An Oregon Pinot Noir that is a blend of different clones (mainly Pommard planted in 2001 and 2003, but including some Dijon 115 and Dijon 777 planted in 2001, Dijon 114 planted in 2004 and Dijon 667 planted in 2004). Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 14% alcohol. Double-decanted for 3,5 hours prior to tasting. Tasted blind.
Somewhat evolved and moderately translucent dark maroon color. Sweetish, somewhat tertiary and rather meaty nose with aromas of meat stew and baked red fruits, some cherry tones, a little bit of tomato stalk, light smoked meat notes, a hint of earthy Pinosity, a touch of salty liquorice and a whiff of pine forest. Lots of things going on here. The wine is silky, ripe and quite evolved on the palate with a somewhat full body and slightly sweetish flavors of noticeably ripe raspberries and cranberries, some dark-toned notes of toasty oak spice, a little bit of wizened red fruit, light umami notes of tertiary meaty character, a hint of smoke and a touch of earthy Pinosity. The overall impression is on the soft side of things with its gentle acidity and fully resolved, modest tannins. The finish is long, evolved and savory with dark-toned and slightly tertiary flavors of meaty umami, some ripe dark cherry, light woody spice, a little bit of earthy Pinosity, a toasty hint of mocha oak and a smoky touch of speck. The high alcohol lends a subtle hint of warmth to the aftertaste.
A nice, enjoyably evolved and savory Pinot Noir with lots of developed meaty character. However, it seems obvious that the wine is quite ripe in style, as the acidity feels quite modest here, the fruit still retains a rather ripe and sweet overall character and the alcohol punches a bit through. It's nice to see how well the wine has kept its cool over the years, but I can't help thinking this would feel noticeably fresher, more precise and less clumsy if it wouldn't be so soft and ripe. This is a nice and complex wine, but lacking the playful freshness I look for in a Pinot Noir. I doubt the wine is going to evolve much or at all from here, so time to drink up now or soon in the future.
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Enjoyed this wine with friends on the patio with a beautiful spring evening. Everyone was in conscience. Nose has hints of caramel and very earthy; It is very smooth. Tastes of black currant and vanilla. This was the last bottle of this year. Wish I had another.
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Dark, rich, intense berry. Silky smooth with the characteristic Lenné mid-palate. However, it lacked a bit of expected complexity, though that may be down to the vintage more than anything else.
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Garnet, ruby with med-heavy viscosity in the glass. Primary red fruit, cola and cherry on the nose. Medium body with dark chocolate, bramble, cedar and red fruit on the palate. Medium finish. Needs time. 90+
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Two words: Raspberries and cream. That's what this wine evoked for me from nose to finish and everywhere in between. So creamy! There was a weeee bit of hollowness in the flavor after the initial attack, but nothing to dismiss this very delicious wine over.
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A day tasting in the Willamette Valley with the usual suspects (Oregon): I thought the nose on this one was interesting, dark strawberries, something spicy, possibly cinammon, light earth. Unfortunately the palate didn't live up to the nose, slightly sweet red fruit throughout with decent balance and length. Goes down very easy.
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7/23/2022 - ras2006 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking over 2 days - even better 2nd day. Nice fruit (cherries), smooth, balance tannin and acid - very nice
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6/8/2022 - ras2006 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Smooth, smokey, good balance, perhaps a little over-smokey and low fruit in this bottle
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3/10/2022 - ras2006 Likes this wine: 89 Points
medium body, fairly smooth, nice fruit and light tannin; even better the 2nd day
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12/1/2021 - forceberry wrote: 88 Points
An Oregon Pinot Noir that is a blend of different clones (mainly Pommard planted in 2001 and 2003, but including some Dijon 115 and Dijon 777 planted in 2001, Dijon 114 planted in 2004 and Dijon 667 planted in 2004). Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 14% alcohol. Double-decanted for 3,5 hours prior to tasting. Tasted blind.
