1/14/2017 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Very dark maroon color. Thick, slow legs. The nose is very full, dark berry fruit and funk (in a positive way). The initial palate is dry and a little dusty. The fruit seems either not fully ripe or somewhat faded. There's some strong tannins on the finish, but unfortunately there's not correspodingly strong fruit to help balance the tannins and so it leaves a tart finish. It's not a particularly big or powerful wine, but it's clean and well made. I'm finding my tasting note parallels Purple Tooth's, however, reading the pro reviews it appears this was a highly regarded wine when released. Based on what I've consumed it's either in a closed phase, or it didn't have the legs for the long haul. Either way, it's a solid "meh" bottle - but it did pair real nicely with some red meat and a simple salad.

11/14/2016 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Initially it was very lightweight - tangy/tart up front, thin in the middle and hollow on the finish. I figured it needed time to open up and gain some weight. came back to it a couple times the first night with no discernible change or improvement. On the second night it improved ever so slightly - it was still quite lean, but there was a little minerality on the mid palate and a little fleshy broth notes on the finish. However, it never really fleshed out and after pairing it with a variety of different foods it never seemed food friendly either. At first I thought that I caught it in a bad time, but it's showing an optimum drinking widow of 2012-2019, so we're right in the middle of that, thus I conclude that this is just a mediocre bottle.

10/24/2016 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Big and full, but expressive nose that highlights dark almost brooding fruit with hints of citrus and a little licorice on the edges. Initial palate shows fully ripe fruit that fills the palate, yet there's balancing acidity that keeps it nicely focused. Nice length in the mouth. It's big but not overwhelming, it's ripe but not boozy. This same full-yet-light theme carries over to the finish as well which is surprisingly clean and fresh given the bottle's age and the ripeness of the vintage. A well made wine and a very enjoyable bottle.

8/27/2015 - oldgrowth45 Likes this wine:

Over the years my infatuation with Patty's wines has gradually ebbed. There's no specific reason or issue, but I've enjoyed her wines less and less. That's all turned upside down tonight. I opened this bottle on the heels of a flawed '05 Willamette Valley from a different producer. The previous bottle was rife with VA (and usually I can tolerate a fairly high level of vinegarish-ness, but this was salad dressing). So, at this point I figured I'd check in on the '08's and see what's doing there.
Beautiful. Deep, rich, full nose (but not too heavy) - cola and warm earth with a little blueberries in the background. It took a little while for it to open but once it did the palate mirrored the nose with laser perfect concentration coupled with balancing acidity and just the right amount of tannins in the background. Long finish with nice transitions as it opens in the mouth. This bottle has erased many mediocre P.G.C. bottles and was just what the (wine) doctor ordered - balance, balance, balance. I'm not a points guy, but I noticed that the average score on this wine was high 80's. I think it's worth a few more points (low nineties), it's that good, it's in a nice spot at this time. A very nice showing for 2008 and highly recommended. Hopefully this is what I can look forward to in other bottles.

2/18/2015 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Here's the irony of this bottle: two weeks ago I posted a tasting note on a 2005 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir that was given very high marks by earlier tasters, I thought it was an over-oaked over-ripened mess of a bottle; now here's this very unassuming bottle that's received unassuming scores and I think it's brilliant. This wine possesses the attributes that make Burgundies so freakin' compelling in my very humble opinion: potent and engaging nose that has lots of energy and interest. An initial palate that has great concentration of clean, fresh fruit that isn't too ripe nor too lean, just right. There's strength but at the same time there's tact and restraint (well-placed tannins that don't overpower but instead add pleasure, acidity that helps focus the palate and make the fruit really shine). There's complexity which is to say that both the nose and palate evolve and change as the wine opens and these changes are interesting and agreeable. I'm a very big Oregon Pinot fan, and this is one of those bottles of Burgundy that makes you realize just how transcendent this grape can become (and just how GOOD Burgundians are at making wine), those intangibles that you can't quite elucidate - it makes food taste a little better, conversation a little wittier, music a little brighter. It's like that kid in school who was so cool and you never could put your finger on what exactly it was that made them that way - you wore the same clothes and listened to the same music, but somehow the way they put it together was a little cooler than you. It makes you wish your liver had limitless capacity because you want to keep drinking this bottle as long as humanly possible. I drank this bottle over two nights, with and without food, and all I can say is "I want MORE!" very enjoyable.

