3 | Wine | Willamette, 86 or higher

"Fresh boysenberry and purple plum are garlanded with bitter-sweet flowers; tinged with brown spices; underlain with clean red meatiness; and suffused with saliva-liberating salinity in a Pinot of refined tannins and outstanding persistence."

"Light, bright red. Red berry and floral scents are complemented by cinnamon and black tea. Racy and light on its feet, offering vibrant redcurrant and strawberry flavors and a touch of bitter herbs. Finishes tangy and lucid, leaving spice and floral notes behind."

"Tight, focused and juicy, with blackberry and currant fruit playing against mineral flavors and tangy acidity as the finish lingers enticingly."

"Adding Johan Vineyard to the roster of four sites that informed this cuvee’s previous edition, the Ransom 2010 Pinot Noir Selection – tasted in a close approximation to its final assemblage – delivers downright refreshingly as well as invigoratingly tangy red currant and fraises des bois, tinged with coriander seed, nutmeg, and rose hip. Buoyant to the point of delicacy, this finishes with mouthwatering persistence and is sure on release to represent an outstanding value that can be enjoyed over at least the next half dozen years."

"Luisa Ponzi decided not to make any vineyard designates in the 2009 vintage so the 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve was the beneficiary of that fruit. Dark ruby red in color, it exhibits an alluring perfume of cedar, Asian spices, incense, lilacs, black cherry, and black raspberry."

"Spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry, sassafras and anise, with a smoky nuance building with air. Sappy and expansive, offering dark berry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of vanilla. Closes with very good breadth and focus, leaving vanilla and peppery spice notes behind."

"Lively red berries and cherry on the nose, with notes of fresh flowers and cola adding complexity. Bright, racy strawberry and raspberry flavors give way to a deeper bitter cherry quality in the mid-palate, with tangy orange zest adding cut. Finishes floral and piquant, leaving a hint of white pepper behind."

"Sleek and tangy, tightly focusing its cherry, raspberry and mineral flavors on a taut frame. Finishes with intensity and a hint of black olive."

"Cherry and tart red currant dominate the Chehalem 2010 Pinot Noir Three Vineyard which, as its name implies, incorporates fruit from all three estate locations, and essentially represents those barrels that weren’t selected to inform single vineyard bottlings. Buoyant, bright, and refreshing, it finishes with penetrating persistence allied to piquant nuttiness, if ultimately without a lot of complexity."

"Vivid red. A sexy, heady bouquet evokes black raspberry and cherry compote, with Asian spice and sandalwood nuances gaining strength with air. The palate offers intense red berry and floral pastille flavors, along with spicecake and cola accents. Closes with impressive energy and sweetness, leaving an allspice note behind."