I have little doubt that 2018 will go down as one of the greats in Oregon. I don’t recall a vintage where so many outstanding Pinots and Chards were made across the board. Sure, there was amazing consistency in 2012, but my feeling is the ’18 Pinots eclipse what ’12 offers in terms of flavor density and aging potential. 2008 was also a knockout vintage that had many wines that will surely eclipse the 20 year mark. However, ’08 had more outliers for my palate and the Chardonnays made then are nowhere near as polished as those a decade later.
Big Table Farm winemaker Brian Marcy was extremely fond of the warmth of the 2018 vintage, mentioning that this was a relatively easy vintage for him from start to finish. The wines from Big Table Farm are world-class even at the entry level with their ’18 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) offering some seriously good QPR at under 50 bucks.
Tony Rynders of Tendril and Open Claim fame described the ’18 vintage as “extraordinary” and explained that “2018 wines possess that rare combination of both power and finesse. They have lovely concentration while maintaining layers of complexity” Rynders made one of the finest Chardonnays of my tasting, his 2018 Tendril ‘XL’ (OB, 96) which was dense and intense, with serious flavor density and a weightless texture. Bergstrom’s ‘Sigrid’ has become a cult Chardonnay and the 2018 ‘Sigrid’ (OB, 97) was a dazzling bottling that has everything you want in a world-class Oregon Chard.
Lingua Franca produced some of the finest wines of my tasting. Winemaker Thomas Savre was also a fan of his 2018s and the vintage overall. He explained “2018 in Eola Amity Hills a vintage that came with a level of intensity and power I had never experienced. The wines were generous, complex, and rich. With time and age, the shape of the wines became subtle, fresh and delicious.” Savre’s 2018 ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) was a dense and polished treat, with serious flavor density and verve. This could easily be a 20 year wine! I loved the stony terroir that shone in the Brittan wines. Robert Brittan’s 2018 ‘Cygnus Block’ (OB, 96) shows serious stony terroir alongside a glorious core of dense fruits and earthy nuance.
It is no surprise that 2018 wines by Domaine Drouhin and Domaine Serene produced heavyhitters in their ‘18 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir (OB, 97), the ‘18 Domane Serene ‘Aspect Pinot Noir (OB, 97) were knockout bottlings that are still quite primary. James Frey of Trisateum made some otherworldly Pinots including his 2018 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) is a barrel select Pinot Noir that is the finest wine I think I have tasted from this estate. Finally on a high note, the singlular, 2018 ‘Jack’ (OB, 97) by Sequitur is pure Ribbon Ridge with gobs of tension and dense red and dark fruits. It is a mind-bending journey through 2018 Oregon Pinot Noir.
The 2018 Oregon Pinot Noirs are really starting to hit their stride, as in many cases less defined tertiary notes are settling into the deep core of red and dark fruits. For those who have these beautiful wines in their cellars, do not be afraid to open these glorious Pinot Noir wines. Here are the top wines from my 2018 Oregon Pinot Noir Retrospective.
ARGYLE
2018 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful effort by Nate Klostermann that comes entirely from the Knudsen Vineyard. Stored in 30% new French oak, this saw 20% whole cluster fermentation. This is medium to full-bodied, juicy and delicious stuff that is loaded with bright red fruits, alongside bergamot, salty soils and shades of blood orange zest. Drinking beautifully now, this still has at least a decade of life in front of it. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Argyle ‘Spirithouse’ Pinot Noir- Always a silky and elegant bottling, I have been fortunate enough to taste ‘Spirithouse’ Pinot Noir bottlings back to the late 1990s. This edition was stored for 16 months in 30% new French oak and comes from the Knudsen Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. This offers a luxurious texture with a glorious combination of red and dark fruits with stony soils, orange peel, white pepper and peat moss overtures. Full-bodied and fully-delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten to twelve years to come. Drink 2025-2038- 95
2018 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir comes from the Lone Star Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Matured in 25% new French oak for 16 months, this delivers a smooth mouthfeel with a generous texture and sense of weight on the mid-palate. Delightful strawberry and wild blackberry fruit flavors collide with shades of stony minerals, forest floor and loganberry preserves on the palate. This is very Sonoma meets Oregon. Mineral-laden, with good weight, this still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2038- 95
AUDEANT
2018 Audeant ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ comes from this stored site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Golden in the glass, this delivers honeydew melon and cashew nut on the nose with salted peaches. The palate is rich and viscous with serious verve and richness. A total stunner, this is drinking marvelously now at the seven year mark. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Audeant ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from a range of sources throughout the valley. This is concentrated stuff at the entry level, loaded with loganberry and cranberry fruit flavors that mingle well with salty and rocky soils as well as forest floor notes. This still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Audeant ‘Nysa Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Nysa Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Dundee Hills that was founded in 1990 by Michael Mega. Vines at this location are dry-farmed and own-rooted. This comes off marvelously rocky and stony with red rose after and orange peel notes alongside a great concentration of red and dark fruits flavors. Fresh and vibrant, with a smooth mouthfeel, this still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2038- 94
BERGSTROM
2018 Bergstrom ‘Sigrid’ Chardonnay- The stunning 2018 ‘Sigrid’ underwent full malolactic fermentation and was aged sur lie for 18 months in only 10-15% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine comes from the Bergström, Winery Block, La Spirale, Silice, & Le Pré du Col Vineyards. It has drop-dead gorgeous aromatics of baking spice laced pastry crust and Meyer lemon zest that combine with papaya and shades of damp earth, with wafts of white truffle that all meld in the glass. The palate is seamless, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. A total joy to drink now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years. Right now this is nothing short of a marvelous melange of primary fruits and earthy essence. Drink 2025-2038- 97
2018 Bergstrom ‘Le Pre du Col Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2018 Bergstrom ‘Le Pre du Col Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a marvelous, warm vintage wine that is drinking close to at peak right now. Just slowly merging into tertiary damp soil and wild mushroom accents, the wine comes off still primary in terms of bright red fruit flavors. Showing a silky mouthfeel and good sense of weight, enjoy this beautiful Ribbon Ridge AVA Pinot Noir now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Bergstrom ‘La Spirale’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘La Spirale’ was planted in the Ribbon Ridge AVA back in 2005. Vines are planted on a southwestern slope, as this was stored in nearly all neutral oak barrels before bottling. Red rose petals combine with shades of tobacco leaf, juicy peach and shades of shiitake mushroom. The palate is plush and refined with an elegant texture and good sense of weight and length. Still quite primary, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Bergstrom ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Dundee Hills AVA, the 2018 ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ comes from this 13 acres, south and southeast facing site planted back in 1999. This shows volcanic soils on the nose alongside purple rose petals, red currants and shades of cran-orange. The palate is soft and elegant as this is a refined drinking experience, with serious texture and underlying stony minerals. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2018 Bergstrom ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Silice’ comes from this Chehalem Mountains 20-acre site that is set on four sandy hillsides. This comes off marvelously salty with pure red fruits on the palate, alongside wintergreen and blood orange zest flavors. Very complex and delicious, with a delightful salinity throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
