Oregon Pinot Noir vs. California Pinot Noir

Fun event and interesting how the flights ended up tying but the two favorite wines were both Oregon the St. Innocent and J Christopher.

4 votes for the Talley and 3 for the Drouhin. My preference was the Drouhin as I like the lighter style but it still had complexity.
California 1 vote.

• 2014 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Arthur 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Day 1: Super clear in color but fabulous on the nose and palate. Lemon, spice, apricot, and picks up an orange peel note on the finish. Medium but not over the top by any means. Good acidity. Drink now to 2020. 92 points
  Day 2: A lot of lemon on day 2. As this warms up gets better featuring stone fruits, Carmel, dried apricots and orange peel. Medium finish. Still liked this better on day 1. 89 points
  Day 3: Better on day 3 than the Talley. Carmel, lemon, lime, orange peel and chalk. Stood up over 3 days so I am optimistic that this has 4 more years of life. 90 points
  Recommendation: Drink on a pop and pour. Probably has 3 more years of enjoyment.

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• 2013 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Rincon Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley

  Day 1: Solid but not as good as the Drouhin. Oak, carmel, apple, spices and mild oak. As noted on the last bottle this got good on day 3 so we will see with this one. Medium finish. 90 points
  Day 2: Good and very similar to day 1. Picks up more Carmel on day 2 and features oak, vanilla, spices and pear. Medium finish. 89 points
  Day 3: Definitely faded on day 3. Just does not have much going on. No score.
  Recommendation: Based on the decline on day 3 I would say drink these up in the next few years. Drink by 2020.

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St. Innocent got 5 votes while the Thomas Fogarty got 2 votes. I like the St. Innocent and it was co wine of the night amongst the guests.
Oregon 1 vote. Tie.

• 2010 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Day 1: Wow! Amazing complexity and vibrant nose. The favorite wine of the group. Cranberry, spice, rose petals and earth. Medium plus finish and good acidity. This wine has many years ahead based on where it is now. Drink now to 2024. 94 points
  Day 2: Amazing. I highly recommend experiencing this wine on day 2. Wonderful nose of cranberry, forest floor, rose petals, spices and wafer. Medium plus finish and acidity balances out this amazing wine. Could be the best Pinot from Oregon for me since the epic 2007 White Rose. 95 points
  Day 3: Still amazing. This wine has a long life ahead.
  Recommendation: Drink now to 2024. This is one of the best Pinots I have ever tasted from Oregon!!!

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• 2012 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Day 1: Dust, underbrush, strawberries, floral and cherry notes. Medium finish. This wine was a little tight and will see improvements probably on day 2. 90 points
  Day 2: Day 2 has improved the performance from day 1. Strawberry, earth, mint, underbrush and beef. Much more concentrated and medium plus finish. Similar to other reviews of this wine. Solid. 92 points
  Day 3: More impressive on day 3. Spices, floral, underbrush, roasted meats and herbs. Not as much fruit but love the style. Big and long finish. This is a young wine and should have a long life ahead. 92+ points
  Recommendation: Hold 2 plus years and enjoy.

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J Christopher 6 votes while the Martinelli got 1 vote. Not even close. Amazing how J Christopher was the wine of the night with St. Innocent yet is the cheapest wine at the event. $18 on closeout.
Oregon 2 to California 1.

• 2012 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Lumière 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Day 1: Favorite wine of the night along with the St. Innocent. Bright fruit, good acidity and features underbrush, floral and minerals on the palate. Medium plus finish and the most Burgundian wine of the six. Excellent! 93 points
  Day 2: Wonderful again. Strawberry, floral, minerals, wood and earth. Medium plus finish and balanced. This is an outstanding wine and consistent with previous notes. Should have another 5 years of drinking enjoyment. 93 points
  Recommendation: You can drink this now on a pop and pour or cellar up to five years. Wonderful wine.

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• 2013 Martinelli Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Day 1: Big but not alcoholic like some over the top Cali Pinots. Floral, sweet fruits, brown sugar, bacon fat and raspberries. Medium plus finish. Hope this settles down on day 2/3 as this could round into an excellent wine. 90 plus.
  Day 2: Still big and powerful. Roasted meats, sweet fruits, brown sugar, bacon fat and floral notes. Not for the faint at heart. Don't hate this style but I could see many who would not. I can't say it has moved beyond a 90. Should be interesting if this is as concentrated on day 3. BIG! 90 points
  Day 3: Holding strong. Certainly not as good as the St. Innocent Temperance but totally different style. 90 points
  Recommendation: Bigger style Pinot and could age this for at least five plus years.

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Peake Ranch 5 votes while top ten of the year Wine Spectator got only 2 votes.
Oregon 2 and California 2.

• 2015 Colene Clemens Pinot Noir Dopp Creek 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

  Day 1: Very good showing. Minerals, earth, raspberries, spice. Multilayered finish and complex overall. This should age nicely and should really improve over time. Great score now but could improve on day 2/3. 92 points
  Day 2: Not as good as day 1 with earth, licorice, ripe strawberries, spice and cedar. Medium finish. Certainly not worried about drinking these right now but it was better on a pop and pour. 89 points
  Day 3: Underbrush, earth, coffee grounds and violets. Medium finish. More concentrated than day 2 and a bit better. 90 points
  Recommendation: Drink this over the next 5 to 7 years.

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• 2015 Peake Ranch Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Day 1: Cranberry, spice, wafer and earth. Powerful wine but balanced overall. Medium to long finish. Good acidity and would pair nicely with a variety of dishes. Drink now to 2022. 93 points
  Day 2: Cola, cranberry, spice, water chestnuts and stone. Medium plus finish and good acidity. A really solid Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. Highly recommend this. 93 points
  Day 3: Cola, subtle cranberries, stone, rose petals and earth. Medium plus finish. Holding strong on day 3. This is one to age. 93 points
  Recommendation: If you only have one of these pop it in 2020 or later. If you have a six pack drink one over the next six years and see its evolution. Outstanding wine!

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While it was 2 to 2 on the flights the overall votes stand as:
Oregon: 16 votes
California: 12 votes
Fun event!