Jessie James Vineyard Pinot Noir

A profoundly backward Jessie James that took a strange, winding path over several days. Initially reduced and giving maybe 10%, with matchstick, damson, sour and mid-season cherry, mineral and very little aromatic expression. The palate was completely discombobulated at first, but the material was obvious: beautiful velvety tannins, tiny-berry fruit intensity, tremendous depth and an extraordinarily long, persistent finish. After about ninety minutes it briefly opened into something spectacular, with deep, voluminous perfume, sweet and sour cherries, mossy minerality and exotic spice, the nose easily operating at a 9.7 level. Then it closed again, the tannins took over and both nose and palate retreated. Two days later it is much more composed, silky and elegant, with pure red fruit, sour cherry and beautifully refined tannins. Very good, serious and clearly built to age, but not at the level of the great 2021 or 2022 Jessie James.

Tons of floral, wild dark berries and spice on the nose. Mid season cherry. Palate is so good. Rich, elegant, deep, gritty and nimble. Some nice amplitude in the mid palate and great tension and red fruits on the finish. Needs mega air so I can only assume score goes higher tomorrow.

This seems more integrated than the Hyland Vineyard, same vintage. Anyone have insight?

Wow. The nose is neutral. OMG that palate is decadent and severely structured and the most velvety tannins that are squeezing out unreal tiny fruit intensity. This is the most epic Pinot in Oregon. This is a french Grand Cru wine being made in Oregon. Unreal structure, high acid, Inner mouth aromas. Judgement deferred. 9.6 based on past notes. I will follow this over the next few days. After 7 hours nose is more decadent but still not yielding what it can. This will be better tomorrow. Lovely spice but I know what this wine can be. The texture on the palate though is really coming through. Juicy and supple but still clipped finish. But long. 9.6 to 9.7. but I can’t wait for tomorrow. It’s so juicy and so layered. Impressive. Palate is so supple and dense on day 2. Unreal tannins, depth, sweetness and power. 9.7 to 9.8.

Absolutely delicious. Drank with a chill. Sumac, cola, fresh raspberries, nutmeg.

Gorgeous and best JJ ever. Nose is full of mid season cherries, spice, gentle wood shavings from woodshop when one was a kid. Really aromatic and alluring. Really huge spice. So so aromatic and casts a spell on you. Palate is so juicy and full of life. Sweet and sour cherry fruit and big time acids and wonderful structure and purity. This needs mega mega air. The sweetness on the finish and mid is to just die for and then gets tamed by the incredible acidity and mineral spine.

Medium Ruby color with aromas dark red fruits, black tea and ample floral spice, aged in 8% new French oak for 21 months. On the palate flavors of black cherry, blackberry and plum with tobacco, cedar, black pepper, tea and vanilla spice. Soft fine tannins, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit, herb, spice and flinty wet stone mineral character. Nice! Organic!

A bottle Evan left me to study for some days. This is the best wine Evan has ever made. Stunning nose of blackberry, blackberry coulis, ripe black and red cherries, a lovely herbal element and tree bark. Much more to reveal but I love the aromatic precision and depth here. Palate is just so nimble, fresh and complete with rocking acidity and minerality. Super engaging and just so precise. Really amazing vintage for Evan. So complex and with noble structure and amazing sapidity. So pure and so complex but has more and more to reveal. 9.5 after PNP. Let’s see where it goes. Terrific acid driven and mineral finish. Now with air the spices start developing on the nose. Dizzying. Palate is filling out and gaining more amplitude and opulence but the acid and minerals are right there. What a finish! On day 2 this is a 9.6 now with so much energy and vigor.

Lovely licorice on the nose. Floral and stunning aromas. Violets. Ridiculous intensity. Big tannins and ripe but the most backwards of the three. Sappy and still needs time.

Big nose of ripe cherry, dusty earth, woodshop, slight herbals, so so profound. Palate is juicy and ripe with great intensity. Round and juicy with terrific, elegant and pearly tannins. Long imprint of a finish. Riper than 21. Opulent but a restrained opulence.