BIG TABLE FARM
2018 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir-The lovely and terrific value 2018 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir comes from a collection of wines throughout the Willamette Valley. This is now the third occasion I have had to taste this beauty. Red currants mingle well with red rose petals, damp earth and shades of satsuma orange zest on the nose. The palate is fresh and lithe with a polished texture. As far as entry level Oregon Pinots go, this is utterly spectacular. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2018 Big Table Farm ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir is a dazzling effort that still has a long way to go in the cellar. Soft and supple on the mouth, this shows a marvelous purity of red fruits on the palate with red cherry, guava and loganberry notes that mingle well with salty soils, Mandarin orange zest and bergamot accents. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Pelos Sandberg Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This 11.5 acre vineyard is planted to Dijon 667 and 777, Pommard and Wädenswil clones. This is dense and rich stuff that is marvelously earthy at the seven year mark. Black truffle shavings and pine needles line a gracious core of black and red fruit flavors on the palate, with blood orange zest accents. Complex and highly delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
BRITTAN VINEYARDS
2018 Brittan Vineyards ‘Basalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir is a world-class effort coming from the edge of the costal range in the McMinnville AVA. Considering the varietal it is very inky and dense in the glass, offering wild blackberry and fresh sage alongside salty soils and shades of black cherry. The palate is elegant and refined with a silky texture and great sense of weight. This is drinking beautifully right now — and still has a long way to go. Drink 2025-2038- 95
2018 Brittan Vineyards ‘Gestalt Block’ Pinot Noir- The dazzling 2018 ‘Gestalt Block’ comes from this highly stony site in the McMinnville AVA. Heady aromatics of black forest cake and allspice dusted black fruits combine with loamy soils and suggestions of wet rock. The palate is dense and delicious with a refined texture and great sense of weight. Still quite primary, with a vibrant sense of underlying tension and stony essence, this has a long life in front of it. Drink 2025-2038- 95
2018 Brittan Vineyards ‘Cygnus Block’ Pinot Noir- The east facing Cygnus Block was planted in 2008 to the low-yielding Swan Selection of Pinot Noir. Very densely colored in the glass, this yields evocative aromatics of wet stone and cranberry fruits that combine with tilled soils and shades of boysenberry compote. The palate is remarkably earthy and viscous with Syrah-like black fruits that mingle brilliantly with the tension and wet stone character of the wine. This is novel and complex Pinot Noir that really shapes up to be one of the finest made this vintage. Drink 2025-2040- 96
CHEHALEM
2018 Chehalem ‘Corral Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Corral Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is neatly textured with lighter to medium-bodied red fruits that mingle well with salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2018 Chehalem ‘Stoller Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Stoller Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers lighter to medium-bodied menthol, teaberry and red raspberry flavors on the palate alongside damp earth and rocky undertones. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2018 Chehalem ‘Ridgecrest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- the 2018 ‘Ridgecrest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows off black tea and Asian spices on the nose alongside red currants and pipe tobacco notes. Medium-bodied and filled with tart red fruits with orange peel notes, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2018 Chehalem ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir offers medium-bodied kirsch and red raspberry notes on the palate, alongside dried herbs and peat moss accents. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91
COELHO
2018 Coelho ‘Coelho Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Coehlo Family Reserve’ offers a smooth mouthfeel with kirsch, red raspberry and peat moss tones on the palate. Medium-bodied and smooth, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92
CRISTOM
2018 Cristom ‘Jesse Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The incredible 2018 Cristom ‘Jesse Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is round and generous on the mouth with a terrific mouthfeel, tension and sense of underlying depth and flavor density. This is marvelously earthy right now, really moving into the tertiary notes of wild mushroom and peat moss alongside dense red and dark fruits. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Louise’ comes from the first vineyard planted by Cristom at only 2300 vines per acre. This is vibrant in its presentation of loganberry, red raspberry and Yakima cherry fruits alongside blood orange zest, menthol and dusty soils. Medium to full-bodied, with great astringency, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Cristom ‘Paul Gerrie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Named after the founder, the ‘Paul Gerrie VIneyard’ was planted back in 2014. This is incredibly balanced stuff in terms of flavor density, verve and salty minerality. Bright red fruits mingle well with kumquat zest and shades of salty soils on the palate. Still very bright, brimming with acidity, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
DE LANCELLOTTI
2018 De Lancellotti ‘Le Mie Figlie’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Le Mie Figlie’ is a tribute to the de Lancellotti daughters. Honeydew melon and stony accents mark the nose alongside kumquat rind and wild mushroom accents. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and great sense of weight and length. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2018 De Lancellotti ‘Anderson Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from the Dundee Hills AVA, the 2018 ‘Anderson Vineyard’ Chardonnay offers loads of tension and texture once on the mouth. Lemon oil and wet stone combine with shades of cardamom laced pastry crust on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy this beautiful bottling now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 de Lancellotti ‘La Corsia’ Pinot Noir- It has now been roughly four years since I have tasted the delightful 2018 ‘La Corsia’ — which is a barrel select wine from the Arlyan and Lachini Vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. This is showing better than it did upon release. Saline drenched red and dark fruits mingle well with Mandarin orange rind and exotic spices on the palate. A delight to savor now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 de Lancellotti ‘Ornelia’ Pinot Noir- Another outstanding release by De Lancellotti, their 2018 ‘Ornelia’ Pinot Noir comes from the Dundee Hills AVA. It has great complexity on the mouth with serious freshness, texture and underlying verve. Wild mushroom and shades of black truffle crudo mingle well with boysenberry flavors and peat moss accents on the palate. Wonderfully stony and earthy, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
