Winery - Amalie Robert
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
From the estate vineyard, this blend of several Dijon clones was fermented with indigenous yeast, 10% whole cluster, cellared a year in one third new French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Young vines give it youthful cherry and berry flavors, with a lively mouthfeel and highlights of herb, spice and mocha.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Light and delicate, this “Vintage Debut” Pinot Noir skates along a pretty thin edge. Light hints of strawberry and cherry blossom lead into a pale wine with plenty of acidity. But despite the acclaimed vintage, this is pretty thin stuff.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This grape is most commonly associated with Champagne, though David Lett established it as a varietal wine at Eyrie decades ago. From a young vineyard, this is deceptively light in the glass, yet the wine has grip and the flavors have follow-through. Spice, pomegranate, wild berry—all in a surprisingly lengthy wine whose flavors linger generously.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Impressively dark and showing the meaty andpeppery character of the grape, this Willamette Valley Syrah makes a good ¬argument for the viability of the grape up north. It emphasizes the flavors that are lost in a hotter climate—pepper, herb, tart berry, and juicy acidity. With alcohol at 12.3%, this sets a new standard for domestic, Euro-style Syrah.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The first vintage for this designation, it’s all estate-grown and hand-harvested. Accents of tomato leaf and wet cement in the nose, wild strawberry and rhubarb in the mouth. Quite tart and light, but well-made and varietal.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is cool-climate fruit, from a vintage the winery describes as “the coolest year we have ever seen.” Nonetheless they have made a good wine, with balanced scents and flavors. It’s definitely herbal, but also brings some cured meat and tart, wild cherry flavors into play.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Fragrant and sharp edged, with citrus rind flavors, and a hint of bitterness around the tight fruit flavors. As it breathes, pretty, concentrated fruit flavors emerge, suggesting marmalade and apricot preserves. It finishes with a light touch, tart and bracing.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Tart and slender, this is deceptive; at first it seems a little thin, but as it opens in the glass into a succulent, well-defined, racy wine with citrus and peach, mineral and herb. It’s not delicate, but its muscularity is concealed behind elegant styling.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A barrel selection from the 30-acre estate vineyard, this has a bit more muscle than its companion Amalie’s Cuvée, with a more firm and full mid-palate. The fruit reaches into orange and plum and even hints at bourbon-soaked raisins, but within a context of a very cool vintage. Good balance and restraint, with the structure to age gracefully for up to a decade.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is essentially a reserve, similar to the Dijon Clones bottling but given more time in oak. It is a powerful, muscular wine, and the strawberry and cherry flavors are sweet and candied. Almost half the oak was new, and adds a chocolaty twist to the finish.
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