August 23, 2014
Pinot Noir Parade
(USA edition)
WildAire Cellars is the shared dream of the husband and wife team of Matt and Jean Driscoll of McMinnville, Oregon. In 2000, Matt and Jean got married and decided to take a chance and move from Virginia to Oregon in their quest for Pinot. Beginning in 2005, after Matt had gained experience working in wineries throughout Oregon, Wildaire was opened, and has only continued to grow. The name “WildAire” comes from the name of Matt’s family estate in Roanoke, VA. The name was discovered carved into a granite fireplace mantle in a long since forgotten remains of a hotel on McAffee Knob near Roanoke, and is a tribute to Matt’s home and family. Their winemaking philosophy is classic, taking fruit from some of Oregon’s best vineyards and gently guiding them through fermentation. All of the wines are aged in French Oak barrels with about twenty to sixty percent of them new for each vintage, and are tasted throughout their time in barrel to ensure the best quality.
Wildaire Cellars Timothy Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($24.95) $20.90 special
Winery notes “Abundant aromatics of cherry, rose petal and clove, linger with hints of oak. A silky entry gives way to broad, mid-palate flavors of cherries and baking spices and a medium finish. This approachable Pinot is easy to enjoy with a variety of meals.”
Wildaire Cellars Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $40.90 special
Winery notes “Aromas of dark cherries, plums, and violets, are coaxed from the glass. The soft entry leads to flavors of cherry, blackberry, and caramel, with sweet, abundant tannins and an incredibly long finish. Enjoy this wine with an herb encrusted rack of lamb.”
Wildaire Cellars Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $40.90 special
Winery notes “Lovely aromatics of cherries, clove, and bramble, integrate with toasty oak and rose petals. The soft entry evolves into flavors of cherry, plum, vanilla, with ample fine grained tannins that coast into a long finish. Try this wine with roasted pork loin and a pinot- Dijon mustard demi glace.”
Arriving the first week of September
Purple Hands Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013 ($24.95) $20.90 special
Wildstock Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($29.95) $24 special
Roco Knudsen Vineyard Dundee HillsPinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Black raspberry, cola, rose pastille and a hint of woodsmoke on the perfumed nose. On the palate, gently sweet dark berry flavors are lifted and firmed by juicy acidity and a touch of allspice. The spicy quality gains strength with air and carried through a long, seamless finish, which shows just a hint of dusty tannins. Very approachable now, but has the depth to suggest that a few years of cellaring would be rewarded.”
Roco Marsh Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Vivid ruby-red. Sexy spice-laced black raspberry and cherry-cola aromas are complemented by deeper notes of mocha and licorice. At once lush and lively, offering broad dark berry flavors and a bracing kick of peppery spices. Silky tannins shape the finish, which clings with excellent clarity and persistent smoke and spice notes.”
Roco Private Stash #10 Wit’s End Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2012 ($79.95) $66 special
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Heady, exotically perfumed aromas of black raspberry, cola, Asian spices, vanilla and pungent flowers, with a bright mineral quality adding lift. Offers intense, palate-staining dark berry and rose pastille flavors that become spicier and weightier with air. The mineral element returns on the subtly tannic finish, adding focus and cut to the persistent blackberry and cherry-cola flavors.”
Roco The Stalker Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Vivid ruby-red. Aromas of pungent dark berries, black tea, cola and lavender, with a spicy nuance adding lift. Expansive blackberry and boysenberry flavors are lifted by gentle acidity and a hint of blood orange, which adds refreshing cut. Finishes smooth, sweet and long, with lingering smokiness and soft, round tannins.”
Roco Wit’s End Vineyard Chehalem Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Sexy, spice-tinged red and dark berry aromas pick up subtle smoke and floral pastille qualities with air. Fleshy and broad on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a jolt of allspice. Silky tannins build on the finish, which lingers with excellent focus and length and insistent berry fruit character.”
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright red. Exotic, spice-laced red berry and floral pastille aromas pick up a smoky quality with air, showing a pure, nervy character and a hint of musky earth. Sappy, incisive and focused on the palate, offering intense raspberry and cola flavors and a palate-numbing peppery kick. Gains in sweetness with air, picking up a bitter cherry note that carries through the long, gently tannic finish.”
