Mountains to Metro

Heritage Ballroom in the Governor Hotel
Tasted Friday, May 6, 2011 by David Paris (dbp) with 624 views

Introduction

This was probably one of the best hotel setting tastings I've done. The food was excellent, the crowds weren't too large, and we had four hours to taste. Plenty of good wines here today, too. I'll definitely be back.

Flight 1 (28 Notes)

  • 2007 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvée 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Luscious, vibrantly large red fruit on the nose. Berries, spice, and mild alcohol present. The palate is again luscious, but also a little harsh tannins as it stays on the tongue. Almost a metallic note, and some meat. The finish is similar again, coupled with nice spice. Pretty decent balance.

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

  • 2007 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Looney Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    Some spice, soil, firey earth, and fireworks. Quite nice earthiness. Quite large mouth feel, especially for a 2007. Big spice and more earthy pepper and oak. The finish is fairly spicy. This is a pretty heavy wine, but in 2007 it feels fairly well pulled off. Still a bit on the large size for me.

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

  • 2009 Alloro Vineyard Chardonnay Fattoria 87 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Lots of crisp apples, with a kind of steely and funky metallic notion. The palate is full, light acids, no oak, but not any of the metallic notion I got on the nose. There's nice melon and apple. Nice and crisp finish, though light. A nice quaffer to drink on the patio.

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

  • 2009 Alloro Vineyard Pinot Noir Fattoria 83 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Very light aromas, with mild red berries and spice, coupled with light spice. Similarly light on the palate, with some very light berries. Nice flavor but this feels literally watered back. Very light on the finish.

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

  • 2008 Alloro Vineyard Pinot Noir 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Certainly larger in nose than their Fattoria, with nice volume of fruit. Soft on the palate with pleasing balance and structure. Mild finish, with light spice. This is drinking well, with fine balance, but there isn't much complexity or interest here.

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

  • 2009 Anam Cara Riesling Nicholas Estate 86 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Nice and typical arormas for Oregon Riesling. Mild and tart palate, with nice crisp texture. Good acid on thee finish, with fine balance, though definitely a little bit on the sweeter side to start the lineup with this.

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

  • 2007 Anam Cara Pinot Noir Nicholas Estate 84 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Really funky, almost rancid oak on the nose. The palate is better, but there's some similar funk and spice. Tart, with mildly dirty red fruits. More tart acid on the finish, with mild tannins. Not really enjoyable to consume...

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

  • 2008 Blakeslee Vineyard Estate Riesling 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Interesting pineapple, ivory, tropical fruits, some slate... quite distinct and pleasing aromas. Very rich and bright lemon acid as well. The palate is tart, slightly metallic, but nice. Some mild strange funk that I like. There's spice on the finish, coupled with tart, high acids. Lemons and pear skins. Really good.

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

  • 2008 Blakeslee Vineyard Estate Chardonnay Select Cluster 84 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Very mild, with funky oak on the nose. Mild funk on the palate, with tart mild acids and tartness.

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

  • 2008 Blakeslee Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir Proprietor's Reserve 84 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    A smack of oak on the nose with really dominates the aromas here. Only slight spice gets through as well. The palate is oaky, lightly spice, and pretty lackluster. Similar on finish.

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

  • 2008 Carabella Chardonnay Dijon 76 Clone 85 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Very mild aromas. The palate is really chunky in texture which is off putting. It lacks much flavor other than mild berrel notes and slight acid. The finish is tart, but pretty straight forward.

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

  • 2008 Carabella Pinot Noir Estate 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Mild earth, tart oak, nice rockiness, and pretty interesting balance of aromas. Very well balanced the second it hits the tongue. Really pleasing fruit, tat acid, and impressive texture. The finish is mild, with tart acid balanced with pleasing delicious fruit. Great balance here.

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

  • 2008 Chehalem Pinot Noir Wind Ridge 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    Really nice earth and spice on the nose, soil, with round, delicious red fruits and dried flowers. Tart fruits on the palate, which shows fairly drying tannins for an '08, and it lacks the fruit presence the nose had. Tart and tannic finish. A bit closed, but the structure here is impressive. This will open up nicely in years to come.

