Something special here, really nice length and held up well. These are ready to drink now. Little bit of bricking starting to occur and I would press the pedal!
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Great nose and aromas. Full fruits, bramble, earthy. Mouth filling flavors of ripe red fruits, leather, slight grass. Tannins are apparent, and refined. Seems at its peak, I still have one bottle left for another day.
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At age 12, a proof that Oregon PN can age extremely well. Medium ruby with a tawny hue, the nose shows pomegranate juice, spice and beeswax, with the barest hints of violets and forest loam. Tart yet ripe, lifted, very long finish. Lovely, still has a long future, but probably is at its peak now.
A quick comment on the score: when I opened this I actually was ready to go with 92pts (same as I gave it ten years ago). Not so much that it was a 92pt bottle in that moment, but it seemed to have the potential to improve more. But with air, the wine opened up and at the same time, some of the initial allure faded. I decided to notch my score down, accordingly, and settled on 90. And I adjusted my comment too: the wine may already be at its peak, and I would probably drink it now.
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Continues to drink well. This bottle had dark fruit with a little smoke/spice on the nose. I have one bottle left, which I'll probably drink in the next few years.
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I had this after dinner on 9/30/17. It had a rich, assertive bouquet of cherry, raspberry, barnyard, cola, sassafras and spice aromas. The palate was rich, complex and seamless with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, cola, sassafras and spice. Drinking beautifully.
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I believe my previous bottle was an aberration (rated 88). This bottle was magnificent, as expected. Big nose of dark fruits, earth, leather. Dark red color. Excellent structure, well developed tannins. Concentrated, deep flavors of red cherries and dark berries, earth, leather, oak, minerals. Long and lingering finish.
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Bright red fruits and herbs in the aromatics here, very typical Oregon notes. The palate displays more tension than many OR Pinots, as the quality of the vintage shines through in the fruit density and firm tannic frame, while a core of acidity runs through the center and lifts the wine. This is just on the early side of maturity and will surely benefit from cellaring for an additional few years before it begins to resolve.
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Not a real expressive nose. Somewhat closed. This wine needs more time in the bottle. Very nice balanced palate. Good dark fruits, soft tannins. Should be very good in the long run.
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I had this with fried chicken on 2/22/14. It had a subtle and sublime bouquet of cherry, raspberry, barnyard sassafras and spice aromas. The palate was rich, lush and silky smooth with flavors of cherry, raspberry, cola and spice
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In a better drinking spot than the last time I tried (a couple of years ago). That said, still required a good bit of air to open up. I think this will be really, really good at about age 8-10. 93+
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Oregon: Young vs. old vine tasting & the consumption of Hank, a Scottish Highland steer (Paul's house): You can smell the tannins on this one. Really grippy, tart and lean aromas. Vibrant, lean, tart palate entry. Really pleasing acids and nice texture. Pretty nice and mellow, but not too much complexity here and lacking a bit of the balanced integration of the previous wine. Tart, mild finish. Pretty mellow, with nice vibrancy and tartness. Really nicely balanced. I think for enjoyment today, this is drinking similarly to the previous wine, but I believe the previous wine will be better with time.
I guessed young vines, because it didn't quite have the intensity or balanced, tannic power of the previous wine, which wound up being the young vines. Oh well. Old vines it is.
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This continued to evolve from the last time I enjoyed this vintage and bottling from Arterberry Maresh. Deep and rich with a melange of complex and unique flavors. A lot going on in this glass. Red berry and purple plum with savory elements. Some black tea, and a sweet underlying fruit element. Perfect acidity.
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I have enjoyed prior vintages of this wine but love this one. Obviously 2008 was well-touted in Oregon but this Pinot really stands out. A bit restrained at first with wild strawberry aromas and a bit of a tart initial entry. With a little air this really became more complex and approachable immediately. Some emerging spice notes, red raspberry and nice acidity create a nicely structured and pure Oregon Pinot. Jim Maresh is an exceptional wine maker and this wine leaves no doubt about it.
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Decanted. Quite tight and coiled. Balanced oak impact and fresh fruit, if a bit unforgiving at this time. Lithe yet full, great intensity, precision and weight. A beautiful wine awaits in a few years time.
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Really lovely. Certainly capable of aging more, but drinks well now. Opens up considerably after even just a few minutes with lovely strawberry flavors and a little earth. Tart-ish but just enough to make the fruit pop.
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Decided to check back in 15 months after first tasting. I did not decant this bottle as I did with the previous - I wish I had. The first couple of hours this was tight and not giving much, but it eventually opened up and was lovely. Bright, tart red fruit, good acidity and silky in the mouth. Still needs time - will try to wait a year or two before popping another.
