Willamette Valley Pinot Noir-2008

This month we sampled the much anticipated 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir vintage.
The lineup included:

First Flight

2006 Panther Creek-Shea Vineyard
2007 Chien Lunatique-Holstein Vineyard
2008 Lange-Willamette Valleys

Second Flight
2008 Sineann-Willamette Valley
2008 Patricia Green-Croft Vineyard
2008 Bethel Heights-Willamette Valley
2008 Seven of Hearts-Willamette Valley
2008 J. Christopher-Willamette Valley
2008 Westrey-Abbey Ridge Vineyard

Sam Sundeleaf-Table Spokesman

Robert Volz-our own almost Master Sommelier

The 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir's are supposed to be the vintage of the decade.
This month we tasted a representative sampling of large and small producers with an eye on seeing what this vintage might hold for the future.
We started with a small first flight that showcased a 2006, 2007 and 2008 wine. Next up we did a flight of the fabled 2008.
In my humble opinion the 2006 Panther Creek-Shea Vineyard beat the pants off of everything in the first two flights. As good as the 2008 vintage is supposed to be, this lineup seemed awkward, angular and just not a QPR (quality price ratio) vintage.
This vintage seems to have a ton (figuratively) of fruit, but the wines are not showing much in the way of spice, complexity or nuance.
Definitely the wines of the night were the single vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot's cracked when it was time for dinner. Standouts include a 2006 Archery Summit-Premier Cuvee, a 2004 Patricia Green-Goldschmidt Vineyard and a 2006 Domaine Drouhin-Laurene.