October 27, 2020 - Further to my Note of Aug 18 '19: Another half bottle: till holding well, consistent notes, smoky note seems to be receding. Solid Notable+.
August 18, 2019 - Further to my TN of Dec 29 '18: This continues to please with no significant decline--still notable+.
March 8, 2019 - Last of 4 halfsies I picked up for about $10/ea. and I maintain my impression from '16 that the smoky element here is more of a complicating addition than a fault for me. Transparent garnet color. Aromas of smoke, tar, black tea, dry leaves, tobacco, cedar, lemon, dark red fruits, a bit of herbs, and maybe some old potpourri that's been sitting out a while. Medium body, medium (+) acid and finish, with flavors of bourbon soaked cherries, black tea, orange peel, lemon, and barrel spice. Drinking well now and I imagine for at least a few more years anyway. 90-91
December 29, 2018 - Further to my last TN on this wine on Oct 3 '18: Two more hb during the last week of Dec; no decant, no detectable sediment. This is delicious--I like the smokiness--and I'm reminded of the convenience of half bottles. Solid notable+.
October 3, 2018 - Bought 9 half-bottles from Wine Library four years ago for 10/hb; this is my third hb. Decanted as a precaution--no sediment apparent on the coffee filter so not needed. Translucent ruby color, highly aromatic of red fruit and smoke, flavor of mature redcurrant and smoke, very good mouthfeel, overall impression is tasty better Burgundian. Fading after two hours. Delicious with simple food: sauteed chicken breast with herbes de Provence, pasta, and steamed green beans and carrots. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I considered this notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
November 9, 2017 - - Brick color with medium forming legs - Thought it was very good, probably time to drink. Smoke onset 30mins in
January 15, 2017 - great piece of steak made the wine taste better than it should :-)
July 26, 2016 - Smoke of '08 Anderson Valley just won't go away. Tried one two years ago, really rough then. Improved a little since then, but the smoke taint is still there. This wine should never have been bottled. Duckhorn should have bulked it out like many other premium Anderson Valley Pinot Noir producers did. I don't know when I will open the last '08 Migration, perhaps at the end of a large party when friends are less critical. I am scared to try my Goldeneye Pinot, I guess they are next.
July 7, 2016 - [From 375] Transparent ruby to garnet in color. I get the smoke that others mention, but it's not out of whack at all, and in my opinion, adds a nice little bit of complexity to the dark red fruit, black tea, cinnamon, orange peel, and herb aromas. Also dill pickles and and dijon mustard—each whiff is seeming to highlight something else. (I've had this open for maybe 30 mins. or so.) Light to medium body, lightly viscous actually, with medium(+) acid and finish, and simpler than the nose with flavors of cherry, cola, red licorice, and spice. If the flavors were more complex, we'd be onto a real winner, but as it is it's enjoyable and worth every bit of the ~$10 I paid for halves at Wine Library—won't be returning the other 3. :)
91+ nose / 88 palate
December 27, 2015 - This wine was markedly affected by the heavy smoke from fires in the Anderson Valley during the 2008 growing season (see link below):
http://www.sfgate.com/wine/thirst/article/A-smoky-aftermath-for-Anderson-Valley-s-Pinots-3170566.php
I thought this was a great deal on $10.00 half bottles of the Migration Pinot but the smoke is very prominent (think heavily peated Laphroig Islay Scotch) rendering the wine completely undrinkable. . That is not what most people are looking for in a Pinot Noir. Wine Library must have known what they were selling. Shame on them. Returning all 6 bottles for a refund.
Do not buy this if it shows up in an offer again. Plus, you have to pack up and ship back the bottles to them in order to get a refund, wasting the buyers time for returning a flawed wine that never should have been sold in the first place.