The Lyon 10 Year Tasting: 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir

A "Phoenix" tasting! Reborn and revamped after skipping last year. The OPN's were opened 3 hours before the event began, no decanting. Only one iffy cork and that was the FINE Brickhouse! Several wines had to be put into slope shouldered 750ml bottles so they could be bagged and I wouldn't recognized it while pouring blind. Once bagged, a "shell game" ensued to mix up the order and yet get a ringer into each flight. The 3 Barolos were decanted about 3 hours before they showed up in their respective flights as ringers. One flight had no ringer, another with an OLD St Innocent. We unbagged after each flight and with the list of wines in front of us the guesses got better towards the end! My scores for CT purposes were from the blinded part of the event, they changed here and there over time!

Caviar anyone?

• 2008 Domaine Carneros Le Rêve 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Crowd favorite of the 2 bubblies, this is a very "vinous" sparkler. Very fine bubbles, zingy lemon, tangerine, bread /yeast, and minerals! Pressure corked and fridged over night, this was still great!

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• 2008 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Bigger bubbles is the first thing you notice in the comparo, then tight chalk, stone fruit, green apple, and grapefruit. Very nice!

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Get out the Italian fall black truffles on buttered "Oatnut" toasts! OK, a few other goodies.

• 2008 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir Parr Selection Seven Springs Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Red fruited, earthy, spice laden wine with good length. Stemmy finish. 91 on day 2.

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• 2008 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Black Cap 91 Points

  USA, Oregon

  I like the reference to various "Black Cap" natives here in OR. This started bright and went to "dusty", earthy, and floral. More structure than fruit on day 2: 89. Drink up.

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• 2008 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Block 5 Shea Vineyard Flawed

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A deep dark, plushly textured wine that my wife could paint her nails with. Same VA on day 2.

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• 2008 Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Caveat #1: Grinner not a fan of Italian acids if not perfectly ripe.
  Caveat #2: Not sure of the provenance of this bottle.
  That said, this one had the obvious acidity, tar, cherry and spice notes that turned my face inside out in a blind tasting when I'm expecting OPN in my glass. Retasted several times later in the day with different foods and enjoyed it. Came up with a reasonable score. BUT fruit faded day 2, making me wonder about how many days/weeks/years this spent at "Wine Store Temp" on the shelf. 88pts on D2.

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• 2008 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Carter Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  I MAY have the opposite effect with Carter vineyard, compared to the previous wine. An idiosyncratic love for wines from this vineyard. Loved the balance of deep black cherry, plum, and raspberry notes on a taut frame. This bottle was an exception to the rule: DON'T AGE KW's! 3-5 is good, 7 ok, but younger is FINE! 92 on day 2.

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• 2008 Antica Terra Pinot Noir 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Gave it 92pts four years ago and it conts to be excellent. Plum, black cherry, pie crust, oak with significant glycerin going on and on. 92 on day 2. One of the 8 bottles (out of 25) that were drinkable on day 3 ungassed. Now-2021.

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• 2008 Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais Ribbon Ridge 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Tied for my 2nd WOTN. My first thought was: "made by an old soul". Meaning someone (of any age) who has a deep understanding of the soil/site/terroir. Light in color compared to many, but wonderfully smooth texture (the "cashmere sweater for your tongue" effect). Black cherry, earth and stone linger like a sunset on the coast. 93 on day 2, drinkable day 3.

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• 2008 Reustle Pinot Noir Reserve Prayer Rock Vineyards 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valley

  A nice deep darkly fruited wine, still young and tannic blind on day 1. BUT, more "stewed" on day 2, 87pts. Do they make syrah?

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• 2008 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  This one has pretty big fists for a PN. Deep and tannic, structure competing with the fruit just like my last one 5/17. Black cherry, spice, minerals, and a tiny forest floor hit. Fruit played Humpty Dumpty on day 2 and fell off, 87pts.

