Erik Nordman

9.3

Awesome Gamay from Seven Springs, by way of Evening Land. Has all the great qualities I love about good cru Beaujolais yet doesn't seem like it's trying to be *be*Beaujolais and it certainly reflects its Oregon origins and the warmer vintage with its ripe fruit and (relative) roundness, although that's certainly not to say it's not nimble and doesn't have great acid structure too because it is, and it does. Lithe, elegant, juicy, and supremely drinkable. Concentrated nose of ripe wild raspberries and red cherries, fresh rose and violet floral tones, mossy riverbank stones, and white pepper. Palate is echoes the nose pretty identically in terms of flavor. Medium (+) acid. Medium (-) body with lovely soft texture and a small amount of superfine tannin to help give a bit of extra structure. — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Black river rocks with a Luxardo cherry finish. Blackberry and snail shells with a raspberry sorbet on the riverbank nose. Satin finish, with a decadently ripe red plum that borders on cream. Fine strands of cedar, lingonberry and black currant reduction flood the culminative pronunciations. — 10 years ago

with Courtney

Mishell Paulino

8.9

Medium, fruity, smooth. 2012 hold riverbank competition. — 12 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

'Les Picasses' lies along a riverbank on a fairly steep slope that is primarily alluvial clay overlaying chalk and limestone. The vines are over 50 years old and the site is known to produce wines with fabulous purity and minerality. As such the Olga Raffault 'Les Picasses' Chinon 1989 has had time to mellow, the aromas are quite lovely—lavender, game, worn leather, a touch of barnyard, and cellar dust. There is a throaty, sensual wildness to this wine, punctuated by a vein of bright acidity and minerals. Everything I love in Loire Valley Cab Franc. — 11 years ago