2008 J.K. Carriere Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
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Tasting notes
Bright red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, cherry pit, sassafras and Asian spices. Juicy and precise, with sweet red and dark berry flavors lifted by candied flowers and spicecake. Deep but light on its feet, finishing with intense spiciness and a hint of anise. This elegant pinot is already showing a lot of complexity.
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Josh Raynolds
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
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The 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is a blend of 7 vineyards aged in 20% new oak. It sports a lovely bouquet of balsam wood, cinnamon, allspice, incense, black cherry and black currant. On the palate it has excellent volume, displays incipient complexity, is densely packed, and has 2-3 years of aging potential. This savory, ripe offering will provide pleasure from 2012 to 2020. Owner/winemaker Jim Prosser has settled into his brand new winery on Parrett Mountain. He tends to release his wines later than most so that his current vintage is 2007. However, the 2008s are in bottle, and Prosser was kind enough to present them as well. As an aside, to those who might question the longevity of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Prosser opened a 1999 (the vintage most frequently compared to 2008). Dark ruby in color, it gives up a slightly roasted, already complex perfume of black fruit confiture. Right at its peak with another 10-15 years of life ahead, this is a sneak preview of what you’ll be getting when the better 2008s reach age 10. Tel. (503) 554-0721; www.jkcarriere.com