Willamette Valley Oregon Trip 4 & 1/2 Days

Willamette Valley, Oregon
Tasted Monday, July 29, 2013 - Sunday, August 4, 2013 by rocknroller with 1,347 views

Introduction

This was a fabulous trip with 4 plus great days of tasting followed by another 4 days on the coast. The trip was fun and educational. The highlights certainly were the time spent with the gracious Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent and the evening tasting with Tom and Deb Mortimer of Le Cadeau. Along the way there were many many outstanding wines and great meals. Too many to single out.

Vintage notes: 2010 really looks good, 2011 depending on the winemaker may be showing well or still need time ala the 2007 vintage. The 2009's were a mixed bag, from some they showed quite well, but from others the hotter vintage proved to be problematic.

Flight 2 - Domaine Serene (6 Notes)

Flight 3 - Brick House (5 Notes)

  • 2011 Brick House Chardonnay Cascadia 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    (7/29/2013)

    Pale gold color. Nose of root vegetables, earthy, white blossoms, citrus. The palate is light bodied, crisp, pear, citrus

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

  • 2011 Brick House Gamay Noir Ribbon Ridge 87 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    (7/29/2013)

    Medium red color. Neutral French oak. Has a nice fruity nose, strawberry, berry, pepper. The palate is a bit thin, tannic, dry, berry.

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

  • 2011 Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais Ribbon Ridge 87 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    (7/29/2013)

    Light red color. Spice, earth, very tight nose, cherry. The palate is light bodied, a tad thin mid, cherry, round tannins. Liked many of the 2011's we tasted, I suspect this will need a year plus to come around. 87(+)pts.

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

  • 2011 Brick House Pinot Noir Cuvée du Tonnelier 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    (7/29/2013)

    Medium red color. Pretty, nice fruit, cherry, lighter style, balanced and elegant. Interestingly, I found this open and ready compared to the Les Dijonnais. 90+pts.

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

  • 2011 Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn's 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    (7/29/2013)

    This one is a 50:50 mix of Pommard and Dijon clones. Bright medium ruby red color. Nice minerality, red fruits, bright red fruits, ripe berries, light body, elegant, nice tannins and good length.

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

Flight 4 - Trisaetum (8 Notes)

Flight 5 - Archery Summit (8 Notes)

Flight 6 - Argyle (4 Notes)

Flight 7 - Dinner at Nick's Italian (1 Note)

  • 2009 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    (7/29/2013)

    Had with the tasting menu at Nick's Italian in McMinnville. If I can ever find my notes on this, I'll add them, but from memory it was delightfully floral, violets, red and blue fruits, nice perfume, medium body and some sour cherry on the palate as well. Provocative finish. Very complex, seemed to change quite a bit.

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

Flight 9 - Evening Land (6 Notes)

Flight 10 - Le Cadeau Tasting Room (6 Notes)

  • 2010 Aubichon Pinot Noir 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Nice entry level wine, lighter color, bright, cherry, earth, loam, medium body. Medium finish.

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

  • 2009 Aubichon Pinot Noir Reserve 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    This was delightful! Bright red fruits on the nose, cherry, earthy mushroom. The palate shows complexity and depth, nice mid palate, darker fruits, darker cherry, lush and textured, integrated, very long finish. 92+pts.

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

  • 2009 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Rocheux 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Well I guess you could say that some time has served this wine well, it was excellent, a huge step up from a year and a half ago. Medium red color. Red fruits on the nose, raspberry, minerals, earthy, spices. The palate is deep and refined, minerals, earth, darker berries, medium plus finish.

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

  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Diversite 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Dark red color. Stunning nose, deep and earthy, damp, mushroom, smoky, red berries, cherry, minerals. The palate rocks literally with crushed rock, dark cherry, raspberry, earthy, savory, deep and very elegant, very long finish. One of the wines of the trip 93+pts.

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

  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Rocheux 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Even better than the '09 is the '10 Rocheux. Gorgeous red fruits on the nose, damp earth, minerals, spice. The palate delivers even more depth and a longer finish, black cherry, tart, cranberry.

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

  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    This was a pop and pour, thanks Brian! No detailed notes, but showing well right out of the gate. 91-92pts.

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

Flight 11 - Bethel Heights (9 Notes)

Flight 12 - Cristom (6 Notes)

  • 2012 Cristom Pinot Gris Estate 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Light gold color. full ML and rests on lees, 1000cs. This nice, good body, very crisp, clean and well balanced, orchard fruit. 89+pts.

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

  • 2011 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvée 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Medium red color. Cherry, dried berry, cherry cola, spice, firm tannins, a bit on the green side. May improve a bit with a year or too of age. 88-89pts.

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

  • 2011 Cristom Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Young. Needs time. Impression 89(+)pts.

