Butts Likes this wine: 92 Points
Figured I'd do my public duty and take one for the team.
Pale ruby, translucent, thin
Nose w/ tart cherry, bramble. Same on palate at 5 min after opening. Acidity is definitely up front but not overpowering. Tannins are fairly reserved and uniformly grainy. Will see how this evolves through the night.
Pleasant now but definitely prepubescent. However, I wouldn't call this an awkward 6th grader, more like that kid who could grow a moustache at age 12. As many have said before, these elegantly bridge Old World and New World Pinot.
Will wait at least a couple of years before opening again. Glad I have a bunch more as the delayed gratification is definitely rewarded with these.
UPDATE: 2hrs in, has fleshed out into a more nuanced blackberry jam and strawberries. Acid has become more in balance. Very nice for how young it is.
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12/3/2021 - bendb Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is _beautiful_! Popped-and-poured with a fish dinner and oh. my. goodness. The nose is delicate but characteristic of pinot noir. The red fruit flavors dance between what someone else called "chunky" tannins. Some good acidity, but you can really tell that something great is waiting to be born.
Good thing there are 9 more where that came from. I can't wait to see how this develops over the next decade or two.
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11/7/2021 - oropeza Likes this wine:
Somebody's gotta make the first sacrifice to see what we're dealing with; might as well be me. Dark fruit up front, boysenberry. A little baking spice on the middle before the body takes over... not quite chunky but certainly thick tannin. Acidity is present but not blown-out like other some 2019s, Cameron etc.
All in: Surprisingly accessible at this point, I was honestly expecting the 2019 to be as undrinkable as the 2011 was at release, instead this is delicious and like drinking young Burgundy where it's both good now and you can see the potential for much more... and I'm still waiting a couple years to open the next bottle.
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