My recent trip to Oregon’s Willamette Valley provided first-hand confirmation that the 2008 vintage has produced a bevy of excellent pinot noirs that will appeal both to patient collectors and to those who can’t keep their hands off young, exuberantly fruity wines. (Bottles that serve the purposes of both groups of winos are one of the advantages of Oregon pinot noir in the first place.) While the most ageworthy 2008s possess the depth and balance to reward at least a decade of patience, few of the wines I tasted at the end of April were closed down or showed forbiddingly tannic character, even those that had recently been bottled and might be expected to be sullen. READ MORE »