2/15/2015 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Where to start. If I was drinking this blind, I'd guess it was a big, hot, flabby wine made with super ripe Grenache and/or Mourvedre, but not Pinot Noir. The nose smells of vanilla, bark and smokey ripe fruit. The initial palate tastes like dusty fruit, and here comes the oak. I coulda sworn there was splinters in my mouth - I would measure this bottle in board feet. It lacked any finesse, energy or interest, just a boorishly big sloppy bottle full of oak tannins and super ripe fruit. Not my style and for the price they charge for this wine be sure you know that before you pull the trigger.

1/30/2015 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

A quick note: medium bodied with plenty of lip-smacking acidity upfront. The nose remained reticent even after plenty of aeration. The finish had lots of body (it was fleshier than the initial attack). Not a lot of depth or complexity but plenty length. Clean and fresh. It's a well made bottle that is perfectly acceptable.

6/3/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Dark purple color (think Welches grape juice purple). Pungent, spicey nose emphasizing dark berry fruit (blackberries and dark cherries), and a little cinnamon in the background. The initial palate is tight (and a little tart), however as it opens in the mouth there's solid underlying fruit - mostly boysenberry (like boysenberry yogurt). Medium bodied with crisply defined edges. Not a lot of complexity, but you wouldn't expect it in a $20.00 bottle. Seems like there's enough here that if you give it some more time to integrate all the loose ends could harmonize nicely, it's certainly a well-made bottle and very food friendly as well. Solid.

6/1/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Nose opened right away - big, full, energetic nose, classic Oregon Pinot scents of spicey, funky, brambly fruit. It's 14.3% a.b.v. but there's wonderful balance between richly concentrated fruit and soft, fine-grained tannins that makes this wine seem much lighter than what it is. The initial palate is very full and concentrated, but then the tannins, coupled with just the right amount of acidity, kick in and really focus this wine in a very delightful manner. I paired this bottle with some fresh trout and wow!.. very nice. It seems that lately I've been slogging through mediocre Pinots, so when you hit a bottle that really fires on all cylinders, it reminds you why we spend so much time and money on this wacky hobby.

4/16/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

First night notes. Dark garnet/ruby color with slow, full legs. Let it breathe for about 45 minutes. Very pungent, lively nose of cherry cough drops, caramel, and some barnyard intermixed with warm earth. There's warm caramel on the initial palate, which gives way to cherry fruit and alcoholic heat (this bottle is 14.3% a.b.v., and the alcohol is pronounced). Full bodied but despite this there is some backbone and structure - it's not plush and flabby, but you can't escape that burn which makes the finish a little anti-climactic because the nose is very interesting and complex, and the initial palate shows promise, but then the finish ends up like cherry flavored paint thinner. So, the arc of this wine went from great, to good, to ugh.

4/9/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Medium color and a really vibrant, pungent nose full of roses and warm earth. The initial palate is a little tart with spiny acidity, but after a couple of hours it starts to open and high-toned fruit mixed with roses starts to emerge. Medium-bodied. Not a lot of complexity, but plenty of energy and verve. Clean, fresh and slurpable. A great food wine, not so great by itself. Was more enjoyable and balanced the second. Tasty.

4/9/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

this bottle was consumed at a birthday party, thus this isn't a super detailed note. Pop and pour. Dark maroon color, and thick legs. Smoky blackberries and blueberries on the nose (not a lot of the Cameron "funk"). The initial palate is full-bodied, however there's good acidity that keeps the fruit firm. The tannins are a little oaky. Lots of concentration. As it opens, the fruit becomes a little prune-like (seems a little tired). The finish is a little tart and flat, however it really shined with food (little baby quiche tarts, yum). The drinking window of this bottle is 2009-2014 and that seems spot on as this bottle is on the down side compared to the bottle I consumed a couple years ago. Good, but not great.

4/9/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Drank with friends at a birthday party so this wasn't a super contemplative affair. Deep, dark maroon color. Slow, thick legs. Raspberry/blackberry and cola on the initial nose with a little warm earth in the background. Lots of concentration on the initial palate, however there's also balancing acidity that keeps the fruit firm and not flabby. There's a oakiness as it opens but it's not a deal breaker, actually it plays well with the fruit. Very much typical of the vintage - ripe, full-bodied fruit, but overblown or overly ripe. Lots of power in this wine, but also finesse. Great finish, plenty of length and depth. Nice.

3/9/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

My tasting note is consistent with previous posters. I drank this same wine about a year ago and there was more fruit then compared to now where there's just a lot of structure (tannins and acidity), lots of framework but no flesh.

