OLD OREGON PINOT WITH TRAVIS AND FRIENDS - Little Bird (8/23/2013)
Travis sent out word that it was time to finish off the last bottles from various cases he’d accumulated over the years. A few of us brought some accompanying bottles and we dined on charcuterie board, torchon with peaches, fried sweetbreads, snail tortellini, cassoulet, braised pork shoulder, duck breast and some other stuff.
Bubbles
As is his custom, Shane brought the bubbles. I left a half ounce in my glass for the entire meal just to savor the nose.
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1990 Fleury Pere & Fils Champagne Cepages Blancs Brut - France, Champagne, Côte des Bars (Aube), Champagne
More evolved than the mag. Hazelnuts on the nose, then evolving into Pecorino and more earthy scents but the acidity too. nice lemon. On the palate, the lemon was very forward. after 3 hours in Pinot glasses, I got nice Shiitake mushrooms. In a great place but enough acidity that it could continue to age.
The Judgment of Portland Flight
Sadly the Amity was corked.
I brought the Carneros Creek and Dan (winemaker at Johan) thought John Paul of Cameron was the assistant winemaker on it. Dan texted him during dinner but we didn’t hear back.
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1976 Carneros Creek Winery Pinot Noir - USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Light color but no bricking or obvious signs of tiredness. Very funky nose of ripe Camembert. Thin mouthfeel that didn’t develop any weight with air. Dry Balsa wood on the finish. Perhaps Mr, Jennings had a superior bottle as this wine wine feel over a 91 point wine.
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1976 Knudsen Erath Pinot Noir Vintage Select - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
My notes are “Wet. Earth. Mud”. Very few tannins or acidity, just a muddy old bottle of wine.
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1976 Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Nouveau - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
Badly corked. Boo. NR (flawed)
The 77 and 78 Flight
We had Jason Lett of Eyrie’s notes on these vintages and he was spot on. The 78 was a mess.
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1978 Adelsheim Pinot Noir First Harvest Yamhill County - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Pine sawdust on the nose evolving into soy sauce. Hot with some dried cherries.
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1977 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Even on the nose, forward, beautiful cherry fruit. Some hints of vanilla. On the palate, the tartness of under ripe cherry skins with some acidity, then black truffles with totally integrated, silky smooth tannins on the finish. A complete and gorgeous wine.
The 83 Flight
The first of the flights with an Arterberry, and it was arguably the best of them. Seems 30 years is about when to drink them. I would have loved to see them all in the same flight since they all showed well and were such interesting wines. the 83 Arterberry is my 3rd place wine of the night.
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1983 Arterberry Pinot Noir Winemakers Reserve - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Initially nice ocean salinity on the nose, but with air it evolved into fish sauce for a brief but disturbing minute, then it resolved into grass fed lamb. Beautiful red cherries on the palate but still some lamb blood. Fantastic wine in great shape.
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1983 Knudsen Erath Pinot Noir Vintage Select - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Beautiful Strawberry fruit on the nose. Some nice acid but low in tannins. Slate on the finish. A dead ringer for aged Grenache.
My Favorite Flight
Wow, the Cameron was just rocking. I went back and had it side by side with the 77 Eyrie and it was still tough to call a wine of the night. Personal preference, really.
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1984 Cameron Pinot Noir Willamette Valley - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Big strawberries on the nose but very little of the Cameron Funk. Nose presented lipstick for a moment, then settled into root beer. The C-Funk showed on the palate. Nice tannins on the finish. A complete and exciting wine.
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1985 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Oregon - USA, Oregon
Fruit Roll up on the nose, hot and flabby in mouth. Like 03 village Beaune.
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1985 Arterberry Pinot Noir Winemakers Reserve - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Certainly caramelized marshmallows on the nose which I couldn’t get out of my heard so I was convinced of other S’mores scents of Graham cracker. Late to open, perhaps it needs more time. Pine nuts on the finish? Dan thought the cooper was Francois Frere.
The 90 Flight
The Van Duzer the ugly duckling here between two very nice but very different wines. The Arterberry the wine of the flight though.
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1989 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Reserve, Bottle by William Hill Winery, Napa - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
A hot nose, stewed. Perhaps poor storage conditions. On the palate, classic Eola-Amity fruit.
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1990 Arterberry Pinot Noir Winemakers Reserve - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Beautiful nose of dried Herbes de Provence. Light fruit with the tannins still on the big side.Some mold, but good funky mold. A bit of charcoal on the finish. I’d hold this one as it should improve.
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1989 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Super pure fruit carried by nicely balanced acidity. A big wine but pleasant if not terribly complex.
The Ports
After a bunch of mature, earthy, tertiary wines, drinking drank felt funny. The Taylor was head and shoulders the best wine of this flight and the only one I would buy.
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2011 Croft Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
Very fruit forward with noticeable alcohol on the nose. No perceptible tannic structure.
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2011 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
Big raisiny nose with complex and evolving palate. Buy and hold.
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2011 Fonseca Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
Muted Nose that then opened to very sweet prunes. Hot finish.
It’s hard to pick a wine of the night but I’ll go with the 77 Eyrie followed by the 84 Cameron, then the 83 Arterberry. Generally, I found the Arterberry wines just have a beguiling, beautiful nose that makes them special experiences.
Posted from CellarTracker