DOMAINE DIVIO
2018 Domaine Divio ‘Hyland Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Hyland Vineyard’ offers red rose petals and rocky soils on the nose with orange blossom and peat moss notes. The palate is brimming with bright acidity and juicy red fruits that meld well with the outstanding tension and citrus zest accents. Drink 2025-2035- 92
DOMAINE DROUHIN
2012 Domaine Drouhin ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- As an entry level wine goes, the 2018 ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir is a total knockout bottling that exudes class and value. This is dense, heady and delicious stuff that deftly combines red and dark berry flavors alongside freshly tilled rocky soils, and shades of Cuban cigar. Medium to full-bodied, this is drinking marvelously now at the seven year mark. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2018 Domaine Drouhin ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir- Clearly what is one of the great wines made this vintage, the 2018 ‘Laurene’ Pinot Noir is a stunning bottling from winemaker Veronique Drouhin. Once on the nose a smoky edge combines with white truffle shavings and pretty red rose petal tones alongside a rich core of tart red and dark fruits. The palate is lifted and very elegant, as this comes off still quite primary. Fresh, lithe and seamless on the mouth, with dizzying tension and a beautiful sense of vibrancy, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 97
2018 Domaine Drouhin ‘Louise’ Pinot Noir- A foil to the stunning 2018 ‘Laurene’ the 2018 ‘Louise’ was stored in a larger amount of new French oak than its sister bottling. It is big, layered and beautifully textured stuff right now. Guava puree, red cherry compote and shades of linzer torte all fill the palate alongside copious stony minerals. Showing great weight and length, with outstanding verve, this is a bold and delicious edition of this wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2045- 97
DOMAINE SERENE
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay- Bright and beautifully-textured, the 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay is a fabulous showing from this ripe vintage. A great melange of orchard and citrus fruits greet you on the palate, with toasted hazelnut and shades of white grapefruit blossom water. Rich and decadent, with a good mineral backbone, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 95
2018 Domane Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a word-class wine from a range of the Domaine Serene Vineyards that span the Willamette Valley. Wild blackberry and savor herbs mark the nose alongside cran-pomegranate and Bing cherry. The palate is rich and viscous with serious texture and viscosity. A joy to drink now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Cote Sud’ Pinot Noir- The opulent and heady 2018 ‘Cote Sud’ comes from a warmer location in the Dundee Hills Estate. Stored in a combination of new and neutral wood, this opens with rich red fruits that parade with hints of black truffle shavings, dark currents and tobacco leaf. The palate is. wonderfully rich and viscous, showing good underlying verve as you are greeted by a generous core of black and red fruits. Finishing long, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2018 Domaine Serene ‘Aspect’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Aspect’ is a barrel selection wine that is one of the greats coming from this warm vintage. Stored in mainly new French oak barrels, this is bold and generous on the palate, offering huckleberry and black cherry fruit flavors that mingle well with exotic spices, shiitake mushroom and forest floor accents. This is just slowly getting into tertiary notes. You are going to love its evolution now — and this has a long way to go! Drink 2025-2040- 97
ELK COVE
2018 Elk Cove ‘Mount Richmond’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2018 ‘Mount Richmond’ Pinot Noir offers rich dark fruits with white pepper, dark chocolate shavings and black truffle on the nose. Incredibly well-balanced, with serious tension and richness, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2018 Elk Cove ‘La Boheme’ Pinot Noir- A gorgeous wine from this standout vintage, the 2018 ‘La Boheme’ offers beautiful red florals alongside salty soils, red currant, orange peel and pipe tobacco leaf on the nose. Smooth and salty, with a seamless texture, this glides throughout the drinking experience. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2018 Elk Cove ‘Five Mountain’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Five Mountain’ comes from this acclaimed site in the North Willamette Valley. Wintergreen and rich red fruits mingle well with white pepper and orange zest. Drink 2025-2032- 93
EVENING LAND
2018 Evening Land ‘La Source’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘La Source’ comes from a central portion of the Seven Springs Vineyard. Once on the nose this takes on kumquat rind with shades of starfruit, gunmetal and suggestions of toasted hazelnut. The palate is dense and viscous with serious texture and good underlying finesse. A rich and well-balanced effort, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Evening Land ‘Summum’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Summum’ is a total masterclass by Evening Land that is dense, nervy and has a long life ahead of it in the cellar. Very reductive on the nose, the flinty tones entice as this needs a bit of time to fully come together. The palate is hedonistic and rich in terms of richness and flavor density, yet maintains bright, mouth-watering acidity. Poached pear and Meyer lemon oil with pie crust notes all fill the palate, as the serious length adds to the enjoyment. A stunning wine from a great vintage, don’t be afraid to uncork this beauty now. Drink 2025-2040- 97
EVESHAM WOOD
2018 Evesham Wood ‘Mahonia Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Mahonia Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a juicy, delicious rendition of this warm vintage. Bright red and dark fruits parade with salty minerals and tobacco leaf with orange zest on the palate. Complex and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2036- 94
2018 Evesham Wood ‘Le Puts Sec’ Pinot Noir- This Eola-Amity Hills bottling from 2018 opens with a bright bouquet of red raspberry compote, red cherry and shades of baking spice dusted pie crust with pine needle accents. The palate is beautifully balanced and offers medium-bodied red and dark fruits that mingle well with the bright acidity. This is drinking really well now. Drink 2025-2031- 93
FAIRSING
2018 Fairsing ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2018 Fairsing ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay is dense, beautifully-textured stuff that is right in its sweet spot. Bright orchard fruits parade with lemon oil, brioche and shades of baking spices on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2018 Fairsing ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Fairsing ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir impresses as the entry level and is loaded with tart red fruits, with mouth-watering acidity on the palate. Round and soft, enjoy now and over the next six plus years to come. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2018 Fairsing ‘Dardis’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Dardis’ comes from this southern facing vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. This is brimming with bright red fruits on the palate, with bergamot, peat moss and stony accents. A joy to drink now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Fairsing ‘Sullivan’ Pinot Noir- The really good ‘Sullivan’ checks the boxes with its core of bright red fruits, alongside salty soils, menthol and shades of wet stone. Medium to full-bodied and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Fairsing ‘Kenney’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful 2018 ‘Kenney’ offers mandarin orange zest and beautiful red rose petals on the nose alongside shades of cardamom. The palate is fresh and smooth on the mouth with concentrated red and dark berry flavors, alongside stony minerals. Drink 2025-2033- 93