3/9/2014 - oldgrowth45 Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Dark maroon color. The nose is very full yet at the same time expressive, big but bright, dark berry fruit and some Jory funk (but not nearly as funky as Cameron's iteration).
Big, full palate with plenty of ripe fruit, yet like the nose there's balance. The only criticism is that the tannins are really sharp and biting which distracts from the overall harmony of the wine. Was equally enjoyable with food (the acidity keeps the palate fresh), or stand alone (big, fresh fruit). Nice bottle.

3/6/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Very dark, almost opaque, color. Slow, thick legs. The nose is very full and potent/pungent, dark berry fruit intermixed with licorice (a little Syrah-ish if I was smelling this blind). The initial palate is big with lots of tannins, the fruit emphasizes scorched earth and licorice, there's a little heat. The mid-palate drops off rather abruptly and becomes a little hollow. The tannins become slightly bitter on the finish. Because of the emptiness of the mid-palate this wasn't a great food wine (although it did work well with assorted cheeses), better alone.
I never tasted this when it was younger so I can't say whether it's over the hill, but based on this bottle it does seem a little past it's prime, and it doesn't possess they elements to make it a 90+ wine.

3/4/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

There was definite funk when first opened, but it mostly blew off after a few hours (what was left wasn't offensive and actually worked well with the rest of the wine). Dark color. Aside from the barnyard, there was initially dark berry fruits (think boysenberries) and plums, as it got more air there was lots of licorice. Fullish, ripe fruit, but plenty of balancing acidity. The tannins were a little woody. Clean, snappy finish with a couple interesting turns. Nice length. Drinking nice right now.

2/18/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Very dark maroon color. Thick, slow-forming legs. On the nose there's licorice, oak and dark berry fruits (blackberries and boysenberries). On the initial palate there's lots of ripe, full-bodied fruit. As it expands on the palate there's noticeable oak. The fruit is strong enough to absorb some of overtness of the oak, but it's still noticeable and detracts from the overall experience. Strong tannins. Nice length on the finish, although there's some alcoholic heat on the back palate that's a little hot. Still, can't shake the oakiness.

2/16/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Deep dark maroon color. Thick legs. Big, full nose showing mostly sweet berry fruit and a little warm earth. The initial palate is big and full bodied, it really coats the tongue and fills the mouth. Rich, ripe fruit emphasizing strawberries and cherries. The tannins are a little woody, there's some oak in the background but not too obtrusive. Long finish with some complexity. I'm not usually a fan of big bruiser wines, but despite the bigness of this bottle it's actually pretty well balanced. Nice.

2/15/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Yellow straw color. Thick slow legs. A very enjoyable nose full of tropical fruits with some oak in the background but not in an bad way. Wonderful balance on the palate: the tropical fruits are there, full body as well as nice acidity. A very classy bottle of wine (very Burgundian), and very enjoyable.

2/7/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Dark maroon color. Solid, thick legs. A full nose with bright, fresh cherries and strawberries, some oak, and a faint hint of graphite. Like the nose, the initial palate is full, fresh and lively with ripe fruit and warm earth. No real acidity, but there's nicely integrated tannins. So this is all real nice and enjoyable, but then all of the sudden it all just drops off almost like someone lifted the needle off the record (or for you younger cellar-rites, someone hit the pause button). Truly, everything just falls off the map on the finish like two different wines. I'm not a proficient enough taster to know if this is because this wine is shut down right now or just really mediocre. If it's the first, then based on the initial nose and palate, this will be a spectacular bottle some day; if it's the latter, then this is a really uneventful wine. I really wanted to like it a lot, but based on what I drank the past two nights it didn't meet my expectations.

2/3/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour with friends. Dark maroon color. Full legs. 14.2% a.b.v., but it wears it well, not a lot of heat or imbalance. Gave it about 20 minutes to open up. The initial nose was a little subdued showing mostly sour cherries and a little strawberries. At first the palate mostly shows soft, smooth ripe fruit, but as it opens a really nice tannic spine starts to appear and gives the wine a nice balance and focus - not a lot of acidity but the fruit isn't overly flabby. There's good energy and presence here, but not a lot of complexity (but hey, it's a entry-level bottle). Clean and fresh and nice structure for mid-term aging if you'd like. We had a plate with two different terrines and some assorted cheeses and it was a nice companion. Nice bottle.

