Erath Leland Vineyard Pinot Noir Vintage: 2004 Purchased: Jul 21st 2007 Price: $40.00 Purchase Location: Erath Vineyards - (http://www.erath.com/) Categories: Oregon - Pinot Noir - Red

Tasting Notes:

This was not as good as the previous Grand Cru Burgundy that we had, but this was probably the second best pinot noir I've drunk. I decanted for a few hours before drinking, and I probably should have opened it even earlier.

The original nose contained black cherry, cloves, and a strong cola aroma. There was a slight sense of wood, mainly sandalwood, but there was also a not so nice alcoholic smell. The alcohol soon blew off and the nose became much more balanced, if a little less fruity.

It was a wonderful wine in the mouth with just the right amount of black cherry cola to go with the clove and nutmeg notes. I would have liked slightly more earthiness, but I can't really complain. The acidity and tannins were perfect and the finish was quite long. Was it worth $40? I don't really know. But I did greatly enjoy this.


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Erath Gewurztraminer Vintage: 2006 Purchased: Jul 21st 2007 Price: $15.00 Purchase Location: Erath Vineyards - (http://www.erath.com/) Categories: Gewurztraminer - Oregon - White

Tasting Notes:

I was serving an interesting caramelized carrot risotto with pork chops and wanted to drink a white rather than a red. I picked this on a whim.

The wine was a pale yellow in the glass, looking rather thin. The aroma was of lychee and rose petal with just a touch of anise. Not as heady as Alsatian gewurz, but fairly pleasing.

In the mouth it was much more full bodied than I expected. The fruit flavors other than lychee were absent, but there was a great spiciness and a hint of pine/douglas fir that I've never had before.

Kathrine found it to be a little odd. I think the combination of barrel fermentation and aging on the lees reminded her to much of bad chardonnay.




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