FULLERTON
2018 Fullerton ‘Lux’ Chardonnay- The brilliant 2018 ‘Lux’ is a barrel selection wine made by Alex Fullerton. This has a long life ahead of it still. Brioche and lemon curd flavors combine with shades of shortbread and honeydew melon on the palate. Full-bodied and opulent on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Fullerton ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Arborbrook Vineyard’ comes from this site in the Chehalem Mountains AVA set on Dupee sedimentary soils. This is marvelous in terms of freshness and texture on the mouth. Bright red and dark fruits parade with sea salt dusted Mandarin orange and peat moss accents on the palate. Refined and showing really good aromatic and flavor range, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 Fullerton ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Fir Crest Vineyard’ comes from this site in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Pretty red florals combine with cranberry and loganberry notes on the nose with dusty soils. The palate is silky and refined with great tension and salty character alongside a beautiful melange of red fruits. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Fullerton ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Bella Vida Vineyard’ comes from this location set on Jory soils in the Dundee Hills AVA. Wet rock and orange peel notes alongside strawberry and pomegranate seed all combine on the nose. The palate is fresh and neatly textured, with good weight and freshness. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 Fullerton ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ comes from this site that is set on both Jory and marine sedimentary soils. This comes off very rocky and salty, with pretty red fruits that parade with kumquat zest and shades of peat moss on the palate. Delicious to enjoy now, savor this beauty over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Fullerton ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this location in the Coast Range. The nose comes off rocky with pine needles and shades of forest floor and black truffle shavings alongside wild blackberry tones. The palate is beautifully textured and fresh, with glorious length. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Fullerton ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Lichtenwalter Vineyard’ comes from this location in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, set on marine sedimentary soils. This is pretty and wonderfully salty on the palate, with mouth-watering acidity and a core of pretty red fruits. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Fullerton ‘Tenebris’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Tenebris’ is a Cru bottling by Fullerton that is a barrel-selection from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley. Rich red and dark fruits parade with a silky texture and wonderful salty/rocky component. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Fullerton ‘Brutus’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Brutus’ is a burly edition of this wine, showing the heat of the vintage. Full-bodied red cherry and red raspberry combine with stony and salty undertones, baking spices, and white truffle shavings on the palate. Round and generous, showing good weight and length, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 94
GRAN MORAINE
2018 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay- Bright and showing serious tension, the 2018 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay offers a smooth mouthfeel with pink grapefruit zest and nutty undercurrents alongside a rich core of orchard fruits. Medium bodied and showing good poise, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2018 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Gran Moraine ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir is an elegant bottling that is right in its sweet spot. Cranberry and orange zest collide with salty soils and a smooth mouthfeel on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92
HUNDRED SUNS
2018 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Old Eight Cut’ comes from a range of sites including the Shea and Sequitur Vineyards. Stored in mainly natural oak, this was given 40% whole cluster fermentation. Teaberry and black raspberry notes combine with shades of salty soils and bergamot on the nose. The palate is lithe and polished with good freshness and flavor density. A totally killer wine for the price, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2018 Hundred Suns ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Shea Vineyard’ utilizes clone 777 Pinot Noir that comes rom this dry-farmed site set on sedimentary soils and sandstone. The nose shows sandy soils and pretty red currants that mingle well with red rose petals. The palate is broad-shouldered, concentrated and beautifully textured, with a vibrant sense of underlying minerality. A joy to drink now and the seven year mark, this still has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2018 Hundred Suns ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The famed ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ neighbors the Beaux Freres Vineyard in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. This location is home to Willakenzie soils. The palate is marvelously salty and savory with a gorgeous core of black and red fruits that mingle well with dried herbs, and a dusting of white pepper. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2018 Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2018 Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this south to southwestern facing location set on Willakenzie soils. Black tea and exotic spices mark the nose alongside wild blackberry and black cherry compote tones. The palate is lithe and smooth with a wonderful sense of verve. Full-bodied and delicious, with plenty of salty soil nuance, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2042- 96
2018 Hundred Suns ‘Breaker Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Breaker Vineyard’ does for this location set on volcanic soils in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This location was planted all the way back in 1972, as this opens with kirsch and bay leaf on the nose alongside wet rock on the nose. The palate is wonderfully salty and stony with serious tension and a terrific mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Hundred Suns ‘Elephant Mountain Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2018 ‘Elephant Mountain Vineyard’ Grenache comes from this site in the Yakima Valley set at more than 1300 feet. This is very pretty on the nose with pink rose petals alongside orange peel, damp soils and shades of thyme. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 94
KEN WRIGHT CELLARS
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Latchkey Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Latchkey Vineyard is set in the Dundee Hills AVA as this opens with beautiful red florals that combine with volcanic soils, dense red fruits and tobacco leaf notes. The palate has excellent depth and freshness with a marvelous purity of red fruits, that mingle alongside rocky and sandy soil accents. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next seven plus years to come. