My wife and I were in Willamette Valley in early October 2012, and the people at every winery we visited were extremely excited about the vintage. Nobody had picked yet if I remember correctly, as the weather had been perfect and they were letting fruit hang as long as possible. Fans of Oregon Pinot now know that the excitement was justified. I’ve loved pretty much every bottle I’ve had from 2012.
Slightly darker color that typical for the region. Strawberries and both ripe and tart cherries dominate the bouquet along with hints of baking spice and red licorice. Medium mouthfeel with nearly resolved tannins and lively acid. On the palate, the same fruits mentioned above and maybe a little watermelon Jolly Rancher like you would get from a dry rose. Nicely lingering finish. This may be 2-3 years from peak but really nice now. Great balance. 92, with maybe a point or two of upside.
