2013 Post IPNC Tasting of 2004 OR Pinot

We got together to explore the 2004 vintage. Thanks to Richard for organizing and to Marcus for a tremendous job hosting the event and flighting the wines. I learned so much!

A nice flight to start with as it had a wide range of styles.

• 2004 Cameron Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  A bit of off aromas on the nose that I should have picked out as Cameron immediately, but didn't. Bright red cherry palette, with relatively thin mouthfeel. A nice wine to get us going.

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• 2004 Westrey Pinot Noir Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  HOLD. reserved nose, especially compared to the Cameron, then slowly opening to some nice earthy tones. Some grip but overall a shorter finish. This wine should improve and therefore was my wine of the flight.

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• 2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Big nose of decadent chocolate brownie followed by a sweet, simple palette. Carneros anyone?

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• 2004 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Renegade Ridge Estate

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Nose dominated by vanilla, with some structure to the wine, but sweet Rainier cherries instead of more preferable darker fruits.

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• 2004 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  simple, classic nose, heavier body, with a sweet finish.

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The Funky Nose Flight

• 2004 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Arcus Estate

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Initially iron and mineral on the nose, like beef heart, then evolving with air. A fun bouquet compared to the first flight, but again a disappointing, simple palette and finish. My wine of the flight, for the nose.

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• 2004 Cameron Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Funky nose with some sulfur. I should have recognized this wine immediately but it wasn't nearly as funky as the 2000 I had just 24 hours prior. The palette was full of bright forward cherries and strawberries. Grenache-like almost. finishing with woody notes.

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• 2004 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Brett ridden. I chose not to drink this... for the love of my palette.
  
  I said some not so nice things about my friend Steve's love of Pegau that I'd like to take back.

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• 2004 Cameron Pinot Noir Gehrts Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Super sweet aromas of maraschino cherries. This was a bit too much for me especially given how elegant the Drouhin was. light enough body, just really forward in style.

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• 2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Simple, classic nose, well developed round body, and a nice, long finish. This wine showed well, but seems to be early maturing. Drink up.

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• 2004 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvée

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Just a fantastic nose. Really floral, but dried flowers, not fresh. Rose petals. Grandma's perfume. The palette was a bit thick at first, contrasting the pretty nose with a cola body, but then it evolved, showing more dark cherry--never cloying. A big wine no doubt but a standout. My #2 of the tasting.

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• 2004 Hamacher Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Lots of bright cherry. not a heavy wine, but with a nice long finish. a nice wine.

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• 2004 Matello Pinot Noir Souris

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  HOLD. this wine was too tight for me to properly review. Great structure and given it was from magnum, perhaps a 750 would have been more approachable. I'd really like to try it in 5 years to see where it's at.

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• 2004 Youngberg Hill Pinot Noir Natasha Block

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville

  My notes read "Dark, southern Oregon" and that was correct, the furthest south of any of the wines we had. Not a very good wine. I'm sorry to have brought it. Purchased from a local auction house.

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• 2004 Witness Tree Vineyard Pinot Noir Vintage Select

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  HOLD. Tight but then eventually opened to a nice nose of iron, lead, and minerals. I'd have enjoyed spending an evening with this wine and a cassoulet. Could have been the wine of the flight in a few other flights, but couldn't match the fun of the Cristom Jefferson.

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The Oak Flight

• 2004 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  I didn't have strong feelings on this wine.

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• 2004 Antica Terra Pinot Noir

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Soaring, amazing nose! tons of dried flowers and herbs, everything from rosemary to roses. I could have spent the rest of the afternoon nosing this wine and been perfectly happy. Worth the price of admission just to smell it. On the palette, great earthy, Burgundian feel. a bit dirty, but in the right way. I'd score this wine very highly. Not sure it will evolve much more though, it's just in a spectacular place right now. Easily my wine of the flight and my wine of the night. I guessed Evesham Wood Cuvee J (and was obviously wrong).

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• 2004 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Roosevelt Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  HOLD. Tight nose, with some minerals in the middle, but a grippy, tannic finish. Should age well.

