Important Update From the Founder Read message >

Oregon vs. Burgundy Single Blind

Tilia, Mpls

Tasted July 26, 2016 by rocknroller with 401 views

Introduction

We put this event together to do a blind comparison of pinots from Burgundy and Oregon. As always it is challenging and humbling when endeavoring to figure out what is what. But always fun!

Flight 1 - Champagne Flight (2 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Franck Bonville Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Selection France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
90 points
Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over about 20 minutes. I wasn't real focused at this point, getting here late and trying to get organized, but I preferred this slightly over the Argyle. This was consistent with previous bottles, solid performance with nice tart citrus, foamy minerality and well balanced.
White - Sparkling
2011 Argyle Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Artisan Series Knudsen Vineyard Julia Lee's Block USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
89 points
Light gold color. Drank a small glass over 15 minutes. Another bottle I didn't get much time with. A bit more forward with pear fruit, fair acidity, yeast. I'm generally a fan of Argyle's sparklers, and I think this showed better than the last couple of vintages of Argyle wines I've had. Glad to see that. hopefully I'll get another chance to spend some more time with this one. 89(+?)pts.

Flight 2 - Non- Blind Comparison of Older Wines (2 notes)

Red
1993 Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru Les Toussaints France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
87 points
Medium red color, a bit cloudy. Followed 1 glass over 2 hours. This was the same bottle as Chablis28. I would largely concur with his assessment. The nose was VA and not at all pleasant for quite some time. The palate was a bit better initially, but not anything you really wanted to drink. Patience did reward a bit, as the nose ultimately blew off the ugliness and showed some red fruit, though it was still modest. The palate also came around to the point where this was pretty decent.
Red
1998 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
92 points
Medium red color with a 1.5cm transitional bricked margin. PNP, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. This really evolved nicely, but quite slowly. It had lots of structure and tannin upfront and plenty of dark red fruit, but not all that much finesse. That changed quite a bit with air and after 30-60 minutes this was pretty delightful. The nose ultimately shows dark red fruits, damp earthiness,, floral, spices, mustard seed. The palate displays the dark red fruit too, medium plus body, firm tannins that gradually soften, spice, earthy, medium length. Fun to drink, a wine that at one point Mark said was his best wine to date. Given the way this changed, I'm not so sure this can't go for a while if stored well. It would have been nice to have it 5 years ago for comparison though.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Blind Flight 1 (2 notes)

Red
2012 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
92 points
Medium ruby red color - ultra clear. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over an hour plus. Well, this was the first blind wine, and knew I'd get at least one right. I was certain immediately this was the '12 Evenstad. I've had it a couple times and it's getting better too. Still rather precocious in its adolescence, with its vanilla, oak, spice and ripe red cherry fruit. But it doesn't feel as big now, starting to settle a bit, still shows the ripeness and intensity of the vintage.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
91 points
Medium red color. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over 2 hours. I thought this suffered a bit from its youth and no decant. Not as expressive as some previous bottles, showing its youth, would and coming off slightly lean at times. I like the lighter style, pure red fruits and tart acid. But, I've had this where it has been much better too. I still feel like the '13's need more time and/or air to show. I went back and forth on this ultimately saying Burg - thinking it was youthful, I thought that it might be the '09 Dujac. Nope.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - Blind Flight 2 (2 notes)

Red
2006 Domaine Rossignol Trapet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
92 points
Medium red color. PNP(?), drank 1 glass blind over 2 hours. I liked this a lot. Earthy, dried earth, potpourri, red raspberry on the nose. The palate starts out a bit firm with tart dark red fruits, mineral, spicy, lovely overall, smoke. Not sure why I went Oregon here, I had theTrapet and the Anden reversed - and in hindsight it probably should have been obvious too - especially if I read my own notes and thought about it a bit. Always humbling - or is that irritating.
Red
2006 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Anden USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
90 points
Medium dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over 90 minutes. This started out unsettled and somewhat disjoint, not bad, but the alcohol was showing. I liked how it settles down over 30 minutes. This has a fuller body, a bit more glycerin which makes sense with the hotter vintage, spice, ripe black cherry fruit, savory, medium finish. I'm pretty sure I've had this wine - a couple years ago and it was considerably better at that time. While still solid, I've long since polished off my '06's from Oregon. Should have known this was the Anden - my bad.

Flight 5 - Blind Flight 3 (2 notes)

Red
2007 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Aux Charmes France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
93 points
Lighter -Medium red color. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over 90 minutes. This was great and part of the flight of the night and my #2 WOTN. I thought this might be the Thomas, but alas i was wrong. The Lignier was rocking it with really nice red fruits, fine leather, forest floor, and elegance - just great. I keep loving the '07 red burgs - they are really drinking well.
Red
2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
94 points
Medium red color with mild bricking. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over 90 minutes. This was singing for me again. Great nose, wonderful floral perfume, leather, red fruits, elegant. The palate is fresh, lively, great acid, just gorgeous, earthy, medium body, dried spices, long and integrated. this was my WOTN and part two of the best flight. No doubt in my mind this was the White rose.
1 person found this helpful Comments (4)

Flight 6 - Blind Flight 4 (2 notes)

Red
2006 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges Vieilles Vignes France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges
87 points
Medium red color. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over 60 minutes. This was young and a bit alcoholic too, anise, red fruits, spice and some wood, firm tannins, not particularly appealing at this point. Called Burg and Chev.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis
88 points
Medium dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass blind over 60 minutes. This wasn't working well for me, seemed over the top, alcohol, ripe dark fruits, wood spice, pretty meh at this point. 87+ to 88pts. Feels youthful and needs time, called Burg.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Closing

The clear flight of the night was the "07 St. Innocent White Rose and the '07 Lignier MSD Charmes - both were outstanding.
Ended up batting 50% and should have done better. Ah well.

© 2003-24 CellarTracker! LLC.

Report a Problem

Close