6/30/2023 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Perhaps one of the most distinctive wines I've ever produced. Decanted to help the regal reduction that is more feral than flinty blow off. Rich but fresh, edges are rounding a bit but this is still quite youthful. Drinking very well, but no rush. I can't find my vinification notes, but I bet this was bottled with 35ppm free SO2, under DIAM 10 54mm.

6/30/2023 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Very youthful, powerful oak, bristiling acidity, fresh, chalky with good texture and length. Picked 9/19. 100% new oak. Bottled with 50ppm free SO2 under 55mm x 25mm Aquitaine Liege punch cork.

I begrudgingly recommend this to be consumed sooner rather than later due to the challenging vintage. This showed absolutely zero issues but the wine is singing now.

6/30/2023 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Lots of flinty reduction, high acidity for the pH, reduction helps to coil this up. Very youthful, great texture, precise. Hold, or decant to enjoy now. Bottled with 45ppm free SO2 under DIAM 10 54mm. What an amazing vintage for the Willamette Valley.

6/30/2023 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Quite full, soft, and rich. Very generously fruited from a very warm vintage. The 2018's in general are quite precocious, I think all of ready to drink now. Bottled with 45ppm free SO2 under DIAM 10 54mm.

6/30/2023 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Fresh, moderate acidity but more vibrant than I recall. Good weight with smooth texture. Showing well, no need to hurry. Pleased to see this developing as slowly as it is. Bottled with 35ppm free SO2 under DIAM 10 54mm.

7/8/2022 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Layered, dense, coiled. This vineyard is special. No rush on 2020.

7/8/2022 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Open but reductive, brilliant and firm. The best wine I made in 2020. No rush.

7/8/2022 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Vibrancy, precision, length. Perfect reduction. Hold until 2025, decant

7/8/2022 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Power, tension, grace. Perfect reduction. Hold until 2025, decant.

7/8/2022 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Opulent, golden, warm. Drink summer, fall and winter of 2022.

12/22/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Nice bottle. Mature now.

12/22/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Lovely, primary and delicate. Just a pleasure.

12/22/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Flinty, mineral, waxen, textural. Astonishing liquid, full of life. A touch richer than other 2006's (never tasted Asteroide though), concentrated, long.

12/22/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Beautiful.

9/4/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Lovely incense, black crushed berry, coffee, subtle ferrous and wet earth funk on the nose. Very precise but long aromatics that seem to linger. Delicate yet structured, quite approachable now and open with balance, freshness and depth. Bright acid, not at all overripe or rich, plenty of room for development as the flavors and aromas are primary and vibrant. Flavors follow the nose but take on a piney and bramble character with orange peel, crushed raspberry notes and red tea character. Drink or hold.

6/13/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Dark garnet. Heady and rich, full and dense, this surprised me in its promise as I found the expected lush and ripe feel with dry-extract and texture yet it still retains balance and intrigue; there is enough acidity. Dark cherry pit, warm sarsaparilla, aromatic spice, iron and mocha. I imagine another 10+ years will only improve the showing as the oak could integrate and the fruit is still primary.

5/31/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Wide, round, nutty, warm and a sweet demeanor yet bright acidity and hints of mineral. Bouquet and flavors of hay, dried mint, brûlée, caramel, tart pear, baked mango skin, pineapple core, white flowers. Drink.

3/4/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Wide, dry and dark floral, with cherry syrup, bitter grapefruit pith, violet sap. Juicy, chalky tannin, bright, complete and lovely. Amazing structure! Dusty, espresso, black cranberry herbal freshness.

5/12/2012 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Dried rose, licorice, earth, mushroom, very ethereal, light and airy. Quite chewy with root vegetable, herbs, cherry pit. Acerola, stony and a bit of sweet rubber. Golden hay, bruised cherry. Very old world, so chewy and elegant.

5/5/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Graham cracker, apple skin, cherry pit, golden raisin, almond flour, flint, hay, wet stone. Much brighter on the palate, a measure of oxidization but still fruit sweetness. Some wet dog notes. Shows like a young rich Chardonnay. Phenolic for sure, dried lemon peel. Golden. Much more alive than I thought it would be.