Seven Of Hearts Special Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $44 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Intense dark berry and floral pastille aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola, anise and smoky minerals. At once fleshy and lithe, showing excellent clarity and lift to its black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors. Brighter red fruits emerge with air and carry through a strikingly long, seamless finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and a hint of spicecake. Bet on this concentrated, lively pinot to reward at least another six-plus years of aging.”
St Innocent Freedom Hill Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($41.95) $37 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(28% new oak): Limpid ruby-red. Tightly focused cherry and black raspberry scents open up with air and are complicated by notes of cola, allspice and dried rose. Sappy, mineral-tinged bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors show very good focus and pick up a hint of smokiness with air. Fleshes out slowly on the persistent floral finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins. Based on this pinot’s power and structure I’d bet on it rewarding at least a decade of patience.”
St Innocent Momtazi Vineyard Mcminnville Pinot Noir 2012 375ML ($21.95) $18 special
St Innocent Momtazi Vineyard Mcminnville Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright red. Ripe red berries, sassafras and orange pith on the pungent nose, with a peppery quality adding lift. Spicy and precise on the palate, offering slow-to-open bitter cherry and raspberry flavors and a hint of rhubarb. Becomes sweeter with air and finishes with serious thrust, dusty tannins and an exotic floral pastille note that lingers with excellent tenacity. By all means let this one sit in a decanter, or a cool, dark spot, so that it can stretch out.”
Aberrant Cellars ‘Carpe Noctem’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($59.95) $49 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright red. Deeply pitched dark berry, cherry pit, anise and woodsmoke scents show very good clarity and pick up Indian spice and floral pastille qualities with air. Juicy, penetrating and precise, with vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors lifted and sharpened by tangy acidity. Shows excellent depth and power for the vintage, finishing sweet, smoky and very long. This sexy wine got 50% new oak but it doesn’t show in an overt fashion.”
Alexeli Winery Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 ($27.95) $24 special 5 bottles available
Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Reserve Series Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Reserve Series Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special 5 bottles available
Winemaker’s notes: “2012 Nuthouse Pinot Noir comes from the low-elevation, warm, southeastern slope of our Lone Star Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Brilliantly garnet in color, the aromas are initially delicate and ethereal, hinting at fresh rose petal and red earth. As it opens up, more complex aromas emerge of dark chocolate, anise, and wild cherries. The mid palate is deep and creamy, poised against firm tannins and long, savory acid. You’ll want to drink it right out of the gate, as this 2012 vintage comes to you fully assembled, but don’t sleep on aging this little beauty, as she’s got many, many years to go in the bottle. Grilled venison loin with saffron white beans, almond romesco, and bone marrow toast.”
Ayres Lewis Rogers Lane Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 ($34.95) $29 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Sexy, expressive red and dark berry scents are complicated by five-spice powder, potpourri and smoky minerals. Pliant black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors are given spine and focus by tangy acidity and a hint of white pepper. The spicy quality builds on the clinging finish, which features supple tannins and echoing dark berry character. One could thoroughly enjoy drinking this fruit-driven pinot now, with a little air time.”
Ayres Perspective Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 ($29.95) $26 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid red. Intensely perfumed aromas of black raspberry, spicecake and fresh rose, with subtle mineral and woodsmoke nuances adding complexity. Fleshy and seamless, offering sweet red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors and building spiciness. The berry quality resonates strongly on the finish, which features silky tannins and suave cinnamon and star anise flourishes.”
Ayres Pioneer Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 1.5 LITER ($89.95) $72 special 2 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright red. Intense red and dark berry scents are complicated by notes of potpourri and sandalwood. Smooth and open-knit, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of white pepper. A bitter orange zest note adds a gripping sensation to the finish, which hangs on with very good tenacity and only a hint of tannins.”
Ayres Pioneer Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Musky cherry, blackberry and candied rose on the nose, plus notes of musky earth and star anise. Sappy, smoky and deeply concentrated, offering sweet red fruit and licorice pastille flavors and showing an exotic Indian spice nuance. Opens up nicely with air, picking up a hint of cola. Finishes on a youthfully tannic note, with firm grip, lingering spiciness and excellent persistence.”
