2013 Phelps Creek, Pinot Noir, Cuvee Alexandrine, Columbia Gorge, Oregon.
Burgundian vigneron Alexandrine Roy of Domaine Marc Roy crafts the beautiful Phelps Creek wines, and these are well worth searching out, the 2012 version of this Pinot Noir is one of my favorite Oregon wines ever! So, it was always going to be difficult to follow up with an even better wine, especially in a fickle vintage as 2013 turned out to be in Oregon, but I think the 2013 has the potential to surprise, it just will need more time in bottle to really show what is has and to perform, but that said, those real hard core Burgundy lovers will adore this effort with it’s natural restraint, freshness and delicacy. The 2013 Phelps Creek Cuvee Alexandrine is bright and austere, and feels very Cote de Beaune with brambly red fruits, loads of mineral, zippy acidity and a lighter profile, it doesn’t at this stage have the hedonistic pleasure and depth of the 2012, but is a very solid effort with fine detail and verve. The 2012 was really sexy, while the 2013 remains more mysterious, it is a wine for old world traditionalists, and it is going to be really interesting to see how they both turn out in bottle down the road, it intrigues me, even if I highly recommend finding as much of the 2012 as possible while you can. The 2013 Cuvee Alexandrine starts with dusty red berries, rosewater, sappy herbs, steely/stony elements and forrest floor leading to a vibrant palate that offers an array of cherry, tart plum, dried currant, briar notes and earthy fig along with anise/peach tea, orange zest, raw cedar and a hint of baking spice. This lighter 2013 has some tannins that should fade into silk with time and lively acidity, both of which hide the extract at the moment, look for deeper expression after a year in bottle, you’ll need patience to find the treasure here, but the rewards are not out of reach. I really admire this Phelps Creek Vineyards wines and look forward to the future releases, as well as Alexandrine’s Domaine Marc Roy’s gorgeous set of 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin’s due out in early 2016! Drink the 2013 Phelps Creek Cuvee Alexandrine Pinot Noir Columbia Gorge from 2017 to 2026, but without question go out and find the 2012 now!
($45 Est.) 90-92 Points, grapelive