2004

2004 Argyle Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, floral

Taste:  A very smooth wine overall.  Hints of spice, floral, and earth

Finish:  Medium with spice, floral, and earth

Evaluation:  A wine more suited to someone not into over the top tastes.  87 points

2004 Argyle Nuthouse Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice, oak, vanilla, damp earth, minor scent of rubbing alcohol

Taste:  A mouthful of spice, cinnamon, oak, vanilla, pepper, medium tannins

Finish:  Multi layered and well balanced and a long finish.

Evaluation:  A winner and highly recommended.  92 points

Hennepin Lake

2004 Le Cadeau Diversite Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$$

Color:  Dark purple

Nose:  Subtle spice, oak, floral

Taste:  Very Burg like not the over the top style of some US producers.  Spice, floral, plenty of tannins (this will age for 10 plus years), and oak

Finish:  Long with floral, spice, oak, and earth

Evaluation:  An advance wine that requires some serious aging.  Don't open for min. of 5 years and you will be rewarded.  92 points currently

Hennepin Lake

2004 Rapture Ridge Shea Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium Purple

Nose:  Smoke

Taste:  Little watered down but well balanced overall with solid currants.

Finish:  A little butter intertwined into the finish.  Nothing over the top.

Evaluation:  A well made wine that should be purchased around $25.  88 points

2004 Andrew Rich Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Smoke, mineral, oak

Taste:  Smoke, mineral, vanilla, oak

Finish:  Medium with a little fruit infused into the earth dominated wine

Evaluation:  Not complex but a good value under $30.  87 points

2004 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir $$$$

Color:  Dark purple

Nose:  Soft and subtle with fruit and a little mustiness

Taste:  Cherry, earth, spice, cinnamon

Finish:  Great!  A multi layered, long finish with cherry and earth and about a minute and a half a buttery note kicks in.

Evaluation:  This is a great wine from a great 04 vintage from Oregon.  If you want to try a top flight Pinot this one is drinking really well right now.  92 points

2004 Domaine Serene Yamhill Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Earth, mineral, spice

Taste:  Earth, spice, floral

Finish:Medium with earth, floral, spice, some fruit noticeable

Evaluation:  Well made overall but not as good as the Evenstad Reserve.  87 points

2004 St. Innocent Pinot Noir “Seven Springs Vineyard $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Heat, smoke and floral notes

Taste:  Floral, plum, spice and wild berry.

Finish:  A mild finish with nothing exciting but around the 30 second mark I was getting a buttery flavor.

Evaluation:  A young wine that will improve with age.  It appears this would get more complex.  90 points

2004 St. Innocent Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$
Color: Light Purple
Nose: Violets, Smoke
Taste: Crushed rock and violets dominate this wine. A little acidic.
Finish: A very long finish over a minute. Picking up tart raspberries.
Evaluation: A great wine that will improve from cellaring. Did not decant this one but would recommend. 92 points

2004 Stangeland Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Fruit, heat, spice

Taste:  Spice, floral, nice fruit

Finish:  Spice, cinnamon with some length

Evaluation:  Not the most impressive nose or taste ever but this wine is in balance and should improve with some cellar time.  Excellent QPR wine!  92 points

2004 Ken Wright Cellars “Liner and Elsen Cuvee Carter Vineyard $$$$

Color:  Extremely dark purple

Nose:  Heat city

Taste:  Spice, pepper, floral

Finish:  Very tannic and hadn't’t developed a smooth finish or may never.

Evaluation:  Nice overall with cellar time needed 88 points

2004 Van Duzer Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $$$

Color:  Dark ruby

Nose:  None

Taste:  Cedar chips, earth and not fruit

Finish:  A taste that came into the finish that no one could figure out what it was.

Evaluation:  A strange taste into the finish that was not pleasant.  77 points

2005

2005 Argyle Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, forest floor, cedar, cranberry

Taste:  Spice, floral and oak dominate

Finish:  Medium with floral, spice, oak, cranberry

Evaluation:  For $29 a good value Pinot.  88 points

2005 Argyle Nuthouse Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

This was the second best wine of the show.  Cherry, floral, raspberry, subtle oak and minerals dancing around the glass.  This is a ripe style of wine and closed with a Screw Cap.  I really enjoy every vintage they make with this line!  93+ points

2005 Ayoub Dundee Hills Willamette Valley $$$$

Color:  Dark purple

Nose:  Cranberry, plum, cherry, raspberry, lots of legs

Taste:  Sweet cherries, floral, spice, mineral, cranberries

Finish:  Up front floral, mineral and spice and weaves into a mouthful of ripe fruit