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Initial nose was definitely showing VA but blew off in a few minutes to reveal more classic PN. Surprisingly deep burgundy red. with a brooding, smoky, masculine profile. The nose was immediately appealing and shows red currents and raspberries, griotte cherries, hints of spices to come, cola.; after a few hours that darker, more introverted side of the wine started to come through more clearly. In the mouth the wine is richly flavored with a dark, slightly smoky core, yet somehow manages to also be taut with remarkable lift and cut. Quite an impressive bottle. 92 pts may seem low a few years from now.
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Nose: Green peppers, sous-bois, tree sap, tart cherries, raspberries. Palate: Sour cherries, raspberries, strawberries on the attack. Lip-smacking acidity on the mid-palate, along with more sour and sweet berries that carry through the short/medium finish. Lithe, feminine, high-toned, structured, refreshing, delicious... all descriptors that apply to this pinot. Fans of Burgundy should definitely seek this out. I'm going to have to consider reloading on this pinot despite its relatively high price.
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Decanted for two hours before tasting. Translucent red color. Beautiful nose with high-toned red fruit. Cherries, strawberries, also blue fruit and a touch of vanilla and brown sugar. Good acidity. Nice finish with ample tannins to age for a few years. 93+
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3/13/2023 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Browning. Raspberry and red fruit notes. Soft, plush.
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4/3/2021 - jruhmann wrote: 93 Points
Something special here, really nice length and held up well. These are ready to drink now. Little bit of bricking starting to occur and I would press the pedal!
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3/24/2021 - cliffkol wrote: 93 Points
Great nose and aromas. Full fruits, bramble, earthy. Mouth filling flavors of ripe red fruits, leather, slight grass. Tannins are apparent, and refined. Seems at its peak, I still have one bottle left for another day.
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6/4/2020 - KPB wrote: 90 Points
At age 12, a proof that Oregon PN can age extremely well. Medium ruby with a tawny hue, the nose shows pomegranate juice, spice and beeswax, with the barest hints of violets and forest loam. Tart yet ripe, lifted, very long finish. Lovely, still has a long future, but probably is at its peak now.
A quick comment on the score: when I opened this I actually was ready to go with 92pts (same as I gave it ten years ago). Not so much that it was a 92pt bottle in that moment, but it seemed to have the potential to improve more. But with air, the wine opened up and at the same time, some of the initial allure faded. I decided to notch my score down, accordingly, and settled on 90. And I adjusted my comment too: the wine may already be at its peak, and I would probably drink it now.
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11/28/2019 - piedmoose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red in color with slight bricking. Didn’t take detailed notes. Had it with Thanksgiving and everyone enjoyed it. Nose jumped out of the glass.
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11/23/2019 - SeaSea Likes this wine:
Lovely and tasty. Pop and pour. Wine has gained weight and complexity. Just starting to show some age.
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10/7/2018 - Ed B wrote: 93 Points
PnP at a restaurant. No detailed notes. Great, and well-received.
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12/9/2017 - B Paul wrote:
My last bottle and a good one. Similar to previous bottles - drinking really well and ready to go IMO.
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10/1/2017 - B Paul wrote:
Continues to drink well. This bottle had dark fruit with a little smoke/spice on the nose. I have one bottle left, which I'll probably drink in the next few years.
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9/30/2017 - garambler Likes this wine: 94 Points
I had this after dinner on 9/30/17. It had a rich, assertive bouquet of cherry, raspberry, barnyard, cola, sassafras and spice aromas. The palate was rich, complex and seamless with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, cola, sassafras and spice. Drinking beautifully.
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12/30/2016 - jhieb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lighter than anticipated for an '08, but a wonderful wine. A little smoke, and nice dark cherry fruit.
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12/22/2016 - cliffkol wrote: 94 Points
I believe my previous bottle was an aberration (rated 88). This bottle was magnificent, as expected. Big nose of dark fruits, earth, leather. Dark red color. Excellent structure, well developed tannins. Concentrated, deep flavors of red cherries and dark berries, earth, leather, oak, minerals. Long and lingering finish.
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12/15/2016 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Similar to last bottle about six months ago. This is drinking really well right now.
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10/22/2016 - jlm wrote:
Bright red fruits and herbs in the aromatics here, very typical Oregon notes. The palate displays more tension than many OR Pinots, as the quality of the vintage shines through in the fruit density and firm tannic frame, while a core of acidity runs through the center and lifts the wine. This is just on the early side of maturity and will surely benefit from cellaring for an additional few years before it begins to resolve.
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6/15/2016 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Drinking really well right now (right out of the gate), but I do think it will continue to age positively over the next few years. Lovely.
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9/28/2015 - ersmith Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still in the peak of it's drinking window. Enjoy if you have some.
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11/29/2014 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Really lovely and starting to enter a good window. Worth trying if you have a few.
