2008 Sportoletti Grechetto (Assisi)

Source: Zachys

Consumption Date: 2/28/2012

Notes: Rich aroma of ripe fruit (green grape and lemon with hints of pear and melon) and minerals.  Relatively full bodied with a nice round fruitiness (a balance of melon and grape with a bit of lemon) and a pleasantly chalky minerality.  Moderately long minerally finish.

This is one of those pleasant surprises that somewhat random wine purchasing periodically offers up – a very pleasant, well made, surprisingly enjoyable and complex wine from an unassuming appellation at a very favorable price point.  This wine offers a full richness balanced with nearly perfect acidity and minerality, yet it is priced such that it could be enjoyed as an every day table wine.  I will certainly be seeking out other examples of this grape from Umbria.  Very good to excellent value.

2003 Archery Summit Pinot Noir 'Arcus Estate' (Willamette Valley)

Source: PJs

Consumption Date: 2/25/2012

Notes: Fine aroma of candied fruit with a hint of dry wood.  Light to moderate body with elegant structure.  Mild ripe fruit (dark cherry and blackberry) framed by strong, dry wood notes evolving into tar and spice notes with more dry wood on the long finish.  Moderate plus tannins.

This is yet another interesting take on Pinot Noir, although this wine suggests California to me much more than Oregon or Burgundy.  Although this is clearly a well made effort, it has clearly seen a lot of wood (more than I believe it should have).  The wood notes are dominant while the fruit is very reserved (more so in the taste than the aroma).  The tar note was also unexpected (and not entirely welcome).  Although this wine should have tolerated more age (at least according to Wine Spectator), I am nearly convinced that Oregon Pinots should be drunk relatively young (a theory that I anticipate testing).  I have also noted in the last couple of Oregon Pinots I have drunk that they have actually been better when I have finished the bottle one to a few days later.  I will be interested to see if that is the case with this wine.  Below average value.

2004 Ken Wright Pinot Noir 'Carter Vineyard' (Willamette Valley)

Source: Viscount

Consumption Date: 2/18/2012

Notes: Interesting deep earthy, musky aroma that is highly reminiscent of Burgundy (although it doesn’t quite hit “barnyard”).  Surprisingly light bodied with more musky earthiness, mild wood notes, and a modest hint of black cherry fruit that carry through, with a mild mineral tang, on the medium finish.  Mild to moderate tannin.

This wine is carrying through some of the themes I am beginning to associate with Oregon Pinot Noir, although with a bit more complexity and character than the Lemelson Thea’s Selection I recently had.  In particular I am noticing the strong, but not quite Burgudian aromatics, the distinct lightness in body, and the prominence of wood-derived flavor components.  I am finding the light bodied nature of these wines to be a bit off-putting, as this quality does not seem to support the strong flavor profile particularly well.  I am also wondering if these wines should be consumed significantly younger, as they don’t seem to be holding on to a lot of fruit (although it is difficult to determine how much fruit was there to begin with).  I’m more on the fence about Oregon Pinot now than I was previously, but I guess I will have to drink some more of these wines to determine if the first couple I had were exceptional or if the wines I have had recently are more typical.  I will also have to try some younger wines to see what influence age has on them.  Average value.

2004 Lemelson Pinot Noir 'Thea's Selection' (Willamette Valley)

Source: Zachys


Consumption Date: 2/10/2012

Notes: Deep musky, earthy aroma.  Surprisingly light bodied with bright fruit flavors (mostly red cherry), fine acidity, and a distinctive minerality, but also giving a surprisingly watery impression.  Finishes fairly quickly with more crisp acid minerality, musky fruitiness, and an intriguing herbaceous note.  Mild tannin.

This is yet another interesting take on Pinot Noir.  While this wine seems to be aiming for Burgundian territory, to me it seems like more of a hybrid between Burgundy (especially in the aroma) and New Zealand (in the bright acidic fruit) with a distinctive minerality all its own.  It doesn’t have quite the weight or presence I associate with the few other Oregon Pinots I have had.  The minerality and the watery midpalate give an impression almost of Burgundy flavored mineral water (but with more depth on the finish) which is a bit offputting.  As always, I wonder if this would have been different/better consumed a few years younger.  It should prove interesting to compare this with other Oregon Pinots I plan to drink in the near future.  Decent value.