Evaluation:  My favorite Pinot Noir of all time!  95 points

2005 Boedecker Athena Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice, vanilla, oak

Taste:  Spice, cinnamon, oak

Finish:  Big with spice, cinnamon, and oak

Evaluation:  Earth forward where as the Stewart is all about the fruit. 88 points

2nd tasting 2009

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Strawberry, spice, vanilla

Taste:  Floral, strawberry, spice, vanilla and complex

Finish:  Medium and really good acidity

Evaluation:  Great food wine and this has evolved 92 points

2005 Boedecker Stewart Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, raspberry, floral

Taste:  Raspberry, floral, sweet fruits, strawberries, oak

Finish:  Medium and complex wine that is balanced

Evaluation:  An excellent example of Pinot Noir that costs under $40.  92 points

2005 Cardwell Hill Cellars Estate Bottled Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice, oak, vanilla, floral

Taste:  Spice, smoke, watered down a little

Finish:  Smooth but not concentrated

Evaluation:  average Pinot Noir from Oregon 87 points

2005 Patricia Green Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium Purple

Nose:  Floral, some heat

Taste:  Floral, cola, tannins

Finish:  Cola, Floral with some bit and a medium finish with some bitterness towards the end.

Evaluation:  A little young and should be cellared. 88 points

2005 Stangeland Estate Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Asian Spice, truffles, violets, floral, cinnamon

Taste:  Spice, great acidity, raspberry, strawberry

Finish: Medium and complex

Evaluation:  Really solid wine with tons of potential  93 points

2005 Stangeland Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Chery, floral, mineral

Taste:  Mineral, chery, floral

Finish:  Medium and balanced

Evaluation:  Drinking really well right now in 09 91 points

2005 Wine by Joe (Joe Dobbes) Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light red

Nose:  Floral, strong spice scent

Taste:  Spice, floral and well structured

Finish:  Medium with earth, floral and spice

Evaluation:  If you want to try a great $20 pinot this is it.  88 points

2006

2006 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Light with a little spice and floral

Taste:  Light without much there

Finish:  Short and water down

Evaluation:  Not well made and even close to the 07 77 points

2006 Argyle Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice, floral, raspberries

Taste:  Spice, floral, raspberries

Finish:  Medium with nice balance

Evaluation: Well made 90 points

2006 Argyle Spirithouse Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Medium purple with floral, spice, raspberry.  Certainly needs some cellaring as it was too tannic at this time but didn’t ruin the experience.  I would image add a few points in five years.  92 points

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 Ayoub Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, violets, raspberry

Taste:  Spice, violets, crushed rock, crisp acidity, minerals, raspberry, black berry

Finish:  Big and long with violets, crushed rock, spice, minerals, raspberry, oak, cherries

Evaluation:  This is the best Oregon Pinot Noir I have tasted period!  Decant for four hours!  96 points

2006 Cristom Eola-Amity Hills Louise Vineyard Willamette Valley $$$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Coffee, Asian spices, cranberry

Taste:  Floral, Asian spices, cranberries, mineral, and refreshing

Finish:  Medium and multi layered with concentration

Evaluation:  A great wine 93 points

2006 J Christopher Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Medium purple
Nose:  Floral, spice, strawberry

Taste:  Spice, floral, cinnamon, strawberry

Finish:  Medium and good acidity

Evaluation:  89 points

2006 Foris Oregon Pinot Noir $$

Color: Light

Nose:  Berries, spice

Taste: Pleasant with berries, spice and earth

Finish:  Medium

Evaluation:  A good starter Pinot Noir 84 points

2006 Pappas Wine Company Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice and fruit

Taste:  Sweet fruit featuring strawberries, cranberries and spice

Finish:  Medium and not too tannic

Evaluation:  Good everyday wine 88 points

2006 Patricia Green Cellars Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, floral, earth

Taste:  Spice, earth, mild oak, earthy

Finish:  Medium and mellow tannic quality.  Earth dominated wine

Evaluation:  Very pleasant wine but not a great value.  86 points

2006 St. Innocent Seven Springs Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice, raspberries, floral

Taste:  Very approachable right now with fruit, spice, earth and floral

Finish:  Medium and solid

Evaluation:  Well done 91 points

2006 Stangeland Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Floral, spice, cherry, oak, wild mushrooms

Taste:  Spice, boysenberries, blueberries, oak, vanilla

Finish:  Medium with intense flavors and very pleasing to the palate.

Evaluation:  One of the best Pinot Noir's for the money from Oregon. This is as good as the 2004.  92 points

2006 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Does St. Innocent (Edina Country Club): Color medium purple. Nose of raspberry, cherry, smoke and coffee. The palate shows dark fruits, cherry, oak, vanilla spice and earth. Medium finish and concentrated wine. Should show well for 5 plus years. (93 pts.)

