108, 2011
Wine Enthusiast Scores: August 2011
In the August 2011 Issue of the Wine Enthusiast several of Grapevine's wines earned excellent scores. Call you local independent retailer to order some of these wines: Amizetta 2007 [...]
-
Tannins, even at this stage of the games, are dense and give the wine a brooding sort of nature that belies the relative youth of the vines from which it comes. This bottling is going to have a serious sense of pizzazz. The fruit is wonderfully ripe without being out of balance at all. The tannins are large-scale in some instances but, again, they are perfectly within context of the fruit intensity and acidity of the wine. This is large-scale stuff but it is in no way any sort of fruit-bomb. - Excellent nose and structure. Seeming lack of fruit, neither red nor black. A lot of dust, forest floor, dirt is what I noticed. Acid is there but not strong...firm tannins that coat your mouth.
- Lean and brightly red-fruited, this Pinot carries both herbal and spice pungency into a juicy, brisk but impressively sustained finish, with - as one often witnesses in this vintage - the marrowy meaty dimension supplying what sense of richness is present.
- Unique, excellent and never very much of them. Nuanced to a fault. Has a seamless nature to it while incorporating a wide-range of fruits and spices. Stronger finishing tannins than normal give it a gutsy gloss to the texture.
- Deep red. Intense blackberry and cherry aromas are complicated by notes of anise, sassafras and smoky minerals. Plush, expansive dark berry flavors show an attractive pliancy and pick up a touch of bitter cherry with air. Fine-grained tannins add shape and grip to a long, mineral-accented finish. This drinks very well now but has the depth to suggest patience will be repaid.
- Earthy character and more a tannic structure than their other Pinot noirs. It has a wonderful mingling of pure red cherries, raspberries, that particular Dundee Hill spice along with an earthy undertone that fills in the wine giving it great dimension without adding to the mass of the wine. This is a bit of a sexy beast of wine that will have power and swagger in its youth and evolve into something exotic and complex with bottle age.
- Dark garnet. This needs a ton of air. Once open, it shows a complex & alluring nose with earthy/truffle & rhubarb aromatics. Loads of acidic structure. Some cherry & mushroom notes emerge as it breathes. Very clean & fresh mouthfeel accents the medium body.
- The wine is exceptionally dark in color, has intense aromatics that mingle the ripe fruit characteristics of the vintage, the darker, brooding qualities of the site and the wonderful traits that whole cluster fermentation brings both aromatically and texturally. This is a fun, jumpy, rich and muscular wine that should show well in its youth but has the balance to be an excellent cellaring Pinot Noir.
- Straw yellow and lite in the glass. Tropical fruit, honey, crème brûlée and citrus on the nose. Med-lite body and zesty with tropical fruit and bright, saline minerals on palate. Tropical fruit becomes mouthwatering mid-palate. Med-short finish. Delicious.
- This Pinot noir shows the alluring characteristics of cool-climate Pinot, with fruit and savory components playing off each other, all wrapped in an elegant package. Earth, spice, leather, tobacco, and coconut meld with red fruits to create a complex and exotic aromatic profile. In the mouth, this wine has more power than one might expect from a cooler vintage. Notes of earth, dark plum, and black pepper grace the palate. Sweet fruit and well integrated soft tannins create the backbone for this wine’s smooth and silky finish.
- Leading with boysenberry, cigar-box, smoke, rose petals, and plum, the nose is as rich and concentrated as you would expect from this classic blend. The dark aromatics in the nose are overtaken by mouthwatering, bright flavors of Bing cherry and zesty lemon. The back of the palate is textured by bright acidity and soft tannins that push out the long and lingering finish.
- Willamette Valley Pinot noir is seductively perfumed with aromas of boysenberry, violets, almond, lavender and vanilla pipe tobacco. The opulent nose transitions into a radiant palate of red fruit, with profound notes of raspberry, Bing cherry, pomegranate and cassis. Velvety tannins spread across the palate balanced by pleasing acidity with nutmeg, caraway, and Chinese five-spice lingering through the enduring finish. A bold wine on a delicate frame, you can enjoy this wine now or lay it down for several yea
- Patton Valley West Block Pinot Noir is a wine that will warm you up as we emerge from a wet Oregon winter! In the nose, hints of apple wood smoke, rose petals, and berry pie are balanced by notes of toasted marshmallow, graham cracker, and cacao. Upon entry, the palate is a symphony of blueberry, ripe cherry, and hints of chestnut. The West Block demonstrates its sense of place with big, structured tannins that broaden the mouthfeel and accentuate the fruit. Ample late summer sun gives this wine saturated structure that lends itself to long term age ability.
- This Pinot noir shows abundant aromatics, immediately woodsy but overwhelmingly fresh with lavender and red plum, sweet caramel and malt. The palate is lush and broad with sweet cherry, cigar box, and the faintest hint of peat smoke. Soft and very subtle tannins give this wine a solid backbone. A great acid profile makes this wine likely to offer boundless enjoyment when consumed in the short term, or if given some time to rest, the distinct potential of becoming something much more profound. Drink now or cellar 5-8 years.
- Leads with citrus aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, orange marmalade and lime, but builds with cantaloupe and pear. Flavors of nectarine and candied lemon grace the pleasingly broad palate. The wine finishes with the lightness of cream soda and orange oil. The hallmark of every great Patton Valley rosé is the acidity, and this wine does not disappoint.
- This wine is more voluptuous than in most, with a nose full of cherry and raspberry. A great mouthfeel leads to cassis, currant and blackberry flavors. The finish is long and earthy with a hint of spice. This is a great bargain.
- Deep garnet in color, the spice driven nose includes aromas of red cherry, cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of sweet tobacco leaf. Full flavored with a sweet, juicy, and deep center, surrounded by ripe red raspberry, a touch of gravel, bergamot, and strawberry compote. Nice firm structure. Finish is pure fruit with those briar-earth elements. A compact, complex and complete Pinot noir.
- Deep garnet color. Ethereal cherry blossom and vanilla bean nose. The velvety texture and rich, plump berry brightness on the palate gives this wine a heavenly quality. Full robust flavors wrap the mouth with rounds of perfectly ripened red cherries, raspberries, and a pinch of pepper, punctuated with a nice firm tannin structure. The finish sails on and on! Juicy, red elegance with lots of power and panache. I can’t get enough of this first bottling of Wits’ End.
- Lovely, balanced, richly colored Pinot Noir that is perfectly matched to pleasant mineral and tannin textures. It will delight the drinker today and merit some serious age in the bottle.
- Dark in color, a brooding basket of pomegranate, black cherry and earthiness in the nose. The front palate is spice-driven with potent dark black fruit and delicate grippy tannins. It has zippy acid with pomegranate extract, black cherry and a velvety finish.
- Ruby red. Spiced black cherry nose with a bit of Havana’s finest cigar box and ripe fresh plum. Creamy textured in the mouth with flavors of black cherry and tobacco leaf and a hint of vanilla followed with white pepper, sweet dried plums and a pinch of clover. Chewy tannins that roll around the mouth with a splash of berry fruit leather. A nice long, juicy, cherry finish. This wine says, Dundee Hills in flavor components and texture.