Oregon's 2007 Vintage
Best Under $25 Pinots
Evesham Wood, Broadley, Harmonia, Westrey
September 9, 2008
Curious about On July 24, 2008, Jay Miller I'm just back from 2 weeks in the Willamette Valley, over 50 wineries visited, hundreds of 2006 Pinot Noirs tasted, and well over 100 barrel samples of 2007 Pinot Noirs tasted. My report should appear in the August issue. The three principal themes: 1. No surprise, 2006 in WV is an excellent to outstanding vintage meant for near-term to intermediate term drinking. 2. 2007 whites, most already in bottle are superb. The natural acidity and ripe fruit give them an appeal and vibrance that is striking. 3. 2007 appears to be a superb vintage for Pinot Noir. It will appeal to fans who like the intellectual appeal of Burgundy as well as those who come down more on the hedonist's side of the coin. There was a significant rain event on 9/29/07. Those who panicked and picked everything before the rain were able to make decent wine but those who waited (and most did) were rewarded. The grapes gained flavor but not alcohol due to the cool weather. The resulting wines have superb natural acidity, modest alcohol levels, but also superb flavors and concentration. It may be the best vintage since 2002. Doug Tunnell told me that if this had been 1997, it would have likely been a disaster. However, another decade of experience (learning not to fear rain) and better farming (much lower crop loads) has resulted in what appear to be potentially terrific wines. See Wine Spectator Harvey Steiman's notes on Oregon's 2007 vintage |
Savvy wine buyers know that a few Oregon winemakers defy the trend to high prices and offer real bargains. Evesham, Harmonia, Broadley, and Westrey made delicious 2007 Oregon "Willamette Valley" Pinot noirs, all under $25 and all remarkable values.
Evesham Wood
Willamette Valley
Pinot noir 07
$17.95/$16.16
Mind-bogglingly good for the price. The 2007 Evesham Wood Willamette Valley Pinot noir has rich aromas of red fruit with cinnamon and rose flecks. Sun-ripened raspberries gush on your palate, balanced by pie cherries and cranberries. Perfectly balanced for 3-5 years of cellaring, but very tasty right now!
Undeniably one of Oregon's classic Pinot noir producers, Evesham Wood delivers exquisite complexity and flavor. And the prices are humbling. One of the best under $20 Pinot noirs anywhere. Russ Raney (at right) is one of Oregon's treasures, making finely crafted, Burgundian styled Pinots year after year.
Harmonia
Pinot noir 07
$22.45/$20.20
This is Michael's final vintage (he's leaving the wine world) and he's going out with style. We cannot overemphasize how much you get for your money with this wine.
Scents of raspberries and spicy wild roses rise from the glass, introducing intense, rounded, sweet raspberry, blackberry, and black currant fruit. Hints of graham, vanilla, and sweet cherry hard candy enhance the rich flavors. The finish is long, with lots more berry and a touch of cocoa. Lovely balance and totally integrated, silky tannins complete the wine. We are very very sad that this is Michael's final vintage.
We've tasted lots of 2006 and 2007 Oregon Pinots recently (it's release season) and Michael's final Harmonia Pinot noir beats most of them - even those well over $30 a bottle.
Read more
about Michael Beckley and Quercus Wines
Broadley Vineyards
Willamette Valley
Pinot noir 07
$19.95/$17.95
The Broadley Vineyard 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot noir's aroma of sweet raspberry fruit blossoms out from the glass. The scent is intense and intriguing: raspberries mix with a hint of roses and spice. Flavors of sweet, fresh red raspberries echo in the flavor, with red cherry, sweet cinnamon, and seamless but structured tannins finishing the wine. Ready to drink, it works as a sipping wine, and is balanced well for pairing with food.
Broadley's "value" bottling, a blend of grapes from the Willamette Valley. Grapes are from younger vines of the Broadley Estate Vineyard and from High Pass Vineyard. The grapes are mostly Dijon clones.
Read more
about Broadley Vineyards
Westrey
Willamette Valley
Pinot noir 07
$21.95/$19.75
Always reflective of the vintage, the 2007 Willamette Valley blend offers juicy raspberry and cherry flavors with finesse and balance. An attractive bright, ruby color complements an aroma of roses, raspberry and strawberry. Raspberry and strawberry flavors develop as the wine opens with delicate hints of spice. The 2007 vintage is refreshing and perfect with lighter foods.
Read more
about Westrey Wine Company
More Exceptional Good Value under $25
2007 Oregon Pinot noirs
Biggio Hamina Willamette Valley
Pinot noir 07 $23.95/$21.55
Read more about Biggio Hamina and Todd Hamina
Owen Roe Sharecropper's
Pinot noir 07 $20.95/$18.86
Evesham Wood "Bruno"
Pinot noir 07 $16.95/$15.25
Sass
Pinot noir 07 $18.45/$16.61
Illahe
Pinot noir 07 $19.75/$17.77
Lange Willamette Valley
Pinot noir 07 $21.95/$19.75
Complete List of Under $25 Oregon Pinot noir
Complete List $25-$30 Oregon Pinot noirs
Complete List
Highest Rated Oregon Pinot noirs
Wine Spectator
Harvey Steiman on Oregon's 2007 Vintage
Excerpted from winespectator.com
Region: Oregon
Grade: B
On paper, not much went right for Oregon's Pinot Noir growers during the harvest season. Rain fell just as the grapes were reaching ripeness, and continued off and on for more than a month, dumping 6 to 8 inches during that time. So why are so many Oregon vintners smiling?
"With the weather we had, you would think that the wines would be light, washed out and not very interesting," said Josh Bergström, proprietor of Bergström Vineyards. "The truth is that I have some of the darkest, most perfumed and exciting wines I think I have ever made."
Acid levels are higher than usual across the Pinot Noir growing areas, and alcohols are lower, making for lively, fragrant wines, according to several winemakers. One reason, most agree, is that temperatures remained cool during the rains and between them. There was little mold or rot.
"The wines in the barrel taste just fine," said Tony Rynders, winemaker at Domaine Serene. "What we learned is that rain, in and of itself, is not necessarily a deal breaker. It's the conditions surrounding it. In 2004 we saw much smaller amounts of rain, and earlier, but it caused more problems."
The growing season started with a warm spring, which turned cooler during the summer. There were no heat spikes of 100° F or so, which often disrupt Oregon's growing seasons, and the grapes were sound going into the harvest—and then it rained.
Some 30 percent to 40 percent of the crop was picked early to get it in before the rains, and not all of it was really ready. More grapes were harvested between the rain events, as vintners hoped for some usable grapes even if they had not fully ripened. But those who stood their ground and waited report that they fared best in the end.
Southern Oregon, which focuses more on Bordeaux varieties and Syrah, suffered less from the rain and produced generally sound wines.
—Harvey Steiman
We're available by phone at 541-752-7418
from 8 AM Pacific time until 6 PM Pacific time,
Monday through Friday,
and we answer email on Saturdays and Sundays.
Marcus,
Jean, Kevin, and Wendy
541-752-7418
