Soter Vineyards Mineral Springs Pinot noir 09

Review:

Exotic aromas of sandalwood, sarsaparilla, white pepper and crushed wild berries entice you. The flavors of the 08 Mineral Springs are pretty wound up - it has "cellar" written all over it. In every vintage, the Mineral Springs stands out as especially well-built for long term aging. - Marcus

Wine Spectator 93 points

Notes of white pepper, blackberry and black cherries with a definite exotic flare. Balanced, refined, complex.

2008 Vintage tasting Notes

New York Times #6 of their Top Ten 2008 Pinots!

New York Times said - "Loosely knit with lingering flavors of red fruit and flowers under a veneer of new oak."

Wine Advocate 92 points!

Wine Advocate: The 2008 Pinot Mineral Springs is darker in color with a slightly reticent nose of toast, Asian spices, incense, floral notes, black cherry and black raspberry. Dense, rich, and mouth-coating, this layered, spicy effort will evolve for 2-3 years and provide a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2023. - Jay Miller

Soter Vineyards "Mineral Springs" Pinot noir 07 - WOW. One of the most exciting 2007 Pinots made. Dark in nature, oozing with delectable black raspberry and cherry and a bottom note of fresh Oregon blackberries. Cellared for extra year before release and it shows.

The Mineral Springs 07's rich blackberry and black cherry flavors, accented by spice and a hint of incense are round and full. Beautifully textured, the silky tannins, impressive complexity, and a long finish make this a wine you'll find a special place for in your cellar.

As in previous vintages, this is one of our choices for top Pinots of the vintage. Glorious aromas of herbs, forest, graham, and black fruit manage to express both the richness of this bounteous wine and the elegance of Soter's expert winemaking. - Jean & Marcus

Tanzer 93 points: "Vivid red. Highly expressive floral bouquet of black raspberry, potpourri spices and subtle cola. Vibrant and red-fruity on entry, then gains heft and depth in the mid-palate, offering smoky dark berry and musky spice flavors and good tangy lift. Benefits enormously from aeration: I'd let this age for at least another five years. Incidentally, the 1999 Beacon Hill pinot is drinking extremely well right now, showing impressive energy, no rough edges and excellent tangy length."

Parker (The Wine Advocate) 92 points: "The 2007 Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir is more deeply colored with aromas of damp earth, roasted herbs, black cherry and black raspberry. On the palate, spice notes emerge along with savory black fruit flavors and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It will be at its best from 2010 to 2019.”

The wine has a lovely garnet hue and presents a very forward and open aroma that is uncommonly complex for such a young wine. Suggestions of plumb, raspberry and black cherry are intermingled with hints of sandalwood, herb de provence and more exotic Asian spices. In the mouth, the wine is very silky and lush without ever being heavy. The vibrant flavors are consistent with the aromas supported by seamless tannins and punctuated by juicy acidity. Best of all, it is a wine that begs another sip before you even stop to think of how delicious it is. The versitility of this wine is uncanny; from spicy appetizers to grilled salmon and traditional roasts, it will reach across a range of dishes and tastes to deliver satisfaction. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years. - the winery

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

2006 Vintage Tasting Notes

Soter Vineyards "Mineral Springs" Pinot noir 06 -

The 06 Mineral Springs received 93 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:"The 2006 Pinot Noir Mineral Springs has an especially expressive bouquet with floral notes, pain grille, damp earth, black raspberry, and blueberry. On the palate, the wine is layered, bordering on opulent. The savory, ripe, spicy dark fruit flavors persist into a lengthy, velvety textured finish. Give it 2-3 years and drink it from 2011 to 2020. "

This is incredible Pinot. Hands down one of the top 20 Oregon Pinots of the 2006 vintage. Beguiling aromas of red fruit, deep spice, and mineral aromas draw you into the silky and voluptuous body. Layered black raspberry, wild strawberry, and blueberry are accented by a citrus note, providing freshness to the ideally ripe fruit. Grace and power merge in the Mineral Springs 06, creating a stunning Oregon Pinot noir.

From the winery: "As the second offering from the Mineral Springs estate, this wine offers an impressive combination of power and purity. Its ruby-red hue previews a nose of wild strawberry and cranberry while the palate shows bing cherry, red plum, clove and sandalwood with an undercurrent of black fruits reminiscent of marionberry and crushed blackberry. Layer upon layer of depth and complexity are revealed in a velvety texture and lingering finish. The wine tells the story of the vintage as well as the vineyard, delivering a core of varietally correct Pinot Noir fruit characteristics coupled with a unique personality that can only come from Mineral Springs".

Mineral Springs is a 32-acre vineyard, planted in 2002 on an east- west ridge just east of Carlton. The soils, derived from fractured siltstone and sandstone, are ancient marine sediments that drain well and are thus perfectly suited to viticulture. The vineyard sits just under 400 feet and faces south and southwest on a highly uniform and gentle slope. We think this is a perfect spot for Pinot Noir.

In 2006, Mineral Springs was harvested under clear skies during the very last days of September. A warm, dry growing season and meticulous vineyard management contributed to the desired yield of 2.0 tons per acre. Resulting fruit was packed with flavor and lush with ripeness. All of these grapes were farmed without pesticides or residual herbicides and certified as sustainable by Oregon’s L.I.V.E program.

2005 Vintage 2005 Vintage: Wine Spectator 92 points

"There's a gentle firmness to the texture, with fine tannins underlying focused black cherry and ripe currant fruit that lingers beautifully against leafy notes on the nicely balanced finish. Has integrity and impressive length. Best from 2009 through 2013." H.S.

Notes of blackberry, black cherries, white pepper, floral notes that recall freesias and roses, and a distinctively exotic personality. We think these wines will tend to be sappy and fruit-driven, with seamless balance. - the winery

Inaugural release of Pinot from the new Estate Vineyard of Soter.

The site of Mineral Springs, located east of the town of Carlton, is a source of great excitement to us. This is the home base of operations for Soter Vineyards; it is the site of our prize vineyard, winery, tasting lodge, and eventually the Soter home. In short, it is the entire domaine.

Planted to 30 acres of Pinot Noir, this beautiful ridgetop just east of the town of Carlton has commanding views of the valley, with mature stands of oak trees and Douglas firs lining the road. Beginning in 2005, the vineyard is producing nicely distinctive fruit.