WTN: 2004 Hatcher Pinot Noir Wilamette Valley Oregon. $16 a glass at Endless Vines, Franklin Lakes, NKJ.
Deep red, deep hue, intense aroma and tastes of berries and spice, medium mouth feel, good acidity, lovely tannins, long complex finish of spice, berry notes, earth. A delicious wine -- try to taste it if you can. It might smooth out a little bit with two or three more years aging in a cold cellar, but delicious now, perhaps the best Oregon Pinot Noir I've had since a couple lovely wines at a restaurant in Portland three years ago. 4*+.
Regards, Bob
Wine maker's notes:
"This Pinot noir weaves the bright raspberry, cassis and loganberry flavors of the 2003 with mocha, vanilla and cinnamon. The intensity of the fruit swells to a silky mouth feel and finishes long on fine tannins. With a firm acidic backbone, the wine will continue to develop and please for at least a decade. atcher Wineworks' Pinot noir is made in very small amounts by Bill Hatcher, former manager of Domaine Drouhin, and part owner of A to Z Winery."