Cloudline, Oregon, Pinot Noir 2007 There’s vegetative characters and compost with a sense of carbonic maceration. The nose on this wine never seemed to come around. The mouth repeats on the smells and is very light-bodied and low in concentration. Cellared and bottled in McMinnville 13.5% $19.99 at Traverso’s Cloudline Cellars
St. Innocent, Willamett Valley, Seven Springs Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006 Pure black and red fruits are accented by brown spices. This wine is truly a pleasure to smell. In the mouth, the concentration is there, fully fruity, ripe yet with the acidity to maintain balance – very long as well. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, 40% of which was new. P&B in Salem 14.5% $46.99 at Traverso’s St. Innocent Winery
Domaine Drouhin, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 There are sweet smells of vanilla and perfume. In the mouth, the wine is elegant, showing its fruit so gently and a restrained sense of oak in the background. In Feb. ’09, the nose is dampened and there’s some astringency – perhaps some sub-threshold TCA interfering with all there is to offer. P&B in Dayton 14.1% $47.99 at Traverso’s
Lange, Willamette Valley, Freedom Hill Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2005 This wine is very hard and astringent. P&B in Dundee 13.5% $60 at the winery Lange Winery and Vineyards
