Pinot Noir

From the idiosyncratic wine maker John Thomas.  While 2008 is considered a great vintage in the Willamette Valley, it was ripe and not really up John's wheelhouse, yet, he adapted and made a wine consistent with his style and taking what the vintage offered.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight Kirsch and just a hint of spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, big cherry fruit with underlying spice.  13.5% abv.  There are also firm tannins, not something you get much with Pinot Noir.  It was be interesting to let the tannins resolve and there is pl

There is a lot of controversy about this American producer.  I won't go into the here except to say, all the wines I personally purchased and opened so far have been at or above expectations.  Pop and pour.  Light ruby in color, slightly hazy which is not uncommon in Burgundies.  The nose is very nice.  Earthy with slight mushrooms, cherries, slight cranberry notes and just a bit of funk.  Medium bodied with tart acidity (in a good way).  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with underlying earthiness and slight mushrooms.  Still on the youthful side of full maturity.  That said at age eleven,

At age 19, this is doing just fine with no signs of being past prime.  The vineyard has since been bought and is now part of the Burgundy producer's Louis Jadot winery in Oregon.  Darker ruby in color, mostly opaque and looking a bit flat at this point.  On the nose, there are cherries, black cherries and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with some underlying dry forest floor.  Long finish.  It has a nice depth and complexity.  At this age, all bottles are different (it uses a natural cork), but well stored bottles should last another decade.  It drin

This is a Pinot Noir from the new Orin Swift Cellars.  Like many of his wines, there will be a subsection of people who won't like it because it is too big and too ripe.  Those people will also dismiss those who do like it as being "the masses".  The thing is, "the masses" are not buying $50 Pinot Noir's.  It is a matter of style and preference.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, baking spices, slight chocolate and figs.  Full bodied.  On the nose, this has raspberries, slight confectionary sugar notes, a hint of black pepper with some cherries on the finish. 

Tasted over two nights, it was better on the second.  This carries the name Pinot Noir on the label as well.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries, rhubarb and slight cherries.  Also, a slight dill note.  Odd as this sees no wood at all.  On the palate, the red fruits carry thru if a bit thin.  There is a green note especially on the finish.  This was disjointed on opening but with air settled a bit.  It is an easy going Pinot Noir that is unremarkable in most aspects.  It will work better with some lighter food, perhaps chicken salad.  Dirnk over the next couple of ye

Gorgeous wine.  Pop and pour, this kept improving.  Still needs another ten to twelve years to maturity.  Ruby in color with slight brown hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, black cherries, black tea, and moist earth.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is layered but tight.  Complex layers of earth, cherries and spice.  Light tannins.  Still has plenty of fruit and also oak to  integrate.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should easily go another twenty to thirty years.  Drink on its own or with any fowl or hearty sea food.  This could easily work with a roast or