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• 2004 EIEIO Pinot Noir Wind Hill Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Some clove on the nose, then some sweet fruit, but an odd, off spice on the finish. Cinnamon? I purchased this wine from Jim, at the tasting room, on release and it's been in my cellar since.

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• 2004 Patton Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  simple, nice, classic Oregon pinot. showing just fine.

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The Hot Flight

• 2004 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir En Dessous Seven Springs Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Man, I couldn't get past the wood here. Too bad, I normally like this producer.

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• 2004 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Rather tight, but opened up to Bing cherries, good structure to the wine. should continue to age well.

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• 2004 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  This wine was flawed, and I loved it! pure mold on the nose, like smelling the compost bin. Oregon black truffles, then great fruit on the palette. My wine of the Oak flight.

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• 2004 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Slow to open, with lots of structure. a forward wine, but should continue to age.

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• 2004 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Flawed

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Flawed. Pure Rubber. I did not taste. Bought from the winery, on release, held in my cellar.

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• 2004 Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Vegetal, underripe nose, green, with some minerals but mostly menthol. I guessed 2001 Loire Cab Franc (and was obviously wrong).

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• 2004 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Alcohol on the nose, hot finish, with a fair bit of bright hot cherries.

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• 2004 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Bonshaw Block Estate Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  I couldn't get past the distracting nose. This wine was a hot mess. Funky plus alcohol on the nose.

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• 2004 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  Big and round with no acidity or tannins to balance it. one dimensional, but not as bad as the Ken Wright. After the reveal, I remembered how badly this wine has shown in other blind tastings and it didn't surprise me.

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• 2004 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Green olives on the nose, then pure dirty martini on the palette, finishing with a fresh cedar needles. a friend nailed this wine as a dirty martini. perfect description. I didn't know wine could err in this way.

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• 2004 Kramer Vineyards Pinot Noir Rebecca's Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  My notes are "not enough fruit, not showing well" but then the power of suggestion took over as someone mentioned peanut skins and gosh darn if that's all i could smell from there on. a thin wine that didn't pull that off by being elegant.

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• 2004 Stag Hollow Pinot Noir Vendange Selection

  USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

  Lots of menthol and underripe notes on this wine.

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• 2004 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Triple Black Slopes

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Some toasted oak on the nose but then warm, pretty fruit. a forward wine, but not distractingly. on the reveal, i wasn't surprised. I've had good luck with this producer as a friend found a case of 01 pierre leon that's drinking great (for what it is).

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• 2004 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  A round wine with full cherries. A complete and well made wine, if not the most exciting nose. I was a bit surprised on the reveal. I'd have expected more from the producer and this bottling in specific.

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• 2004 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Savoya Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  My notes read "driving, persistent, in your face fruit. Cali Merlot?" I should have obviously guessed Ken Wright (but didn't). I'd like to do a blind horizontal of his vineyards to see if I can tell a difference or if the winemaking is so invasive that all terroir is lost.

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• 2004 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Tons of sulfur on this mag too. I braved tasting it as the sulfur seemed less offensive than on the Temperence Hill bottling. The palette was sweet port soaked cherries. lacking acidity and structure. Bought on release from the winery and stored in my cellar.

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• 2004 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Marcile Lorraine

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Nice dirt on the nose. Not funky, just plain dirt. then a bit warm for me but a nice weight.

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• 2004 Grochau Cellars Pinot Noir Cuvée des Amis

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  HOLD. This wine was tight. seemed to have good things going on, but it felt like it was just bottled. Was this the wine under screw cap? I can't remember but that would explain my notes.

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• 2004 Kramer Vineyards Pinot Noir Heritage Estate

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  No good notes on this wine.

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My palette was kinda wrecked after 7 flights and totally done after the 8th. My teeth hurt. Next year, let's cap it at 35 wines.
One major take away is that this vintage really showed terroir well. The wines in each flight had cohesion because of geography and geology.
The issue of provenance and bottle variation was interesting. I felt, and still feel, really horrible that the wines I brought were universally the worst at the tasting (save for the Brett Thomas). But I felt those flaws were in wine making, not in storage. Just so you all know what an ass I am, I was responsible for both Panther Creek mags, the EIEIO, and the Youngberg Hill. I promise to step it up next year even if I have to source.