Thomas and Birgir's Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Tasting

Ariana 2, Kilburn, London
Tasted Monday, September 15, 2025 by Vinumming & Ahhing with 79 views

Introduction

Great opportunity to try a wider range of these wines than I've been able to sample to date.

Flight 1 - 2018 Chards (2 Notes)

  • 2018 Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Eyrie Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Lemon pith, peach flesh, some talc and a touch of tarragon on the nose. Palate is fresh with bracing acidity to the fore. Some lemon dressed rocket pepperiness on the palate. Good bite. The mid palate is a little hollow but a lovely lime oil depth on the finish pulls this back into positive territory.

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

  • 2018 Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Richard's Cuvee Whistling Ridge Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    Prefer this to its flight mate, there is a slightly creamy quality to the citrus fruit on the nose; in the lemon posset register. Also some slatey minerals and a tough of clementine leaf greenness. Palate is more on the lime flesh with some peach and hints of orange Jelly Tot. A whisker sweeter than the 2018 Arterberry Maresh Eyrie this is served with but all in control.

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

Flight 2 - Younger Chards (with bonus Walter Scott) (3 Notes)

  • 2022 LAVINEA Chardonnay Eola - Amity Hills 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Gallia melon and slatey minerality on the nose here as this is poured. Air helps this open out with some pillowy citrus cream. Alongside this is a ilttle tarragon and a couple of ppm of sweet / acetic pickle juice. Palate has great poise and an acidic prickle that persists. Just a little shorter than I'd like this to be. With air a couple of ppm of Schweppes tonic water on the finish.

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

  • 2021 Crowley Chardonnay Helen 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville

    Initially, watery lemon barley squash on the nose; some kiwi fruit peelings too. Some mountain stream minerality emerges with air this is very understated on the nose. Palate much more expressive with great richness and length. Lemon juice and some apple core bitterness to the fore. A touch of lime Starburst on the finish. Good stuff.

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

  • 2018 Walter Scott Chardonnay X-Novo Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    My favourite of our whites this evening. On pouring delicate and powdery lemons with a twist of lime squash. With air there is some almost ripe William pear flesh and a couple of ppm of ground almonds. Palate is rich and long with lime oil and delicate acids. Really complex and classy Chard here. The kick of lime oil on the long, long finish is fabulous.

    Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 3 - 2017 Pinots (2 Notes)

  • 2017 Appassionata Pinot Noir Andante 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Unmistakably New World Pinot nose here with sweet cherries in Syrup and then a Black Forest Gateau cakey / creaminess too. A whiff of smoke but not that much savouriness. Palate has a tart red plum quality and a touch of watery Vimto squash. A tad thin compared to some of the other cuvees around this.

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

  • 2017 Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais Ribbon Ridge 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    Much more savoury and classically Burgundian than the Appassionato. Some sweet earth, conkers, a touch of cranberry and in the margins just a touch of strawberry bonbon. Palate has a rich pepperiness, some raspberry fruit and sous bois. Just a hint of Aperol orangey bitterness in the margins. One of my favourite wines of the night.

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

Flight 4 - 2012 Pinots (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Winderlea Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    More mature than the Pinots sampled so far but not tiring. Smoky grenadine and a touch of rosehip sorbet dominate the nose. Some pepperiness too. Palate is dry and long; rosehip tea with some cranberry juice tartness. Savoury and long with air the final sip has a touch of plum with just a hint of hoisin.

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

  • 2012 Omero Cellars Pinot Noir 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Nose opens out with some plum fruit and some Rooibos tea with a little pastry / plum knedel and in the margins a couple of ppm of balsalmic vinegar. Palate has prominent acids and some red fruit interest. Some smoky redcurrants. I like this but some around the table are bigger fans than me.

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

Flight 5 - Mixed Younger Pinot 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2018 Martin Woods Pinot Noir Jessie James Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Lots going on here on the nose; some chestnut brazier nutty sweetness with a little smokiness. Some bresaola meatiness, hints of lamb roasting juices with hints of orange oil in the margins. Palate has a savoury breadth with some Rooibos tea bass notes; a certain meatiness too. Lovely stuff.

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

  • 2022 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvée 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Interesting wine here and lots going on. The nose melds some tart rosehip flesh with some subtle dulce de leche savoury toffee character. Also some toffee apple better char. Palate is sweeter and seems a little less together than some of its peers this evening. Some redcurrant and smoke; hints of baking spice as well.

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

Flight 6 - Mixed Younger Pinot 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2018 Abbott Claim Pinot Noir Abbott Claim Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

    Like this. Some Maraschino cherry, a touch of shortbread biscuit, a touch of blueberry coulis and just a hint earthiness. Rich and deep wine. With air palate reveals some peppered plum fruit, some tart rosehips and just a touch of vanilla pod. Good stuff

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

  • 2019 Cameron Rouge Clos Electrique 91 Points

    USA, Oregon

    Watery tomato and watermelon on pouring. Hints of mint too. Gains weight and concentration with each swirl, the watermelon remains but just grows into its skin. Palate is good with the balance between tart, ripe fruit and tannins expertly walked. Fabulous tension. The final sip the best. Would love to spend longer with a bottle of this. Great way to draw proceedings to a close.

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

Closing

Very consistent quality set of wines. Will look out for several of these. With new world pinots I tend to apply a "if served blind, could I mistake this for Burgundy test" have not found many in previous drinking that would have been yeses (not because the only decent PN in the world is Burgundian - there are lovely kiwi pinots that are different drinks) but a couple of these had that understated savouriness that I crave.

×
×