Continuing Ed Wine Class - OR Pinot Noir

Frankly I had higher hopes for this evening, figuring it would be mostly 2002s, but it was still a fairly interesting and representative mix of wines. I also got to do a little bit of teaching being the native Oregonian, discussing site selection, the joys of Highway 99, and all-important pronunciation tips such as Willamette rhymes with "damn it" and so on...

• 2000 Chehalem Pinot Noir Rion Reserve 84 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Vibrant medium ruby in color, on the nose came earth, cinnamon, cherry, and a distinct albeit odd menthol note. Flavors were a bit disjointed, with under-ripe cherry and sharp tannins in a generally light bodied texture. No one was really excited about this, just too tart and harsh this night - don't see it getting much better with age either.

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• 2000 Argyle Pinot Noir Spirithouse 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Slightly effervescent right out of the bottle, a light ruby hue fading slightly at the rim. Aromas included muted campfire, sweet blackberry, boysenberry, and with time a slight vanilla/oak hint. In the mouth, a nice balance of red and black fruits enveloped in a smooth drinking long-ish finish.

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• 2002 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Estate 89 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A definite change of pace from the more austere 2000 vintage Pinots, this was much darker and opaque, actually slightly cloudy in appearance. An intense nose grabs your attention with strawberry, black cherry, and lightly roasted coffee. Surprisingly lush and soft in the mouth, with nice acidity enveloping the pleasing cherry, saddle leather, and slightly grapy notes. Finish was a bit clipped and tart, and drinking a bit primal and monolithic at this stage, probably has the fruit to last for 10 years or so.

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• 1999 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvée 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  I liked this less than most people in the class - I just thought it was on too fast of an aging curve given the vintage. Murky light red in hue, with some faint brick at the rim. Aromas included tobacco, slightly oxidized tomato-ey, muted cherry, and rhubarb. Things improved quite a bit on the palate with interesting spicy, meaty flavors against a core of cherry and strawberry. Seems well made, maybe just an off bottle - based on this one I'd drink up.

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• 2001 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Les Cousins

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Most controversial wine of the evening, I really didn't get this one. In the glass, light red and fairly thin appearing. Nose was promising, if a little devoid of fruit with a bias towards more earthy, musky, and woody tones. Things went south in the mouth, with bracing acidity, dried green fruits, and stemmy overtones, capped off by an uninspiring finish.

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• 2001 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  A big step up from the Les Cousins, nice vibrant red in color, if a little lighter than I expected. On the nose, an in-your-face mix of earth, ripe pear, red apple, black cherry, olive, and spice box. Very vibrant in the mouth, if a little hot and very slightly medicinal, but the ripe cherry undertones win out, with plenty of tannins to mellow out with age. WOTN for most of the group.

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Overall I was most impressed probably by the Argyle, which may not have the "cool" factor of some Oregon Pinots, but a real worthy effort, especially in the context of the somewhat disappointing 2000 vintage.