What's the latest thoughts on this vintage?

If you are familiar with the 2002 and 2004 vintages, the '08 is an improvement on either.

The wines are concentrated without being heavy, attractive immediately, yet structured for aging.
It's hard to overuse the word "balance" when talking about these wines.

I just sampled four of the Patty Green vineyard designates last week, and the only problem is deciding which ones I like better.

The problem for the wineries and distributors is that once these wines hit the shops, no one will want the '07s. (And much of the '09 is shaping up to be spectacular too.)

Pape;

Where the Patty Green's in bottle yet? Several of the producers I've talked to have not bottled the 08s as of yet. Malo seems to be very slow for most. They are talking maybe Dec before bottling and then a couple months, at least, for bottle shock before release.

As you state, this may be a blessing. The sale of 07s will die when the 08s are released. This has got to give the late release crowd some heartburn. As an example, within the same price range, next summer will people buy an 07 BF or Archery Summit SVD or an 07 Domaine Serene SVD? Those late release 06s coming out now look great against most of the 07s, but in 6 months that picture turns upside down. Even the recently released 06 DDO Laurene is a very nice wine, but it will get smothered by many of the 08s coming out soon.

Everything(08s) I tasted in barrel was exceptional. The only problem I heard was that some let their fruit hang to long and then ended up with mold problems and some raisiny flavors.But that was the exception not the norm.

09 vs 08 may be a different call. Veriason hit a lot earlier this year and the grapes where mostly picked several weeks earlier than last. The 09s should be a good vintage, but they will probably be entirely different wines from the 08s.

Yes,

The PGs were from the bottle. I also tasted five Sineann '08s from the bottle a couple of weeks ago. Again, the problem was deciding which one to favor. Others I remember trying are the Evesham Wood, and the Owen Roe Kilmore.
Last spring I tasted a couple dozen barrel samples. I do not encounter any moldy or raisin flavors, but the winemakers would have chosen only the better barrel samples to pull.

I'm a little too new to this to have had any or the '02 or much of the '04.

When I was there a couple of months ago everyone was talking about how good '08 was going to be. I tried and bought a few of the Sineann Resonance. I just ordered 18 Ken Wright 08s. I expect to get a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by pape du neuf:
Yes,

The PGs were from the bottle. I also tasted five Sineann '08s from the bottle a couple of weeks ago. Again, the problem was deciding which one to favor. Others I remember trying are the Evesham Wood, and the Owen Roe Kilmore.
Last spring I tasted a couple dozen barrel samples. I do not encounter any moldy or raisin flavors, but the winemakers would have chosen only the better barrel samples to pull.

Pape, which vineyards were you able to sample? Can you share any impressions? I would be interested in comparisons vs. other vintages as I have been drinking/hold PG's going back to 2002.

I lived in P-town until 2 years ago, so I could use some local help in tasting 08's. I sure iss being able to run down there in 30 minutes!

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by pape du neuf:
I also tasted five Sineann '08s from the bottle a couple of weeks ago. Again, the problem was deciding which one to favor.

What were your thoughts? I know that Peter is very happy with the '08 Resonance and Schindler.

quote:

Originally posted by aphilla:
What's the latest thoughts on this vintage?

There is -- and is going to be -- some nice to very nice wine throughout the entire price range. '08 Evesham Wood Willamette Valley at $16.15 (case price) is a no-brainer. Some of the big guns are still 9 - 13 months from release, so it should be a fun year for buying. Drinking is many years away.

Just starting to see some hit the shelf. Evesham Wood is one of the first. Look forward to the Ken Wright wines shortly. Good vintage. Seems to be ripe without a heaviness to the wines. Some of the upper end '07 wines are starting to show nicely. But a lot of weak wines out there.

Re:Patricia Green 2008

I order of lightest and most accessible to the densest-

Eason- Light color, good nose already, layred fruit form cranberry, tart cherry, to black cherry. The seemingly texture is probably deceptive, taking into account that the wine was just bottled.

Croft- This is usually one of the faster maturing PG selections. It's by no means ready yet, but in a year should show well. The acidity is there to make the drinking window this vintage stretch much longer than some previous Crofts that faded early.

Balcome- Deeper in color, more to the dark fruits, and more closed than any of the others.
I orderd the Balcome 1B as futures based on barrel samples. The 1B is routinely a superior selection, but may never be available other than on futures.

Four Winds- the darkest and and deepest fruit of the four. What it gained in power, it gave up in delineation, so there is a trade-off. The same caution goes about it being fresh to the bottle.

The other wine I bought as futures is the Ana, which I have not tasted except as a barrel sample. I'll report back at the end of November with fresher impressions.

Those not wanting to get into the fine distinctions of terroir can just go for the Reserve, or for a larger scale wine, the Estate Old Vines.

Re:

Sineann 2008

Oregon- this has the whole range of fruits, from light to dark, with nice layering. This is the entry level Sineann, but not a light weight wine.

Yates Conwill- I don't recall seeing this one before. It might be a new vineyard source, or just a new name. Comes on a bit sweet, but with an interesting undercurrent of earth and sous bois.

Shindler- Tasting great right out of the gate.
That's normal for the Shindler, but this wine has more heft by far than the '07, and less overt fruitiness than the '06.

Resonance- Delicious, and like the Schlinder, less sweet and fruit forward than I'm accustomed to from Peter Rosback. You can't lose with this one.

Wyeast- More savory than the others, and potentially more interesting. If any of the wines were showing adversly because of recent bottling, this wa the one. In past years this vineyard has been near the top.

08 Ken Wrights are available at my LWS. Anybody try any of these yet? I haven't seen any press on them either. Any thoughts?

I actually browsed two different large LWSs this past weekend. The 08s have not yet reached Denver.

I was able to coerce one 04 Uccelliera BdM from my fav LWS. He had gotten a few, by taking a large order of other wines from the distributor, and was only allocating them out. He says there are to many 03 and 01 BdM sitting in the distributors warehouse and they don't want the 04s out. Same with Oregon 08 pinots. Still to many 06 and 07s to move without putting the heralded 08s out.

I have heard the 08's are similar to 98 and 00. Deep dark and built for aging. Looking forward to the vintage as just had a Ken Wright 2000 Arcus. Great stuff and just starting to hit its stride.