2005 J. Albin Pinot Noir Laurel Vineyard

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  10/11/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (J. Albin LAUREL VINEYARD Pinot) J. Albin Dear Friends, The Oregon train continues with one of the preeminent holders of the Burgundian flame in the Willamette Valley, J. Albin, and he just received a golden review today of his 2004 Laurel Vineyard from Burghound (who is very tough to crack with domestic Pinot Noir, just see his mid-80’s Marcassin reviews). That being said, the 2004 is only a figment of what the 2005 has in store for you and (unfortunately) this favorite insider source of ours is undiscovered no longer. J. Albin (John Albin) is a believer in terroir - so much so that he has sacrificed any alignment or allegiance with the rest of the Oregon community to stay the course and produce Pinot Noir that speaks to its place with very low alcohol levels. He does not over-extract, he does not overwhelm - even in a vintage like 2005 (that had such strong material), his Laurel Vineyard Pinot Noir is still only 13% alcohol. If there is a new force to be reckoned with in the domestic Pinot Noir sweepstakes it should be a winery like J. Albin (or McKinlay from yesterday) instead of some of the over-done, raisined examples from California that have been anointed as the defining examples of US Pinot Noir. There are exceptions to this statement but I still believe Oregon has more potential to produce transparent and reflective, lower alcohol Pinot Noirs than anywhere else in the US - J. Albin is a very good place to start and his 2005 Laurel Vineyard will be a far reaching favorite among many of our toughest to please Burgundy customers - it is also a tremendous value. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as one of Oregon’s leading price/value stars and for ageworthy domestic Pinot Noir that should gain in complexity and expression without turning into alcoholic brown sugar. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly from the source EXTREMELY LIMITED - the 2005 is highly allocated at the winery: 2005 J. Albin Pinot Noir “Laurel Vineyard” Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA OR8800