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Wine Spectator's 2003 Oregon Pinot noirs Ratings
Wine Spectator released a new slew of Harvey Steiman's reviews of Oregon 2003 Pinot noirs. We've compiled them, added them to our pages, and you can read them here.
Wine Spectator gave Beaux Freres great ratings for all three of its 2003 Pinot noirs. The 95 point Beaux Freres Pinot noir "The Beaux Freres Vineyard" 03 $75 is now joined on the podium by the Beaux Frees "The Upper Terrace" Pinot noir 03 (94 points) and the Beaux Freres Belle Soeurs Pinot noir 03 $48 (93 points).
Woodward Releases "Estate Red 02"
Rik Small makes wines from some of the best vineyards in Washington State, and only in the last few years has he offered a wine made from Estate fruit. Woodward Canyon Estate Red 02 $52.50/47.25 is produced from the finest lots of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc.
The Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard was managed to produce less than two tons of fruit per acre, resulting in a small harvest of intensely flavored, ripe, complex fruit. As usual, the wine is very limited, and is intended to be cellared for up to 20 years.
Patricia Green Cellars' "Dollar Bills Only" 2003 Pinot noir is Out!
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Patty Green makes highly regarded and very limited Pinot noirs that sell for $30-$85. Once a year, she releases a second label Pinot noir, "Dollar Bills Only" that is eagerly awaitred by bargain hunters and Patty Green lovers alike.
The 2003 wine is remarkably good for the price, with a bit more structure and fruit than the precious vintage. Patricia Green Cellars Pinot noir "Dollar Bills Only" 03 $16.99/$15.29 was made in a bit larger quantity than last year, but it will sell out rapidly.
Patty has also released her cult fav Patricia Green Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 04 $17.95/$16.16. Patty's Sauvignon Blanc has a big following, and she only makes it in years when she can source great fruit and everything goes well in the winemaking process. The 2004 Sauvignon Blanc has all the crisp, juicy freshness of her best vintages, with hints of grassiness and gooseberries. Limited.
There's a bit more of Patty's best wine, the Patricia Green Cellars Pinot noir "Notorious" 03 $75/$67.50. The "Notorious" Pinot noir is composed of two barrels from Block 1B, two from Block 2B and one from Block 1A in Balcombe Vineyard. There is also one barrel of Goldschmidt Vineyard made from a blend of Coury, 115 and La Tache clones. The wine is the pinnacle of everything good that this vintage has to offer. Great aromatics of berries, spices, minerals, smoke and sweet but subtle oak. The fruit is intensely concentrated with the ripe fleshiness of black cherries and the sappy sweetness of liqueur washing over mild spicy qualities that are bolstered by wet stones, smoke and bacon toward the round finish.
Fidelitas' 2002 Meritage, "Optu" is Released
Charlie Hoppes has released his Fidelitas Meritage "Optu" 02 $38.00/$34.20 and it's finally in stock. We had scheduled it for our Avalon Big Reds Wine Club last month, but Charlie felt that the wine needed a bit more time in the cellar. We'll be sending the wine to the club soon, and have some for sale now. The previous vintage was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator, and we think this wine is better.
Tasting the wine with Charlie last month, we found it a huge, rich monster, similar to the 2001 Meritage with a bit more structure, a meaty, rich wine dominated by black cherry, raspberry, spice, and vanilla oak flavors, impeccably balanced. The wine is a blend of classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec.
Basel Cellars' Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Wins Gold
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I was a judge at the Northwest Wine Summit last week. The event is held yearly at the Timberline Lodge near the summit of Mt Hood. We tasted almost 1000 wines in a three day period, divided among four teams. It was a great opportunity to get a super-intense refresher on Northwest wine. One of my personal favorites was the first Estate wine from Basel Cellars, the Basel Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Pheasant Run Vineyard 02 $36/32.40.
Winemaker Trey Busch said: " We used a combination of two separate Cabernet Sauvignon blocks from the vineyard, Block 1 and Block 8. Only free-run juice was used for the final composition, and only the most expressive barrels made the final cut. The winemaker’s goal was to “trap” the terroir in each and every bottle. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon spent 22 months in 100% new oak—50% American, 30% French, and 20% Hungarian. Only 450 cases produced.
“I love the distinct flavor profile of our vineyard as compared to the rest of the Walla Walla Valley. This is no fruit bomb. Instead, it relies on its earthy structure to provide the framework for the rest of the wine. You can almost taste the soil. Still, the dark fruit flavors of plums and blackberries, along with green tea and mint, help flesh out the mid-palate. The finish is long and expressive, swimming in an ocean of silky tannins. I am very proud of our first Estate bottling."
I gave this wine a perfect score at the Wine Summit, and recommend it to all Cab lovers. It's something special.