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2018 Ken Wright Celars ‘Tanager Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant ‘Tanager Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this location in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA which was planted back in 2009. Dark and perfumed in the glass, this offers an excellent melange of red and dark fruit flavors on the palate, showing menthol and damp earthy tones, with wafts of dark truffle. Rich and viscous, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Bonnie Jean Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Also from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the Bonnie Jean Vineyard was first planted back in 2010. On the nose this takes on purple rose petals that combine with salty soils, red raspberry and lavender notes. Lithe and polished, showing good refinement throughout the drinking experience, loaded with bright red fruits, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘McCrone Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The McCrone Vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and is set on ancient marine sedimentary soils 400 ft elevation with a southern aspect. The wine is pretty and floral, leading with pomegranate and red cherry flavors that mingle well with damp salty soils and shades of peat moss on the palate. Just slowly getting into tertiary notes, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this 140 acre location that was planted for the first time all the way back in 1981. This is dense and heady stuff, loaded with black and red fruits with salty soils, kumquat zest and shades of wintergreen on the palate. Complex and delicious, with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Guadalupe Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The excellent 2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Guadalupe Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this location which was originally planted in 1999 and then replanted back in 2001. Very fresh and lithe, with medium-bodied red fruits that mingle well with damp rocky soils and menthol, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Savoya Vineyard has 18 acres planted and was purchased by Ken and Karen Wright in 1998. Black truffle and peat moss notes make the nose alongside black raspberry and suggestions of damp soils. This comes off earthy and elegant on the palate with a refined texture and good sense of finesse and weight. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This outstanding bottling comes from the Shea Vineyard, which has been managed by owner Dick Shea for decades. The 2018 is a very pretty edition pf this wine with red florals that meld well wit wintergreen notes on the nose, alongside bright cranberry and red cherry tones. The palate is mineral-laden and delicious, as this is drinking marvelously now at the seven year mark. This still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Canary Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Canary Hill Vineyard is located nearly ten miles west of Salem and planted to vine 17 acres. This offers considerable marine impact on the palate, with salted red fruits that collide with Mandarin orange zest, rocky and sandy soils and shades of kirsch compote. Nicely textured and smooth, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Hirschy Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Hirschy Vineyard’ Pinot Noir delivers forward and delicious red and dark berry flavors that meld well with damp earth, shades of clay and crushed mint. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Ken Wright Ceellars ‘Bryce Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The fabulous 2018 Ken Wright Ceellars ‘Bryce Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is sourced from this location in the Ribbon Ridge AVA set on ancient marine sedimentary soils. Right away this offers classic red rose petal tones on the nose alongside orange blossom and tart red fruits. The palate is filled with tension and shows good richness, offering a great melange of red fruits, with salty soil accents. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Ken Wright Cellars ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2018 ‘Carter Vineyard’ opens with a great combination of black and red florals on the nose with peat moss and pomegranate seed tones. The palate is plush and soft with good underlying minerality. Juicy in terms of its red fruit-driven core, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
KING ESTATE
2018 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris- The 2018 ‘Domaine’ Pinot Gris is a gorgeous bottling by King Estate. This wine was aged sur lie for six months before bottling. This is heady and intense on the palate, yielding rich melon and citrus zest flavors that combine with nutty accents on the palate. Full-bodied and full of verve, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 King Estate ‘Croft Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Croft Vineyard’ is located due west of Salem, Oregon. King Estate has produced wine from this location set on Bellpine soils since 1992. This starts off with dusty soils, red currants and shades of guava puree on the nose with citrus blossom accents. The palate is beautifully balanced, with good poise and a silky mouthfeel that runs through the core of medium bodied red fruit flavors, with salty accents. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 92
2018 King Estate ‘Blackjack’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Blackjack’ is all Clone 777 which was entirely sourced from the King Estate Vineyard. Only 13% alcohol despite the heat of the vintage, this delivers a beautiful melange of black and red fruits on the nose with red florals, and shades of anise. The palate is round and beautifully structured, with good weight. Delicious now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 King Estate ‘Nicholas Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Nicholas Vineyard’ comes from this location set on Laurelwood soils. Aged in 40% new French oak before bottling, this delivers red rose petals with menthol notes on the nose alongside suggestions of red currants and wild strawberry. The palate is soft, round and light on its feet with a seamless mouthfeel that glides throughout the drinking experience. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 King Estate ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ shows off a deep core in the glass. Stored for 18 months in 40% new French oak before bottling, this offers good structure, alongside tart red and dark fruits that mingle well with black truffle shavings, citrus rind and salty soil accents. Plump, round and generous, with excellent tension, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 King Estate ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Freedom Hill’ comes from this 140 acre site that was first planted all the way back in 1981. Stored in 40% new French oak, this opens with red raspberry and garrigue notes on the nose alongside baking spices and suggestions of damp soils. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and beautiful tension that runs through the core of plush red fruits. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Domaine’ is a barrel selection wine coming from the King Estate Vineyard. This is a refined, silky bottling that is drinking beautifully right now. A great melange of tart red and dark fruits combine with salty soils, dried herbs and suggestions of white truffle on the palate. Round and soft on the mouth, this will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another ten years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 94
KNUDSEN VINEYARDS
2018 Knudsen Vineyards Chardonnay- The 2018 Knudsen Vineyards Chardonnay is aging gracefully with its medium-bodied core of pear, lemon rind and pastry crust. Still quite vibrant with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2018 Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir- A terrific wine from this warm vintage, the 2018 Knudsen Vineyards Pinot Noir shows red currants and hints of loganberry on the palate alongside rocky soils. Medium-bodied, fresh and showing a refined texture, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 92
LACHINI VINEYARDS
2018 Lachini Vineyards ‘Prima’ Pinot Noir- A stunner now at the seven year mark, the 2018 ‘Prima’ is easily as good as it was upon release. Coming from the Lachini Estate Vineyard, this opens with shades of cran-pomegranate, orange zest and guava puree alongside salty minerals on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with fabulous underlying tension and peat moss undertones. Slowly evolving into tertiary tones, this is nothing short of a joy to consume now. Drink 2025-2040- 95
LANGE