5/12/2012 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Bright, creamy pink. Toast, strawberry cream, hazelnuts, mineral, lime, ginger and mint. Round, thick aromatics and flavors. Turbid, full yet lithe and tense, quite volatile, effusive and artisinal. Barrel, full malo, unfined, unfiltered, straight, raw. Beautiful.

4/21/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

A bit odd at first. Port-like and dumb. More enjoyable after bottles has been open for hours. Prune, blue fruit, meaty, tar, olive, herbs and bramble. Decent acidity, fine texture, gentle structure, good length. Hold.

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

Purple fruit and florals, somewhat reticent, silken, chalky, mineral, softer yet quite open and delightful.

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

Bright, lithe and charged. Round, subtle red fruit, searing acidity which drives the fruit, spice and dry florals. Rich lees impact or noble reduction...

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

Blue, very mineral, savory, dense and spiced. Bright, distinct and beautiful. Nice complexity, grace and direction.

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

Very dense, chewy, purple fruited and deep floral pitch, some mineral and fresh earthen tones. Backwards. Bright acidity. Lovely.

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

Some EA.

Flinty, high-toned and chalky. Dense, smokey and lithe. Red fruit and violet florals, mineral and lots of spice. Power here, still elegant.

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

from massale vines, 75 year old or older

Some high toned red fruit, hint of EA, structure for days, chalky and delicate, rich. Nice.

9/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Barrel sample:

Reticent. Velvet red, dense and decadent, less fruit driven, mocha, spice, black raspberries. Silken, very nice texture and purity, more purple black fruits. Nice acidity and length.

4/19/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Yellow pear, mineral and steely, subtle floral tones, nice weight and creaminess before bright acid lengthens the feel and moves towards more tropical tones of mango, pineapple skin. Nice texture. $23 retail. 350 cases. 100% Estate Grown. 13%. 3 g/L residual. 55 gallon steel drum fermented, monthly battonage, no malolactic.

4/19/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Sandy soils of the Ribbon Ridge...baking spice, dark cherry, pits, coffee bean, cherry bark and sassafras. At first all spice and savory here, dry toast, bitter orange before more purple fruits and floral spice after decanting and time in the glass. Nice depth and weight for the vintage with nice structure and bright acidity lengthening the palate. There is a fine, creamy texture, mineral feel and though it is not fruit driven today, I enjoy it. Another young vine cuvee with lots of promise. $38 retail. 600 cases. 15% whole cluster. 10% new oak 12.5%. 70% Omero Estate and 30% Roe Vineyard

Day 2 & 3: more fruit showing now, still very spiced and dark. Very nice.

4/19/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Bright, floral and velvet aromatics with tart red and blue berries, lilac and lavender, bright spice and ferrous minerality. Tart acidity, fresh fruit, structured and juicy. There is a bit of noble reduction, the smell of money, which brings rich earthiness. Example that has been open for three days shows more restrained fruit, elevated bass notes and more open structure. I very much enjoy it. $28 retail. 12.5% 1500 cases. Young vine cuvee, 5% whole cluster and 5% new oak, predominantly Omero Estate grown fruit with support from Leah's Vineyard (Chehalem), Folie Hill (Dundee Hills), Coats & Whitney (Yamhill-Carlton) and Roe Vineyard (Ribbon Ridge).

4/8/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Rich, textural, extracted with powerful fruit, spice, savory mocha and leather. Quaffable.

4/14/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

For the money, perhaps one of the best producers in either Cote. Deep yet bright with verve and red pit fruit, nice floral spice, elegant stem influence, complex. With air, it picks up weight. Punches above it's weight class without a doubt. Can and should age but goodness, this is drinking well now.

3/20/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Rich, decadent and textural. A fine bottle, though I was not as impressed as I was with my first. I'll wait on the last bottle for a number of years and see what time has in store.

3/18/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Fine bright garnet. Demure, lithe, determined but modest: tart red berry, dark mint, raspberry leaf, cranberry seed, subtle spice. Some fig, earth, quinine, stem, maybe a touch volatile. Decent depth and complexity and though it is on the lighter side, it shows a good side of 2007. Great texture, structure and balance nonetheless and there is vibrancy and length to the aromatics & flavors. This could be quite a bit more interesting in 10 years.

3/18/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

From magnum, just as mature as previous 750mL. Consistent notes.

