Thomas Winery Pinot noir 09

Precious, the Thomas Pinot is the least known and most sought after wine in Oregon. JT makes a scant dozen barrels of his Pinot noir (about 320 cases in the 2009 vintage,) and he declassifies it in years when he doesn't think it meets his standards. When he does make a wine, it draws raves for decades. The 2009 wine, made by a perfectionist from a 4 acre vineyard exquisitely tended by JT himself, "should be cellared" before drinking says John. Without any caveats, he stresses the importance of giving his 2009 time to mature. In a warm vintage, he made a classic Pinot for the most special of occasions in 6-12 years. - Jean

For an in-depth interview with JT and lots of photos of his vineyard (he is never open so this might be your only chance) read my article from 2009.

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

Thomas Pinot noir 07 - Amazing, an Oregon treasure. The 07 Thomas is deeply aromatic. Still tightly wound, it is best left in the cellar a few years.

2006 Thomas Pinot noir is mind-blowingly good. John maintained superb balance in the warm 2006 vintage. Sweet red fruit caresses your palate.

John Thomas makes a very small amount of Estate Pinot noir from his vineyard in the Dundee Hills near Carlton, Oregon. His wines are elegant, with finesse and complexity chosen over fruit forwardness.

Call for availability -541-752-7418

"This is exactly what a European Rosé
should taste like!"

"A "Friends of Avalon" Story
By Robyn Lillehei

 

Wine Reviewed:
Thomas Winery Acme Rose

"This is exactly what a European rosé should taste like!" exclaimed my British friend Barbara. She dipped into another mouthful of sweetened nuts and crumbled cheese.

"It's not too sweet, it goes with everything and it is coming to the kitchen with me," she taunted on her way out of the living room.

Acme is meant to lead the A list in any directory, unless you go that "AA" route – which is just so in your-face contrived. This Acme (Thomas Winery) deserved first in line status after a few hours tromp through fields in spring weather.

We sipped, snacked and read the children a Metropolitan Museum of Art A-B-C picture book. Sumptuous smells erupted from the open oven door. Barbara called us to the table as she tossed the salad greens and cut into the hot stuffed shell pasta. We splashed another round of wine into the upheld glasses and savored the migration from Hors d'oeuvre to main dish. Just cordial enough to linger, yet tart enough to slice through red sauce, this rosé avoids a sugar crystal bath. Lemon sorbet with raspberry on top – the wine, that is, not the dessert!

"Hmm"… my European friend giggled, "Eat your baked fruit streusel and please pour me the last in that bottle!"

She scowled at her grandson, "Max, you eat those raisins or no more ice cream."

He held her gaze until we all erupted in giggles, resolving who really heads the alphabet in this home.

2003 Vintage Tasting notes

The 2003 Pinot noir from Thomas Winery has a beautiful nose of Santa Rosa plum, with flavors of red berries and minerals. The wine has wonderful balance, with good acidity and structure. While his lower priced, "Acme" wines show Asian Five Spice in the nose and palate, this wine, picked at perfect physiological maturity, shows pure raspberry and herbal notes.

2002 Vintage Tasting Notes

Tanzer gave the 2002 vintage of this wine 92 points and said: "Vibrant dark red. Gorgeous floral nose combines raspberry, wild strawberry, perfumed Thai basil, fennel and emphatic mineral tones. The suave palate takes one straight to the high-rent neighborhoods of Chambolle-Musigny or Volnay, offering wonderful balance and finesse to burn. Clean, brisk, energetic finish piles on the red berry and mineral notes. Elegant, captivating and complete pinot noir. This matches up quite well with the many superb Thomas pinots of the past."

About the Winery

JT planted his 4 acre vineyard in 1984 with the densest vine count then existing in the US. Domaine Drouhin followed with similar density in 1989, and actually purchased all of his 1990 harvest, before their vines started producing.

JT is a one man band, doing everything himself, from propogation to planting, pruning, thinning, winemaking, marketing, and of course, lots of tasting.

His wines are made with the better Burgundies of Chambolle-Musigny or Volnay. The emphasis is on finesse, a pure presentation of Pinot noir, carefully picked at the exact peak moment of maturity and aged 20-24 months in 50% new oak. If you prefer purity to the massive jam bomb styled Pinots, this is a wine for you.