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• 2008 Zelko (ZIVO) Pinot Noir 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  A trace of funk blows off leaving blackberry, plum, dusty earth, and pie notes that linger nicely. 92 on day 2.

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• 2008 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Bella Vida Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  This bottle had an open nose, deep fruit, lush texture and a big backbone. Very enjoyable! No fall off on day 2, and drinkable day 3.

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• 2008 Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajana 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  See the Grasso note in this tasting...It's a fine wine. Motz has this one, nice note! 91 again on day 2.

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• 2008 Bergström Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  One of the better Bergstroms we've had in a while. Bright and lively, good fruit, moderate tannins in balance. Held up nicely for 2 more days!

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• 2008 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Reserve 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  Lighter color than most here but the "sweet" deep fruit and savory elements pull you back again and again. 91 on day 2.

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• 2008 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Mount Richmond 95 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Surprising over performer in this blind tasting and my OPN WOTN. Big, deep, black fruit dominated, and LONG! Nice acidity keeps it fresh. 93 on day 2, but acid wins on day 3.

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• 1996 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  From magnum and actually the only OPN decanted (so that I could get some into a 750 for blind pouring). May not have helped this wine hold up! This bottle was from the winery 4/18, so great provenance. Over the hill but interesting cherry, tea, rose hips, and 'shroom notes. Brown and dead on day 2.

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• 2008 Stoller Pinot Noir SV Estate Dundee Hills 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Nice open nose with forest and mineral / stone notes coming through. Good length and structure. 92+ on day 2, enjoyable day 3!

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• 2008 Ken Wright Pinot Noir McCrone Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Another nice open nose with more fruit than savory notes. Decent structure. Fell off rapidly day 2-3. This was better in the 5-7 year window. Drink up.

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• 2008 Trisaetum Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Nice mix of fruit and savory notes. This wine had a soft texture on day 1, with more obvious backbone on day 2, but even more enjoyable! 91 on a day 2.

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• 2008 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Cuvée J 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A light to medium bodied wine with black fruit and spice holding hands and taking a walk through the forest. Maybe even better with food later that evening, but fell off day 2: 89pts.

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• 2008 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Tiny petillance hit (like young Beaux Freres!) blows off leaving dark cherry, plum, red and black licorice. 91 on day 2.

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• 2008 Brittan Vineyards Pinot Noir Gestalt Block 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville

  Deep and balanced, this has a nice mix of red and black fruit. Spice and minerals show up later. Dropped to 90 on day two, but still ok on day 3.

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• 2008 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  I liked this more now than in 4/12! A great nose of mostly red fruits and florals, a glorious silky texture, and tannins that won out a little for me on the finish. THAT actually smoothed out on day 2: 92 pts!

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• 2008 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  This bottle had an open nose leaning towards the red cherry, raspberry, cranberry side of the spectrum. Strawberry? sure. Florals and minerals show up. Overall: yummy. Acid even more obvious on day 2: 91pts

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• 2008 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Ca'mia 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Obvious ringer in this last flight of OPN's. One of the best Barolo's I've ever had. Even though that's not saying much for me, respect the score! Florals, herbs, truffle, and earth dance with the fruit and tar. My non-OPN WOTN. Only bottle finished on day 1. Damn it!

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Rogue Creamery blue cheese and duck foie gras...life is rough!

• 2008 Château Rieussec 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Really well balanced with its tropical, citrus, and savory notes. Honey starts then acid finishes like an MMA fighter. Tons of time!

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• 2000 Sandeman Porto Vintage 95 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Decanted for 3 hours plus, this bottle did not have a killer crust. I wonder if the car ride down from Corvallis re-suspended anything? If so, I now recommend a good drive in the car before opening your VP's! Deep, dark, and luscious with some spice, stone and earth toning down the "jam". It spent the night (caught sleeping with oxygen) in the decanter and was great day 2. Now-2038.

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All in all, these were better than the 2002 OPN's tasted en masse in 2012 and with less "off" bottles. Great wine, great food, and great people, what else do you need??