2018 Lange ‘Three Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir- vibrant and bright, this 2018 Pinot Noir offers a silky texture with really good acidity and punch on the mouth. Rich red and dark fruits parade with volcanic soils, sea salt crusted orange zest and shades of cardamom and exotic spice on the palate. This still has a long way to go. Drink 2025-2035- 93
LAVINEA
2018 Lavinea ‘Elton Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Elton Vineyard’ Chardonnay was stored in 20% new French oak before bottling. Honeydew melon and shades of Macadamia nut fill the nose with cloves and pie crust notes. The palate is fresh and viscous with lemon oil and brioche tones that combine with damp earth and orange blossom water notes. Nicely textured, with good tension, enjoy now and over the next ten years. This still has a lot of life in front of it! Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Lavinea ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ comes from this famed site planted all the way back in 1981. This 100-acre certified organic vineyard made up of roughly 20 different blocks of wine grapes. Showing a deep core, this delivers beautiful stony essence and red rose petals on the nose alongside a melange of red and dark fruits, with a whiff of wintergreen. The palate is silky and seductive with great concentration and a refined mouthfeel. Already beautifully evolved, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 95
LINGUA FRANCA
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay comes from sites in the Eola-Amity Hills, their ‘Estate’ as well as the Van Duzer Corridor. Golden in the glass, this offers serious texture, tension and verve. Lemon oil, white peach, shades of ginger and juicy pear all meld together with salty soil essence on the palate. A beautiful wine made from a great vintage, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 96
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- Also standing very golden in the glass, the 2018 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay comes from this storied site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Somehow only 12.5% alcohol, and stored in roughly 40% new French oak, this is marvelously flinty on the nose, offering clove dusted pie crust aromatics that combine with rich orchard and citrus fruits. The palate is fresh and seamless, as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Full-bodied, viscous and showing fabulous tension, with stony and salty nuances, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 96
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Avni’ is a beautiful wine that was stored for 12 months in 20% new French oak barrels before bottling. This is bright and beautifully textured stuff, showing a great combo of weight and minerality. Bright red fruits parade with soft tannins and copious minerals on the palate. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir- A stunning wine that is drinking so well now at the seven year mark, the 2018 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir offers a great melange of red rose petals and citrus rind notes on the nose alongside red currants, tobacco leaf and shades of salty soils. The palate is marvelously earthy with forest floor and peat moss tones that parade with wafts of dark truffle shavings, bright pomegranate seed, wild blackberry and salted orange zest. The flavor range is astonishingly good. Complex and highly delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten to fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2039- 96
2018 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir is a ridiculously good wine that is just starting its evolution at the seven year mark. This offers loads of freshness, texture, flavor density and mouth-watering acidity. A gorgeous melange of black and red fruits greets you on the palate, together with pine needles, crushed wet stone and hints of kumquat zest. Very mineral-laden and delicious, this has both the stuffing and finesse to hold for another twenty years. Drink 2025-2042- 96
LUNDEEN
2018 Lundeen ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Chehalem Mountains AVA, the 2018 ‘La Cantera Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers a soft mouthfeel upon entry. This is loaded with finesse alongside bright pomegranate seed and guava fruits, with orange peel and salty minerals. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Lundeen ‘Yamhill Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Yamhill Springs Vineyard’ offers red and dark fruit aromatics alongside good tension and verve on the palate. Medium-bodied and nuanced, with good dark truffle and forest floor undertones, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93
LYTLE-BARNETT
2018 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut’ Sparkling Wine- A seriously good effort from this warm vintage, the 2018 ‘Brut’ exudes class with its silky mousse on the palate, loaded with orchard and citrus fruits, alongside cardamom dusted brioche and salty minerals. Medium to full-bodied, with great underlying finesse, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- The 2018 ‘Brut Rose’ is a silky, gorgeous bottling that is drinking marvelously right now. There is plenty of nuance in terms of its delicate red fruits that parade with sea salt dusted orange peel, menthol and shades of buttered French bread on the palate. Round and generous on the mouth, enjoy now and over the next ten years. This is in a great spot! Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Lytle-Barnett ‘Brut Saigne’ Rose- The wonderfully nuanced 2018 ‘Brut Saigne’ Rose is the inaugural release of this wine that combines Mariafeld and Pommard clones of Pinot Noir (70%) from the Bieze Vineyard and 352 clone of Chardonnay from the Zenith Vineyard (30%). Aged on the lees for three years this was given 4G/L dosage. Showing off its beautiful salmon color, this opens with Challah bread on the nose alongside kumquat rind, honeydew melon and shades of cranberry on the nose. The palate is wonderfully salty and fresh with a smooth texture. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. 4G/L dosage, making this particularly racy and fresh. Drink 2025-2033- 94
OPEN CLAIM
2018 Open Claim Chardonnay- The outstanding 2018 Open Claim Chardonnay is a world-class wine by winemaker Tony Rynders. On the nose this offers toasty brioche alongside shades of saline drenched pear, honeydew melon and salted cashew nut. Rich, complex and utterly delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten years. What a beauty! Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Open Claim Pinot Noir- The 2018 Open Claim Pinot Noir is a stunning bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Dense and delicious, this offers a silky texture and is jam-packed full of concentrated red and dark fruits, with orange zest, tobacco leaf, peat moss and suggestions of black truffle shavings, with a waft of white pepper. Highly complex, dense and nuanced, enjoy this stunning bottling now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96
PENNER-ASH
2018 Penner-Ash ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Estate Vineyard’ is a big, round and generous bottling from this warmer vintage in Oregon. The palate is loaded with juicy red and dark fruits with tobacco leaf, saline drenched loamy soils and suggestions of peat moss. Complex and now wonderfully earthy at the seven year mark, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Penner-Ash ‘Shea Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Shea Vineyard’ comes from this spot in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA planted to a wide range of clonal selection Pinot Noir. This is soft, approachable and very delicious in its core of guava, red cherry and red raspberry fruit flavors. Salty, savory and smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Penner-Ash ‘Das de Nom’ Pinot Noir- The stunningly beautiful 2018 ‘Das de Nom’ is a barrel selection wine coming from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley. It is big, bold and simply irresistible in its brilliant melange of red and dark fruits, with salty and stony soil character. Full-bodied, with vibrant tension holding everything in place, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95
