2011 & 2012 Scott Paul Pinot Noir Tasting Lot

“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)

“Vivid ruby-red. Drop-dead gorgeous, highly perfumed aromas of red berry preserves, Asian spices, sassafras and smoky minerals, with an intense floral nuance. Sweet, penetrating and pure, offering nervy red fruit and rose pastille flavors complemented by deeper notes of mocha and licorice. Shows outstanding balance and clarity, with smooth tannins building slowly through a long spice- and mineral-inflected finish. (JR)” (07/2014)

“Journaux, the winery notes, is an old Burgundian term for the amount of land a person could plow by horse in a single day. The Azana vineyard is the source for the fruit, and is about four journaux in size. It brings flavors of strawberry candy, raspberry soda, and a bit of Dr Pepper. At first a forward, fruity, charming wine, it turns brambly and herbal in the well-balanced finish. (PG)” (02/2015)

“Once again there is commendable freshness and purity to the airy and cool mix of red currant, blue pinot, floral and spice wisps. There is a seductive texture to the delicious and solidly concentrated medium weight flavors that possess good levels of palate coating dry extract, all wrapped in a firm, dusty, balanced and beautifully long finish that exhibits a hint of warmth. This is a not quite as complex as the Pre and should come around a few years earlier as well.” (06/2015)

“The firm grip of tannins makes this feel more like a Barolo than a Burgundy, and the earthy, tarry overtones add to the effect. The underlying dark berry fruit rises on the finish. Has presence. (HS)” (02/2015)