2006 Oregon pinot noir was mostly a pass for me based on all the early reviews of it being a hot, high brix and alcohol vintage. As an East Coaster, I don’t have a lot of options for trying the wineries I like (Thomas, Belle Pente, EIEIO, Cameron, etc…) so I generally make buying decisions based on the reviews of others. I really enjoy Oregon pinots but more for what the wines become over time rather than on release.
In the last few days I’ve opened a 2006 Evesham Wood Willamette Valley, '06 Thomas and '06/'07 Acme. And they are simply superb wines - exactly what I like in aged OR pinot. I’m not sure these wines have another decade in them but at $18 or so for the EW and Acme they were some of the best bargains I have enjoyed this year. And the Thomas is up there with one of the best Thomas wines I’ve ever had and I’ve been buying at least a case a year since 2002.
I certainly like being proven wrong when the result is having some fabulous, albeit limited bottles of wine. Most of the time, iI’m finding good homes for wines that turned into something that is just not my cup of tea.
While not a fan of most 06’s St. Innocent Seven Springs Special Selection opened this week was excellent. Not hot nor showing the dreaded for my palate caramel.
Based on my nearly categorical rejection of the vintage, a weeks or 2 ago Jim A. blind tasted me on an '06 PGC Balcombe (possibly 1B). I thought it was an 02 Evesham Wood. Very nice showing. 2006 is still NOT an AFWE vintage but there’re success stories.
RT
Not a fan of 06 in general, but the EW Cuvee J is flat out terrific.
I like a lot of the 06s but as a general statement, I just don’t find them that interesting. More tasty than interesting. And the palates are generally too big for me but I would expect Evesham Wood to be great. I was very selective with my 06 purchases but still have 20 bottles. Selective producers. St Innocent, EW, Patricia Green, Scott Paul and Cristom.
I did have the 06 Villages Cuvee from SI recently and it was outstanding.
Jason
Now that I think about it, J & I tasted some of these with Russ Raney while sampling the 07s from barrel. Russ was almost sheepish about the 06 ripeness. I didn’t buy his 06s (went deep on the 07s), but they were certainly attractive and among the more restrained options.
RT