2/2/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Bright, limpid, pale straw color. Thick slow legs. 14% a.b.v. On the nose there's green apple with some citrus fruits and a little oak. From start to finish the nose seems reticent like it never fully opens up. The initial palate is big and full, but at the same time seems brittle. Sadly the alcohol is very noticeable and a distraction - too hot. Mid palate is smooth, with nice acidity. Nice length on finish, not a lot of complexity. Was a decent match for less demanding foods (simple cheese platter) but was overwhelmed by more complex stuff. I have one bottle left and will let it go another year or so and see if it improves, because right now it's on the mediocre side.

1/29/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

This bottle was more rounder and softer than the previous. Seemed a little subdued, lacked lift. Not much tannic structure either, as such there wasn't much mouthfeel - the wine just passed through not leaving much of a lasting impression. Having noted all this, it's still an enjoyable and pleasant bottle. The nose is pleasantly fruity, and the fruit is still intact without any signs of attenuation or old age. It just lacked that edge which turns good wine into great wine.

1/28/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over three nights, with and without food. Vibrant maroon color. Thick legs. When first poured into a glass the aromas really leap from the glass and permeate the room. Spruce, licorice and a little iodine/iron. The nose is full but not overbearing - balanced. Like the nose, the palate is quite full, but very balanced. Earthy, with gingerbread and hints of slate. There's nice concentration on the fruit but also the perfect amount of acidity to just shape and frame the fruit. Very clean. Not a lot of complexity, but there's great length and density as well as finesse and harmony. Was equally enjoyable alone and with food, also was just as tasty on the third night as the first. A very enjoyable bottle - it possesses some of those tantalizing intangibles that makes good Burgundies so alluring - you could just keep drinking and drinking.

1/21/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Cloying sweetness intermixed with noticeable wood. Very thin bodied: not a lot of depth or length. Sugar water. I wouldn't score this anywhere close to 90 points, don't know if this is a bad bottle or what, but I'm underwhelmed. But, on the plus side it went great with chocolate-chip cookies.

1/21/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. According to the back label this is a blend of 60% Pinot Gris, 25% Riesling, and 15% Chardonnay. Pungent nose of pineapple, green melon and strawberries with a little cheddar cheese in the background. The palate is simultaneously bright and fleshy at the same time: there's nice acidity balanced with ripe concentrated fruit that fills the palate and coats the tongue. Decent length on the finish. Not a lot of complexity, but it's fresh and clean with no rough edges or noticeable flaws. The Riesling and Pinot Gris are noticeable on the nose, the Chardonnay is noticeable on the palate. Was actually more enjoyable alone as opposed to with food. Pleasantly surprised, would buy again.

1/16/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Initial nose is straight up cheddar cheese (Dubliner Irish cheddar to be specific); as it opens there's additional plum and coffee notes as well. Soft, medium-bodied fruit, the plum on the nose comes through on the palate. Fine-grained tannins give some traction on the back palate, but there's not much acidity. Drank it with a dinner of chicken enchiladas and it didn't have enough punch to hold it's own with the meal. As it opens the wine seems a little tired (past its prime). Basic, straightforward Bordeaux, no bells or whistles.

1/15/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. 14.7% a.b.v. Brickish color with a large, clear meniscus. Powerful nose full of funk and wet earth, with some noticeable oak lingering in the background but nothing too overt. On the first night the palate was nicely balanced between ripe, well-concentrated fruit and bright fresh acidity. Full mouth feel. There's a slight paint thinner quality on the finish. After a few hours it slowly unraveled: the alcohol became very pronounced, the fruit changed from clean and fresh to funky and tired; at first it was definitely a Pinot Noir, as it opened it became more like an unbalanced Syrah/Grenache blend. Was nice with food, not so nice alone. By the second night it became completely unhinged.

1/14/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Dark, opaque maroon. Pungent nose full of baking spices with a little dark berry fruit in the background. Round, soft, full fruit up front (not a lot of acidity). Oaky tannins in the middle cut through the fruit, which is plummy on the palate. The finish has decent length but is rather simple. Clean, straight-forward, medium bodied wine. This bottle was definitely in a good space and I couldn't imagine it getting any better with additional bottle aging.

1/4/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights. Very pungent nose with green bell peppers, coffee and cherries. Medium to light bodied palate, a little sappy, tastes like children's chewable aspirin and tart cherries. Fairly pronounced acidity. Monochromatic finish. Paired it with an unobtrusive meal and it seemed overwhelmed.

