Greatest Vintage of Oregon Pinot

WINE TALK
61

2007 newhere

RT

62

We need a ā€œjust fishinā€ emoji

63

Here are some thoughts

http://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2071160#p2071160

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Not to be a negative Nancy, but I never really feel like these type of posts are very definitive or useful. Some people have a very short window to evaluate (Iā€™ve only been drinking these wines consistently since about the 2007 vintage) and others have a very long window, and it seems the latter almost always choose some really old vintage to show their experience/superiority and come off as an elitist :slight_smile:

Seriously though, maybe the most useful responses would be to first list oneā€™s basic frame of reference and then select the favorite. For me itā€™s 2007 - 2015, and I like 2010 the best, but itā€™s merely a prediction. Of that set, only maybe 2 vintages have even started to plateau (07, 09). So itā€™s way too soon for me to provide a really informed perspective.

65

07 because my Minneapolis crew put that vintage of St. Innocent wines on the map. The White Rose was outstanding and one of the best Pinots I have ever tasted from the US. The Critics originally didnā€™t like it but came around later.

Thanks Wine Company and Mark for the tasting!

66

I didnā€™t read this thread (and donā€™t usually agree with this BB on this topic), but I drink a fair amount of Oregon Pinots. In order:

2002
1994
2008
2010
2015 (maybe)

After that no vintage is GREAT. Some good ones and some producers made great wines. Those are the great vintages IMO.

67
  1. The first monumental vintage for Oregon, and the vintage that put them on the map.

Eyrie, Ponzie, Adelsheim, Yamhill Valley Vineyards, Rex Hill, Amity, Sokol Blosser all produced superb wines (not that there were a lot of wineries back then).

68

1999 wasnā€™t too bad either. I seem to recall 1999 was the last year Vlosak worked with Panther Creek, which at the time was still working with fruit from some of the best parcels. There were some tasty bottles. Ring a bell Thomas???

69

Said it many times. 2012 is the single greatest vintage in Oregon. To me itā€™s barely debatable. 2005 and 2008 follow and if 1999 had happened 10 years later it would also be in the mix.

70

Jim, when do you think is the optimal time to open some of your 2012ā€™s? I have a little over a case of your 2012ā€™s and so far have resisted opening any.

Thanks
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Ana (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills) 11.8% Bottles (2)
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Block 1B Balcombe Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills) 17.6% Bottles (3)
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Dijon 115 Freedom Hill Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley) 5.9% Bottles (1)
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Notorious (USA, Oregon, Yamhill County) 11.8% Bottles (2)
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Olenik Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains) 11.8% Bottles (2)
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Pommard Clone Freedom Hill Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley) 5.9% Bottles (1)
2012 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir The Anklebreaker Block Olenik Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains) 17.6% Bottles (3)

71

Iā€™m not sure everyone batted the 2012 ball as squarely as PGC. 2005 and 1999 are top contenders IMHO.

RT

72

I like 2010 more than 2012ā€¦

73

Some how I missed that Berserker CuveƩ in 2012. [snort.gif]

74

I have a decent amount of tasting experience since the 2004 vintageā€¦but nothing like the breadth & experience of Jim Anderson and I routinely align with his palate. My favorite vintage so far is probably 2005ā€¦but the 12ā€™s are getting the most stoage space in the Eurocave based on Jimā€™s suggestion because heā€™s been working & drinking OR wine longer than anyone I know & trust. Iā€™ve had some really enjoyable 96ā€™s though!

75



Yeah, there may be a difference in perspective here. I would put 2002 in the top five though. In fact, the 2002 PG Balcombe 1B-I have five of 6 remaining-is a beautiful but beast of a wine.

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1975 Eyrie South Block (perhaps my favorite all-time Willamette PN but my only sample of this vintage), 1980 Ponzi (tasted at the winery), 1983 (the first vintage I tasted numerous examples), 1985, 1994 with Beaux Freres still going strong, 1999, 2002, and 2008 (my favorite in terms of potential longevity and the broad range of successes. My samplings of subsequent vintages has been limited.
DoctorJay

77

Although perhaps not the ā€œgreatestā€ vintage, Iā€™ve enjoyed an awful lot of beautiful bottles from 2001. And 1993.

78

I thought '07 had LONG been established as the GOAV for Oregon Pinot Noir, by one Bob Woodā€¦

79

The 93ā€™s were lovely, some may still be. Iā€™m out.

The 2001ā€™s will always have a special place for me as that marks the first time I ever managed a spray program and vineyard, then made the wine.

80

Not to be a PITA, but this is one of the most producer-driven regions for me. When I buy, Iā€™m usually buying the long-term house style instead of the one-off vintage weather.

Maybe even more than I do in Burgundy.

Cue pileon [wink.gif]