2011-2012 Scott Paul "Audrey" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Vertical

“Comprising (as it did last year) a selection of the best barrels from his block of old vines at Maresh, Wright’s 195 cases of 2011 Pinot Noir Audrey also incorporates the two barrels that constitute the first harvest from his estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains. Kelley Fox described the estate component (of which a couple of cases were separately bottled, solely for the record) as “very alive, very mineral, and very distinct so that anyone could pick it out in a line-up.” Blood orange; fresh cherry with prominence of pit; seedy red currant; lemon and orange rinds put me in mind of this year’s “La Paulee” bottling, but are here incorporated into a more concentrated, zestier, livelier performance. The texture here is insipiently silken, and while at 13.1% the alcohol is very slightly higher than in the other two Scott Paul 2011s, vintage-typical buoyancy prevails. Hints of tallow and charred red meat add intriguing savor. The sense of grip, invigoration and sheer refreshment is exhilarating, and the lingering salinity (courtesy of those estate vines?) milks the salivary glands. This wonderful exemplification of its exceptional vintage should be worth following through at least 2025 and quite possibly well thereafter. (DS)” (10/2013)

“Essentially Scott Paul's reserve, this is sourced entirely from biodynamically-farmed, 40-year-old vines at the Maresh vineyard. The Audrey layers cherry fruit with streaks of mineral, and carries plenty of underlying acidity. The wine manages to feel full-bodied without losing a sense of elegant proportion. (PG)” (08/2014)

“(made from old vines in the Maresh vineyard): Vivid red. Sexy aromas of red berry preserves, Asian spices and potpourri. Light on its feet, showing graceful, surprisingly concentrated red fruit flavors and complicating notes of candied rose, vanilla and smoky minerals. Impressively elegant and precise pinot with suave finishing floral character and silky, fine-grained tannins that add grip. (JR)” (07/2013)

“The 2012 Pinot Noir Audrey is a selection of the best eight barrels from the Dundee Hills, specifically from the Maresh Vineyard planted in 1970. It has a very reserved but quite compelling bouquet with beautifully defined tertiary red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity, super-smooth in the mouth, with a seductive temptress of a finish! Yes, yes, yes! (NM)” (03/2015)

“(made from biodynamically farmed vines in the Maresh vineyard; no new oak): Bright ruby. Expansive red fruit and incense aromas show superb energy and focus, with a smoky mineral nuance gaining strength with air. Stains the palate with sappy black raspberry and spicecake flavors and a touch of orange pith. Suave wine with sneaky sweetness, outstanding finishing cut and lift, and fine-grained tannins. This is all from ungrafted Pommard clone fruit. (JR)” (07/2014)

“The excellent Maresh vineyard is the source of these grapes. Lovely aromas of leaf and cherry open into a wine generous with pretty flavors of black raspberry and cherry. The tannins are still a little stiff, with black tea, green tobacco, and a definite dryness. Give this extra breathing time and it reveals some additional complexity. (PG)” (02/2015)