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Wonderful New White Wines for Warm Weather
Another flock of white wines has hit the market this week, and here are the best of the lot:
Chehalem
INOX Chardonnay 04 $16.99/$15.29
The winemaker says: "INOX™ takes its name from the abbreviation
of the French word for stainless steel, inoxidable. The wine was
created differently from most Chardonnay you've had. We think we've
succeeded in expressing the crisp, steely and fruit-rich side that
we love about some old world chardonnays. What makes this possible
is the use of exclusively Dijon clones, exceptionally well-suited
to Oregon's cool climate and exhibiting a richness that does not
depend on oak. Entirely tank fermented, without malolactic fermentation
or lees contact, INOX™ screams of the hallmarks of a cool
climate—brightness, pinpoint fruit, and explosive aromas
and flavors."
Jezebel
Blanc 04 $12.99/$11.69
From Peter Rosback (Sineann) and Aron Hess (Daedalus) this is their
incredible value second label. The 04 Blanc is a blend of five
grape varietals: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris
and Chardonnay. The wine is aromatic, complex and very drinkable.
The 04 Blanc combines a crisp, citrus zing with a scent of jasmine and white flowers and lush tropical fruit flavors. Both spicy Asian food and subtly flavored vegetarian cuisine are complemented by the Blanc. It's refreshing and perfect for lovers of white wines llike Evolution and Conundrum, at a wonderful price!
Francis
Tannahill Gewurztraminer "Dragonfly" 03
Huge aromatics of lychee, rose, acacia blossoms, perfume, lavender,
and spice with a palate that mimics the nose and continues with
a balance of viscosity, purity, weightless, and power. The hint
of sweetness carries the wine into a long finish that lingers on
and on. I've been waiting for this wine to be released since the
last vintage sold out in a week. I'm taking it home for special
meals this summer. It is just so delicious to sip, sitting in the
garden on a hot afternoon, listening to the bees buzz and the wind
move through the trees.
Hamacher
Chardonnay Cuvee Forets Diverses 01 $24.99/$22.49
Wine Advocate says: "This satin textured effort is broad,
bright, and pure. Notes of sweet pears are intermiingled with popcorn
and candied lemons in its detailed personality. This harmonious
wine would have earned an outstanding 90 point score were it not
for a faint trace of bitterness that was detected in its long finish.
Drink over the next 4 years." 89 points.
Winemaker Eric Hamacher says: "The elegance of the '01 vintage comes through in the complexity of this wine. With naturally bright acidity balanced by the satiny richness of the barrel regime, admirers of full bodied, fruit driven wines appreciate the extra time that goes into the production of our wines. Pear, citrus and anise spice dominate the aromatics while mineral laden cream brullee and apples move the palate along. It's supple, broad, long and satisfying."
Hamacher "H" Chardonnay
$14.99/$13.49
HIghly recommended. The nose has an enticing mixture of tart pippin
apples, nutmeg and beeswax. The mouth feel is luscious, broad and
long. This is an amazing value. Get it while you can! It's a blend
of wine from the 02 and 03 vintages.
The winemaker says: "This is the first multi-vintage H chardonnay I have put together. It is roughly 50:50 2002 to 2003. The '02 lends good structure while the '03 adds wonderful richness. The '02 portion was in barrel for 18 months. The '03 remained in wood only half that time. As with the Hamacher label Chardonnay, the wine is comprised of the new, intensely flavored "Dijon clone" Chardonnay selections brought in from Burgundy and planted a decade ago. Each barrel was stirred by hand weekly for 11 months to incorporate the richness of the "lees" or yeast that settle to the bottom following the fermentation."
Hamacher
Rose of Pinot noir $16.99/$15.29
This wine is what summer is all about! It holds a beautiful salmon
color, and is richly textured from barrel fermentation and stirring
the lees. It has great acidity and should be served COLD! It's
built for slaking the summer heat and bringing smiles back to parched
lips. Also a great wine with the mixed foods of Thanksgiving. Very
limited.
Andrew
Rich Sauvignon Blanc Les Vigneaux" Croft Vineyard 04
The wine possesses the Croft Vineyard’s signature notes of
pineapple, guava, passion fruit, citrus, and just a hint of gooseberry.
It is rich, round, with complex notes of mineral and fresh spring
water in the finish. Perpetual favorite, sells out quickly. Classic
summer sipper, with the sophistication to work well with fine cuisine.
Brooks
Winery Riesling 04 $15.45/$13.90
Classic notes in the nose with a mandarin orange feel in the muth.
Lots of fruit with a lenghty finish and good structure. Eola Hills,
Stein, and Ana Vineyards. Every vintage, this popular white sells
out super quick.
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About Jean Yates
Jean Yates is owner of Avalon Wine,
and has worked to promote Oregon and Washington wine for over
19 years through her wine shop, web site, and articles.
Jean previously worked in the computer industry and does most of the work on the Avalon website. She is a passionate photographer and many of the images on this site are hers
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