J. Christopher Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 08

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

J. Christopher Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 07 -

Absolutely solid fruit, tannin structure, and acidity. Ripe blackberries and big Bing cherries mix with dense earth to create an irresistible pinot. The layers of complexity build from the first sip. This pinot focuses initially on earthy notes then moves on to fruit notes and finishes with fresh clean acidity. It is absolutely drinking well now and there is no need to cellar it, just drink and enjoy!

Matt Kramer of the Oregonian describes the J. Christopher "Willamette Valley" Pinot Noir 2007: "... is a flat-out superb pinot noir, not just for a 2007, but by the measure of any vintage (and I include the great 2005 vintage in this estimation). A blend of five Willamette Valley vineyards (Bella Vita, Charlie's, Abbey Ridge, La Collina and Croft), it includes vineyard selections that Somers usually issues as single-vineyard bottlings (Charlie's Vineyard and Abbey Ridge), which helped amp up the quality of this blend.

This is impeccable pinot noir delivering ripe-tasting, beautifully detailed fruit devoid of the excessive "sweet" fruit that can characterize some Oregon pinots, as well as any noticeable oakiness. Here you find classic, fully ripe berryish pinot noir flavors --especially wild cherry delivered in an admirably austere fashion with not a hint of greenness or excessive acidity. This is an Oregon pinot noir you could easily mistake for a very fine red Burgundy in a blind tasting.

Price is the clincher: $19.95 a bottle. Here is value allied to superb quality. This is the best deal I've found so far in 2007 Oregon pinot noir."