2012PattonValleyEstate2012 Patton Valley, Pinot Noir, The Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
This beautiful and open Pinot Noir is fantastically detailed and pleasing with gorgeous red fruits, silky texture and lengthy finish, you have to hand it to Patton Valley, they really took advantage of the vintage here and made outstanding wines, especially this estate bottling. While the 2009, 2010 and 2011 wines were pretty and solid efforts, the 2012 is a massive jump up in quality and depth, this is great way to start with Patton Valley and a superb introduction to the glories of the Willamette Valley, if you are new to Oregon wine. This impressive Patton Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir also comes in half bottle, perfect for restaurant lists and in full bottle for home use, the pricing is fair for the wonderful quality in the bottle, their vines are tended in certified sustainable practices and the winemaking is based on the careful attention paid to the grapes from vine to cellar and there is lots to admire in these wines. The 2012 Estate is rich on the nose and on the palate, it starts with deep floral tones, plenty of red fruit and hints of spice and vanilla leading to an expansive palate of creamy cherry, black raspberry, strawberry, plum and blueberry fruits in the mouth with cola, cinnamon, black tea and wild herbs/anise. There is good underlying acidity, satin like tannins, with nice ripeness while not to excess coming in at 14% alcohol and lingering fruit and sweet oak notes being well judged, best from 2015 to 2020.
($38 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive

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