1/4/2014 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights with and without food. Dark opaque maroon color. slow, thick legs. Initial nose is sweet and at the same time medicinal (there's an iron/camphor aroma that I've noticed in some Burgundies), a little pencil lead in the background. As the wine opens there's an additional musky layer that appears.
The initial palate is warm, sweet, with real fine-grained tannins coating the back palate. Fresh, ripe strawberries, and a little iron in the background. Nice concentration on the fruit, but it's not overly ripe. Clean, cohesive finish with well-integrated acidity that brightens the palate and keeps the wine buoyant. Balance and harmony, very slurpable.
On the first night it was equally enjoyable stand alone or with food (I paired it with a pasta dish that consisted of rotini sautéed with kale, roasted garlic and chick peas, topped with feta cheese and olive oil and it was a nice accompaniment); by the second night it has lost some of it's exuberance and was strictly a food wine. Very enjoyable.

12/27/2013 - oldgrowth45 Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. This bottle was opened on Christmas night towards the end of a prolific evening of food and drink and it immediately distanced itself favorably from most of the other wines consumed that night. Dark maroon color with bricking on the rim. Very thick, slow-forming legs. Very full, pungent nose of hot asphalt and orange zest. Initial palate has full-bodied, ripe fruit that coats the tongue, however, there's a decent amount of acidity that keeps the fruit from seeming to dull and plodding - finesse, balance. Long finish. There's concentration and at the same time energy. Was as enjoyable the next night as the first.

12/26/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Yellow, straw color. Yeasty nose with some lemon curds in the background. A very fine bead. A balanced palate that was rich and dense up front but very crisp on the finish. The fruit was clean and full-bodied. Drank this alongside a 2010 Argyle sparkling wine, and this bottle was a definite cut above the Oregon wine. It was more satisfying.

12/26/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Pale straw color. Very fragrant nose of Jasmine and a little citrus. On the palate there's lots of round, soft fruit, but it lacks grip and acidity. The palate is rather monochromatic lacking depth and character. The finish fades quickly. I paid $11.00 and that's about right price-wise (I wouldn't pay much more). A simple wine, but there are no flaws.

12/23/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Dark, dark maroon color. Thick legs. Smoky nose with dark berry fruit intermixed with a little soil in the background. Ripe, full-bodied fruit on the palate, but there was a faint bitterness in the background that detracted from the overall experience. Big on the palate, but lacked depth. I drank this over two nights, and on both nights the nose seemed more vibrant and lively than the palate, which seemed either shut down or just really tired.
I bought it from an online auction and paid a fair amount ($70.00 including the vig and shipping) and it didn't live up to expectations. I've had far more enjoyable bottles for far less dough.

12/23/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

The few other bottles of B. F. I've had in the past seemed like a Spinal Tap amp with everything turned up to 11 - big, ripe fruit full of extraction framed by lots of oak, more like a California Pinot than Willamette Valley. This bottle was full-bodied but definitely not over the top. Dark maroon color. Orange zest and cinnamon on the nose. The fruit was juicy and covered the palate, but there was a nice tannic structure that gave the wine some traction. There was also a nice streak of acidity that kept the fruit from seeming flabby. A couple enjoyable change-ups on the back palate, and nice length on the finish. Was equally enjoyable with food and by itself. Nice stuff.

12/22/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Very dark ruby color. The nose seemed a little subdued on both nights, not showing much interest. On the first night I paired it with Cassoulet and it was big and had dark smoky fruit, but it lacked any traction, it was very soft and round. On the second night I paired it with a veggie soup and it was benign. There's concentration and density, but the flavor profile was rather simple - lacking complexity. The finish was full but simple. On both nights it was good but not great - clean, fresh fruit but lacked razzmatazz.

12/22/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food and it was equally enjoyable in both instances. Very expressive nose full of jasmine flowers and a little lemon curds in the background. The initial palate is very expressive and bright. The midpalate is balanced with ripe fruit and delineating acidity. There's some sweetness on the finish that offers a enjoyable counterpoint to the brisk acidity. Clean, fresh, energetic and very slurpable wine.

12/18/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights. Very light color, with a large clear meniscus. On the nose there's fig paste, tar, and a little dirty sweat socks in the background. The initial palate is sweet with metal shavings in the background. The mid-palate is full but one-dimensional. Not much concentration on the back palate. Seems a little tired and burnt out, yet at the same time there's noticeable alcoholic heat on the finish. Was anticipating a transcendent experience but this bottle lacked that extra dimension, decent but certainly not great.

