Tasting Notes Digest
Updated 01/03/2010

"Here's to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit,
the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship,
and the gate of pleasant folly."
...French toast

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Introduction

    Whether you are new to the world of Pacific Northwest wines or a seasoned veteran, you will find our "Tasting Notes" pages a valuable tool for learning more about recently released Northwest wines.  Wine writer, judge and and wine-country traveler Chuck Hill provides the reviews you will find on these pages.

     Just click on the varietal of your choice below.  If  you find a wine review that peaks your interest, contact a wine shops or the winery itself.  For contact information, browse our wine shop lists by state, or by wine regions, using the "Wine Shops and Regional Tasting Rooms" links on each wine-region page.

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Reviews of Pacific Northwest Red Wines

Pinot Noir

Amity Vineyards
2007 Pinot Noir, Ecowine
$20.00

How appropriate having a Salmon Safe wine with salmon dinner! Salmon Safe is a program that certifies vineyard and wineries that protect salmon habitat from erosion and chemical pollution. This wine is also made from organic grapes and has no detectable sulfites. Look for bright strawberry and cherry aromas leading to a light palate with cherry/berry flavors and a hint of frizzante!  (11/09 CH)

Benton-Lane
2007 Pinot Noir, Estate
Willamette Valley
$26.00

Though this is the lightest wine of the group presented today, its elegance and delicacy paired well with the flavors of Copper River salmon. The nose offers strawberry, rose petal and smoky mocha. Bright flavors of cherry and spice are complemented by notes of earth and toasty oak on the finish. (11/09 CH)

Coelho Winery
2007 Paciencia Pinot Noir
Oregon
$32.00

Dave and Deolinda Coelho celebrate their Portuguese heritage by including the name Paciencia (patience) in their Pinot Noir releases. The small winery in downtown Amity, Oregon offers tasting and tours year round. Their 2007 Pinot Noir is a bright and fruity style offering aromas of strawberry, cherry and spicy earth. The palate adds cinnamon spice, barrel toast and a mineral finish. Very nice with grilled salmon. (11/09 CH)

Cubanisimo Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
$29.00

Neurosurgeon Mauricio Collada puts on his winemaker cap each fall to harvest and vinify Pinot Noir at his winery in Oregon's Eola Hills. His 2006 Pinot Noir is succulent and seductive (in a Cuban way) as an accompaniment to salmon.  The nose is rich with black cherry and spice with hints of cedar and cassis. The palate offers smoky notes over rich cherry fruit with flavors of plum and herb in the finish.  Delicious with grilled salmon. (11/09 CH)

Cubanisimo Vineyards
2008 Rosado de Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$19.00

Winemaker Mauricio Collada fermented this wine in neutral oak barrels with lees contact for a silky palate feel and a dry finish.  It is another delicious Rose for summer.

Daedalus Cellars
2006 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$30.00

It is fair to say that winemaker Aron Hess gives his Pinot Noir grapes every opportunity to do their stuff - naturally. Lots from seven different vineyards are individually fermented by native yeasts inherent in each vineyard. The wine is moved by gravity, 20% whole-cluster fermented and bottled unfiltered and unfined. The winery suggests decanting - a suggestion that would be wise for any Pinot Noir - and aging for an additional seven to eight years. Bravo! The nose is complex offering earth and herbs, cherry and plum, flint and smoky toast. The palate is complex, pairing with grilled salmon by showing smoky cherry, earth, bacon and toast. The price is modest for such a delicious wine. Don't forget to decant.  (11/09 CH)

Eastburn Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
Chehalem Mountains
$38.00

This is the first vintage release under the Eastburn Vineyards label.  Mark Eastburn farms his 15-acre vineyard atop Parrett Mountain within Oregon's Chehalem Mountains AVA.  The wine offers aromas of black cherry, mocha and spicy cedar.  The palate is fine and balanced with flavors of blackberry, herbs and vanilla.  Tasty with grilled salmon.

Erath
2006 Pinot Noir, Estate Selection
Dundee Hills
$36.00

A spicy, lighter style crafted from reserve quality lots from five Dundee Hills vineyards, the wine offers aromas of black cherry, caramel and toasty cedar. Flavors of plum and cassis form a background to spicy and toasty notes that dance as the wine breathes up. Grill your salmon for the ultimate pairing with this bottling.
(11/09 CH)

Evesham Wood Vineyard
2007 Pinot Noir
Eola/Amity Hills
$20.00

Russ Raney has been making wine for over two decades at his winery in the southern part of the Eola Hills. His style is a nice compromise between "light and elegant" and "rich and hearty." This wine was aged in mostly neutral French oak and paired superbly with the salmon. Aromas of black cherry, cedar and earth lead to a medium-bodied palate showing cherry, plum, herb and a cedary/toasty finish. Good value for an Oregon Pinot Noir. (11/09 CH)

Firesteed
2005 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$30.00

This vintage of Firesteed Pinot Noir was crafted from select lots of Willamette Valley grapes and gently aged in one-, two- and three-year-old French oak. Aromas of black cherry and raspberry are complemented by hints of floral perfume and cedar. The palate is a contemplative symphony of rich cherry and plum fruit with myriad notes of coffee, cocoa, herb and spice subtly interjecting nuance and style. (11/09 CH)

Firesteed
2008 Pinot Noir Rose
Willamette Valley
$12.00

This flavorful Pinot Noir Rose began life with a cold soak overnight with grape skins - just enough contact to add a beautiful pink hue to the resulting wine.  The wine was cool fermented to preserve the wine's generous fruitiness. Look for aromas of cherry and berry with hints of citrus and vanilla. Crisp acidity on the palate assures affinity for your finest light summer meals.

