Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvee 09

The 09 Cuvee is deep garnet and has heady aromas of spiced cherry, black raspberry, cassis and fennel along with perfumes of cedar closets and spring lilacs. Flavors include blueberries, sweet tamarind, and Oregon black caps with hints of black licorice and earthy truffle. Hints of dark chocolate and cherries on the lengthy finish.

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

This wine opens with an intense perfume of ripe Oregon blackberries, fresh blueberries, violet and nag champa incense. A complex wine of many layers, it delivers additional nuances of lilac, allspice, marzipan, and rich black cherry upon the second swirl. The palate is equally dense and intense, presenting hints of dark chocolate, ginger and peat surrounding a vibrant dark cherry core. Succulent, expressive and enticing, this wine is only beginning to reveal itself now and will benefit from three to eight years of proper cellaring. - the winery

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

This wine opens with perfumed aromas of black cherry and raspberry, spicy plum and violets. On the palate, blueberry, plum, cassis and earthy notes converge around a fresh core of bright acidity and plush tannin lending this wine structure, vitality and grace. There is precision in the expression of fruit and an elegant yet ample succulent structure that progresses to a finish that is long and lasting with hints of blueberries, spiced cherries, exotic incense and fresh rose petals. This lovely wine is drinking well now but may also be enjoyed over the next five to eight years with proper cellaring. - the winery

Deep ruby red in color, the Premier Cuvee opens with lifted aromas of red berries, violets, vanilla and a hint of savory spice. Black cherry, currant, pomegranate and blueberry notes mingle on the palate with mulling spices, anise and clean earth. The wine is precocious and bright with layers of mineral, flint and spice surrounding a seductive black cherry core. There is balance and good concentration here; tannins are rich but restrained, revealing a wine with depth of flavor and clean lines. Elegant and focused, this wine is ready for enjoyment now, however may improve with proper cellaring over the next five to eight years.

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

From the winery: "Deep and inky red in color, this wine opens with aromas of dark chocolate, ripe blackberry, black plum and earth. The broad palate is layered with flavors reminiscent of lingonberry, black caps, rose hips, cocoa, mineral and meat. The palate is pronounced with velvety and supple tannins which give weight and density to this distinctive wine. The finish is long and persists with hints of spiced plum and clean earth. This elegant, balanced wine is ready to be enjoyed now or may be cellared for five to eight years."

Excellent "entry level" from Archery, cellar 6-8 years or enjoy earliest of all Archery releases.

Cole Danehower says:"Nice crimson-colored core with watery pink edges. Mellow, very soft vanilla biscuit edge to the aromas with a nice earthy foundation-and a slight stem/herb note. Tastes of soft violet with a flower-petal soft texture. Sweet dark red fruits and big tannins on the mid palate, though it softens somewhat into a deliciously sweet cherry and toasty oak finish.-C.D."

The Winery Says:

ORIGIN: Our search for the best vineyard sites to produce distinguished Pinot Noir led us to the North Willamette Valley, Specifically the Red Hills of Dundee. Our steep hillside vineyards are densely planted with Dijon clones, between 2,100 and 4,800 vines per acre. Our 2000 Premier Cuvee is from mature vines grown in our four single estate vineyards; Red Hills Estate, Arcus Estate, Renegade Ridge Estate, and Archery Summit Estate.