Lumos Pinot noir Temperance Hill 09

The 2009 Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard also displays some herbaceousness but less so than the 2009 Fine Block. Savory on the palate with relatively elevated acidity, this nicely proportioned wine is on track for some longevity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it through 2023+. If it evolves as I think it will, it should merit an outstanding rating in the relatively near future.

The Lumos Wine Company was founded by Dai Crisp whose day job for the past 12 years has been managing the Temperance Hill Vineyard, one of the Willamette Valley’s more renowned terroirs. Crisp organically grew the fruit in the above wines, all of them from vineyards cropped to yields of fewer than 2 tons per acre. - Jay Miller

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

Just a baby in Pinot Noir years but very well behaved for one so young. The huge aromatics and forward fruit foreshadow the elegant wine this one is destined to become. Will cellar nicely.Winner of a Double Gold Medal at the 2011 Oregon Wine Awards. 688 cases. 13.6% alc. Food Alliance and Salmon Safe Certified. - the winery

2006 Vintage Tasting Notes

Big ripe fruit melded with the warm peppery spiciness of Temperance Hill Vineyard. A bold, savory, and deeply satisfying Pinot noir. 574 cases made. - the winery

Lumos's new reserve wine, from organic grapes Made by Temperance Hill vineyard manager Dai Crisp. A big, forward wine loaded with black currant and dark berries.

2003 Vintage Tasting Notes

At a recent tasting at the Avalon store, customers were really impressed with this wine: "a $50 pinot for $30 is quite a deal" to quote one. Dai Crisp has many years of experience as a vineyard manager and has taken his skills to a new level with this really lovely Pinot noir.

2002 Vintage Tasting Notes

Fresh, lively, makes me smile- light nose with hints of spice and a bit of oak, flavors are initially of sweet red fruit and berries, with a lilting spiciness in the midpalate. Flavors continue to mellow and round with a hint of mint and white pepper, cocoa and black cherry on the finish. Just a delight- a touch of creaminess in the fruity finish that is very pleasing. The balance of fruit-acid-tannin is just right, and I find myself reaching for the glass again, just one more taste- I have to be SURE- hah- I just like this wine! Drink now through 2007. Tasted 1-05- jy

Dai Crisp now has his own label, and this Pinot noir shows his skills extend beyond vineyard management to winemaking. Nice spicy, rounded, great value.

From the winery: "The grapes for this pinot noir are grown near Kings Valley on our own small farm. The warm days and cool nights of fall produce wine that is fruit-forward, well balanced and has a long, lingering finish...like a great kiss. It too has been aged in experienced barrels for 20 months or more."