Dark cherry and earthy flavor dominate , medium body with a long finish. We have started opening our 2008 Oregon pilots and have yet to be disappointed. The hype for this vintage so far has proven to be deserved.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple with red highlights. Unusual but recognizably Pinot nose, without the pretty perfumed elegance of many Oregon Pinots. A dark expression of the grape - ripe Marionberry, cassis, and an almost meaty aroma. Almost any Pinot not teetering on senescence needs air to avoid spoiling the delicacy of its fruit with tannic bitterness and, despite the robust expression of fruit in the Hyland Pinot (supposedly the "suitcase" Coury clone), this is especially true here because of its extreme youth. Give it 5 hours. This is no shy wine. Right now it feels like a Monster, thick-muscled, roaring, stumbling around trying to find its expression but there is some underlying grace here, earthy tones and a lovely surprising minerality that really speaks of its origins. Acids are also apparent but seem correct. Finishes long with some fantailing. Right now - 86, but it's a 90+ wine when the pieces come together. Hold for 4-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Memorial Day weekend tasting, 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir barrel samples (Northern Willamette Valley): Barrel sample, to be bottled in a few months. Very dark color. Fruit reduction on the nose, lots of balsamic notes. Almost syrupy on the nose. Big deep, dark acidic fruit and soil. Like a dirty and raspberry stew. Wow, finish shows a ton of red apples, logan berries, lots of acidity. Very strange Pinot Noir, with deeper flavors than usually expressed. It feels unfinished, and not showing very good varietal typicity. Not sure where this thing's going... could totally fall off the rocker, or pull it together. (86-91 points)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.
10/9/2015 - Sundesertcactus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark cherry and earthy flavor dominate , medium body with a long finish. We have started opening our 2008 Oregon pilots and have yet to be disappointed. The hype for this vintage so far has proven to be deserved.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2012 - PDXinSEA wrote:
Dark purple with red highlights. Unusual but recognizably Pinot nose, without the pretty perfumed elegance of many Oregon Pinots. A dark expression of the grape - ripe Marionberry, cassis, and an almost meaty aroma. Almost any Pinot not teetering on senescence needs air to avoid spoiling the delicacy of its fruit with tannic bitterness and, despite the robust expression of fruit in the Hyland Pinot (supposedly the "suitcase" Coury clone), this is especially true here because of its extreme youth. Give it 5 hours. This is no shy wine. Right now it feels like a Monster, thick-muscled, roaring, stumbling around trying to find its expression but there is some underlying grace here, earthy tones and a lovely surprising minerality that really speaks of its origins. Acids are also apparent but seem correct. Finishes long with some fantailing. Right now - 86, but it's a 90+ wine when the pieces come together. Hold for 4-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2011 - ToddS wrote: 89 Points
A little on the big side, but definitely one I'd open again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2010 - ggornbein wrote:
Gift
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2009 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 88 Points
Memorial Day weekend tasting, 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir barrel samples (Northern Willamette Valley): Barrel sample, to be bottled in a few months. Very dark color. Fruit reduction on the nose, lots of balsamic notes. Almost syrupy on the nose. Big deep, dark acidic fruit and soil. Like a dirty and raspberry stew. Wow, finish shows a ton of red apples, logan berries, lots of acidity. Very strange Pinot Noir, with deeper flavors than usually expressed. It feels unfinished, and not showing very good varietal typicity. Not sure where this thing's going... could totally fall off the rocker, or pull it together. (86-91 points)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment