2018 Mellen Meyer Brut Nature, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2024
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from Oregon made from a 55/45 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Pale gold in color with some silvery hues, clear with a nice mousse of tiny bubbles.  The nose is fruity (mostly apples but some pears) and slight oxidation.  With air, some lemons come out.  A bit of mint on the back end.  Good acidity.  On the palate, lemons with a slight herbal note.  Long finish.  This is very nice and drinks well on its own.  Very food friendly, this would be nice to sip with popcorn while streaming.  Drink over the next five years.  Nice value in Sparkling wines.  

2002 Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Nice to revisit this.  The vineyard is now owned by Louis Jadot (of Burgundy fame) but for many years, this was the top wine in the Sineann portfolio and 2002 was as good as it gets.  Now, at age 22, this wine was brilliant.  Deep garnet with slight purple swirls in color, no signs of browning, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, spices, sandalwood, slight earthiness and slight char.  Deep and complex.  Medium to full bodied.  Light remnants of tannins left.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is deep, layered and complex.  Plenty of fresh cherries, some

2022 J. K. Carriere Pinot Noir Vespidae, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is the flagship wine, 100% Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.    Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and night.  The  nose is dusty with black cherries.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, black cherries and cherries with a musky quality that is interesting.  Good finish.  This is an earthy, musky Pinot that Burgundy lovers might really enjoy.  It is nice on its own but would be better with food.  It would work well with some soft, stinky cheese.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2022 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvée, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola-Amity Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

This is a nice, middle-of-the-road in style, Pinot Noir.  Cristom's flagship Pinot is generally a good value and high quality.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, sandalwood and slight baking spices.  Firm tannins.  Soft texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, great cherry fruit with some spice and just a hint of forest floor.  This is very young and needs air or more cellaring.  That said, it is very enjoyable and drinks well on its own.  It will also work well with many foods from grilled salmon to roasted fowl.  Drink over the next eight to fifteen ye

Argyle 2019 Brut Sparkling Wine, Knudsen Vineyard

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Founded in 1987, Argyle wanted to make sparkling wines that could hold their own with Champagne. Comprised of mainly Pinot Noir, there is 4% Chardonnay blended in with this 2019. What at first seems a mild sparkler, with notes of brioche bread, soft lemon and mild apricot, reveals a different side. The stone fruits and minerality come out mid palate and finish strong. Acidity is the real story here revealed with this wine, making this ideal with a variety of foods.

2007 Sineann Pinot Noir Schindler Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

I don't think this vineyard is in production any longer which is a shame as they were the source of some great Pinot Noir.  Luckily, there is still some out there and it is beautiful.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, and spice.  Great texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is deep.  Flavors of sour cherries and slight cranberries.  Long finish.  This is at peak at age 17 but still has about five to seven years at this level if well stored.  Nice on its own but better with food.  It would go well with pasta in a mushroom sauce.  

Argyle 2022 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

One of the great things typical of Oregon Pinot Noir is that these wines have an earthiness to them that California Pinot does not necessarily possess. The fruit is more subdued, and in the case of this Argyle, you get a nice balance, something reminiscent of Burgundy that has expressive fruit, but an earthy, mellow aged quality that drinks very well.

2021 Sineann Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Eola-Amity Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

This is a bit more elegant than most Sineann wines.  Light ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose  has sour cherries and sandalwood.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is very nice albeit not that complex.  It drinks easy with persistent sour cherries.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  It is nice on its own and will well with many foods.  Pork chops would be a great pairing.  Drink over the next six to nine years.  

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