Johan Vineyards Three Barrel Pinot noir 08

Usually, I keep my cool when tasting wine at the store. I tend to "filter" my thoughts, not showing my hand, whether I love a wine or think it sucks. The other day I had a visit from the folks at Johan Vineyards, and I broke my own rule. They poured a few new releases, which I liked, then the subject wine: 2008 Three Barrel Pinot noir. Without thinking, I blurted out "holy sh#t!" before looking up at the two wide-eyed visitors. The aromas alone were cuss-worthy and once I had a mouthful, I'm pretty sure I repeated myself...

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Unique is an overused word, but I'm using it anyway - there are flavor components of this wine that I haven't tasted in any other 2008 Oregon Pinot. Fascinatingly complex, it's almost as if the wine was "aromatized" - the botanicals that are interwoven from nose to finish flipped my lid.

Juicy black cherry and raspberry provide the fruit center, with a sweet-bitter interplay that adds a perfect tension. Expect this to age extraordinarily well, with spot-on balance and alcohol at 12.8%. One of the last 2008 new releases was entirely worth the wait - Johan Three Barrel 08 is one of my top 10 2008 Oregon Pinots.

As you've likely guessed, the "Three Barrel" aspect of the name refers to the production level - only 72 cases were made. If you collect Oregon Pinot, you need this wine. Give it the right amount of time and I bet you'll say the same thing I did...

Made from the best three barrels of each vintage's wine, this is a Pinot to collect and cellar. In the superb 2008 vintage, Dag Sundby took the best grapes of the best year and made 72 cases of Three Barrels Pinot noir.

In line with the goals of Johan Vineyards, this Pinot Noir is made in a classic style, with a focus on balance, complexity and elegance. It clearly represents the characters and nuances of Johan Vineyards as well as the 2008 growing-season.