Oregon tasting notes

text and photographs © 2009 Tom Cannavan

These notes accompany our in-depth feature on Oregon wine.

LEMELSON VINEYARD, OREGON

Lemelson Dry Riesling 2006
Very light, floral, talcum and nicely peachy Riesling. Good fresh, but very light on the palate. 86/100

Lemelson Dry Riesling Willamette 2007
Pronounced floral, almost lavender nose, with plenty of vibrancy. The palate has a shimmering core of lime fruit, with just a hint of sweetness. 88/100

Lemelson Tikka's Run Pinot Gris 2007
Nice bright pear and lemon fruit on the nose. Lovely racy, food-friendly character, with bright acidity and the crisp, clean white fruit character. Very appealing and well pitched. 88/100

Lemelson Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Lovely nose with touches of green fig and honey, and with a nice apple core of very ripe fruit. The fruit has lovely definition, with the lemon zest citrus finish slicing through vanilla and ripe apple flavours. 89/100

Lemelson Thea's Selection Pinot Noir 2006
Little touch of ferns and cedar to quite bold, ripe, berry fruits. The palate has some cough mixture quality, but the fruit comes through powerfully, with a nice balance despite the ripeness and heat. 89/100

Lemelson Anderson Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
Little touches of coffee and spices in amongst autumnal, gently earthy Pinot fruit. The tannins are powerful, but ripe and svelte, with lots of cut and thrust from the fruit. Long and succulent. 90/100

Lemelson Chestnut Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
From a higher elevation site, with a slightly smoky, almost roasted chestnut quality, with lots of fudge and sweet, dense fruit. A touch of bacon fat. The palate has really sweet fruit - a lovely rounded character, with a balanced spicy finish. 91/100

Lemelson Stermer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
A tiny floral note, with leafy, bold, earthy fruit packed quite solidly into the nose. The palate is not as expressive as the Chestnut Hill, with the fruit very slightly compressed, though the finish is powerful, spicy and full. 89/100

Lemelson Meyer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
Bigger, more ripe and plush, with heady spices and deep-set berry fruit. Very plush and mouth-filling, with that plush, coffee and spice palate filling the mouth. More Californian in style perhaps, but very good indeed. 89/100

Lemelson Jerome Reserve Pinot Noir 2006
A selection of barrels from Meyer and Stermer. Cinnamon and nutmeg and a nice earthy Pinot, slightly gamy character, but red fruit brightness comes through too. The palate has a long, cool character despite 14.6% alcohol. 91/100

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