Somewhat evolved and moderately translucent dark maroon color. Sweetish, somewhat tertiary and rather meaty nose with aromas of meat stew and baked red fruits, some cherry tones, a little bit of tomato stalk, light smoked meat notes, a hint of earthy Pinosity, a touch of salty liquorice and a whiff of pine forest. Lots of things going on here. The wine is silky, ripe and quite evolved on the palate with a somewhat full body and slightly sweetish flavors of noticeably ripe raspberries and cranberries, some dark-toned notes of toasty oak spice, a little bit of wizened red fruit, light umami notes of tertiary meaty character, a hint of smoke and a touch of earthy Pinosity. The overall impression is on the soft side of things with its gentle acidity and fully resolved, modest tannins. The finish is long, evolved and savory with dark-toned and slightly tertiary flavors of meaty umami, some ripe dark cherry, light woody spice, a little bit of earthy Pinosity, a toasty hint of mocha oak and a smoky touch of speck. The high alcohol lends a subtle hint of warmth to the aftertaste.
A nice, enjoyably evolved and savory Pinot Noir with lots of developed meaty character. However, it seems obvious that the wine is quite ripe in style, as the acidity feels quite modest here, the fruit still retains a rather ripe and sweet overall character and the alcohol punches a bit through. It's nice to see how well the wine has kept its cool over the years, but I can't help thinking this would feel noticeably fresher, more precise and less clumsy if it wouldn't be so soft and ripe. This is a nice and complex wine, but lacking the playful freshness I look for in a Pinot Noir. I doubt the wine is going to evolve much or at all from here, so time to drink up now or soon in the future.
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1/3/2015 - dbay wrote: 86 Points
Aroma of roses and earth. Cherries and fruit forward. Not terribly complex.
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6/25/2013 - Steveo51 wrote: 95 Points
Enjoyed this wine with friends on the patio with a beautiful spring evening. Everyone was in conscience. Nose has hints of caramel and very earthy; It is very smooth. Tastes of black currant and vanilla. This was the last bottle of this year. Wish I had another.
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3/9/2013 - Skol Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark, rich, intense berry. Silky smooth with the characteristic Lenné mid-palate. However, it lacked a bit of expected complexity, though that may be down to the vintage more than anything else.
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4/26/2012 - christophee Likes this wine: 90 Points
Garnet, ruby with med-heavy viscosity in the glass. Primary red fruit, cola and cherry on the nose. Medium body with dark chocolate, bramble, cedar and red fruit on the palate. Medium finish. Needs time. 90+
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2/12/2011 - Jack Cranley wrote: 91 Points
Two words: Raspberries and cream. That's what this wine evoked for me from nose to finish and everywhere in between. So creamy! There was a weeee bit of hollowness in the flavor after the initial attack, but nothing to dismiss this very delicious wine over.
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3/29/2010 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
Novoino's 4th annual portfolio tasting (Park Hyatt Hotel, Chicago IL): nose: excellent nose filled with tones of plums, red cherries, raspberries, red currants and bits of spice tones
taste: silky medium feel with medium+ acidity and round tones of plums, red cherries, red currants, and bits of berry tones
overall: This is a real lovely pinot. Well balanced but tight right now, this could use a few years to really show
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2/13/2010 - subtlet wrote: 88 Points
An Offer of Awesome Burgundy Inspires A Day of Tasting In the Willamette Valley (Willamette Valley): This nose is slightly brooding with some good dark cherries and some dirty dust scents. The cherries on the palate are lovely, juicy, and consistent all the way through. A little bit of stem shows up toward the finish. 88+
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2/13/2010 - gripNsip wrote: 88 Points
A day tasting in the Willamette Valley with the usual suspects (Oregon): I thought the nose on this one was interesting, dark strawberries, something spicy, possibly cinammon, light earth. Unfortunately the palate didn't live up to the nose, slightly sweet red fruit throughout with decent balance and length. Goes down very easy.
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2/13/2010 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 87 Points
Lucien Le Moine at Scott Paul, and other WV because we're there (Carlton, OR): Didn't have much to say about this one. My only note: Every day drinker.
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11/28/2008 - RPerro wrote: 87 Points
Thanksgiving Wine Tasting (Carlton, OR): Much like the Le Nez before this. Muted fruit, but nice earthiness. Give it 6-12 months to integrate.
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