Oregon Pinot Noir 1997-2005

gripNsip selected Oregon Pinot for our August get together, and decided to limit the vintages to 1997 to 2005. I missed the bottom end of the window, and brought a wine outside of it, but thankfully it gave a good showing. It was great to try all of these wines together, and it's great to see these wines holding up well over time.

• 2003 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve Dundee Hills 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  The nose is a bit resolved, and it reminds me of tree bark laying on the forest floor. There are some plum scents as well as some faint copper, barnyard, and ash notes that show after it has been open for a while. It's delicate on the palate with good flavors. The wine is gentle on contact, showing strawberries and faint raspberries. All of the flavors are soft, and in good balance with the acidity. The tannins are very soft, and they grow a bit on the finish. Over the course of the night, the wine filled out a bit and showed some rhubarb on the mid palate as well. 89+

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2005 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir La Bohème 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  The nose shows leather and roses as well as some red cherries. The cherries show nicely with some cherry skin flavors coming through as well. A bit of earth and some heat show up towards the finish. Everything is integrated and the flavors are fairly simple.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Bergström Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  This is a big, heavy wine on the nose. Roast beef and blackberry scents are supported by even oak and aged plums. Some heat shows through as well. Plums and blackberries appear right away on the palate, and there is a bit of aged character that is noticeable early on. The tannins build to become quite large and they dry the mouth fully with a bit of heat showing on the finish. 90-

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1994 Stag Hollow Pinot Noir Célèbre 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  The nose is dark and complex showing evergreen scents, subdued blackberries, roast beef, and a hint of dust. It's very soft on contact with great evolution across the palate. Some very nice apple flavors show early along with light blackberries. The acidity slowly builds and begins to dry and make the mouth water on the finish. Everything plays for a long time on the palate. The tannins build slooooowly and are only noticeable very late when they settle nicely across the tongue. Some aged character shows through at times, and later in the night, some chocolate appeared as well. This is a wine to sip and savor little by little. Lovely. This was my wine of the night.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Ken Wright Pinot Noir McCrone Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Some great salami scents show on the nose along with subtle blackberries and stems, and a faint caramel note. It's clean and clear from the start. Raspberries and blackberries show together on the mid palate. The structure builds as you build toward the finish. The tannins make an appearance late, some faint vanilla shows, and the acidity leaves a mouth watering "juicy" feeling behind. 89+

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Roosevelt Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Chocolate cake and dark blackberries show on the nose, making it direct, but enjoyable. Raspberries and dark oak show on the palate along with hints of chocolate. Some heat appears as well. The fruit shows a bit of aged character, and the lighter structure is well integrated with itself and with the fruit. A hint of mint shows nicely on the mid palate.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 Stag Hollow Pinot Noir Vendange Selection 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

  The nose is dark and rich reminding me of brownie mix, plums, and a poblano pepper. The structure is even from beginning to end when tasted. There is a great burst of apple and plum flavors on the mid palate, and the poblano pepper makes a surprising appearance as well. The tannins build slowly, and light acid is more noticeable late. The experience goes by fairly quickly, but the evolution is solid and the flavors are quite tasty.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

The 1994 Stag Hollow was easily the wine of the night after we added up our favorites, with the Ken Wright and the 1999 Stag Hollow in second and third respectively. Thanks to everyone for their solid contributions! I'm keeping my eyes open for more aged OR Pinot!