RAPTOR RIDGE
2018 Raptor Ridge ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2018 ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, organically farmed by Dai Crisp since 1999. This is a vibrant and juicy edition of this wine, offering tart red fruits, peat moss, wet stone and shades of tangerine zest on the nose. The palate is mineral-laden and generous, with serious tension that runs through a core of very pretty red fruits and menthol, with red floral water. Complex and delicious, this is in a great place right now. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Raptor Ridge ‘Tuscowallame Estate 777’ Pinot Noir- Quite different than the 2018 ‘Temperance Hill,’ the 2018 Raptor Ridge ‘Tuscowallame Estate 777’ Pinot Noir utilizes Dijon Clone 777 fro their estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountain AVA. Vines here are set on a combination of windblown Loess and Laurelwood soils. The palate is very earthy with tobacco leaf and wet rock notes that combine with a great melange of red and dark fruits. Medium to full-bodied, showing great tension, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Raptor Ridge ‘Olenik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The sensational 2018 ‘Olenik Vineyard’ comes from this location that has a unique combination of marine sedimentary and volcanic soils. Black truffle shavings and damp earthy tones mark the nose alongside salty red raspberry and strawberry notes. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance and verve. Well-structured and weighted, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
REX HILL
2018 Rex Hill ‘Sims Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Sims Vineyard’ comes fro this site in the Dundee Hills AVA, set on red clay Jory soils. Stored in 27% new French oak, this offers excellent tension with rich red and dark fruits alongside stony soils and shades of peat moss on the palate. Still rather nervy and having good depth and concentration, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 Rex Hill ‘Jacob-Hart Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Jacob-Hart Vineyard’ comes from this site in the Chehalem Mountains aVa. Stored in 30% new French oak this delivers loads of salty red fruits wth orange peel and menthol notes on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92
RIDGECREST VINEYARD
2018 Ridgecrest Vineyard Riesling- The 2018 Ridgecrest Vineyard Riesling is made in the Trocken style. Bone-dry, this has a smooth mouthfeel upon entry with petrol and green apple aromatics alongside shades of freshly cut lime. Drink 2025-2030- 92
2018 Ridgecrest Vineyard ‘Estate Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Estate Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine coming from the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The wine is loaded with bright red and dark fruits alongside red florals, tobacco leaf and shades of white pepper. Drink 2025-2032- 92
ROCO
2018 ROCO ‘Marsh Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Marsh Estate’ is a gorgeous effort by winemaker Rollin Soles. Coming from this location in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, tar and red currants combine with shades of salty soils on the nose. The palate is dense and beatuflly textured with serious weight and good underlying tension. A generous core of red fruits greet you, with a bright salinity on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 94
ROSEROCK
2018 RoseRock ‘Zephrine’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Zephrine’ is a world-class bottling made from this warm vintage. It is big, bold and beautifully weighted stuff with a glorious melange of red and dark fruits. With more air tobacco leaf, pine needles and loamy soil notes all enter the fray, combining with the sterling tension and mouth-watering acidity of the wine. Full-bodied and absolutely delightful, enjoy over the next fifteen to twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 96
SEQUITUR
2018 Sequitur ‘Jack’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Jack’ is a rousing Ribbon Ridge AVA bottling by Sequitur. The ‘Jack’ is named after Carey Critchlow and Michael Etzel’s grandchild. The classic red rose petal aromatics captivate the senses, alongside red raspberry and guava fruit tones, with salty soil accents. The palate is plush, round and generous with a beautiful sense of tension and salinity. This is quite simply pure Ribbon Ridge that still has a very long life ahead of it. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2025-2040- 97
SOTER
2018 Soter ‘Mineral Springs Ranch’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2018 ‘Mineral Springs Ranch’ offers crushed mint and flinty tones on the nose wth a great concentration of red and dark fruits. Medium to full-bodied and seamless, this is getting right into the lovely secondary notes especially after an hour of air. Drink 2025-2035- 94
ST. INNOCENT
2018 St. Innocent ‘Cuvee La Liberte Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- A great Oregon Chardonnay that is aging gracefully, the 2018 St. Innocent ‘Cuvee La Liberte Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay delivers terrific viscosity and tension once on the mouth. Rich peaches and key lime zest parade with copious minerals and pastry crust notes on the palate. Smooth and silky, this is drinking marvelously right now and still has a long way to go. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The sensational 2018 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from two blocks in the vineyard, planted in 2004 and 2008 respectively. This is deeply perfumed and colored in the glass, offering red currants and red rose petals alongside salty soils and suggestions of wintergreen. The palate is complex and concentrated, loaded with black and red fruit flavors. Soft and lively, brimming with mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 St. Innocent ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard Clone 777’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard Clone 777’ is a barrel selection wine from this vineyard located in the foothills of the Coastal Range. This is dark in the glass, delivering beautiful richness and tension in the glass. Molten rock and salted red currants combine with Satsuma orange zest, and shades of wild blackberry on the palate, with a smoky edge. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96
STAG HOLLOW
2018 Stag Hollow ‘Dolcetto D’Yamhill Superiore’ Dolcetto- This 2018 edition of Dolcetto comes from the Stag Hollow Estate Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. It is fruity and juicy with light tannins that frame a generous core of red cherry and strawberry fruits, alongside tobacco leaf notes. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2018 Stag Hollow ‘Moment in Time II’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Moment in Time II’ combines 60% Pinot Noir with the remainder Tempranillo. This comes off marvelously earthy and smooth throughout the drinking experience. Milk chocolate and roasted figs combine with copious stony minerals and peat moss accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2018 Stag Hollow ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir- A brilliant bottling at the entry level, the 2018 Stag Hollow ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Pinot Noir is lithe, polished and highly enjoyable to consume now. Medium bodied red fruits combine with salty minerals and a smooth texture on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2018 Stag Hollow ‘Reserve 777/114’ Pinot Noir- As the wine anticipates, the 2018 Stag Hollow ‘Reserve 777/114’ Pinot Noir combines 777 and 114 clonal selections from their estate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This is rich, generous and broad-shouldered stuff that is drinking marvelously at the seven year mark. Peat moss and guava puree parade with candied orange and shades of damp salty soils on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 93
