Oregon

• Columbia Gorge
• Dundee Hills
• McMinnville
• Willamette

This is a very special bottling.

This is a lighter, more elegant style of Pinot that is not often seen (even in Burgundy) these days.  Light ruby  in color, clear and vibrant.  The nose is great with sour cherries, dusty attic, and spice.  Really nice semi-velvety texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and some sour cherries.  Clean.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own, but would be better with food.  A Mushroom Quiche would work well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This winery has recently shut its doors, but there is still wine in the market.  The wine was brought up in a combination of used French oak and steel.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice minerality along with a touch of Meyer Lemon and pears.  Slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, slight lemons along with almonds.  Slightly bitter note on the finish.  This wine has shed its youth but is still drinking well.  Drink over the next year or two.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Thai food.  

Silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with orange peel, salinity and spice.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, peaches with spice.  Long finish.  Overall, a very nice, clean white wine that drinks well alone and will work with lighter foods.  This would work with Lemon-Garlic pasta.  Drink over the next couple of years.

This is a barrel selection of the best barrels of various vineyards and bottle exclusively in 375ml bottles.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries, slight nutmeg and slight char.  Medium bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, sour cherries, some cherries with a lovely texture.  Good finish.  This could use another five to ten years of cellaring but is enjoyable now.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with grilled chicken breast.  

Bought on release at the winery.  This bottle has held up quite well and while mature, did not seem like a 24 year old Oregon Pinot.  Ruby in color with no browning and a bit of purple-ish at the core.  The nose features cherries, sour cherries, some earthy funk and a bit of char.  Medium to full bodied.  Tannins are there but wispy.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cherries and some dried cherries with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drinking well but still, I wouldn't sit on these for too much longer.  Good on its own but better with food.  This would be perfect with gril

This unique blend comes from Oregon.  It is 38% Muller-Thurgau, 28% Gewurztraminer, 22% Riesling and 14% Pinot Gris.  Best guess, this is a blend of wine available after bottling various grapes and vineyards.  This was purchased at a restaurant.  Green gold in color.  Light bodied.  The palate has a varietal complexity.  Easy drinking.  Nice value.  A good choice with lighter foods and it went well with vegetarian pizza options.  

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has  cherries, spice and a slight cola note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit bigger and more intense (in a good way) than I might have expected for this wine.  Black cherries, sour cherries, with some tobacco/forest floor.  There is some depth but it will take some cellaring to unwind the complexity.  Long finish.  Hold for another five to eight years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  The classic pairing would be Salmon. Plenty of upside on the score as it matures.   

For those who like a bit more "Borgundian" style of Oregon Pinot Noir, Thomas is a great choice.  Also, 2008 was a ripe vintage and I am reminded once again, the "great" vintages in Oregon are not the ones where J.

Great showing for this bottle.  It is in a perfect place right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, sandalwood, slight perfumed note and some earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries, slight dried cherries and just a bit of black cherries.  Some earthy funk as it opens.  Long finish.  This is drinking great and close to or at peak.  Drink over the next ten years.  Great on its own, but better with food.  A great wine with Salmon I should think.