3/6/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Straw yellow, not exactly crystalline, but beautiful. Bright yet wide, round and full. There is very fine oak impact, dry extract, richness, power and an increasing clarity and freshness to the overall feel as the wine sits in the glass. Aromatics and flavors are dense, complex and layered with lemon curd, ginger candy, warm spice, cream soda. Lovely, with a long life ahead.

3/6/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Quite heady, musky and earthen with hints of noble reduction. Low intensity aromatics and flavors of sweet buffalo grass, dark raspberry, strawberry leaf, mineral and iodine. Bright acid, long and textured, linear and very fine structure. Elegant and lithe. Deserves time.

2/28/2013 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Really lovely. Wet earthen feel to the red fruit, spice and tea leaves, reminiscent of Savigny. Not so much fresh as it is mineral, bright and showing quite well for the vintage, though it may lack stuffing and complexity. Very good, underpriced, overachieving.

3/1/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Rather rich, fine whole cluster feel, layered aromatics and not so much elegant as it is full and round. Oak is prominent. Very Rhys and nowhere near ready to drink. Fresh, powerful and only good things ahead.

9/7/2011 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Rich estery, dark cherry, vanilla, stone, saline, sweet rubber, tea and floral notes. As it sits, it loses expression and is reticent with cinnamon stick and moss and bark. Stout tannin, bright acid, black tea and mocha, long persistence. Enormous concentration, chalky texture, full of dry extract but acidity seems hidden. A beast. Needs years.

10/14/2011 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Tasted blind.

Golden yellow.

Funky nose with mature and oxidatized bouquet of chamomile, hay, dry honey extract, dried mint, baking spice, golden apple skin and pear brûlée. Rather soft and gentile with nice persistence and depth, though not amazingly complex . Good concentration, moderate oiliness and petrol character. Guessed early to mid 90's Ramonet Chassagne Cailleret.

2/1/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Tasted blind.

Pale straw.

Wet wooly, waxy lemon balm, lanolin, careful oak. A bit soft yet restrained. Mineral, sur lie but not rich. Some yellow star fruit and unripened pineapple. Floral.

Moderate plus acid, light concentration, long, steely almost bitter phenolic finish. Unripened pineapple, more mineral, Grapefruit pith, waxy lemon balm and peach skin.

It begins to unwind and knit towards the end of the bottle. Bright, tart and primary.

2/24/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Aldehydic and oxidized. Nutty, bruised apple, banana bread. Flabby and uninspiring.

3/8/2012 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Golden. Rich, nutty, plasticine, bruised apple, mineral. Aldehydic, oxidized, and acid sticking out, slightly chalky, with weight. Nutty, direct, wide.

9/13/2011 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Aromas are slightly thin and reticent with a hint of oak sheen. Rose, cinnamon, tart cherry, cranberry, sous bois and bark. Some sweet rubber, coffee bloom and raspberry leaf and mineral. Decent concentration, bright acid, decent structure and long grippy finish. Beautiful, crunchy, structured.

9/15/2011 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Beautiful, funky nose of cherry pit, humus, tin and sarsaparilla. Black tea, pine and bark. Some dark fruits. Metallic on the back end. Wet wood. Cedar. Sandalwood. Nice taut structure with bright acid, cocoa powder tannin and a lengthy persistence. A bit reduced and a touch savage...
Very funky and wild upon opening though it seems to soften like velvet without losing it's edge and concentration. Pretty.

2/23/2013 - sethmorgenlong wrote:

Oak and alcohol dominated on day 1 but have settled down and now these is lovely and meaty fruit, floral and earthen notes. Lavender, plum, cherry pit, violet, black currant, chalky and rocky. Hint of tomato and strawberry leaf, iron. Some baked nuances, rich and structured but decent acidity and length. There is elegance and complexity. Would love to see this again in 10 or 20 years.

5/19/2012 - sethmorgenlong Likes this wine:

Complex, lovely and dynamic. Warm tomato, walnut bread, hay, furry, leather, earth, hanimal. Very soft spoken dusty ethereal quality, feminine and musky floral spice. Bergamot, wet ash, a bit tinny. The entry is silken and soft, before waves of structure sweep in and oh, so slow, slowly subside. Cherry skin, tomato leaf, rosemary wood, saddle leather, walnut skin, iodine and hay. Beautiful.