2007

2007 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, floral, ink

Taste:  Spice, floral and ink

Finish:  Medium and soft

Evaluation:  Great Value 87 points

2007 Bethel Heights Eola-Amity Hills Cuvee Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

This was maybe the worst wine of the tasting and it is watered down and featured spice and some floral notes.  If they didn’t pick early I would be shocked!  82 points

 

2007 Bethel Heights Estate Grown Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Light color featuring straw, cherry, spice and minerals.  While not complex it drinks really well for under $30.  89 points

Bergstrom Wines Tasted at a Local Event:

2007 Bergstrom Nysa Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Medium color and aromas of cherry, earth, mineral, and floral.  This was the most Burgundian wine of the lineup.  92 points

2007 Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

A beautiful wine meant to drink on release featuring cherry, raspberry, floral and very subtle tannins.  A medium finish and very balanced.  One of the top wines at the tasting. 94 points

2007 Bergstrom Delancellotti Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Floral, raspberry, strawberries, and minerals bouncing all over the place.  This wine was drinking really well right now and should improve with five years of bottling.  93 points

2007 Bergstrom Bergstrom Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

The most elegant of the Bergstrom wines.  This showcased strawberry, raspberries and subtle tannins.  This is a wine that can be consumer young and enjoyed with a variety of dishes.  94 points

2007 Bergstrom Shea Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Spice, floral, spice, raspberry and minerals across the board.  This wine is classic Willamette Valley Pinot and should improve with some time.  92 points

2006 Bergstrom Shea Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

I was surprised I liked the 07 better as the 06 was a better vintage.  It featured floral, raspberry and spice and had the longest most intense finish of the Bergstrom’s sampled tonight.  91 points

2007 Broadley Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light red

Nose:  Truffles, mineral, spice

Taste:  Good flavor, little oak, truffles and violets

Finish:  Light and flavorful

Evaluation:  Solid example of Pinot 88 points

2007 La Bete Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard- USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Not as good as the 2008 with minerals, mushrooms and damp earth.  Short to medium finish and drink now. (87 points)

2007 La Bête Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County (7/16/2010)
2008 St. Innocent Tasting plus a few More (St. Paul): A nice wine with classic Oregon character. Spice, violets, minerals and cherry. Good concentration on the palate and medium finish. For $25 a nice deal. (92 points)

2007 Le Cadeau Cote Est Pinot Noir $$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose:  Not much on the nose other then some floral and spice

Taste:  Simple with some fruit and earth

Finish:  Shorter then previous vintages

Evaluation:  Not well made   83 points currently

2007 Cardwell Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice, strawberry

Taste:  Simple but good with fruit, floral and light spices

Finish:  Medium

Evaluation:  A nice wine under $20 89 points

2007 Cardwell Hill Pinot Noir Estate Bottled - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (2/26/2010)
Light purple. Aromas of spice, floral, cherry, and strawberries. A light style wine that shows nice flavors. Medium finish and really well made Pinot for under $20. I highly recommend this wine. (89 pts.)

2007 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Strawberry, cranberry, Asian spices

Taste:  Asian spices, cranberry, strawberries, refreshing

Finish:  Light tannins with a nice balance

Evaluation:  Solid intro level Pinot from Cristom 88 points

2007 Elk Cove Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Spice and cherry

Taste:  Simple with spice and cherry

Finish:  Short with a burst of fruit up front

Evaluation:  Simple wine but good 86 points

2007 Maysara Asha McMinnville Pinot Noir $$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Floral, ripe fruit, cherry

Taste:  Ripe and sweet fruit, strawberry, spice

Finish:  A little out of balance

Evaluation:  Not typical Pinot from Oregon 87 points

2007 O'Reilly's Oregon Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light!

Nose:  Violets, cranberries

Taste:  Weak wine with a hint of violets

Finish:  Light and too acidic

Evaluation:  Terrible recommendation from a wine shop 83 points

2007 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/25/2010)
Cranberry, chalk, strawberries and floral. On the palate strawberries, minerals, cranberries, roses and chalk. Good acidity and medium finish. Very nice wine for the price point. (90 pts.)

2007 Patricia Green Croft Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium

Nose:  Spice, cranberry, mineral

Taste:  Spice, watered down and weak

Finish:  Medium but lacks concentration

Evaluation:  A little off 85 points

2007 Patricia Green Cellars Ribbon Cellars Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Floral, spice, cherry

Taste:  Floral, spice, strawberries and earth

Finish:  Complex and mutlilayered wine with spice, earth, floral, and strawberries

Evaluation:  Really good 91 points

2007 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Old Vine Ribbon Ridge - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (4/15/2010)
Color is light purple. Nose reveals floral, spice and plums. On the palate this is very complex with floral, spice, strawberries, and soft tannins. A medium, multilayered finish. I would drink these 07s up in five years as they are great right now. (92 pts.)

