2015 Cameron Winery, Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
I adore the authentic and rustic nature of the Cameron wines and John Paul’s winemaking, which is a bit more raw than the modern examples, but enthralling and vital, these are gorgeous and earthy/sexy wines, and especially the serious value Dundee Hills 2015 bottling! This 2015 Cameron Dundee Hills Pinot starts with Burgundy like earthy reduction and expressive red fruits, spice, minty herb and subtle oak shading with layers of dusty cherry, raspberry, wild plum and tangy currant along with leather, smoke and mineral tones. Opening with air this well balanced, stylish and stupid good bargain gains rose petal, truffle and dried blueberry/cranberry, flint as well as red/tea spices and mineral elements. Native ferments and longer than normal elevage makes for a textured and long lasting wines, and this is a great vintage to put away. This could be a Gevrey-Chambertin if tasted blind! Coming off two of Cameron’s non irrigated (dry farmed) vineyards this red soil (Jory) influenced Pinot is pure heaven in the glass, I wish I had bought a effing case of this stuff, it is so wonderful I could easy not share this and make it my own secret treat! Thanks to Vinopolis Wine Shop in Portland for turning me on to this one. From declassified barrels of Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge Vineyards, this offering 13.5% alcohol Dundee Pinot, lacks for nothing in terms of poise, ripeness, depth and mouth feel and the price is stunning for what you encounter in the glass and bottle, it only makes you wonder just how fantastic Paul’s top cures are in this vintage, I think it’s pretty safe to say they must be out of this world! Drink this one for the next 10 or 15 years!
($28 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