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

  • 2011 Cristom Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Showing better than the Eileen, but also tight and firm right now. Deeper and longer on the palate. Give this at least a year. Impression 89-90pts.

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

  • 2011 Cristom Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Another wine that was not willing to cooperate much. Disjointed and grippy. I'm giving the 2011 Cristom lineup the benefit of the doubt that these will all improve given the opportunity to mature in bottle as has been seen with some of the cooler vintages in particular. Current impression is 88pts.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2010 Cristom Pinot Noir Sommers Reserve 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Now here's what we're looking for, open and round, nice earthiness, raspberry, floral, lush with fine tannins, long finish

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

Flight 13 - St. Innocent with Mark Vlossak (10 Notes)

  • 2012 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Œil de Perdrix Temperance Hill Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Very pale salmon color. Off dry, but finishes fairly dry, ripe berries, a bit of sweetness on the front end. Very nice summer sipper and a good value. We really enjoyed this one.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Blanc Freedom Hill Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Pale gold, dry, orchard fruits, lemon, mineral, white flowers, light and crisp, follows through well. Always a solid value.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Chardonnay Dijon Clone Freedom Hill Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Light gold color. Nice mineral driven chard with good acid, stone fruits, stones, less wood, fairly bright on the palate with a crisp and clean finish and nice texture. Just a great versatile chard at a nice tariff.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Vitae Springs Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Medium red color. Floral, red fruits, bright palate, nice acid and lovely red fruit with good depth and persistence.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Medium dark red color. Typically one of my favorites from Mark's lineup, the 2011 does not disappoint with a great floral nose, ripe red raspberry, cherry and spices. The palate has that lush mouthfeel with round tannins and zesty acidity balancing the red and darker red fruits. Given the youth this may be even better down the road.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    Showing cinnamon, spice, dark cherries, on the nose followed with bright, but darker berry fruits and minerals, underbrush and exotic spice on the palate. 91+pts.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/30/2013)

    The Justice was another honey showing a high toned perfume with florals, spice and bright red fruit. The palate offers the typical power and concentration of Justice as well as the velvety textures. The palate finishes long with lush lingering fruit and spices. 92+ to 93pts.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    (7/30/2013)

    TheShea was drinking quite well given its youth, showing off the telltale dark fruits, smoke, and spice on thenose. the palate brings power with ripe cherry and cola notes along with black raspberry preserves. the tannins have a little grip, but are round. 92(+)pts.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville

    (7/30/2013)

    Very dark red color. Always a bigger wine the '11 is no different. Vanilla, dark red fruits, full body, big, slightly candied, rich, firm tannins and long. Mark says the '12 looks to be the best Momtazi ever which would be high praise.

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

  • 2011 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/30/2013)

    Didn't get a lot of notes here. Tannins were rather firm, but this kept expanding in the glass and had a long finish.

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

Flight 14 - Witness Tree (7 Notes)

Flight 16 - Sokol Blosser (8 Notes)

Flight 17 - Antica Terra (4 Notes)

  • 2011 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Rosé Erratica 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    Medium cherry red color. Very floral with bright cherry on the nose. the palate has abundant fruit and nice acid. this was very good and probably has some upside, but it is at a crazy price point

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

  • 2011 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Ceras 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    Well with a label this classy, you knew it had to be good right? right? ok, well maybe not, but in this case, it really is. Very nice, extremely elegant, soft and plush, lovely and lingering finish. Filled with bright red fruit and a perfume of rose hips. 92+pts.

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

  • 2011 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Botanica 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    A wow wine, this really impresses, intense on the palate and the nose, deeply layered, minerals, black cherry, earthy, floral, the palate is elegant and caressing. Very long finish. And this is just a baby, who knows where this might go...

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

  • 2009 Lillian Winery Syrah 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

    (7/31/2013)

    I have to say I was really impressed by this wine. I was not expecting it to be so open and enjoyable at this point. But it was quite remarkable, I don't often describe Syrah as elegant, but I find myself using that term for almost all of Maggie's wines in this tasting. This was elegant, pretty, dark fruits, blackberry, juicy plum, vanilla, graphite, minerals, and allspice. What an alluring way to finish the tasting. 93+(+)pts.

    Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Flight 18 - White Rose (3 Notes)

Flight 19 - Domaine Drouhin (3 Notes)

Flight 20 - Stoller (5 Notes)

Flight 21 - Alexana (4 Notes)

  • 2012 Alexana Riesling Revana Vineyard 86 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    (7/31/2013)

    This was a little too sweet for my taste, lacking the overall balance. Peach and some mineral.

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

  • 2012 Alexana Pinot Gris Revana Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    (7/31/2013)

    Considerably better than the Riesling, showing better acid and balance overall. Nice crisp palate with pear and apple. Nicely textured with a medium finish.

