It was another great day of wine tasting in the Willamette Valley on the second day of our trip. We had the pleasure of savoring the exquisite wines at Patricia Green Cellars, Lavinea Wines, and La Biblioteca.
Here are my reviews and ratings:
Patricia Green
2021 Corrine Vineyard, Wadensvil Block Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Wädenswil Clone)
Tasting Notes: Cloudy ruby color. Ripe strawberry, cherry, raspberry, red fruit, cotton candy, saline, and floral tones.
Characteristics: Light-bodied, de-stemmed, from the 1991 planting. 50% whole cluster fermentation. Integrated and expressive.
Pairing: Grilled salmon, beetroot salad, or soft goat cheese.
My Rating: 96 points
2021 Estate Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Oak, golden hue. Raspberry, red fruit, floral notes, cranberry, and pomegranate.
Characteristics: More tannic, more earthy, with leather tones. Richer expression from the estate site.
Pairing: Herb-crusted lamb, wild mushroom risotto, or aged Manchego.
My Rating: 94 points
2021 Estate Vineyard, Coury Clone Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Coury Clone)
Tasting Notes: Red and black fruit. Darker garnet-purple color. Oak, vanilla, leather, red cherry, and earthy tones.
Characteristics: Arid, dry, more tannic and more muddled. From a warmer climate site with 33% whole cluster and new oak.
Pairing: Smoked duck, rosemary lamb skewers, or firm aged cheeses.
My Rating: 95 points
2021 Freedom Hill Vineyard, Coury Clone Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Coury Clone)
Tasting Notes: Baking spice, pepper, dark cherry, earthy tones, with a mix of dark and red fruit.
Characteristics: Bright, more juicy, bolder with depth and complexity. Shows a similar color profile to Estate bottling but with more intensity.
Pairing: Grilled sausages with fennel, mushroom polenta, or aged Comté.
My Rating: 96+ points
2021 Freedom Hill Vineyard, Dijon 115 Clone Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Dijon 115 Clone)
Tasting Notes: Blackberry, black raspberry, dark cherry. Juicy and deep with a darker garnet color.
Characteristics: Beautifully integrated, layered, and balanced. Complex and loving, with a juicy expression of black, red, and blue fruit.
Pairing: Roast pork with plum glaze, duck breast, or mushroom risotto.
My Rating: 97 points
2022 Ridgecrest Vineyard Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Black and red fruit, juicy and smooth. Oak, vanilla, with a beautifully integrated and elegant profile.
Characteristics: Delicious, layered, complex, and ready to drink now.
Pairing: Roast chicken with thyme, mushroom risotto, or grilled salmon.
My Rating: 99 points
2022 Durant Vineyard, Bishop Block Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Pommard Clone)
Tasting Notes: Dark and red fruit, baking spice.
Characteristics: Refined, focused, with warm spice tones and balance.
Pairing: Duck confit, spiced pork tenderloin, or roasted beet salad.
My Rating: 98 points
2021 Anklebreaker Block, Corrine Vineyard Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Deeper hue with notes of oak and vanilla. Dry, heavier mouthfeel.
Characteristics: Masculine, tannic, acidic, and earthy. 50% whole cluster, 25% new oak. (Not as special as other wines.) – include or not?
Pairing: Braised short ribs, wild mushroom stew, or smoked cheese.
My Rating: 90 points
2022 Pommard Clone, Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir (Pommard Clone)
Tasting Notes: Juicy with a mix of red and black fruit, and blue notes. Earthy and leathery undertones.
Characteristics: Beautiful, integrated, juicy, clean, bright. Special wine that will age beautifully.
Pairing: Roasted duck, beet and goat cheese salad, or rosemary pork loin.
My Rating: 98 points
2014 Perspicacious Cuvée, Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Orange/amber hue with a tawny nose. Black and red fruit with smooth, integrated, earthy notes.
Characteristics: Tertiary development showing fruit on the back palate. Balanced and delicious.
Pairing: Duck confit, mushroom and lentil stew, or aged gouda.
My Rating: 94 points
La Biblioteca & Lavinea
2021 La Biblioteca Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Citrus, lemon, grapefruit, vanilla, oak, and mineral notes.
Characteristics: 20% new oak, remainder in used oak. Subtle, elegant, and mineral-driven.
Pairing: Oysters, grilled halibut, or lemon-butter pasta.