Beaux Freres Beaux Freres Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 ($89.95) $81.90 special 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Bright violet color. Explosive, seductively perfumed aromas of black raspberry, potpourri, smoky Indian spices and cola, with an intense mineral quality adding lift and focus. Sweet, penetrating and deeply concentrated, offering an array of red and dark berry flavors and suggestions of five-spice powder, mocha and candied flowers. Reaches every corner of the palate, showing a suave blend of richness and vivacity, with no rough edges. Finishes spicy, smoky and extremely long, leaving an alluring dark berry liqueur note behind.”
Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($59.95) $54 special 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Dark ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of blackberry and candied cherry are complemented by suggestions of lavender and licorice. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering weighty dark berry and ripe cherry flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. Expands and deepens on the finish, which features supple tannins and suave floral pastille qualities.”
Belle Pente Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($24.95) $21.90 special 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “(12.3% alcohol): Bright red. Raspberry, candied flowers, cola and blood orange on the perfumed nose. Silky and open-knit, offering sweet red fruit flavors and a touch of allspice emerging with aeration. Refreshingly taut and focused on the finish, which shows just a hint of dusty tannins.”
Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010 ($34.95) $29.90 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid red. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry, Asian spices and fresh rose. Juicy, penetrating and pure, offering vibrant red berry and bitter cherry flavors that gain flesh and weight with aeration. Darker fruit notes come up on the clinging finish, with its lingering floral and spicecake qualities. Very suave pinot, with the balance to age but plenty of upfront appeal as well.”
Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 ($34.95) $29 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright, hazy red. Assertive smoke- and spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry pit, sassafras and incense. Supple, tangy and sharply focused on entry, then broader in the middle, offering smoky cherry, blood orange and dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter herbs. Shows a refreshingly tangy quality on the finish, which clings with outstanding tenacity and no obvious tannins. Distinctly elegant in style, showing the best attributes of this cool vintage.”
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2009 ($44.95) $37 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes candied dark berries, Asian spices and potpourri, with a bright note of blood orange gaining strength with air. Juicy, expansive and seamless, offering open-knit black raspberry and cherry flavors and a suggestion of candied rose. Shows excellent clarity and power on the finish, leaving notes of singed orange and cherry-cola behind. This exotic pinot is complex enough to drink now with little guilt, but I suspect that it will be even better with another three to five years of bottle age.”
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 ($44.95) $39 special 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright ruby-red. A highly complex bouquet displays sexy red berry preserve, incense and candied rose scents, along with suggestions of cola, mocha and allspice. Sappy, deeply concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors are lifted and braced by juicy acidity and show excellent clarity and thrust. Closes with palate-staining intensity and sweetness, leaving suave floral and Asian spice notes behind. Impressively balanced and fine-grained, with serious cellaring potential.”
Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010 ($38.95) $33 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright ruby-red. Heady, exotically perfumed aromas of cherry-cola, raspberry liqueur, star anise and freshly turned earth, along with notes of incense and smoky herbs. Stains the palate with intense red fruit flavors that gain weight and sweetness with air. Manages to be powerful as well as energetic, finishing with outstanding focus and gently tannic persistence.”
Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 ($34.95) $29 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Highly perfumed aromas of red fruit liqueur, Asian spices, rose oil and musky underbrush, with a subtle touch of smokiness in the background. Silky and penetrating on the palate, showing very good clarity to its spicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. The spiciness builds on the finish, which is firmed by silky, building tannins. Quite elegant in style and balanced to age, although it’s already delicious.”
Bergstrom Wines Cumberland Reserve Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir 2012 375ML ($21.95) $19 special 10 half bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Dark red. Spicy raspberry and rose pastille aromas are lifted by a mineral quality and pick up a hint of orange zest with air. Offers juicy, gently sweet red fruit flavors, with hints of bitter herbs and cola building on the back half. Closes spicy and long, with a strong echo of red berries and smooth, well-knit tannins that sneak in late. This is the best example of Bergstrom’s entry-level pinot bottling since the 2008.”