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

  • 2009 Colene Clemens Pinot Noir 86 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Nice exuberant red fruit on the nose, slightly medicinal, like low quality synthetic vitamins... however, it's actually pleasing. The palate is like a rubber band, with good acidity. It's light on fruit, with slight tannins and tight acids. Fairly structure. Some candied green fruit on the finish, with tart spice.

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

  • 2008 Colene Clemens Pinot Noir Estate Reserve 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Really nice balance, with a well structured nose, showing some earthiness. Very nice structure on palate, with good balance; nice tart fruit, with very mild acid, though larger overall than the aromas. Good acid on the tart finish. Nice stuff.

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

  • 2009 Bergström Chardonnay Old Stones 85 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Quite oaky on the nose, with heeavy spice. Some sweet fruit on the palate, which is soft and tart and mild. Straight forward throughout other than this intense oak funk that really isn't too pleasing.

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

  • 2009 Bergström Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    Fairly nice fruit on the nose, though it's actually fairly light, with some stewed chemicals coupled with the fruit. The palate expresses nice red fruits, good balance, and really good tart fruit, pleasing acids, and a slight green streak. Finishes with good deep acid into the tart finish.

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

  • 2007 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Équinoxe 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Much improved from two years ago. This is showing lots of green fruit, with really nice earth and spice. The palate is very pleasing, and quite well balanced, showing spice, earth, tartness. The fruit is definitely on the lighter side here. Tart finish, showing some green, but really nice acids, and pleasing balance of structural components.

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

  • 2008 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Much more exuberant up front fruit than the last wine, showing pleasing large scale fruit. Soft and round on the palate, with mild acid, big fruit, but it's all in a soft ball. Not much delineation. The finish brings quite a bit more acidity. Fairly tart lingering, which is nice. Good balance on the finish despite the palate which was a bit soft. This is closed today and will likely open up well down the road.

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

  • 2009 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Diversite 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Exuberant fruit again. Slightly green in nature, but really tasty smelling. Very soft, smooth palate, showing pleasing tart red fruits. Very tart finish, but nice balance with high acidity and pleasing integration with the lingering fruit.

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

  • 2007 Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir Reserve 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Quite different aromas than the other wines today... a little chemically, like burning tart mixed with vitamin E pills. Rocks and soil as well, with a little dirty cotton candy. The palate is nice, with good balance of earth and fruit. Really pleasing and soft, with similar burnt inner tube, but it's actually nice coupled with the tart earth. Tart, green fruit on the finish, but really nice penetration of fruit.

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

  • 2008 Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir Adolfo's Block 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Lush and vibrant aromas, really nice chili spices and red fruits. Good fruit on the palate, nice spice and balance. Really delicious fruit without going over the top of ripeness. Pleasing fruit throughout.

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

  • 2009 Lachini Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Quite large aromas, some of the biggest here. Luscious fruit on the palate, soft and large in scale, though it does feel in balance. Some alcoholic spice, though there is a nice tartness that's pleasing despite the large size. Tart and soft finish, with some gritty tannins and nice acid. Grippy. Pretty good balance. Nice Sonoma Pinot without going over the top.

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

  • 2009 Lachini Pinot Noir "S" Lachini Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Some funky, rocky, earthy notes on the nose, but this is coupled with some strange plastic note. The palate is nice and fruit forward, but it is coupled with nice structure. Soft finish.

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

  • 2010 J. K. Carriere Glass White Pinot Noir 84 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Very mild, smells of a Pinot Gris. Very light. The palate is mild, some tart fruit, but again incredibly mild. Acidic and tart finish, but pretty boring.

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

  • 2009 J. K. Carriere Pinot Noir Provocateur 86 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Nice spicy aromas, with some earth. The palate shows soil, and rubber cement glue. Tart and light finish, with some mild green spice.

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

  • 2010 Trisaetum Riesling Ribbon Ridge 87 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    Some nice squash and pumpkin aromas. Definitely feels dry even on the aromas. The palate shows vibrant fruit, like apples and even a bit of orange. Really nice and soft. This is a little excessively tart on the finish which takes a bit away from the impressive palate fruit.

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

  • 2009 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Very luscious aromas, vibrant fruit, some earth, and nice soil. The palate is very nicely balanced, with delicious fruit and impressive structure. Pleasing and impressive. Tart finish, and again graceful balance with nice fruit and length; a bottle that will age gracefully for some time. 90+

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

×
×