Over Fall Release Weekend and the following week, I attended three interesting wine tastings. Here are my reports on them.

A Corliss Red Wine Vertical

On Saturday, November 8th, Croliss held its annual Fall Release Event. For that event, the winery poured its newly released 2009 Corliss Red Wine (a combination of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec). Also poured from Magnums, were the 2006, 2005 and 2004 Red Wines, also various combinations of the five varietals.

2009 Corliss Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($75) - Deep ruby colored this wine offered seductive aromas of wild strawberry, cassis, mulberry, and cedar along with dark mouth encompassing fruits and earth minerals, followed by a long, vigorous, lip-smacking finish. 19.5/20 points. (A full review will be in the January 2015 issue of the Review of Washington Wines, along with the 2009 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon.)

2006 Corliss Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($180 - 1.5L Magnum) - This vintage showed a deep ruby-garnet color and complex aromas of dried fruits, sage,bay leaf and spiced incense. The flavors were deep and fleshy, with essential minerality. The back showed expressive viscosity to counterpoint the dried fruits, followed by tannins that were beginning to smooth out. 19+/20 points.

2005 Corliss Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($180 - 1.5L Magnum) - Deep ruby-garnet colored, this wine emited intoxicating aromas of dried fruits, orange peel, cedar, tobacco and incense. On the palate, the fruits were still vibrant and resonant, wiht notes of cocoa, black tea and earth. The back picked up roasted berres and nuts, followed by a lingering satiny tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2004 Corliss Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($180 - 1.5L Magnum) - This is a wine that is approaching maturity. It showed a deep garnet color and smoldering aromas of dried fruits - blackberry, cherry, plum - and dried rose petals, tobacco and cedar. The flavors were still rich, round and fleshy, with notes of chocolate, French roast and minerals, followed by a long, plush finish. 19.5/20 points.

An Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting

On the afternoon of Sunday, November 9th, we attended a tasting of Oregon Pinot Noirs, organized by Gary and Pam Gormley, who came from Beaverton, Oregon for Fall Release Weekend. Twelve wines were poured, six provided by Gary, all from the Willamette Valley except two, one from California's Santa Lucia Highlands and one from the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. Here are the wines I found to be the most noteworthy.

2008 Et Fille Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Nicholas Vineyard ($34) - This wine showed a brick red color and a rich, smoky nose of blackberry, cherry, bayberry and incense, with rich, ripe, textured roasted fruit flavors, followed by a lingering sweet-dry moderate tannin finish. Very well put together. 19/20 points.

2008 Carabella "Inchinnian" Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains ($54) - Brick red colored, this wine showed a true to variety nose of wild strawberries, cherries and cassis, with scents of crushed roses and incense. The medium bodied flavors offered plenty of charm, with earthy notes and glided effortlessly from beginning to end. 19+/20 points.

2012 Toil Pinot Noir, Oregon ($50) - This was produced by the Figgins Winery of Walla Walla. It displayed a medium brick red color and enticing aromas of cherry, raspberry, cassis and orange peel, with scents of oriental perfume and white incense. The svelte flavors were rich and chewy, with touches of dried cherries and satiny tannins. 19/20 points.

2011 Saviah Cellars Pinot Noir, Walla Walla Valley, Couse Creek Vineyard ($45) - This came from a tiny vineyard in the foothills of the Blue Mountans at 1900' elevation. It showed a medium brick red color and rich, smoky aromas of cherry, plum, cassis, orange peel and incense. The medium bodied flavors were velvety, yet well defined, with notes of chocolate and alluvial earth and minerals, followed by a ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

A North Coast California Pinot Noir Tasting

On Wednesday, November 12th, the Sons of Bacchus and two Daughters of Dionysus assembled for a tasting of Pinot Noirs from the Sonoma North Coast, including Green Valley, Anderson Valley and Russian River Valley. Here are the most impressive wines.

2010 Goldeneye Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, Narrows Vineyard - Goldeneye is part of the Napa Valley's Duckhorn portfolio. This showed a deep brick red color and rich aromas of cherry, black currant, tobacco, and crushed roses. The medium full-bodied flavors were nice and fleshy, with lavers of dark fruits, followed by a lush finish. 19/20 points.

2011 Goldeneye Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, Gowan Creek Vineyard - From a warmer site, this wine showed a deep brick red color and rich aromas of wild raspberry, cherry and forest carpet, with rich, direct, minerally flavors that were marked by notes of licorice, coffee and dried fruits. The finish was long and complex, deftly oaked and spiced. 19+/20 points.

2012 Gary Farrell "Dijon Clone" Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Halberg Vineyard - This displayed a semi opaque brick red color and rich aromas of raspberries, cherries, crushed roses, sweet tobacco and incense. The classically styled flavors were round and chewy, well focused, and marked by ripe, dryish tannins. 19+/20 points.

2008 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Klopp Ranch Vineyard - This was a dark, intense Pinot with a deep color and a smoky, earthy nose of raspberry, cherry and cassis. The flavors were eathy, chewy and tannic, with considerable depth and structure, making it ageworthy. 19/20 points.

Thanks to Lee Sanning for hosting this fine tasting.