This is an unusual little dessert wine, as it's a sweet Pinot Noir that is not fortified. Rather, it's finished with a bit of residual sweetness. It's a pleasant sipper with aromas of orange slices candy, raspberry and violet, followed by ripe flavors of cherry juice, fresh raspberry and a hint of chocolate in the finish. Rating: Excellent Production: 71 cases Alcohol: … [Read more...] about Abiqua Wind Vineyard 2011 Sweet Noir Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $22
Oregon
Raptor Ridge Winery 2010 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $38
Susan Meredith and Frank Mitchell own this vineyard planted in 1988 in the McMinnville AVA, a region that is renowned for producing darker and somewhat brooding Pinot Noirs. This example from Raptor Ridge in Newberg opens with what can only be described as Burgundian aromas of minerally earth, saddle leather, forest floor and black truffle. On the palate, it reveals flavors of … [Read more...] about Raptor Ridge Winery 2010 Meredith Mitchell Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, $38
Erath Winery 2010 Bishop Creek Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $50
Yamhill-Carlton is one of the most interesting AVAs in the six small northern Willamette Valley growing areas. Like nearby AVAs, it is based primarily on elevation. But instead of focusing on a particular landform (such as the Dundee Hills, McMinnville and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs are), Yamhill-Carlton has a low-lying island in the middle that is not in the appellation. Thus, the … [Read more...] about Erath Winery 2010 Bishop Creek Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, $50
Erath Winery 2010 Dion Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
This is a new addition to winemaker Gary Horner's impressive lineup of vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs. The two-decade-old Dion Vineyard is an early ripening site of the northern Willamette Valley. We can see why Horner wanted to single out this wine, as it is one of the finest efforts we've tasted from the challenging 2010 vintage. This opens with complex layers of aromas, … [Read more...] about Erath Winery 2010 Dion Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, $50
Erath Winery 2010 Prince Hill Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $50
Planted in 1983, Prince Hill has developed into one of winemaker Gary Horner's favorite vineyards. In fact, he makes no fewer than four separate Pinot Noirs each vintage from Prince Hill's grapes. This includes three different clones, resulting in a delicious and complex wine. It opens with aromas of homemade caramel, rose petal, smoke and raspberry, followed by flavors of … [Read more...] about Erath Winery 2010 Prince Hill Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $50