Willamette

From the excellent 2002 vintage, this should answer any doubts about whether Oregon Pinot Noir can age and also how it ages.  This was a huge wine on release but now it is mature and drinking beautifully.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, a hint of black cherries, some earthiness and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Wispy, mostly integrated tannins.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Layers of black cherries, sour cherries, earth and slight char.  Great energy.  Good finish.  It would have been interesting to stick this in

This is bottled only in 375ml.  It is a barrel selection blend.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, char and spice.  With air, some licorice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has depth.  Great cherry fruit with some char.  Good finish.  Nice on its own, this would work well with Pork Chops.  Drink over the next ten years.  

This is made in Oregon from artificially frozen Riesling grapes.  It has 23.5% Residual Sugar.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apricots, slight pineapple and simple syrup.  Medium bodied but viscous.  Surprisingly good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of apricots and peaches.  Long finish.  This is very tasty.  A little goes a long way but it drinks well on its own.  It would be good with a barely sweet cookie.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  

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.  

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

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.   

This is drinking well and seems fully mature.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with cherries, slight dark cherries, spice and hints of forest floor.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, layers of fruit and earth.  Complex.  Cherries and dried cherries with a hint of forest floor.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own, but better with food.  It worked well with Thai vegetarian food.  Drink over the next five years before it starts sliding downward.  

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is light with cherry juice, slight rhubarb and slighter sour cherries.  Light to medium bodied.  No tannins.  On the palate, light red fruit.  Easy.  Moderate finish.  This is drinking well and should be drunk over the next couple of years.  It will work better but needs lighter foods.