Bad TNs on Good OR pinots

WINE TALK
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Been dipping into several OR pinots from recent vintages and figure I’d share impressions. I took no detailed notes so you won’t be hearing about pain grille or pigeon’s blood. Mostly doing this from memory, but many were quite memorable. I’ll start with the older wines and work younger

2008 Westrey Abbey Ridge vineyard pinot noir: very funky on the nose, but not reductive – very Dundee Hills. Relatively dark fruit but light on the palate with surprisingly soft mouthfeel and acidity. Showing more now than last year. If you have some pop one and see what you think.

2008 Belle Pente Murto Vineyard pinot noir: one of the best pinots I’ve had in years. This is the complete package and drinking beautifully. It’s loaded with fruit and spice and everything nice. Great acid. Dense yet graceful with a lingering finish.

2009 J. Christopher Abbey Ridge Vineyard pinot noir: as much as I love this winemaker and this vineyard, the warm vintage shows through a bit too much for my taste. Fruit is present in spades but leans a bit too much to the ripe side. It’s complex and tasty but I don’t think this has a long life ahead. Enjoy now for what it is.

2009 Eyrie Dundee Hills Estate Grown pinot noir: light, beautiful, and balanced. A lot of cherry on the palate with some spice, but definitely red fruited in nature. A pretty wine that is one of my favorites of the vintage.

2011 Evesham Wood La Grive Bleue pinot noir: I’ve been sitting on most of my 2011s and I grabbed this one on a whim. Wow. This wine is singing. Beautiful juicy red fruit, blood orange, mushrooms. My wife said “this is Oregon.” It’s right in my strike zone for what I like about Oregon. Not a blockbuster wine but really well put together and a true joy to drink.

After that EW 2011 I figured I’d check in on more 11’s:

2011 Cameron WV pinot noir: light, somewhat dilute, not overly funky. Very red fruited, which I like, but not much going on. Solid winemaking for the price, but totally forgettable.

2011 Cameron Dundee Hills pinot noir: classic Cameron red fruit and funk. Funk faded on day two quite a bit to reveal a bright red beauty. Either you love this wine or you hate it (Beau). I’m still a fan.

2011 Cameron Reserve: similar to the DH bottle but I detected some sulphur that was distracting. Drank it on night one and the funk never really blew off. Not as perfumed as the DH. I was indifferent to this wine.

2011 Westrey Abbey Ridge pinot noir: Suprisingly approachable at this age. Funky with subtle fruit and good acids. Red fruited in nature. Very Dundee Hills. Give this time if you can.

2012 Cameron Reserve: picked this up from Sec wines and wanted to give it a shot. A little bit of funk upon initial opening but it faded quickly. More dark fruit than recent years but quite light on its feet. Great acid and expressive, bright nose of roses, dark cherries and fresh tilled earth with a slightly meaty/smokey edge to the wine. I actually liked this wine quite a bit.

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Very much appreciated, Ron. I have one 2008 Murto, I keep pulling it out and putting it back. I opened a 2010 a week or so ago, and it was just beautiful.

Michael

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That 2010 Murto is gorgeous.

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Thanks Ron! Seems the 11s are opening up faster than one might expect. I’m glad to hear that on one hand but also sad because I was hoping it would age a while given it’s the last Oregon vintage I’ve bought.

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The EW wine was the only 2011 here that was drinking very well. For the most part the other 11’s I’ve tried are not even close. You’re fine. Sit tight.

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Just bought 3 of the 2012 cameron reserves. Thanks for taking one for the team.

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The J. Christopher Abbey Ridge was one of the few '09’s that I purchased… Was hoping for more than you indicated. I should put a bottle on deck.

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Nice notes, thanks. I lean AFWE as well, but I think I like 2009 overall more than you do. I agree on the 2009 Eyrie. It’s a really nice wine in a great place. I also agree on 2011. Sample them now if you want, but let them sit if you can.

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If I had some icon-thingy that would point to the Belle Ponte Murto, I would signal that this is a nifty winemaker…OK, the '08 might be an outlier for this tasting, but Brian delivers the goods every vintage.

He gets props here on this BB, but I’m happy to shine the light on this guy…and I only have 2 bottles of his “stuff” left! Me needs to get more (duh). [training.gif]

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Great notes Ron. These really help me when talking to customers. I like fruit forward wines and on “good” vintages, Oregon Pinots are more earthy, less fruit. Instead of pointing out the wines I like, which a customer might not, I speak to the wines using your insight and guide them to a wine they will enjoy. Of course, it also is a vehicle to avoid selling the wines I intend to drink.

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In this spirit, Ron, a bad TN on a good OR pinot:

2011 Patty Green Reserve: translucent ruby, some sulfur on the nose, giving way to a bit of spice and red fruit. Light and energetic, cranberry and earth. Shows the vintage beautifully.

Drink now, drink later. For twenty bucks, hard to complain.

Michael

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I have a hard time spending 40 bucks on a PN when the 20 buck ones are so good and 30 bucks brings home some shitty wines. [highfive.gif]
Those M. Elan patsies should just move on over here and forget the dream of RW. [stirthepothal.gif]

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Bad TNs? Hardly.

I remain encouraged by Erin’s 2011 EW efforts. BP did terrific work in 2008 with lovely tannins (compared to many less attractive efforts across the WV) in their Estate and Murto. Patience with 2008 is still prudent. Gotta love the structure of the '11 Westrey ARs. Looking forward to trying the 2012 Cameron Reserve.

RT



edited for grammar

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Awesome. Thanks for the notes. I’ve been visiting a number of 08, 10, & 11s lately. I need to write up some notes.

As for yourself, you might like the 2012s. Good vintage (I have been slightly converted) with nice fruit. Maybe look to Dundee Hills.

Jason

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The 2009 Eyrie Original Vines remains one of the best Oregon Pinots I’ve ever tasted, despite me hating the 2009 vintage. Utterly gorgeous stuff. Gotta love the old vines!