2007 Patricia Green Cellars Balcombe Dundee Hills Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Light purple

Nose:  Elegant with spice and strawberry

Taste:  Strawberries, spice, floral, sour cherries

Finish:  Complex with flavors jumping all around the mouth

Evaluation:  A wonderful effort!  93 points

2007 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Balcombe Vineyard Dundee Hills - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (4/15/2010)
Very elegant nose with spice, strawberry, and rose petals. On the palate it shows nice fruits featuring strawberries, sour cherries and subtle spices. Medium finish and good acidity. One of the better 07s from Willamette I have sampled. (93 pts.)

2007 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Spice, floral, strawberries

Taste: Simple with floral and spice

Finish:  Medium

Evaluation:  86 points

2007 Stangeland Oregon Pinot Noir $$

Color:  LIGHT Purple

Nose:  Strawberries, smoke

Taste:  Light wine with strawberries, spices

Finish:  A little bitter

Evaluation:  This is not the 06 by any means 84 points

2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Cuvée - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Does St. Innocent (Edina Country Club): Medium purple. Nose of raspberry, floral, cherry and spices. Light concentration on the palate but nice with spice, floral, cherry and forest floor. Medium finish and a bit of oak and vanilla emerge. Solid overall and it might improve a few points. (92 pts.)

2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Does St. Innocent (Edina Country Club): Medium purple. Nose of funk, floral, cranberry, and clay. On the palate this rocks with spice, cherry, white pepper, and roses. Good acidity and concentrated wine. Really balanced and for an 07 maybe the wine of the Vintage for Willamette. (95 pts.)

2007 St. Innocent Zenith Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Chalk, bitter, wood, and some fruit trying to emerge.  Not my style of wine and the weakest of the lineup.  87 points

2007 St. Innocent Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

I always enjoy the Shea wine and this should blossom down the road.  Medium purple with raspberry, mineral and floral notes with a solid backbone.  Cellar five and come back to it.  90 points

2007 St. Innocent Justice Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

This was the best right now!  Five years no clue but this is drinking well right now.  This wine features smooth tannins, raspberry, and mineral, smoke and light oak.  The finish was medium and full of flavor.  92 points

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 St. Innocent Rose Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

A nice wine with cherry, floral, pepper, and spice featuring intense aromas.  This wine should blossom into something even better down the road as it has the components.  91 points currently

2007 St. Innocent Anden Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

A wine that needs some aging.  Solid fruit and earth components that needs some serious time.  88 to 92 points

2007 St. Innocent Temperance Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Light wine with strawberry, raspberry and a little bitter.  I think with some time in the bottle this will improve.  Currently 89 points

2008

2008 Cardwell Hill Pinot Noir Rosé - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (2/26/2010)
Pink. Nose of strawberry, mineral and subtle spice. On the palate it is tasty with strawberries, minerals, and spice. Good acidity and a tasting summer wine. (87 pts.)

2008 La Bête Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County (2/1/2011)
Twin Cities Wine Club: Oregon Pinot Noir (Twin Cities): Nice but not as good as the last bottle. Chery, spice and forest floor. Light finish. (89 points)

2008 La Bête Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County (7/16/2010)
2008 St. Innocent Tasting plus a few More (St. Paul): A really nice wine with floral, funk, rapsberry and minerals. Certainly some Burgundy qualities to the wine. Good structure and a relative bargain for under $30. (93 points)

 

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OTHER OREGON

2004 Zerba Cellars Walla Walla Valley Sangiovese $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Buttery note, nice fruits

Taste:  Great balance to this wine with spice, mineral, buttery, floral

Finish:  Multi layered with spice, mixed fruits, floral, minerals with a lengthy finish to boot

Evaluation:  New Sangiovese Producer for the New World!  Buy!  93 points

2005 Cristom Eola-Amity Estate Syrah $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  White pepper,

Taste:  White pepper, spices, violets

Finish:  Medium and dominated by earth components

Evaluation:  Opened up over 3 days 88 points

4 Days Later

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Blackberries, plums, white pepper,

Taste:  Blackberries, raspberries, white pepper, Asian spices, wood, cinnamon

Finish:  Really concentrated with multi layered flavors

Evaluation:  This wine needs to be cellared for 5 years or decanted over 2 days to open up 92 points

2005 Zebra Cellars Columbia Valley Merlot $$$

Color:  Medium purple

Nose:  Floral, spice

Taste:  Spice, bell pepper, little water down

Finish:  medium with floral, spice, and bit watered down

Evaluation:  Pricey for the quality.  85 points

 

 

 

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