April 27, 2024 - This is an absolute masterpiece of a wine. Hot vintage in Oregon with lots of wines showing pruney notes for a long time and this wine astounds. Relatively clean for a Cameron wine. Showing a touch of effervescence and zingy acidity, red raspberry fruit and autumnal bitter tea, Just a delight. Well stored bottles have some time to drink up but why wait ?
November 3, 2019 - Oh my, this was even better than anticipated. The Arley's is always my favorite among Cameron's cuvees, and this was no exception. Reflects the warm 2006 vintage, still lush and rich, but with ample acidity and structure. Explosive on the nose: raspberry, soil, a hint of flowers and sea breeze. Stored at cellar temp since release, this is throwing quite a bit of fine sediment, but still has years of life ahead. Quintessentially OR pinot, just delicious.
June 6, 2014 - Ruby color. Notes of cherry, florals- violets, minerals and dust. Red fruits and cherry, clove, mineral on the palate. The acid on the palate really stood out on the second pass through which caused me to guess Burgundy instead of Oregon. 90-91 pts.
April 9, 2014 - 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.
January 25, 2014 - Beautiful classic Cameron nose. Just past its peak, I would drink it now. Its still great but starting to brown.
April 4, 2012 - Drank over two nights, with and without food. 13.2% a.b.v. Very dark brickish maroon color. Medium legs. Initial nose shows some classic Cameron/Jory funk along with violets, iron filings, and cinnamon. Initial palate is full of well-ripened fruit. Low acidity, but given the heat of the vintage, there's nice balance to this bottle. Well-placed tannins as well as a little minerality on the mid palate help to further frame and positively define the fruit. Full, but clean back palate, and nice length on the finish. Showed equally well alone and with food. I can see this bottle appealing equally to folks who prefer full-bodied pinots as well as those who like a little more spine and structure in their pinots. Well-made bottle. Nice.
December 14, 2009 - Nice dark toned cherry and red fruit, some strong cola presence. On the larger side of what gets me really thrilled about pinot, but this bottle was rocking good.
November 26, 2009 - Thanksgiving Dinner (Dietra's House, Portland OR): Pop & pour. This is the wine I brought as a pairing to the turkey, and it did so quite well, even overshadowing the bird somewhat. Quite big and fruity for a Pinot, 2006 vintage non-withstanding. Deep garnet in color, with a beautiful raspberry and saddle leather nose. Flavors of cherry, leather and a nice earthiness, finishing with a bit of sweetness that was surprising. This wine is so well-integrated, it was enjoyable to drink. I ended up kidnapping the bottle over to our table and spent more time enjoying the wine than eating my dinner. Nice work, John Paul.
August 22, 2009 - Wow, killer bottle of wine at the moment. Saturated, dark red for a pinot. Very slight EtOH on the nose when first opened, blew off to show great medium red fruits, almost dark cherry. On the rich, extracted side of the spectrum for my tastes, but killer at that side. Great fruit, lush mouthfeel. Very spicy finish, baking spices etc. Wonderful bottle of wine, hard not to open the last bottle I have in the near term.
April 30, 2009 - really nice stuff - a nose that is brimming with earth, forest floor. And still a lot of red fruit. Balance ok.
I keep feeling this is the worst vintage in this millennium, but at the same time I have been lucky enough to try some really good wines (Cameron, Hamacher, Scott Paul, Willakenzie, St Innocent) so what I take away is that winemaking matters a lot. not really an insight for which you get the nobel price in physics... Another feeling I am developing with the 06 is that while the best wines have the balance to make the cut, the acidity levels in many generally speak for early drinking - or just another vintage... Which is a pity since I have a couple of very important anniversary celebrations where it would have been nice to have some longer term oregon pinot. But that's what globalization is all about I guess - Bourdeaux and Burgundy may do just as fine...