16th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective

Same Old Place
Tasted Sunday, November 4, 2012 by Grinner with 791 views

Introduction

For the first time ever, we opened Oregon Pinots in this annual event. The bottles were opened but not decanted at least 2 hours before tasting. The bottles were brown bagged and a two person shell game ensued to make sure the tasting was blind and a ringer in 6 of the flights. Ringers were from Burgundy, California, and Italy. The notes I took are dinky because of the speed needed to pour through almost 40 wines.

Flight 1 - Champagnes for arrival (2 Notes)

Also brown bagged for your guessing pleasure

Flight 2 - Pinot Flight One (5 Notes)

Flight 3 - Pinot Two (5 Notes)

  • 2002 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Archery Summit Estate 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Still has a nice dark color w/ deep black fruit. Slightly hot and tannic and almost "smash mouth" (? overextracted) for its age. Fun but not for every Pinot lover. 90 on day 2.

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  • 2002 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Elton 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Stood out for its ripeness. Black cherry and plum, with a cinnamon note. Long mellow finish. Similar on day two, 91pts.

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  • 2002 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Elizabeth's Reserve 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Dark and deep w/ some cocoa and earth notes added to the black fruit. Glycerin/"sweet" component made it stand out a bit. Not "typical" elegant pinot.

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  • 2002 Soter Pinot Noir Beacon Hill 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    A top 3 wine out of 35 in this blind tasting. Deep black cherry fruit with spice and structure and length... and... and. Difficult to leave. 90 on day 2

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  • 2002 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel Reserve 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Another great wine in this flight. Perhaps the best mouthfeel/ texture. Dusty cherry and some add'l berries went on and on. Even has some backbone still. 91 on day 2.

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Flight 4 - Pinot Three (6 Notes)

The PG Four Winds was poured as a "bonus" after the disappointing PG Estate

Flight 5 - Pinot Four (5 Notes)

Flight 6 - Pinot Five (5 Notes)

  • 2002 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Claudia's Choice 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    One of the biggest, most unevolved of the bunch --- and that seems to be the goal at this winery. A dark wine w/ sweet cherry, berry and spice notes. 91 on day 2.

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  • 2002 Ken Wright Pinot Noir McCrone Vineyard 80 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    So 3 out of four Ken Wrights in this tasting came out ok with their "synth a corks", this one didn't. Not TCA but a bit pruney/ oxidized. Black fruit, plum, and some acidity. You'd drink it if you were stuck w/o back up. We were not stuck...

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  • 2002 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    A great wine with depth and balance and structure. Black cherry, mocha, and earth. Goes on and on. 92+ on day 2.

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  • 2002 Bressan Pinot Nero 83 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT

    Doesn't fit in well blind w/ OPN's. It was lean and green. Tart cherries and spice with floral and forest notes. On its own with the right food, maybe...

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  • 2002 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    May have benefitted from following the Bressan. It has deep cherry, berry, cola, and forest floor notes. Great balance and length.

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Flight 7 - Pinot Six (5 Notes)

Flight 8 - Pinot Seven (5 Notes)

Flight 9 - Dessert (1 Note)

with salted dark chocolate caramels and Oregon Duck cookies

  • 2002 Domaine Jo Pithon Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru Les Varennes 89 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru

    This wine has the obligate medium gold color with a nose of honeyed stone fruit, some tropical notes, and tart citrus. Medium depth and body. Sweetness is there but not quite the acidity. Every Baumard QdC we've had has been better than this.

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Closing

The surprises of the night included:
1. How well the 2002 OPN's are holding up after ten years, we expected more to be pushing daisies.
2. The ringers stood out significantly.
3. How many off bottles there were.
Cheers!
Mark and Denise

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