Wine Reviews > Pinot Noir

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Willamette Valley

2010: 89 " Aromas and flavors of blackberry, cherry compote and spices, with hints of woodsmoke and mocha. Supple, broad and open-knit. In a plush, fruit-driven style but with good intensity and finishing bite. " – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2012)

2009: "Bright red. Strawberry and raspberry on the scented nose. Light-bodied and lively, with tangy red fruit flavors that could use a bit more heft. Finishes clean and brisk, with good focus and decent persistence." – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2011)

2008: "Deep red with a bright rim. Pure but subdued aromas of blackcurrant, cherry pit and rose petal. Juicy and penetrating but quite tight, even austere, hinting at musky dark fruits and succulent herbs. This youthful, concentrated wine offers little immediate sweetness but unwinds nicely with an hour or so of aeration." – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2004: 88 "… Fresh and energetic, with lively, nicely delineated cherry and red berry flavors. But this also possesses good weight and velvety texture. Finishes on a note of sweet tobacco." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)

Mt. Richmond

2010: 89 "Expressive nose displays spicy cherry, red currant and cola scents. The palate shows good concentration and focus, with spicy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors firmed by tangy acidity. " – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2012)

2009: 90 "Bright red. High-pitched aromas of raspberry, rhubarb and fresh rose, with a touch of sassafras that gains strength with air. Bright and precise on the palate, offering sappy red fruit flavors that give way to a darker cherry quality on the back half. Fine-grained tannins build on the finish, which is gently sweet, focused and nicely persistent. This wine's balance will allow it to age for at least the mid-term, say five or six years." – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2011)

2008: 90 "Bright red. Sexy aromas of red berries and fresh flowers, with a subtle herbal quality emerging with aeration. A juicy, sweet midweight that offers lively red and dark berry flavors and slow-building cola and spice notes. Pretty suave right now; this would be great with an Asian duck dish." – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2007: 89 "...Deeper and riper than most wines from this vintage, offering powerful dark fruit flavors...turns spicier on the broad, seductively sweet finish. The richness of this wine surprised me in the context of the vintage." – Stephen Tanzer (May 1, 2009)

2005: 88 Three Clusters. "Bright red. Powerful raspberry and cherry preserve aromas, with deeper suggestions of plum and espresso. Deep and sweet, with supple tannins supporting lush red and dark berry flavors and an exotic oak spice note on the finish. Brightens with air, picking up a hint of candied rose. Showing well now." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2007)

2004: 89 "Plum, cherry and smoked meat on the brooding, ripe nose….dark fruit flavors accented by notes of espresso, black tea and licorice. Serious, almost musclebound pinot with considerable heft and power." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)

Five Mountain

2010: 91 "Bright aromas of black raspberry and cherry accented by sassafras and black tea. Juicy and focused, offering vibrant red fruit flavors that take a darker turn with air. Finishes bright and very long, with persistent spice and rose pastille qualities. " – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2012)

2009: 92 "Vivid red. Sexy, expressive bouquet of raspberry and cherry-cola, potpourri and minerals, plus a touch of smokiness. Silky and precise on the palate, with very good depth but no excess fat to its red fruit flavors. Shows very good clarity on the finish, which lingers with suave floral and spice notes. This is drinkable now but has the depth and balance to age." – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2011)

2008: 92 "Deep red with a bright rim. Sexy black raspberry and floral aromas are complemented by notes of spicecake and incense, plus a hint of musky herbs. Supple, palate-coating red and dark berry flavors show excellent depth without any excess fat. The juicy dark berry note repeats on the finish, which also offers hints of cola and smoky Indian spices. There's lots going on already but I'd stash this wine away for another few years. " – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2006: 91 "Alluring bouquet of black raspberry, kirsch, allspice, incense, and cinnamon. The palate offers deep, sweet red and dark berry flavors, supple texture and fine-grained tannins that add gentle grip. Finishes energetic and spicy, with a strong note of sweet red berries. Seductive and delicious now." (May 1, 2008)

La Bohème

2010: 92 "Sexy, spice-accented aromas of raspberry, cherry and lavender, with mocha and cola notes. Gently sweet black raspberry and floral pastille flavors lifted by a touch of bitter orange peel. Fine-grained tannins add grip to the long, penetrating finish. " – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2012)

