this was actually kinda cool... i told my friend-who's-a-girl (who was going to the store for salmon & BevMo for wine since in the same shopping complex) to get either an 01'/02' Calif or 00'-03' Oregon Pinot for the meal, shouldn't have to spend more then $25-27... she comes home with this for $22- and ive never heard of it, we chill for an hour or so and pop...

clear, thin color of pale maroon... bright vibrant nose of cinnamon laced cherry & tart strawberry's, slight vanilla... full fruit on the juicy, silk like palate, wondeful texture & balance, light weight on the palate, finishing with some slight tart, spiced new oak, but the fruit dominates... don't know about aging, these types of wines are hard for me to judge 91+

this to me was a prime example of the difference of OR fruit to CA - the vibrancy & bright youth of the fruit was definitely present, but not with the saturated weight of some CA Pinots, wonderful & even more fruit forward with the salmon

I liked this wine (still have a few) as well and a very good QPR for OR PN.

I’ve enjoyed these each time that I’ve had one.

quote:

Originally posted by kumazam:
this was actually kinda cool... i told my friend-who's-a-girl (who was going to the store for salmon & BevMo ) to get either an 01'/02' Calif or 00'-03' Oregon Pinot for the meal....

Now that is cool. With friends like that who needs girlfriends, uh?!

grun -

exactly... BRILLIANT!

King Estate makes some very underrated wine IMO

King Estate was the Pinot Noir that first turned me on to Oregon back in July 2000. Although no longer one of my favorites, it was King Estate that started my love affair with Oregon Pinot Noir

Hunter -

Do you know about when this was released? if it's been available for a while, i wonder if it's changed at all during that time... could you possibly comment more on aging and when you see yourself drinking through your inventory?

FYI i went to Bev Mo this afternoon and picked up 4 more

A local gourmet pizza shop offers this by the glass and I use the opportunity to drink it whenever I'm there. A very nice wine.

Dick

quote:

Hunter -

Do you know about when this was released? if it's been available for a while, i wonder if it's changed at all during that time... could you possibly comment more on aging and when you see yourself drinking through your inventory?

FYI i went to Bev Mo this afternoon and picked up 4 more

It's been at my store for a year and 1/2 or so. It's not a "big wine", pretty sleek and I don't see improvement with holding (now - 18 months window IMO) - even though 2002 was great. It is not any better than 10 months ago. The inventory is good though at one of my stores, so I just buy a few here and there to drink within the year. Buying 4, like you did - sounds good.

It's a style of wine that should be pretty consistant each vintage (minus a real wash-out year).

H -

thanks for the comments, my gut instinct was to "drink now" but you never know, always good to get another's perspective

I read this thread yesterday and today walking through Sams Club saw it for $17, so I picked up a couple; had one tonight.

Nose right after opening had strong mint tones, after half hour or so it transmogrified into dark cherries, forest floor and still a little herb. Fruity with decent tannins for structure, moderate finish. Nice drinker.

Thanks, this was a nice catch that I wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Squirrel

Squirrel -

kudos on the mint tones, my impression of cinammon very possibly! and really isn't that what this forum is all about - sharing the goods ?