Wine Spectator's online weekly email newsletter, Wine Weekly, released an "All Oregon" issue on March 11, featuring editor Harvey Steiman's reviews of 28 2002 Pinot noirs. All received 90 points or more, with Beaux Freres' 2002 Estate $75 rating 95 points, Beaux Freres' Belles Soeurs Shea Vineyard 02 $50 rating 94 points, and Bergstrom "Bergstrom Estate" 2002 rating 93 points. Other highly rated wines are listed at right.

With the Wine Spectator's bullish rating of Oregon 2002 Pinot noirs, and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rating of 94 points for the 2002 Oregon vintage, the rush is on to find and cellar the best 2002 wines.

The highest rating ever from Parker for Oregon wines, the 94 point rating compares to scores of 85, 86, 92, 89, 87, and 83 over the precious six vintages.

Oregon 2002 Pinot noirs -
Something Special

Oregon is best known for its highly collectable Pinot noirs. The combination of the wonderful 2002 vintage, and significant price decreases over the last 14 months make this a perfect time to shop for Oregon Pinot noirs.

A little over a year ago, Oregon Pinot noirs were approaching their highest price points ever, with wineries raising formerly $30 wines to the high $40's and beyond. The dam broke in January 2003 with the release of the A to Z Pinot noir, an under $20 Pinot of excellent quality. Over the rest of 2003, under $20 Pinot noirs from new second labels proliferated. At the same time, wineries came under increasing price pressure, resulting in moderate to extreme price reductions. Now with the great 2002 vintage, moderate prices and high quality combine in a potent mix.

2002 Pinot noir - Highly Collectable

Some 2002 Pinot noirs have already been released, to great response. Although reviews on most 2002's are yet to be published, some Oregon winemakers are all smiles when the 2002 ratings are mentioned. This vintage may bring the highest scores ever for some Oregon Pinots noirs, even higher than the super 99 and 94 vintages.

Patricia Green's wines are almost completely sold out at the winery, and Avalon is getting low on some of the wines, although we purchased a large stock. The PGC Estate 2002, the Hirsch 2002, and the Quail Hill 2002 are particularly interesting. The Estate Vineyard has required extensive reworking over the last 5 years, and has started to produce fascinating and excellent Pinot noirs.

Bergstrom has already released what may be their best wine ever in the Bergstrom "Bergstrom Estate" Pinot noir 02. We still have some of that wine, and the luscious "Cumberland" 02 as well. At right above, the Bergstrom Estate Vineyard.

Gary Andrus has released his A & G Estate Vineyard Pinot noir 02 $60 and it is everything you could want from this masterful winemaker. Gary was owner and winemaker of Archery Summit, and made its Parker 94 point 99 Estate Pinot noir. His 2002 Gypsy Dancer Estate PN gives that wine a run for its rating! Exhuberant, bright, fresh, very Gary!

Argyle's Willamette Valley Pinot noir 02 $18.49 shows just how good the under $20 Pinots of Oregon can be. This big, fruity wine is an immediate crowd pleaser, and hints at the pleasures to come from Argyle's not yet released 2002 Nuthouse and Spirithouse Pinot noirs.

Brickhouse's Willamette Valley 02 $26.99 and Cuvee du Tonnelier 02 $41.99 (Wine Spectator rating 91 points) show the rich, lush texture and flavors that characterize some of the best 2002 Pinots released so far.

Black cherry, plum, cinnamon, and herbs dance in the lively melange of flavors. Close to sold out, these two wines are well worth checking out.

At right , Brick House winemaker and owner Doug Tunnell.

While Ken Wright's 2002 Pinots were all sold as futures, and are gone, he made a lovely "Roads End " Pinot noir 02 $37.49 for Carlton Cellars Winery. The wine is a blend of fruit from vineyards that KWC afficionadoes will recognize- Canary Hill, Nysa, and McCrone vineyards. Plush and distinctive, the wine shows Ken's inimitable style.

Cuneo Cellars, while better known for their wonderful Big Reds, has created an outstanding Cuneo Cellars Pinot noir Willamette Valley 02 $25.

Francis Tannahill's "The Hermit" Pinot noir 02 is the first Pinot noir to be released from this exciting new winery. Sam Tannahill, formerly winemaker at Archery Summit, and Cheryl Francis, formerly winemaker at Chehalem, are making beautifully crafted wines that have already shown up on the wine lists of some of the trendiest restaurants on both coasts. This is a big, brooding wine, closed and needing cellaring. Put this one down for a few years and then amaze your friends.

Future Releases

Many wonderful 2002 Pinot noirs are coming out in the next 12 months. Two of the wines we are roaring to start offering are Penner Ash's Pinot nor 02 and their Seven Springs 02 (these will be Avalon Reserve Pinot noir Club Selections in the spring of 2004).

Beaux Freres will release what may be their best Pinot noir ever in May 2004. The Beaux Freres Pinot noir Estate 02 $70 will show just what dedication to focus on one Estate Vineyard, with hand crafting of the wine, can produce.

Watch this column for announcements of new releases, as the 2002 vintage unfolds. Many wineries are just releasing their 2001 single vineyard and reserve wines, so the schedule of 2002 releases should stretch well into 2005. We'll keep you informed as wines roll out.

Read
Oregon’s Great ‘02s:
The best Vintage?

by Cole Danehower

Patricia Green with one of her
2002 single vineyard wines

Bergstrom Estate Vineyard,
source of the superb 2002

Gypsy Dancer 2002
from Gary Andrus,
former owner of
Archery Summit

Made for Carlton Wine Cellars
by Ken Wright

Sam Tannahill (formerly at Archery Summit) and Cheryl Francis (formerly at Chehalem) present their first Pinot noir with this elegant, yet broad shouldered wine, powerful, yet beautifully balanced