My Rating: 97+ points
2021 La Biblioteca ‘Title Page’ Pinot Noir – Aegirna Estate Vineyard (McMinnville)
Varietal: Pinot Noir (100% Whole Cluster)
Tasting Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, red fruit nose. Red cherry, red bramble, vanilla, and oak.
Characteristics: Acidic, round, soft, and integrated. Aged 12 months in oak. No decanting needed.
Pairing: Herb-roasted chicken, mushroom galette, or pork tenderloin.
My Rating: 95+ points
2021 Perfect Bind Pinot Noir (Dijon & Corrine Clones)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Red and dark fruit, blueberry, pepper, vanilla, and oak.
Characteristics: No whole cluster. Beautiful, round, smooth. Ready now. Approachable with finesse. Perfumed and floral.
Pairing: Grilled duck breast, lentil stew, or herbed lamb chops.
My Rating: 97 points
2018 Perfect Bind Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Blue and dark fruit, baking spice, pepper, oak, vanilla, tobacco, and chocolate. Violet and lavender aromas.
Characteristics: Dark garnet/purple color. Aged 12 months in oak. Smooth, balanced, layered, and complex. Rich and bold. Ready now but has additional aging potential.
Pairing: Filet mignon with mushroom sauce, smoked brisket, or dark chocolate tart.
My Rating: 98 points
2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Combined McMinnville & North Valley Estates)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Cherry cola, red fruit, dark cherry, slight spice.
Characteristics: No whole cluster. Fruit-forward, richer and more weighty. Rounded with oak. Bold and smooth.
Pairing: Roasted pork tenderloin, cherry-glazed duck, or grilled portobello mushrooms.
My Rating: 94 points
2021 Tualatin Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir – Lavinea Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate, cranberry. Red fruit with a beautiful, bright ruby-clear hue.
Characteristics: Delicate, elegant, and acidic. Fine grain with light toast oak (25% new oak). Marne influence and silt sediment from river.
Pairing: Grilled salmon, cranberry-glazed turkey, or mushroom flatbread.
My Rating: 97 points
2015 Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir – Lavinea Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Tobacco on the nose, baking spice, red fruit, pepper, mushroom, and earl grey.
Characteristics: Planted 1984 on steep hills with low elevation, Jory soil, and Columbia River Basalt. Woodsy, earthy, still fresh and fruit-forward. Rounded, balanced, and acidic. Plenty of aging potential left.
Pairing: Mushroom Wellington, duck with spiced plum sauce, or rosemary lamb skewers.
My Rating: 97 points
2021 Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir – Lavinea Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Pepper nose, smoky, red fruit, baking spice.
Characteristics: More acidic than the 2015 vintage. Bright, slight oak. Will age beautifully.
Pairing: Charred duck breast, peppered salami, or lentil and smoked paprika stew.
My Rating: 96 points
2021 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir – Lavinea Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Cedar, oak, perfume, floral nose. Blue, black, and red fruit. Violet on the finish.
Characteristics: Acidic and bolder, still juicy and ripe. Slightly more masculine. From marine and Jory soils.
Pairing: Venison loin, mushroom risotto, or cedar-plank salmon.
My Rating: 97 points
2015 Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir – Lavinea Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Red and dark fruit, perfumed, floral. Blackberry, black raspberry, blue fruit, raspberry, red cherry pie filling, Vanilla and oak.
Characteristics: Cooler nights in a very hot vintage. Jory soil (Dundee). Aromatic and ripe, but balanced by structure.
Pairing: Cherry-glazed duck, berry compote over pork loin, or aged gouda.
My Rating: 99 points
2016 Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir – Lavinea Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Leather, smooth earth, woody, slight funk, wet leaves.
Characteristics: Rich, savory, rustic. Texturally deep and slightly wild.
Pairing: Wild mushroom stew, truffle polenta, or roast venison.
My Rating: 96 points
2017 Elton Vineyard Chardonnay
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Dark golden color with notes of caramel, vanilla, subtle citrus, and honeydew melon.
Characteristics: Smooth, rounded, and full-bodied. Elegant with age.
Pairing: Excellent with chicken, pork, or richer meaty meals.
My Rating: 97+ points (especially with food)
2021 Elton Vineyard Chardonnay
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Lighter golden color. Citrus, lemon, mineral, oak, vanilla.
Characteristics: Clean, crisp, bright, and beautifully structured.
Pairing: Enjoyable alone or as part of a tasting progression. Try with ceviche, lemon-herb grilled fish, or soft cheese.
My Rating: 98 points