Bergstrom Wines Cumberland Reserve Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir 2013 ($44.95) $39 special 10 bottles available
Bergstrom Wines Bergstrom Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2012 ($99.95) $85 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry, Indian spice and potpourri scents are lifted by a smoky mineral quality. Sweet, deeply pitched black raspberry and cherry cola flavors are given lift and cut by juicy acidity and pick up a rose pastille quality with air. At once rich and lively, finishing with superb clarity, palate-staining length and harmonious tannins.”
Bergstrom Wines Shea Vineyard Yamhill- Carlton Pinot Noir 2013 ($69.95) $57 special 12 bottles available
Bergstrom Wines Silice Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2012 ($69.95) $59 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied red fruits, spicecake and incense, with a smoky mineral quality emerging with aeration. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, showing sweet black raspberry and rose pastille flavors and a touch of five-spice powder. Closes sappy and very long, with silky tannins lending grip. This fruit was sourced entirely from the de Lancellotti vineyard, which is owned by Josh Bergstrom’s sister, Kendall, and her husband, Paul de Lancellotti.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cuvee du Tonnelier’ Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Cameron Dundee Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 ($34.95) $29 special 12+ bottles available
Chapter 24 Vineyards ‘The Flood’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 375ML ($31.95) $27 special 3 half- bottles available
Chapter 24 Vineyards ‘The Flood’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 750ml ($61.95) $54 special 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Vivid ruby. Powerful aromas of dark berry preserves, cola, licorice and lavender are energized by a bright mineral flourish. Palate-staining boysenberry and black raspberry flavors are given bite by a hint of blood orange. Sweet and broad on the long, sappy finish, which repeats the floral note and shows just a trace of tannins.”
Chehalem Wines ‘RR’ Ridgecrest Vineyards Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2009 ($69.95) $59 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer and Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright ruby-red. Ripe raspberry and cherry on the perfumed nose. Lush and expansive, offering densely packed red fruit compote flavors that become brighter and spicier with air. A spicy note comes up on the clinging finish, which shows a seamless, fleshy character. This hefty pinot would work well with rich red meat dishes or strong cheeses.” ST
Coelho Paciencia Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Bright red. High-pitched aromas of strawberry, blood orange and white pepper, with a musky rhubarb nuance coming up with air. Lively and sharply focused, offering spicy red fruit flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Racy and clean on the finish, which shows no obvious tannins and a zesty orange pith quality.”
Crowley Entre Nous Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2011 ($32.95) $27 special 1 bottle available
De Lancellotti Onelia Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $39 special 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright ruby. Asian spice- and rose-accented scents of raspberry and cherry-cola, with a hint of smokiness in the background. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering sappy red berry and cherry compote flavors and a hint of licorice. Clings very nicely on the finish, which features silky tannins, repeating smokiness and an exotic floral pastille note. Balances power with vivacity smoothly and drinks very nicely right now with a bit of aeration.”
Elemental Farrar Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 ($31.95) $26 special 1 bottle available
Winemaker’s note: “There’s a ton going on here. Opening with buoyant blue and black fruit and black pepper accents, it expands towards both the red and black fruit spectrums, dishing out bing cherry, elderflower and dark chocolate notes. Makes you want to eat grilled duck. Now. Only 96 cases made. Elemental Cellars is the personal label of Steven Westby, winemaker for Witness Tree. Steven has been telling us about this wine since he put it in barrel.”
Evening Land Seven Springs Silver Label Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2011 ($59.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid red. Spicy cherry and red berry aromas are complemented by zesty minerality and a hint of potpourri. Bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors put on weight with air, showing a silky texture and slow-building sweetness. At once powerful and lively, with the berry and mineral notes echoing on the focused, persistent finish.” ST
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2,700 cases of Evening Land’s flagship 2011 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard–comprised of around half Pommard and half Dijon clones–is striking for its immediate display of carnal and mineral dimensions: smoked and roasted red meats, saline and alkaline sea breeze emerge already in the nose, accompanied, to be sure, by ripe dark berries. Tart-edged elderberry and blackberry inform a polished and vivaciously bright palate and correspondingly exuberant, sustained finish. There isn’t an ounce of fat or of superficial sweetness here, and an undertone of forest floor and wet stone sets a somewhat somber contrast with the refreshing juiciness of fruit acidity; but the upshot of this dark-light paradox is both intrigue and sensual appeal. Look for high performance through at least 2022.”
