The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard exhibits intense aromas of flowers, black raspberries, and cherries, a full-bodied, rich, layered, opulent style, and a hedonistic display of fireworks. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
Intense, with Blackberry, lead pencil and cracked pepper aromas and tightly wound plum, bay leaf and licorice notes.
Full medium ruby. Blackberry, smoke, flint, espresso and a whiff of meat on the slightly reduced nose. Lush, layered and rich, with densely packed flavors of raspberry and roast coffee complicated by a saline nuance. Finishes with substantial broad tannins, liqueur-like notes of wild strawberry and raspberry, and a note of dark chocolate. Firm acids give this shape and grip.
Sleek and smooth, jam packed with solid fruit redolent of black cherry, plum, chocolate, cassis, coffee, herbs, licorice, spice and cola. Quite complex, elegant, and long on the finish. An excellent wine from a top-notch producer.
Good full ruby. Bramly blackberry, anise, bitter chocolate and mint on the nose. Very sweet and creamy; offers a much softer, more open texture than the Dina's and comes across as considerably less tannic. But this has more than enough juicy acidity and vinosity to frame its delicious fruit.
This supple, smooth style is a winner with us. Velvety tannins frame a core of black cherry, blackberry, plum, licorice, sweet oak, herbs, toast, tea, coffee and spice flavors. This finish is the elegant, long, and lush, with just enough brightness on the finish.
The 2014 Zinfandel (Russian River Valley) is dark, juicy and flavorful, with plenty of acid kick to prop up the flavors, dark cherry, blackberry, spice and violets are pushed forward. Drink this delicious Zinfandel over the next few years.
...Hartford has a stellar record over the years across everything it produces, and this Chardonnay doesn't disappoint. It's bone dry and high in acidity, with a stony minerality that frames controlled peach, pear and mango fruit. The wine has that hard-to-define quality of elegant class.
2018 Pacific Northwest Rose Report This limited release Rose is a striking effort from this estate. Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this starts off with wild mushroom, red cherry and guava on the nose. The palate reveals a silky texture, leading to ripe strawberry, guava and cran-raspberry flavors. Crisp and delightful for a hot summer day, this outstanding effort shows both lovely poise, elegance and weight from this exciting vintage in the Willamette Valley.
USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two The 2016 Upland Pinot Noir is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with lovely aromas of dried blue flowers and charcuterie over dried black cherries, blackcurrants and notions of forest floor. Medium-bodied with layers of dark fruit, spice and earth in the mouth, it has wonderful juicy acidity and grainy tannins, finishing on a floral note.
Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Cascade gives notes of red currants and red cherries with suggestions of garrigue, damp soil and dried leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate gives a great intensity of elegantly expressed red berry and earth flavors, framed by fine, silky tannins and finishing with beautiful poise.
Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir La Premiere has notes of black cherries and black raspberries with hints of chocolate box, anise and tar. Medium-bodied with a firm backbone of chewy tannins and refreshing acid, it offers plenty of mouth-filling flavor and loads of exuberant character, finishing on a spicy note.
The Gran Moraine, in my experience with this and previous vintages, delivers incredible value for pinot noir. The slightly restrained nose wafts boysenberry, dark earth, olive brine, lightly tanned leather and orange zest. Boarding on full bodied, it has velvety tannins and shiny acid that’s well integrated. The substantial depth of this one demands a good decant, and benefits from keeping it in your mouth for an extended period of time to experience its development. I think this has good medium-term aging potential. Flavors hit on pomegranate, acai, plum, black olive, currant, wet soil and juniper berry. 92 pts, value A-.
The Oregon style is front and centre here with cranberries, cedar, forest floor mixed with leather and strawberry notes. The palate is equally piquant with juicy pomegranate and red fruits, juniper berries and sandalwood, all in a silky textured red that slips down effortlessly. This Carleton-Yamhill pinot is drinking well now and would be perfect with duck confit.
Sleek, focused and distinctive, with a savory edge to the cherry and blackberry flavors, playing against fine, nubby tannins on the long and expressive finish. Has presence and depth. Best from 2018 through 2024.
Generous, open-textured and harmonious, layering the cherry and sweet spice flavors with hints of leather and pepper. Glides into a long, precise and deftly balanced finish.
This is generous, open-textured and harmonious, layering the cherry and sweet spice flavors with hints of leather and pepper. Glides into the long, precise and deftly balanced finish.
The 2013 La Premiere Pinot Noir comes from a specific parcel in the Gran Moraine vineyard in what Eugenia describes as Mother Nature's sweet spot, and it is usually the first vineyard to be picked. It has a complex bouquet with dark cherries, blackcurrant leaf, broom and woodland scents, certainly earthier than the Estate Reserve. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and new oak (about 40%), with good density and backbone on the chocolate-tinged finish that lingers. This is another excellent Pinot Noir from Gran Moraine, although I might actually prefer the Estate Reserve this year.
A fresh and expressive Pinot, layered with blackberry, cherry, floral and savory spice flavors on an open-textured frame. Dances lightly as the finish lingers harmoniously.
The 2013 Pinot Noir has a delightfully fresh and vibrant bouquet with raspberry and wild strawberry scents accompanied by a lovely floral note. The palate is medium-bodied with raspberry and blueberry, and displays a fine line of acidity. It is one of the juicier 2013s that I have encountered with a dash of spice towards the finish. It might lack a little substance and persistence, but it is well balanced with impressive mineralité and personality.
Fresh and expressive, layered with blackberry, cherry, floral and savory spice flavors on an open-textured frame. Dances lightly as the finish lingers harmoniously.
Limpid yellow. Powerful, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and pear aromas show very good clarity and complementary hints of anise, vanilla and smoky lees. Minerally and chewy in the mouth, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and suggestions of buttered toast and ginger that emerge on the back half. Shows impressive depth as well as energy and finishes silky and very long, with a suave floral nuance lingering.
This Yamhill-Carlton bottling opens with a bright bouquet of nutmeg, lemon meringue, vanilla cream and toasted hazelnuts. This has a rich mouthfeel, showcasing creme brulee, ripe banana and brioche with heavy whipping cream flavors. This balanced Chardonnay will cellar beautifully for a decade or more.