Tag Archives: Pinot Noir

Wine of the Day: Bergstrom Le Pre du Col 2014 5-17-2016

Bergstrom Le Pre du Col, Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Friday, May 27th

The Le Pre du Col (or ‘meadow on the mountain’) is a bright and fresh Pinot with plenty of body and acidity to spare. It opens with a bright zesty note of spice and herbs. The palate shows notes of purple flowers and red cherries with hints of iron and tobacco. I would give this a few years in bottle before opening or, if need be, 4-5 hours in a decanter before serving.

Le Pre du Col is planted to marine sedimentary soils in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The winery describes the AVA as offering Pinots sweet cinnamon spice and ripe Oregon strawberry and cherry aromas.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bergstrom Silice Pinot Noir 2014 5-15-2016

Bergstrom Wines Silice, Chehelam Mountains Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Friday, May 27th

This Bergstrom bottling takes a turn toward the dark side: the dark berry side. Not unlike the 2013 release, the 2014 Silice is decidedly richer and lusher than the Le Pre du Col bottling. There are aromas of ripe blackberries and Italian plums with ample mouthfeel and a luxurious silkiness. A subtle spiciness on the finish lingers around for a while.

The Silice Vineyard (once named the de Lancellotti Vineyard) is planted on an ancient seabed thrust up by ancient volcanos. The soil is sandy over layers of shale and sandstone, rich in reflective silica. It is a hot, arid vineyard where roots dig deep for scare water.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Evesham Wood Temperance Hill 2013 4-16-16

Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $31.90 special

Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 1.5L ($89.95) Buy Now: $79 special

Why we love it: The aromas! Sizzling red fruit, campfire spice, and herbs… An incredibly seductive wine with nice follow-through; cherry and currant flavors marry into a lasting, bright finish. A balanced and playful wine with very broad appeal. – Tyler

Winery note: “What a special place Temperance Hill is and what special wines come from it. As always, that “Temperance Hill note” is immediately evident on the nose. It’s hard to nail that note–cedar, green tobacco, freshly sawn wood–whatever you call it, it’s always there, but this year right there with it is a cherry and almost strawberry jam component.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Crowley La Colina 2013 4-14-16

Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $51.90 special

The Dundee Hills AVA is delineated in part by the soil, termed Jory. Jory soil is a very old, dark red loam, silt and clay soil formed from the decomposed basalt deposited by 15 million year old lava flows. The soil is well-draining and is credited for giving the AVA’s wines classic red fruit and dusty spice notes. The vineyard in question, La Colina, was planted by George Hillberry in 1999. Since 2005 (first under the Entre Nous bottling and now also as a single vineyard) Tyson Crowley has worked with the non-irrigated vineyard. La Colina is between 450 and 550 feet in elevation and boasts over 6 feet of Jory soil.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day – Evesham Wood Puits Sec 2013 4-9-16

Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special
“Russ Raney founded Evesham Wood Winery in 1986. He studied wine in Germany before eventually moving to Portland to find an ideal US site for Burgundian and Alsatian-style wines. He is now enjoying semi-retirement while importing southern French wines from Clos Canos and Chateau de Cabriac, among others. Erin Nuccio took over as wine-maker and owner after working several years with Russ while also developing his Haden Fig label.

“The estate vineyard, Le Puits Sec, is planted on an east facing slope overlooking the Willamette River. It has iron-rich soils and is planted to several varieties. While the Evesham Wood wines tend toward elegance and the Haden Fig wines towards more fruit-forward notes, both are expressive examples of their (all dry-farmed) vineyards.… Read the rest