Evesham Wood ‘Cuvee J’ Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2011 ($44.95) $38 special 11 bottles available
Evesham Wood Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2012 ($27.95) $24 special 6 bottles available
Winemaker’s note “This is in essence the reserve bottling to our Willamette Valley Pinot noir and quite a representation of the 2012 vintage. An intoxicating nose of dusty berries, dark cherry and raspberry, slightly sweet earthy shitaki mushroom with chewy tannins. 625 cases produced.”
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2011 1.5 LITER ($69.95) $59 special 3 magnums available
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2011 375ML ($21.95) $17 special 2 half- bottles available
Evesham Wood Mahonia Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($31.95) $26 special 9 bottles available
Harper Voit Strandline Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($37.95) $30.90 special 5 bottles available
Hazel Hill Pinot Noir 2013 ($17.95) $14 special 12+ bottles available
From Ayres winery
J Christopher J.J Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($19.95) $16 special 12+ bottles available
Winemaker’s notes: “The wine is plenty dense and nicely textured on the palate, with an expansive and palate-coating character and fruit flavors of the ripe blackberry persuasion with blue fruit highlights. There’s bright acidity to help balance all the fruit, and little to no tannin – the wine goes down well even at this young age. It’s a bit of a fruit bomb that deserves a higher price tag.”
J Christopher Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($29.95) $26 special 12+ bottles available
J Christopher Lia’s Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Lia’s Vineyard lies just up the hill from Olenik on Chehalem Mountain, but has a completely different style. It has a full, juicy mid-palate, but remains seductively elegant, with a complex interplay of fruit and minerality. The finish is long and tinged with spices. A gorgeous wine!”
J Christopher Olenik Vineyard Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2011 ($44.95) $37 special 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “This powerful wine is from a very warm site not far from us on Chehalem Mountain. It is dark and deep, with an enormous, explosive blast of fruit and minerals on the palate, followed by firm, but supple tannin. It’s a monster, but with a charming side!”
J Christopher Sandra Adele Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2011 ($44.95) $37 special 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “A lovely, sachet-like herbal and floral melange in the nose–with rose petal and lavender prominent–is complimented by fragrant and juicy evocations of cherry and red currant. Silken and caressing but at the same time bright and juicy, this acquires salted caramel, veal stock, and faintly sweaty carnal-mineral notes in a long finish that preserves all of the captivating floral, herbal, and berry allure promised on the nose. I would anticipate a fine show through at least 2022. 146 cases produced.”
Ken Wright Nysa Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2011 ($59.95) $47 special 1 bottle available
Ken Wright Savoya Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir 2012 ($59.95) $49 special 7 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Pomegranate and raspberry fruit are highlighted with sharp scents of orange flesh and peel. The buoyant acidity and overall tightness suggest that this will continue to evolve and improve over the next several years. It’s lightly spiced with a well-managed touch of new oak.”
Lazy River Pinot Noir Yamhill Carlton 2009 ($37.95) $18 special 12+ bottles available
Lemelson Vineyards ‘Six Vineyards’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($21.95) $18 special 4 bottles available
Winemaker’s notes: “Six Vineyards Pinot noir is farmed and produced using the same organic viticulture techniques and attention to detail as all of our Pinot noirs. The result is a high quality example of Pinot noir at a modest price. The 2012 may be our best Six Vineyards yet. With fragrant, spicy aromatics, the nose combines dried flowers, red currant, cherry compote and earth. Meanwhile, the silky, lithe palate intermingles spice and red fruit to create a vibrant reflection of a vintage that might, if the winemaker was not careful and attentive, produce heavy, high alcohol wines. Bottled for the first time under screwcap, this wine has a long life in bottle and can be stocked away by the case and enjoyed for years to come.”