2009: 90 "Vivid red. Blackberry and cherry-cola on the fragrant nose. Fleshy and smooth in texture, with nicely concentrated dark berry flavors and slow-mounting spiciness. The smooth finish shows no obvious tannins, leaving behind notes of candied cherry and smoke. This drinks very well now and could handle rich red meat dishes." – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2011)

2008: 91 "Dark red. Aromas of blackberry and cherry gain energy with air and pick up brighter notes of wild strawberry and raspberry. Open-knit red fruit flavors are nicely concentrated and seamless, with a subtle note of burnt orange adding a tangy edge. Very alluring today, with excellent persistence and lingering notes of dark berries and spices. This vineyard was planted in 1984 with Pommard clone cuttings from Elk Cove's original estate vineyard." – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2005: 90 "Bright red. Meaty cherry and cured meat scents are complemented by bright violet and musky earth tones. Fleshy red and dark berry flavors offer depth and good sweetness, with a gentle boost of minerals and citrus peel. Finishes on a bitter cherry skin note, with excellent length." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2007)

2004: 86 "Urgent aromas of wild strawberry, redcurrant and pomegranate. Displays a very nice interplay of supple texture and tangy fruit, the flavors veering to raspberry and strawberry but with weight and depth. Finishes on an energetic and spicy note of redcurrant. I like this style." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)

Windhill

2005: 89 "Bright red. Pungently floral nose offers deep cheery and strawberry aromas and an exotic hint of sandalwood. Fleshy and suave, with sappy red berry flavors and a tangy mineral quality. The lightly tannic finish is spicy, meaty and long. I suspect that this medium-bodied pinot will benefit from another year of aging, but there's ample sweetness to give immediate pleasure." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2007)

2004: 86 "Spicy dark fruit bouquet of jammy cherry, blackberry, gingerbread and mocha. Lush and supple, with sweet, nicely defined blackberry and chocolate flavors. This deepens and picks up some warm, roasted notes with air." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)

Roosevelt

2009: 92 "Broad, pliant and alluringly sweet, with lively black raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors lifted by orange zest and allspice nuances. A building note of candied rose carries through the impressively long, supple finish. This wine is drinking very well now but has the depth to age." – Josh Raynolds (July 31, 2012)

2008: 93 "Bright ruby-red. Youthful, pungent aromas of dark berry and cherry skin, spicecake, pipe tobacco and dried rose. Weighty and supple in texture, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and notes of candied flowers and smoky herbs. A suave note of mocha arrives on the finish, which leaves sweet vanilla bean and candied blackberry behind. Generous and impressively concentrated pinot with a lot of immediate appeal but the depth to age well." – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2006: 91 "...Sexy aromas of blackberries, kirsch, cola, and potpourri. Deep red and dark berry flavors are framed by velvety tannins and given added spine by a gentle mineral quality. Finishes broad and sweet..." – Stephen Tanzer (May 1, 2009)

2004: 91 "Deep red. Energetic cherry and blackberry aromas are ripe but lively, with complicating baking spice, violet and vanilla accents. Silky and sweet, with vibrant crystallized dark berry flavors and suave tannins. The energetic, long finish throws off notes of candied red licorice and sexy mocha." (April 30, 2007)

2003: 90 "Powerful blackberry and cassis aromas complicated by sexy oak spices and sweet mocha. Lush and round…framed by subtle acids and dusty, fine-grained tannins. Finishes sweet and long, with a supple, velvety texture…" – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)

Reserve

2008: 93 "Bright ruby. Pungent, intensely spicy bouquet of raspberry and blackberry preserves, potpourri, wilted rose and cola, with a suave vanilla quality in the background. Juicy, penetrating red berry preserve flavors blend richness and vivacity smoothly and show an open-knit, sweet character. Supple tannins arrive late and add focus and grip to the impressively long, spicy finish. Drinkable now with a little air, but this really deserves a few years of patience." – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2006: 93 "Brooding aromas of cherry compote, blackberry, dried rose, and smoky minerals. Impressively concentrated dark fruit flavors are energized by tangy cherry skin and firmed by fine-grained tannins. Slowly opens with air and finishes with strong cherry-cola...outstanding persisitence." – Stephen Tanzer (May 1, 2009)

Clay Court

2010: 90+ "Juicy, incisive raspberry and bitter cherry flavors are complemented by notes of licorice and black tea, with a vanilla nuance adding sweetness. Finishes with very good energy and lift, leaving spice and anise notes behind. " – Josh Raynolds (July 8, 2012)