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Post IPNC blind 2004 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting
Matello
Tasted July 29, 2013 by gripNsip with 655 views
Introduction
All wines served blind in flights of 5. Palate fatigue set in around flight 6, and I got rushed on the final notes on some of the wines. When attending tastings like this I tend to drink through the wines one-by-one rather than going back and forth tasting wines in the flight.
Flight 1 (5 notes)
Red
2004 Cameron Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
88 points
Smells really good, cherries, old, burnt campfire wood, light herbal and cola notes. Really aromatic. Nice feel in the mouth, medium-weight, relaxed structure. Sweet cherry fruit initially with some older, dried notes in the finish, almost like figs. Not a long finish, but not short either. Overall a really nice wine.
Red
2004 Westrey Pinot Noir Reserve
90 points
Spiced cherry fruit on the nose with pie crust and a hint of strawberry hard candy. Smells good. Medium-heavy weight palate, the fruit on the palate is a darker profile, ripe dark cherries, age isn't as apparent as the wine tasted immediately before this. Really nice acids and late-hitting tannins that dry the mouth on the finish. Nice length in finish with good integration of structure and flavors.
Red
2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
86 points
The nose shows bright, youthful fruit with some acid apparent. On the palate, bright, sweet cherries and strawberry fruit. Somewhat un-integrated tannin that comes off very drying on the finish, somewhat clipping the finish.
Red
2004 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Renegade Ridge Estate
Really odd nose, smells like men's deodorant, like axe body spray. Yuck. The fruit on the palate is somewhat nice but very drying on the finish, strong structure not showing balance with the flavors of the wine. Perhaps an off bottle? I couldn't get past the nose. I scored it 80.
Red
2004 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve
88 points
Smells pretty good, showing a touch of age with baked cherry pie, a bit of whipped cream. The palate shows tasty bing cherries, dry earth and black tea. Firm structure shows decent balance in the finish. Pretty heavy-weighted and dark flavored/textured, almost drank-y. Someone said "it tastes like merlot!" and honestly, it could almost pass for one. Still, I like drinking it.
Flight 2 (5 notes)
Red
2004 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Arcus Estate
89 points
It smells good; cherry juice, potpourri and vanilla. Bright, youthful cherry/raspberry fruit palate. Firmly tannic as the wine finishes but the dark, somewhat old flavors of fig, old cherries and old oak barrel is pretty nice. As I take more sips, the tannins build and almost become too much Overall a nice wine.
Red
2004 Cameron Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge
86 points
Funky, campfire, baked cherry nose. There was something sticking out at me and once someone said "band-aids", I couldn't let it go. The palate starts nice, some sweet cherries with a bit of sun-dried tomato and green stems. The wine is nice on the palate with these flavors, good texture, nice integration and length in the finish. The nose knocked it down a peg for me.
Red
2004 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
I took one sip and couldn't go any further, this was an absolute brett-bomb. Sitting there with four other wines to taste on the table, there was no sense in trying further sips, the nose turned you away each time you tried.
Red
2004 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurène
88 points
Smells good, ripe strawberries and short-bread, almost white cake. Also some light earthy notes. On the palate, sweet red fruit, earthy mid-palate with nice tannins and tart acidity as the wine finishes. On the finish, a transition to flavors of ripe fig and spiced cherries. Long finish, medium-heavy weight.
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Comment
Red
2004 Cameron Pinot Noir Gehrts Vineyard
91 points
Smells of baked cherries, campfire and spice, overall very pleasing. On the palate, dark fruited with tart undertones. Dark cherry, dry mushroom, stems. Long finish with more dark flavors and dried cherry notes. Nicely weighted and with good overall balance. Tasted in a massive 2004 OPN tasting, this was one of my favorites of the tasting.
Flight 3 (5 notes)
Red
2004 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvée
90 points
Smells really good, a nose of old cherries, fig and potpourri. Interesting flavors on the palate, lighter toned than many of the wines in the tasting so far. Strawberry, cola and a hint of watermelon. Really nice structure, delicate, polished tannins and good acidity. Overall a touch simple but one of the most pleasing wines of the tasting to drink due to the weight and structure. 90+
Red
2004 Hamacher Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
89 points
Sweet nose of red licorice candy and fig newtons. Darker fruit shows on the palate with firm yet sweet tannins backing it up. Long, nicely tappered finish with good fruit intensity throughout. Overall a really nice wine that is drinking well.