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9/13/2014 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Not a real expressive nose. Somewhat closed. This wine needs more time in the bottle. Very nice balanced palate. Good dark fruits, soft tannins. Should be very good in the long run.
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2/22/2014 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
I had this with fried chicken on 2/22/14. It had a subtle and sublime bouquet of cherry, raspberry, barnyard sassafras and spice aromas. The palate was rich, lush and silky smooth with flavors of cherry, raspberry, cola and spice
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1/1/2014 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
In a better drinking spot than the last time I tried (a couple of years ago). That said, still required a good bit of air to open up. I think this will be really, really good at about age 8-10. 93+
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7/13/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 91 Points
Oregon: Young vs. old vine tasting & the consumption of Hank, a Scottish Highland steer (Paul's house): You can smell the tannins on this one. Really grippy, tart and lean aromas. Vibrant, lean, tart palate entry. Really pleasing acids and nice texture. Pretty nice and mellow, but not too much complexity here and lacking a bit of the balanced integration of the previous wine. Tart, mild finish. Pretty mellow, with nice vibrancy and tartness. Really nicely balanced. I think for enjoyment today, this is drinking similarly to the previous wine, but I believe the previous wine will be better with time.
I guessed young vines, because it didn't quite have the intensity or balanced, tannic power of the previous wine, which wound up being the young vines. Oh well. Old vines it is.
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3/22/2013 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 93 Points
This continued to evolve from the last time I enjoyed this vintage and bottling from Arterberry Maresh. Deep and rich with a melange of complex and unique flavors. A lot going on in this glass. Red berry and purple plum with savory elements. Some black tea, and a sweet underlying fruit element. Perfect acidity.
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11/24/2012 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 93 Points
I have enjoyed prior vintages of this wine but love this one. Obviously 2008 was well-touted in Oregon but this Pinot really stands out. A bit restrained at first with wild strawberry aromas and a bit of a tart initial entry. With a little air this really became more complex and approachable immediately. Some emerging spice notes, red raspberry and nice acidity create a nicely structured and pure Oregon Pinot. Jim Maresh is an exceptional wine maker and this wine leaves no doubt about it.
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12/31/2011 - jlm wrote:
Light red fruits, very bright, acidic profile at the moment, with light, refined tannins. I really like the style, but this needs time to flesh out.
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12/7/2011 - jrf wrote: 91 Points
good oregon nose, maybe a little closed right now.
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11/27/2011 - sethmorgenlong wrote:
Decanted. Quite tight and coiled. Balanced oak impact and fresh fruit, if a bit unforgiving at this time. Lithe yet full, great intensity, precision and weight. A beautiful wine awaits in a few years time.
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10/22/2011 - Mary Crawford wrote: 92 Points
Really lovely. Certainly capable of aging more, but drinks well now. Opens up considerably after even just a few minutes with lovely strawberry flavors and a little earth. Tart-ish but just enough to make the fruit pop.
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8/14/2011 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Decided to check back in 15 months after first tasting. I did not decant this bottle as I did with the previous - I wish I had. The first couple of hours this was tight and not giving much, but it eventually opened up and was lovely. Bright, tart red fruit, good acidity and silky in the mouth. Still needs time - will try to wait a year or two before popping another.
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2/3/2011 - Jack Cranley wrote: 86 Points
Skunky sharp and sour nose. Medium flavor concentration. Light, almost watery mouthfeel. The nose exceeds the flavor. Shockingly overpriced.
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10/9/2010 - KPB wrote: 92 Points
Initial nose was definitely showing VA but blew off in a few minutes to reveal more classic PN. Surprisingly deep burgundy red. with a brooding, smoky, masculine profile. The nose was immediately appealing and shows red currents and raspberries, griotte cherries, hints of spices to come, cola.; after a few hours that darker, more introverted side of the wine started to come through more clearly. In the mouth the wine is richly flavored with a dark, slightly smoky core, yet somehow manages to also be taut with remarkable lift and cut. Quite an impressive bottle. 92 pts may seem low a few years from now.
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5/24/2010 - gunpwdr wrote: 94 Points
Nose: Green peppers, sous-bois, tree sap, tart cherries, raspberries. Palate: Sour cherries, raspberries, strawberries on the attack. Lip-smacking acidity on the mid-palate, along with more sour and sweet berries that carry through the short/medium finish. Lithe, feminine, high-toned, structured, refreshing, delicious... all descriptors that apply to this pinot. Fans of Burgundy should definitely seek this out. I'm going to have to consider reloading on this pinot despite its relatively high price.
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5/3/2010 - B Paul Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours before tasting. Translucent red color. Beautiful nose with high-toned red fruit. Cherries, strawberries, also blue fruit and a touch of vanilla and brown sugar. Good acidity. Nice finish with ample tannins to age for a few years. 93+
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