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

  • 2009 Alexana Pinot Noir Signature 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    (7/31/2013)

    This was rather rich and dense. Nose shows spices, briar, black cherry. the palate is concentrated, black cherry, spicy, oak, again some heat at the end. 89-90pts.

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

  • 2010 Alexana Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    The clear winner was the Shea . Splendid nose with musty earth, leather, sandalwood. the palate is dense and savory, black cherry and dark berries, leather, smoke, silky tannins. 92+pts.

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

Flight 22 - Le Cadeau: At the Vineyard with Tom & Deb Mortimer (5 Notes)

  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Diversite 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    This confirms my earlier tasting. This is gorgeous, a wonderful purity on the nose, ripe berries, spices and an awesome earthiness. the palate is impeccably balanced, ripe black cherry, briar, berries, spice and has a very long finish. 93+pts easily.

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

  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Équinoxe 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    Another delightfully good 2010 is the Equinoxe. This has damp earth, rich cherry fruit with red currant and spices. The palate is elegant, rich, with layers of cherry and currants buoyed by nice acids and silky tannins. Another long finish.

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

  • 2010 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Rocheux 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    Making this a trifecta of 2010's, the Rocheux follows up the previous tasting with almost identical notes. Bright red fruits on the nose with earth and spice. The palate again is tart, black cherry, cranberry, earth, layered. Medium plus finish.

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

  • 2010 Aubichon Pinot Noir Reserve 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    Made from 40-50% Estate Le Cadeau fruit and the rest from Vista Hills in the Dundee Hills and Armstrong Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge. Still shows great earth notes, deep and layered, darker fruits with vanilla and a lush finish. All of the 2010's from Le Cadeau and Aubichon are just outstanding. 92+pts.

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

  • 2009 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (7/31/2013)

    I didn't get much for notes on this. 20% whole cluster, 100% new oak. Very nice, cherry, some toast and smoke.

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

Flight 23 - Dinner at Joel Palmer House, Dayton, OR (1 Note)

  • 2009 Cristom Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (7/31/2013)

    From 375ml. Medium dark red color. Drank with dinner at Joel Palmer House. Nose has a sweet streak, allspice, red fruits, cinnamon, minerals. The palate has tart red fruits, round tannins, allspice, minerals and a medium plus finish. The nose exceeds the palate, but the palate is quite nice also. 91+pts.

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

Flight 25 - Bergstrom (7 Notes)

  • 2011 Bergström Chardonnay Sigrid 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (8/1/2013)

    We had the pleasure of getting the very last pours of 2011 Sigrid from the winery. This was outstanding showing a bright nose with lemon, citrus, pear, and mineral. the palate is bright and lively with tangy acid, medium body, lifted, lemon, pear, apple. 92+pts.

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

  • 2011 Bergström Chardonnay Old Stones 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (8/1/2013)

    For an "everyday chard" this pretty good stuff. A nice mix of oak, minerals, and citrus fruits. 89+pts.

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

  • 2011 Bergström Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (8/1/2013)

    Blend of all 5 vineyards. Medium ruby red color. Nice nose, earthy and pungent, black raspberry, black cherry, spicy but balanced, long finish.

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

  • 2011 Bergström Pinot Noir de Lancellotti 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    (8/1/2013)

    This was drinking a little younger, more wood, spice, and tannins. the nose shows some florals and there is nice fruit here too. Give this a year plus.

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

  • 2011 Bergström Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    (8/1/2013)

    Perfumed nose, sweet ripe fruits, dark red fruit. the palate is deep and ripe with cherry, black cherry, dark berry, firm tannins, mineral, smoke, young, long. Another nice bottle of Shea.

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

  • 2011 Bergström Pinot Noir Temperance Hill 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    (8/1/2013)

    Ruby red color. Earthy, mushroom, musty, ripe berries, bright, nice texture. Medium finish. 91+ to 92pts.

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

  • 2011 Bergström Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    (8/1/2013)

    Red fruit nose, darker palate, earthy, minerals, tannins are firm. This needs a bit of time.

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

Flight 26 - Adelsheim (6 Notes)

Flight 27 - Beaux Freres (5 Notes)

Flight 28 - Ken Wright (6 Notes)

Flight 29 - Penner-Ash (6 Notes)

Flight 30 - Eyrie (4 Notes)

Flight 31 - Day 5 Willamette Valley: 8/2/13 Trying to get out of Town!

All good things must come to an end, but we had a hard time not stopping on the way out of Dodge.

Flight 32 - Chehalem (10 Notes)

Flight 33 - Roco (5 Notes)

Flight 34 - Ponzi (3 Notes)

Flight 35 - Miscellaneous Wines From the Rest of the Trip (4 Notes)

×
×