Red
2004 Matello Pinot Noir Souris
88 points
The nose showed cherry fruit with notes of campfire and gravel road. Smells interesting. The palate starts off nice, old cherry fruit with strong, grippy tannins as the wine is swallowed then ending with a tart note. The tannins continue their grip into the finish. Overall nice but a touch simple at this point, I agree with pwillen that I would age longer. Tasted from magnum at same tasting.
Red
2004 Youngberg Hill Pinot Noir Natasha Block
80 points
Smells weird, tart red fruit in the nose with hints of evergreen tree? I can't put my finger on it. The fruit on the palate shows a tart edge from the start with a green stemmy note from start to finish. Out of balance structurally. A weird wine, compared to the other 4 wines in this flight this one can't hold a candle to them.
Red
2004 Witness Tree Vineyard Pinot Noir Vintage Select
88 points
I was getting rushed in this flight so I didn't get notes on the nose. The palate shows really nice flavors of spiced cherry, mushroomy earth and just a hint of aged richness as the wine finishes. Good overall structure and fruit.
Flight 4 (5 notes)
Red
2004 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard
82 points
Smells weird, cherry and red rubber ball. Not very pleasing. The palate shows cherry and sun-dried tomato with late, low intensity tannin and acidity. Not showing good overall integration of flavors and structure, falls apart somewhat on the finish.
Red
2004 Antica Terra Pinot Noir
93 points
Tasted at a large 2004 Oregon Pinot Noir tasting, this was easily my wine of the night. The nose was practically jumping out of the glass, spiced cherries, cola, pie cherry and ripe grapefruit. On the palate, youthful flavors of spiced ripe cherries, strawberry and grapefruit. As the wine finishes, some richness from age is apparent. Weighty palate but balanced as far as flavor intensity and structure. Long, linear finish. This wine was on another level from the wines in this flight, and the entire tasting. Absolutely wonderful. 93+
Red
2004 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Roosevelt Vineyard
84 points
The nose shows campfire, strawberries and stemmy notes. Smells good. Initially nice flavors of dark cherries and old strawberry but has some tough transitions from mid-palate to finish with firm, powerful structure currently. Somewhat woody tannin on the finish. I agree with pwillen, I would hold, currently in a tough place. 84+
Red
2004 EIEIO Pinot Noir Wind Hill Vineyard
82 points
Showing a good amount of age on the nose, old figs, rich old cherries, a hint of soy sauce. On the palate more of the same with old figs, old strawberries in a touch of balsamic vinegar. The structure has a nice touch however, sweet tannins show in the finish but there is this weird left over flavor, thinking cracked pepper. I wrote in my notes, "Is this Pinot?" A weird wine, not something I'd throw out but not the most pleasing wine ever.
Red
2004 Patton Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
88 points
Smoky, cherry, somewhat campfire nose. The palate shows light cherry fruit with a bit of cola, apple and campfire. The tannins have a somewhat gritty feel on the finish. Overall a nice wine, a bit simple overall.
Flight 5 (5 notes)
Red
2004 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir En Dessous Seven Springs Vineyard
88 points
The nose shows spiced cherries, vanilla, baking spice and cola. Smells good. The palate is initially very fruity, somewhat candied. Liquefied red vine candy, strawberry and cola shows on the palate as well as some richness brought on by age. Rounded, sweet tannins show in the finish. 88+
Red
2004 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard
90 points
Smells wonderful, dark cherry fruit, spice, potpourri, dried roses and stems. Very balanced wine on in the mouth with a dark character. Dark cherry, grape, fig. The tannins on the finish are sweet and rounded. Overall a very delicious wine.
Red
2004 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard
70 points
Smelled like a red rubber ball. Tastes of old dark fruit and tomato juice. Roughly tannic on finish. Not an enjoyable wine to drink in my opinion. Tasted with pwillen1.
Red
2004 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard
88 points
Nice nose of bright cherries with a hint of campfire. Nice gentle bright red fruit on the palate. Really soft overall, the tannins and acidity, while present, have a very nice, gentle approach. Nice linear finish. Drinking nicely.
