2012 Phelps Creek Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Cuvee Alexandrine, Columbia Gorge, Oregon.
The 2012 Phelps Creek Cuvee Alexandrine Pinot Noir is one of the years best Oregon wines, hand crafted by Alexandrine Roy of Domaine Roy in Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, it comes from the cool Columbia Gorge, which is northeast of the Willamette on the Hood River. The Cuvee Alexandrine comes from vines planted at between 950 and 1,200 foot on steep slopes set on volcanic rocky soils, Roy uses native yeasts to highlight the unique terroir, all the grapes, 100% Pommard Clone, are de-stemmed, fermentation is done in open top stainless tanks with punch downs and pump overs to gain color and structure, allowing the wine to be full and expressive, and her 2012 is a masterpiece with a wonderful layered feel and it is strikingly beautiful. I was honored and pleased to meet Alexandrine Roy and taste through her Phelps Creek line up as well as a set of her Domaine Marc Roy 2014 samples from her tiny estate in Gevrey-Chambertin, needless to say it was an awesome experience and her Burgundies are glorious and divine, more on those later, but it was the Phelps Creek Pinot Cuvee Alexandrine that stood out, from a great Oregon vintage it is very sexy stuff and should be on any Pinot Noir lovers radar! The 2012 Phelps Creek Cuvee Alexandrine starts with it’s pretty shinning ruby color in the glass, heady perfume of summer rose and fading violets along with wild raspberry, flinty spices and touch of warm earth leading to a silken palate of red plum, black cherry, mulberry and forest fruits plus dried fig, tea spice, cedar and cinnamon. This charming and seriously good Pinot picks up life and vigor with air and while lush and mouth filling it has plenty of verve, vibrancy and drive, this is highly entertaining and impressive stuff, bravo to Phelps Creek Vineyards and Alexandrine Roy for making such a stunner, drink from 2016 to 2020.
($42 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive