2011 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Not a great vintage for Oregon Pinot Noir, Thomas handled the vintage deftly.  This one is in a nice spot right now.  Getting close to peak but still some youthfulness.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, slight nutmeg, and a hint of earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Lovely sinewy texture.  On the palate, nice cherry and sour cherry fruit with underlying spice.  Good backbone of acidity.  Plenty of depth and complexity.  Long finish.  No hurry on this, it should go another ten years based on this bottle.  It doesn't seem like it wil

2002 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is showing some age, but for my tastes was very nice.  The cork crumbled trying to remove it.  The wine came out quite funky but after about 15 minutes started drinking well and by the end of the evening was in top form.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright with a purple core.  Once the bottle funk blew off, there was some cherry notes, fresh and dried, along with merde/barnyard and a slight minty note.  This is mature and the tannins are all just about resolved.  The palate had cherries, black cherries with a nice complexity.  Served blind to friends, some found it old and others t

2016 Mercer Petit Verdot Small Lot Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is interesting.  My understanding is that is mostly a tasting room only wine although there is some limited distribution.  Its unclear if this is 100% Petit Verdot, a grape mostly utilized for blending purposes.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, vanilla and slight baking spices.  Also a bit of a "Bourbon" note on the end.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of boysenberry fruit with firm tannins.  Some slight spice and vanilla.  Moderate finish.  One of those wines that is perhaps more interesting than great but worth checking out and en

2018 First Crush Winery Sangiovese Rapture, Massachussets, Cape Cod, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is an interesting wine.  The grapes are grown at Lanza Vineyards in the Suisun Valley, which is located to the east of the Napa Valley in California (there is a Lanza Sangiovese also on the market) and shipped to Cape Cod where they are crushed and vinified.  Sangiovese is of course the pre-eminent red grape of Tuscany and nearby regions of Italy.  It has been an elusive grape to grow in California (or anywhere else for that matter).  It makes more sense to judge these types of wines on their own rather than comparing to Italy (i.e.

2014 Sineann Riesling, Washington, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Sineann makes some great whites in addition to their more well known Reds.  This is a dynamite Riesling from the Columbia Gorge, one of the few AVA's that cross state lines.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with pineapples, slight honey and minerals.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, just the slightest perception of sweetness.  Minerals, peaches with slight tropical fruit notes.  Good finish.  A different drink than a European Riesling, but this hits the spot on a warm summer evening.  Drink over the next ten years.  It drinks very well on its own but will work with

2020 Sineann Grüner Veltliner Pear Blossom Vineyard, Washington, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Saying this is my favorite Washington (or even Domestic) Gruner Veltliner is faint praise given the paucity of producers.  Let's just say this is an excellent white wine and a terrific value.  Light gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with granny smith apples, slight lime and lots of minerality.  Maybe a bit of a floral note, too.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, apples and limes.  This goes down easy.  Good energy and balance.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foo

2017 K Vintners Syrah Powerline Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted herbs, slight burnt rubber, and a bit of cherries.  Full bodied.  Rich texture.  Lots of vibrancy.  On the palate, good fruit but not as boisterous as some vintages.  Black raspberries, black cherries, with underlying char and roasted meats.  Nice finish.  This is obviously young but drinking well.  It should mature for another five to ten years and drink well for eight to twelve after that.  It drinks great on its own and will work for big flavored foods.  Roasted chicken would work well.  

2015 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Impressive showing for this wine.  Garnett in color, slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black cherry fruit with some underlying earthiness.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity with black cherry fruit.  The finish is a bit short but otherwise a delicious wine.  Still on the young side, this should continue to improve for the next five to eight years and drink for another ten to twelve after that.  A nice wine to serve on Thanksgiving.  

2015 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Louise, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

From the Burgundy producers now long established winery in Oregon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries with some cherries and slight earthiness underneath.  Nice finish.  This is a solid drinking Pinot that is still young and will improve.  Hold for another five years and drink for ten after that.  Brown sugar, Mustard glazed ham would be a nice match.  

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