Lorelle Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($19.95) $16 special 7 bottles available
Maison L’Envoye The Attache Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($41.95) $37 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright ruby. Deeper and darker in character than the Two Messengers, with intense cherry and black raspberry aromas and notes of cola, violet and woodsmoke. Broad and fleshy on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering intense dark berry flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Shows very good energy and lift on the finish, leaving smoke and floral pastille notes behind.”
Maison L’Envoye Two Messengers Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($31.95) $27 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright ruby. Sappy berries, Asian spices, minerals and fresh flowers on the fragrant nose. Then suave and juicy in the mouth, with excellent cut and purity to the tangy red berry and rose pastille flavors. Penetrating and powerful yet at the same time elegant and light on its feet. Finishes silky and very long, with resonating spiciness and no obvious tannins.”
Matello Durant Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2011 ($37.95) $31.90 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(made with 40% whole clusters): Bright red. High-pitched red berry and floral scents are complemented by Asian spices and smoky minerals. Tangy and precise, offering intense strawberry and bitter cherry flavors with sexy star anise and allspice nuances. A silky, graceful rendition of pinot that finishes with excellent clarity and lift and fully integrated tannins.”
Matello Souris Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($41.95) $36 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(from fruit grown in the Whistling Ridge and Durant vineyards; made with 55% whole clusters and raised in 40% new oak): Vivid red. Vibrant red berry and Asian spice aromas are given depth by notes of vanilla and licorice and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Juicy raspberry and cherry-cola flavors tighten up in the mid-palate and show very good clarity. Finishes spicy and long, with silky tannins adding structure.”
Matello Whistling Ridge Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 ($37.95) $31.90 special 12 bottles available
Maysara Cyrus Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010 ($39.95) $29 special 12+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “A cuvee favoring a balance between the lowest- and highest-elevation portions of Momtazi, the 2010 Pinot Noir Cyrus spent 18 months in 30% new barrels. Strongly reminiscent of forest floor and roasted meat pan juices, this also boasts forward, tart-edged red raspberry and red currant, along with a maritime salinity, alkalinity, and hint of kelp. It finishes with invigorating penetration and persistent complexity. There isn’t the refinement of tannin here that I experienced with the ostensibly lesser Jamsheed cuvee of 2009, but I am inclined to view the present wine as simply structurally well-undergirded, and it should be worth following for 6-8 years.”
McKinlay Ladd Hill Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($37.95) $33 special 4 bottles available
McKinlay Special Selection Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 10 bottles available
Omero Cellars Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 ($39.95) $33 special 11 bottles available
Patricia Green Dollar Bills Only Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013 ($17.95) $14 special 12+ bottles available
Patricia Green Durant Madrone Block Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of black raspberry, potpourri, star anise and cola. Densely packed, appealingly sweet red and dark berry flavors show liqueur-like depth, with juicy acidity and a zesty mineral nuance providing verve. A sexy oak spice note comes up with air and carries through a long, sappy, alluringly sweet finish, which shows supple, fully absorbed tannins.”
Patricia Green Estate Vineyard – Old Vine Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 750ml ($39.95) $29 special 12 bottles available
Patricia Green Estate Vineyard – Old Vine Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 1.5 LITER ($99.95) $79 special 2 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Brilliant red. Smoky, sharply focused aromas of dried cherry, sassafras, potpourri and mocha. Chewy, energetic and subtly sweet, offering very good depth to its bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors. Tangy acidity gives lift and vivacity to the persistent finish, which features fine-grained tannins and a lingering floral nuance.”
Patricia Green Estate Vineyard – Old Vine Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright ruby-red. Ripe cherry and blackberry on the deeply perfumed nose, with notes of allspice and woodsmoke adding complexity. Smooth, broad and sweet on the palate, offering fleshy, mineral-tinged dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors enlivened by juicy acidity. Seamless and spicy on the finish, which betrays no tannins and shows excellent clarity.”
Patricia Green Estate Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 ($29.95) $24 special 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright red. Raspberry and cherry-cola aromas are complicated by rose oil and black tea. Shows the vibrancy and cut of the vintage, offering lively red fruit flavors and a touch of pepperiness on the back half. Closes spicy and long, with very good clarity and no obvious tannins. This pretty wine is drinking nicely now.”