The Four Graces
2007 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$29.00

Steve and Paula Black began their adventure producing Pinot Noir in 2003 and named their winery after their four daughters: Alexis, Vanessa, Christiana and Jillian. This salmon-friendly release takes on the earthy/smoky side of Pinot Noir with a nose of earthy mushroom, smoky meat, black cherry and toasty vanilla. The palate opens with flavors of spicy dark cherry and evolves to show vanilla, herb and toasty oak.  (11/09 CH)

Iris Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
Oregon
$20.00

This ripe and jammy Pinot cozies right up to the flavors of rich salmon from the grill. Aromas of black cherry, cassis and berry are complemented by hints of vanilla and spice. Flavors of cherry, blueberry and sweet spicy oak follow the promise of the nose and lead to a rich finish of black fruits and toasty oak. (11/09 CH)

Lange Winery
2007 Pinot Noir, Three Hills Cuvee
$40.00

Lange's Three Hills Cuvee is blended from Lange Estate, Freedom Hill, and Yamhill Vineyards. The nose is earthy and robust with black cherry, herbs and smoky berry. The palate bursts with cherry flavors leading to a finish of mineral and toasty oak. The wine complements smoky salmon from the grill.  (11/09 CH)

Montinore Estate
2007 Pinot Noir Reserve
Willamette Valley
$28.00

This estate near Forest Grove, Oregon, farms 230 acres of varietals including 123 acres of Pinot Noir. The winery invites visitors to bring a picnic and enjoy a bottle of their wine beside the vineyard with their al fresco repast. Crafted from the most favored barrels of Pinot Noir, Montinore's Reserve offers aromas of tart cherry, cinnamon and toasty cedar. Flavors of cherry, cocoa, spice and earth frame the medium-bodied palate.
(11/09 CH)

Okanogan Estate
2005 Pinot Noir, Barrel Select
Washington
$23.00

Okanogan Estate is located in the town of Oroville near the Canadian border on Highway 97. Grapes are grown at estate vineyards in the Okanogan Valley.  Their tasty Pinot Noir offers a nose of cherry, cedar and spicy earth and flavors of bright cherry, herbs and toasty oak.  Perfect with grilled salmon.

Ponzi Vineyards
2007 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$35.00

The Ponzi family came to Oregon from California and became one of the state's pioneers of Pinot Noir viticulture and winemaking.  Daughter Luisa is now the winemaker and does a fabulous job crafting Pinot Noirs that are among the best in the country.  I guess Chef Ted would call this a Beaune-style Pinot, showing aromas of berry, earth and floral perfume with elegant flavors of plum and cherry complemented by notes of vanilla and cedar.  Very nice with grilled salmon.

Solena Cellars
2006 Pinot Noir
Domaine Danielle Laurent
Yamhill-Carlton
$45.00

Now that we have a theme, this wine's maker came from France.  Laurent Montalieu was the original winemaker at Willakenzie (see above), but now plies his trade at his own Solena Cellars. Aromas of ripe black cherry, plum and toast lead to a rich palate redolent with juicy black cherry and toasty vanilla.

Willakenzie Estate
2007 Pinot Noir, Estate Cuvee
$26.00

Last week we raved about Broadley Vineyards, and this week we will do the same for Willakenzie Estate's Pinot Noir. Chef Ted declared that Broadley wines are more like Cotes du Nuits, and the Willakenzie is more like a Cotes du Beaune.  Chef Ted and I remember the old days when Burgundies were affordable and barrels were just for aging wine (not intensely flavoring it). Anyway, this is a great wine and complements food very well. Look for fruit aromas of cherry and strawberry with nuances of cedar and herbs.  The palate is medium bodied with excellent structure, and the wine should age well for at least ten years. (11/09 CH)

Willamette Valley Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
Estate Vineyard
$40.00

The flagship bottling of Willamette Valley Vineyards, this wine perennially exhibits complexity and terroir of the estate vineyard. A nose of black cherry, earth and rose is complemented by notes of clove, berries and toasty oak. The medium-bodied palate (notice a theme developing here?) offers black cherry, cocoa, earth and a spicy pepper/toasty finish. A very versatile red wine for many occasions.  (11/09 CH)

Cabernet Sauvignon

 

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Last revised: January 03, 2010