Red
2004 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Temperance Hill
89 points
I missed notes on the nose, however this tasted very good. Sweet fruited with a herbal, somewhat stemmy fruited finish. Balanced structurally and really quite nice.
Flight 6 (5 notes)
Red
2004 Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais
87 points
Interesting nose, red cherry candy meets menthol and stems. Initially nice on the palate showing dark cherry and a touch of baking spice. Showing decent balance initially but ends a little roughly, showing some tartness.
Red
2004 Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate
87 points
Big, rich nose of figs, dark cherries and chocolate pudding. Shows some weight and warmth in the mouth with cherry pie and strawberry preserves. Some more alcohol shows on the finish but there is also good intensity of flavor so it isn't as pronounced. Long finish, the present tannins have a sweet feel as they grip. Overall a big wine.
Red
2004 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Bonshaw Block Estate Vineyard
88 points
No notes on the nose as I was rushing, but the palate shows good flavors of dark cherries and spices, with stemmy notes showing up as the wine finishes. Sweet, late-hitting tannins have a nice feel to them. Overall pretty tasty.
Red
2004 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard
85 points
Nose shows cherries and a bit of sulfury campfire. The palate shows some aged cherry fruit, a bit rich and showing it's age. The structure is barely intact, I agree with pwillen1 that this was one-dimensional, in my notes I wrote "boring".
Red
2004 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est
86 points
Really weird nose, green olive and fresh evergreen needles with a hint of red fruit. The palate shows nice red fruit flavors with a long expression of late-hitting, firm tannins.
Flight 7 (4 notes)
Red
2004 Kramer Vineyards Pinot Noir Rebecca's Reserve
87 points
Nose shows spiced pie cherries, a touch of green stems and sulfur. The palate shows nice cherries and pepper notes with a long expression of somewhat rough, angular tannin.
Red
2004 Stag Hollow Pinot Noir Vendange Selection
89 points
Savory red fruit nose but with something fresh under it, thinking fresh cut grapefruit. I really like the fruit on the palate, bright cherries and grapefruit with underlying earthy, somewhat mushroomy notes. Long, linear finish. Very tasty.
Red
2004 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Triple Black Slopes
89 points
Smells great, pomegranate meets grapefruit and red tea. A somewhat forward wine from start to finish with dried cherries, black licorice and red tea flavor. Powerfully tannic on the finish, puckering and drying the mouth. This will probably be quite good with more age.
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Comments (1)
Red
2004 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve
No score as I had a tough time getting to this wine due to conversation at the table. The fruit on the palate was nice and showing a touch of richness and the wine showed good overall balance. My notes didn't get past that unfortunately.
Flight 8 (4 notes)
Red
2004 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard
87 points
I agree with pwillen1, the sulfur stink on the nose was pretty strong. The palate however was decent, old cherries, red vine candy. Somewhat sweet, rich notes in the finish. I agree the structure here was lacking as well. Overall not bad, pretty simple wine.
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Comment
Red
2004 Broadley Vineyards Pinot Noir Marcile Lorraine
89 points
Showing some age and ricness on both nose and palate. In the mouth, rich strawberry fruit initally gives way to tart flavors of pomegranate and cranberry. Somewhat earthy, watermelon seed flavors in the finish. Nicely structured and drinking well in my opinion.
Red
2004 Grochau Cellars Pinot Noir Cuvée des Amis
88 points
Nice mushroom, earthy aromas on the nose with underlying dark cherries. Smells good. On the palate the cherry flavors are most prominent, showing some richness along with figs as the wine finishes. Tannins build as you take more sips, and the wine has good backing acidity.
Red
2004 Kramer Vineyards Pinot Noir Heritage Estate
88 points
Aromas of spiced cherries and dry stems. On the palate, similar flavors come through initially with more stems and some strong tannins take up the finish. The fruit however seemed to last through the tannic grip, and both released and went away together. Overall nice, but firm.
Closing
I have always been kind of 'meh' about 2004 Oregon Pinot Noir, and other than a few outliers, I have the same feeling on it. It's neither a "love it" nor "hate it" vintage.