September 6, 2020 - While I am enjoying this wine, it’s as annoying as hell that with 14 different 2008 Evening Land bottlings listed here on CT, no certainty I’m writing about this specific wine. Label says “Oregon Pinot Noir”, Willamette Valley nowhere on the bottle. But at least the photo here on CT matches my bottle.
This bottle shows clean, still-fresh Pinot fruit, good acidity still, refreshing and youthful. Impressive and more than suggestive that Oregon pinots may have serious age worthiness(??)
April 25, 2020 - Beautiful! Drank this pinot from the acclaimed 2008 vintage and it lived up to it's vintage's lore. Straight out of the bottle with a nose of fresh strawberries this medium bodied pinot danced in my glass making it hard to resist trying it only moments after awakening it from its 12 year sleep. Taste did not disappoint. The freshness of the nose of this wine continued in its taste with flavors of wild, small strawberries I grew up with in Sweden (some of the best tasting strawberries!!!). Its color was a bright, beautiful ruby red..
July 26, 2015 - Good but a distracting ethanol like flavor that takes a few hours to blow off
November 15, 2014 - Ooh, there is nothing like an fine Pinot Noir from Willamette. Enjoyed on an autumn evening, this final bottle of Evening Lands has landed where I hoped it one day would: Outstanding. Lovely ruby in the glass, with fine legs. An enticing nose of spices and berries. Black, red, and blue berries tantalize the tongue, with baking spices on the finish (and dare I say, a hint of pumpkin?!).
May 1, 2014 - Light, bright, and alright. Time has not improved Evening Lands to live up to my high expectations. Yet it is quite good.
June 16, 2012 - Not partIcularly Oregon in its aroma or palate. But quite nice anyway. Medium body. Floral nose. Cherries and berries to enjoy. Decent finish. Very good even if not very distinctive.
March 9, 2012 - This bottle was good
August 8, 2011 - A pretty juicy pinot noir that left many of the blind tasters to peg it as a California wine. Compared to the floral perfume of my previous bottles, this was far more elementary with smoke, red fruit and warm spices. Not nearly as good as my previous bottles.
July 21, 2011 - Clear, dark ruby red. Nice nose showing floral notes and red fruit. Very basic palate. Red fruit, good acidity, tannic. Nothing that sets it apart from the pack. Decent finish.
June 10, 2011 - Decanted 1 hour. Dark, virtually opaque color. Reticent nose of some red fruit and earth but lacks depth. Very fruit-forward on the palate in a way that is atypical of this vintage. How did they make this wine is 2008? Seems disjointed and overripe to my taste. Nothing wrong with the wine - indeed it's quite pleasant with food - but it is not typical of Oregon in this great vintage. May as well have come from Santa Barbara.