12/17/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Very dark ruby color. Figs and hazelnuts on the nose. Lots of chocolate on the initial palate. Fine-grained tannins balance the fruit nicely. Rich, full-bodied palate but not overbearing or unbalanced. Sweet, but not cloying. Long, harmonious finish.

12/16/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

First night notes. Very pale (almost clear) straw color. Slow, thick legs. A mix of grapefruit and peaches on the nose. The initial palate is viscous, there's bland fruit, some acidity. Mid palate is one dimensional and light bodied. The finish is listless and dull. I paired it with an assortment of cheeses as well as a rich, hearty dinner with sausage and roasted veggies, and in all cases it was very anemic (I coulda been drinking Welches grape juice).
Second night follow up - paired it with a variety of local seafood, no significant changes or improvements from the first night.

12/16/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Super pale (almost clear) straw color. Very fine bubbles. Very floral nose - jasmine flowers and orange blossoms. The palate is also floral with a little nuttiness in the background. Ripe fruit, one dimensional flavor-wise, but nice acidity gives balance and interest on the palate. Light bodied. Definitely brut. Finish fades fast. Clean, tasty, slurpable, and ten bucks, everything you'd want in a Prosecco.

12/7/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Pale straw color. Thick legs. Pungent nose with musky tropical fruits and citrus. Thick, full-bodied tongue-coating palate yet light on the finish. A bright streak of acidity cuts through the fullness and cleanses the palate. Great food wine, I paired this bottle with various cheeses, saucy pasta dinner, veggies and it went well with all of them.

11/27/2013 - oldgrowth45 Likes this wine:

A very vibrant nose with a licorice/graphite/camphor thing up front and boysenberries in the background. The palate is firing on all cylinders with ripe, spicy fruit, well-placed acidity and slightly drying tannins. Lots of length, but not a lot of depth, on the back palate and a clean energetic finish. Great food wine (I paired this bottle with roasted chicken and veggies and it was spot on).

11/1/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Actually consumed this bottle a few weeks ago (I had a free day today, so I'm trying to catch up the cellar a little). The overall impression from this bottle was ripe, plush fruit emphasizing dark cherries and blackberries (some oak on the periphery). Full on the palate, but not over the top. Decent acidity gave some balance, but the fruit was front and center. Not much complexity, the finish was actually kinda empty which was surprising given the fullness of the fruit. Not much pizzazz. A very middle of the road (slightly generic) wine.

11/1/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Light maroon color. On the nose, it almost smells like Gamay Noir (there's something about the nose of '07 Will Valley Pinots that's very distinctive). The initial palate tastes like fresh strawberries. There's plenty of acidity framing the fruit, but it's not excessive, nor is the fruit under ripe and tart. Good length on the finish. To be sure, this is a light-bodied wine with high-toned fruit, but I think it avoids the shortcomings of many '07 wines (for example, some folks tried to make up for the lack of ripeness in the fruit by using too much oak which was a disaster). This is a great food wine.

11/1/2013 - oldgrowth45 Likes this wine:

Dark maroon color. Lots of cinnamon on the initial nose followed by boysenberries (kinda smells like a berry cobbler). Fresh, ripe fruit on the initial palate; this gives way to great balance on the mid-palate - tannins, acidity and fruit all working together harmoniously. It's a full-bodied wine but elegant at the same time. There is noticeable oak on the back palate. Long finish.

10/1/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Drank over two nights, with and without food. Medium maroon color, with moderate bricking on rim. Slow-forming legs. Spicy nose - cinnamon, orange peels, and a little licorice mixed with fresh crushed raspberries. The initial palate is spicy like the nose. As it opens, there's nice fruit still lingering on the mid-palate. There's a little bit of sappiness on the back palate, but there's also some attenuation (a little thin and weedy on the edges) and steaminess.
If I were drinking this blind, I'd guess Willamette Valley Pinot: it just didn't distinguish itself in a meaningful way. Well made and clean, but lacking that extra dimension

8/25/2013 - oldgrowth45 wrote:

Pop and pour. Bright, limpid maroon color. The initial nose is very bright and expressive with lots of oak and dusty, earthy fruit (very '07). At first there's lots of fruit and interest on the palate, but as it opens up, it becomes increasingly tart and thin. Don't know if it's in a "phase" or just a victim of the '07 blues. Even still it's a nice bottle, not bad just a little thin and reedy.