Patricia Green Freedom Hill Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($34.95) $29 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Brilliant ruby. Highly perfumed bouquet evokes candied red fruits, rose oil, musky underbrush and cola, with a sexy Asian spice overtone. Takes a darker turn on the palate, offering sweet blackberry and floral pastille flavors and a touch of candied licorice. Spicy, penetrating and appealingly sweet on the subtly tannic finish, with the berry and cola notes echoing strongly.”
Patricia Green Whistling Ridge Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2010 ($39.95) $33 special 10 bottles available
Patricia Green Balcombe Vineyard Yamhill Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Suave, mineral-accented raspberry and cola aromas are complicated by a sexy touch of candied flowers. Lively and alluringly sweet, offering vibrant red fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, intense spiciness and a hint of mocha. Finishes very long, with vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors given grip by fine-grained tannins. As approachable as this wine is now, I’d wait another four years or so before diving in.”
Patricia Green Freedom Hill Vineyard Pommard Clone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Ruby-red. Deeply pitched cherry, blackberry and Indian spice aromas are lifted by a captivating rose oil quality. Juicy and densely packed, showing serious power to its red and dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola and spicecake flavors. Coats the palate while coming across as energetic and precise. Finishes with very good vivacity and length, with chewy tannins adding structure and grip. Here’s a ’12 that confounds the generalization that this is a universally forward vintage.”
Penner Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($41.95) $37 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Intense raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by white pepper, allspice and smoky minerals. On the palate, juicy, sharply focused red fruit flavors stretch out and gain weight with air. Finishes on a lively spicy note, with very good length and sneaky tannins. Distinctly elegant for the vintage and very enjoyable now.”
Penner Ash Estate Pinot Noir 2012 ($69.95) $59 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid ruby. Aromas of ripe blackberry, cola, lavender and allspice, with subtle vanilla and mineral qualities in the background. Fleshy and silky in texture, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors that are given lift and spine by juicy acidity. Becomes spicier and livelier with air, finishing with resonating florality, a touch of smokiness and smooth, slow-mounting tannins. I like the blend of richness and vivacity here.”
Purple Hands Le Nouveau Monde Pinot Noir 2012 ($79.95) $69 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, potpourri and woodsmoke are lifted by a zesty mineral quality. Juicy, spice-tinged red and dark berry flavors put on weight and gain sweetness with air. Lively and precise but concentrated too, finishing with excellent clarity and length and supple tannins that add grip.”
Winemaker’s notes: “Rich silky tannin of red, black and blue fruits laced in mineral earth balancing around layers of cinnamon spiced clove. 150 case production. Our favorite six barrels from the entire 2012 vintage. Two barrels from each the current Pinot Noir vineyards.”
Ransom Selection Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2012 ($24.95) $21.90 special 8 bottles available
Winemaker’s note: “A selection of four exceptional vineyards in the Willamette Valley, the 2012 Selection Pinot Noir reads like an idyll to its picturesque home. A rich garnet color in the glass, the wine opens with lush, vibrant aromas of black cherry, Nootka rose and forest floor. Savory flavors of elderberry and sarsaparilla balance a mineral vein and sweet earth on a palate deftly punctuated with fine velveteen tannins and juicy acidity. The finish is long and resonant. Exceptional now, we believe it will continue to evolve for at least a decade.”
Roco Clawson Creek Vineyard Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $40.90 special 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light and vibrant, with fine tannins encircling a lean core of earthy cherry fruit, persisting gently on the delicate finish. Drink now through 2018. 250 cases made.”
Roco Marsh Vineyard Yamhill Carlton Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $41.90 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Sexy, high pitched red berry and floral aromas are complicated by notes of spice cake and vanilla. Closes with very good focus and energy, leaving a spicy note behind.”
Scott Paul La Paulee Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($39.95) $31.90 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “(made from fruit grown in the Dundee Hills, Ribbon Ridge and Chehalem Mountains AVAs): Light red. Sexy aromas of red berry preserves and incense, with a spicy topnote and a hint of blood orange. Racy and precise on the palate, offering pure raspberry and cherry flavors that show an appealing sweetness. Closes silky and long, with resonating spiciness and no obvious tannins. Shows the finesse of the vintage to very good effect.”
