2017 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills- USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (11/28/2019)
Well, the case arrived about a week ago & I decided to break my “rules” to try one out early. I’m damn glad I did, this is flat out Gorgeous!! It’s been open for about 8 hours and the bottle was 3/4 full when I started this note. This is deeper in color than the 2010 or 2011 were, it kind of reminds me of a hybrid between 2012 & 2016 vintages.
A deep ruby core leading to a lighter shade at the meniscus. Scents of high toned red fruits, spice, with a hint of Rose & lilac that fades away softly as if the final note of an opera lingers in the theatre hall. Medium bodied with notes of raspberry, bing cherry, and clove come together in a long, slow finish. Outstanding!!!
There is some serious structure here, but the balanced, delicate wine I’ve come to expect feels a little weightier, and intense in 2017. I think this is going to have a long, LONG life with good storage. At 13.2% ABV this light-medium bodied beauty has a bit more oomph than I tend to seek out in Pinot Noir. However, what this really reminds me of is a young Echezeaux or Les Suchots.
Thank you Kirk! Thrilled to see this note. This was my fist year to receive an offer, so I shall be receiving 8 750’s along with 2 magnums and am eager to follow their maturity. Normally I like to wait a few months when I receive a shipment from All Ways Cool, but it sounds as if this will be quite a challenge.
Thanks Kirk. Mine arrives tomorrow. I haven’t touched any for several years. It is good news that this one is approachable young. I need to go back to CT notes on some of the vintages I have to see how they are developing.
2011 & 2010 are both in a great spot but I assume will continue to improve with age. 2014 is very “warm” and reminded me of what I don’t care for in California, but was a wine others found to be quite delicious. 2015 & 2016 have more structure than the 2014’s and seemed more balanced. My preference was for the 16 over the 15. I don’t know what will come from the 2013’s. There seems to have been some additional fermentation going on with this vintage. It’s the one vintage I’ve decided not to age for fear that they’ll go from kind of enjoyable to not at all. As much as I liked the 2017 I opened, this is a vintage I’m burying deep in the cellar and will try to forget about. I think like the 2012’s this is going to take a decade or two to start really showing it’s full potential. My reference to Echezeaux was really that it reminded me of the 2010 Anne Gros Echezeaux I opened in 2018.