Lange Pinot Noir Three Hills Cuvee 09

Wine & Spirits Magazine 91 points

The Three Hills Cuvee Pinot noir is a blend of our three single-vineyard Pinot noirs: Lange Estate Vineyard, Freedom Hill Vineyard, and Yamhill Vineyards. Each site is a distinctive expression of its relative terroir with differing soil types, elevations, and clonal selections. In combination, these vineyards lend specific and unique characteristics to a masterfully integrated blend crafted by winemakers Don Lange and Jesse Lange.

The 2009 is a deep garnet hue, with an enticing nose of candied Oregon strawberry, crushed raspberry, cranberry, and hints of lavender, sage, and dusty minerality. A clean, soft palate bursts with flashy fruit character -- jammy raspberry and cherry cola flavors are accented by notes of white pepper, orange zest, and well-integrated barrel spice. - the winery

The 2009 displays coffee, black plum, and nutmeg on the nose with a silky palate of ripe boysenberry, dried fig, unsweetened chocolate, earth, and black pepper.

WINO Magazine Says: The Three Hills Cuvee is their top blended Pinot Noir and melds influences from their three oldest vineyard sites: Lange Estate, Freedom Hill, and Yamhill Vineyards. “We bottle all three as single-vineyard designates,” Jesse adds. “They work so well in concert; we’re obliged to blend at least a little. I think the wine has great Oregon Pinot Noir expression while also have many tiers of complex flavors: fruit, spice, and exceptional balance.”

Previous vintage notes: There’s a lot of “hoopla” and “blah-blah-blah” about the 2007 vintage in Oregon. It’s a vintage that is legendary, but for all the wrong reasons and I’m quick to call-out, all the wines that fell prey to the predator that was the rainfall and early harvesting. In doing so, there are wines that I’d also like to recognize, and Lange’s Three Hills Cuvee is one of them.

Femininity is this wines appeal–coming from me, a masculine lad. Up close and personal I notice a scented nose of sassy spice: cardamom, hazelnut and ginger. She’s alive with vivid fruit character and perfume, lively with bright cherry, rose hip and red berries. The upfront fruit on the palate is this wines strong point—it’s quite sexy. There are some candied cherry pop elements to this gal that keeps her young, playful and delicious. Tart acidity, delicate tannins and balanced alcohol are reminders that this one is going to meet mom. She’s a redhead in high heels, manicured nails, and luscious lips, with a little bit of attitude and is as curvaceous as the bottle itself. “Pop the cork, pop the question!”