Trisaetum Trisae Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($27.95) $28 special 12+ bottles available
Trisaetum Ribbon Ridge Estate Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $39 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Bright ruby-red. Pungent smoke- and spice-accented aromas of dark berries and cherry, with a hint of candied flowers in the background. Shows very good clarity and lift to its bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors and picks up a bitter orange pith nuance with air. Finishes sweet, gripping and persistent.”
Twig & Twine Pinot Noir Bieze Vineyard 2012 ($24.95) $21.90 special 9 bottles available
Made by Walter Scott Wines
Walter Scott Clos des Oiseaux Vineyard Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright violet color. Scents of black raspberry and mulberry, with notes of smoky herbs and rose oil adding complexity. Plump, gently sweet dark berry and cherry flavors show good depth and pick up spiciness with air. This pliant, spicy pinot finishes with very good cut, soft tannins and lingering sweetness.”
Westrey Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011 ($24.95) $19 special 9 bottles available
Westrey Abbey Ridge Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2011 1.5 LITER ($89.95) $79 special 3 magnums available
Westrey Abbey Ridge Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2011 750ml ($39.95) $36 special 2 bottles available
Westrey Abbey Ridge Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $36 special 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright violet color. Smoky cherry and dark berries on the nose, with hints of licorice and dried flowers building in the glass. Sappy and focused, offering bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors and a touch of succulent herbs. Finishes spicy and tight, with an echo of smokiness and strong tangy bite. Quite lively for a 2012: this shows the nerviness that I associate with better 2011s.”
Westrey Justice Vineyard Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red and dark berry, cola and potpourri scents are given en exotic twist by notes of incense and smoky Indian spices. Offers palate-staining black raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that are sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity and a touch of white pepper. Becomes livelier on the penetrating finish, which shows excellent clarity and depth and gentle tannic grip.”
Westrey Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010 ($31.95) $28 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright red. Intense cherry and black raspberry aromas show excellent clarity and pick up smoke and Asian spice nuances with air. Sweet, penetrating and seamless, with strong punch to its bitter cherry and dark berry flavors. The spicy note comes back strong on the finish, which features supple tannins and a suave floral pastille flourish.”
Witness Tree Pinot Noir Estate 2012 ($31.95) $27 special 5 bottles available
California Pinot Noir
Stock List – All Available Now
Byron Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2012 ($19.95) $11.90 special 12+ bottles available
Evening Land Occidental Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2009 ($119.95) $89 special 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Pinot Noir Occidental is gorgeous. Sweet, silky tannins frame an expressive core of fruit in this refined, subtle wine. The finish is refined and haunting. Shatter was a big issue here in 2009 and lowered yields significantly, but the positive side of that is that the wine has more than enough stuffing to handle its 100% new French oak with grace. This is a striking wine from Evening Land. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.”
Kalin Cellars Cuvee DD Alexander Valley Pinot Noir 1999 ($44.95) $39 special 12+ bottles available
Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2011 ($99.95) $79 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Deep ruby. Heady scents of raspberry, cherry-cola, floral oil, Asian spices and vanilla. Juicy and penetrating, with superb inner-mouth perfume to its sweet red fruit and candied rose flavors. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with excellent clarity, breadth and persistence.”
Poe Hudson Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special 9 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “The Hudson Pinot Noir is by far our most feminine. The nose gives off aromas of roses and violets, sweet red berries and spice. There is a rush of raspberries, cherries, and a silky lingering texture. The beautiful acidity and luscious mouth feel linger with soft, cashmere-like tannins.”
Poe Manchester Ridge Mendocino Pinot Noir 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special 9 bottles available
Winemaker Note “The Manchester Ridge is earthy and wild. There is an explosive array of aromatics including pine sap, earth, fresh herbs, flowers, pie spice and berries. On the palate is dark red cherry, rhubarb, plum, spice, with a freshness and structured acidity. The finish is long and generous. The 15% whole cluster gives the wine incredible complexity and hits of fresh herbs that should be picked for the kitchen. Smelling this wine immediately takes me to the vineyard, high in a forest on the Mendocino Ridge.”