2018 Stag Hollow ‘Vendange Selection’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Stag Hollow ‘Vendange Selection’ Pinot Noir comes from the top barrels selected from this warm vintage. The nose offers black truffle shavings alongside wild blackberry, black tea and exotic spice notes. The palate is medium to full-bodied and round on the mouth, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Very complex and earthy, enjoy now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 94
STOLLER
2018 Stoller ‘Elsie’s’ Chardonnay- The gorgeous 2018 ‘Elsie’s’ Chardonnay is a rich and viscous effort that comes from the Dundee Hills AVA. It is fat and generous on the mouth, loaded with peaches, freshly cut Key limes, and pie crust flavors that mingle well with salty minerals on the palate. This is a great spot to enjoy this beauty. Drink 2025-2031- 94
2018 Stoller ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a range of clones coming from some of the older blocks at the Stoller Estate. This is rich, voluptuous and beautifully-textured stuff that is drinking marvelously right now. A great melange of red and dark fruits greets you on the palate, alongside salty soils, sweet pipe tobacco, wet stone and shades of pine needles. Medium to full-bodied, with great viscosity and flavor density, this still has a long way to go in the cellar. This is without a doubt one of the finest Pinot Noirs I have tasted from this estate. Drink 2025-2040- 95
TENDRIL
2018 Tendril ‘Enchanter’ Chardonnay- The really good 2018 Tendril ‘Enchanter’ Chardonnay was stored in only 25% new French oak before bottling. This is silky and refined throughout the drinking experience, with good length. Rich citrus fruits parade with Japanese pear, cashew nut and shades of pastry crust on the palate. Lively and bright, with good tension, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Tendril ‘XL’ Chardonnay- The stunning ‘XL’ Chardonnay was stored in French oak barrels for 30 months before bottling. This is dense and rich stuff with a near minute-long finish. Poached pear and baking spice dusted Macadamia nut meld well with earthy undertones on the palate. Sleek and round, with no rough edges, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2035- 96
2018 Tendril ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Extrovert’ was stored for 17 months in 25% new French oak and mainly hails from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA (71%). Offering a dark core, this delivers red rose petals with ripe cranberry and teaberry notes on the nose with shades of Satsuma orange zest. The palate has loads of mouth-watering acidity and vibrancy. Enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Tendril ‘C-Note’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘C-Note’ was stored in all new French oak and underwent all whole cluster fermentation. This is big and burly stuff with serious weight, tension and salinity. A dense melange of red and dark fruits parade with salty minerals on the palate. Quite tannic still, enjoy over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94
TOIL OREGON
2018 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir- A beautiful effort in this warm vintage by Chris Figgins, the 2018 Toil Oregon offers beautiful red florals on the nose alongside tobacco leaf, worn leather and salty soils with suggestions of kumquat zest. The palate comes off fresh and refined, with a veil of tension that runs through the core of red and dark fruits, with lovely earthy accents. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
TRISAETUM
2018 Trisaetum ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot Noir-The 2018 ‘Estates Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a dazzling rendition of this wine that is drinking marvelously now at the seven year mark. Cloves and red currants mingle well with guava and shades of red licorice on the nose, with sandy soil accents and pretty red florals. The palate is plush and soft, with a great sense of tension and salty soil character. Very pretty and lithe, this is slowly merging into some secondary notes but comes off still quite primary. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 94
2018 Trisaetum ‘Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir- One of the finest Pinot Noirs of my report, the 2018 ‘Family Reserve’ is a world-class barrel selection wine by winemaker James Frey. It is heady and intense stuff that is slowly starting to really come together neatly. Smooth and soft throughout the drinking experience, there is good muscle to this Pinot Noir, with refined tannins that frame a pretty core of red and dark fruits, with black truffle crudo, salted orange peel and peat moss accents on the palate. Full-bodied and broad-shouldered, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 96
James has chosen four barrels for this wine that hew finds the most intriguing and we are all quite glad that he did. Like the 2012 ‘Estates Reserve’ bottling, the aromatic range at play is outstanding, ranging from red and dark fruits to black truffle and lovely earthy aromas that all dance together in the glass. The silky texture creates a seamless effect, as this glides across the mid-palate. Even better is the near-minute long finish. Astonishing and captivating, this gorgeous bottling will have at least another fifteen years ahead of it — but why wait? Drink 2019-2035- 95
WALTER SCOTT
2018 Walter Scott ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from these old vines first planted in the 1980s, the 2018 Walter Scott ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay is marvelously flinty, finesse-laden and Burgundian on the nose with peat moss and bright lemon zest aromatics. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, with serious length and tension. Enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Walter Scott ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A really beautiful Pinot Noir from a warm vintage, the 2018 ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ comes from this site farmed by Denny and Thelma Peseau, located on the southern end of the Eola-Amity Hills. The wine revels in its vibrant core of tart red fruits, alongside kumquat zest, salty soils and shades of forest floor with pine needle accents. Vibrant and youthful, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2038- 95
WILLAKENZIE ESTATE
2018 Willakenzie Estate ‘La Crete’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘La Crete’ is the top bottling — a barrel selection coming from their estate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Winemaker Erik Kramer has crafted this seductive bottling, generating gobs of weight, tension and flavor density, with an opulent melange of red and dark fruits. With more air lemon blossom tones carry the nose, alongside damp salty soils on the palate. Complex, delicious and deftly textured, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 95
WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS
2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Tualatin Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Tualatin Estate’ comes from this site set on the foothills of the Oregon Coast range. This is big, round and generous stuff that is drinking beautifully right now. Bright red fruits parade with peat moss on the palate, with tangerine peel and shades of bergamot. Medium to full-bodied and full of beautiful tension, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
YAMHILL VALLEY VINEYARDS
2018 Yamhill Valley Vineyards ‘Estate Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Reserve shows a salty core of red fruits alongside shades of shortbread and damp earth accents on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91
ZENA CROWN
2018 Zena Crown ‘Conifer’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Conifer’ comes from Zena West 1A, Block 6 and Zena East 12 spots in the vineyard — with a wide range of soil types. This is very salty and stony on the palate, loaded with bright red fruits that parade with cardamom dusted citrus zest and shades of cloves. Medium to full-bodied and very fresh, this easily has another decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2025-2035- 94