Evening Land pinots

[Jenise]

So what do people think of these wines? Evening Land is the Oregon winery (they may make some wines in California as well?) funded by the splendid Lafon family of Burgundian fame. Most notoriously, they bought the Seven Springs vineyard out from under Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent, whose reputation was essentially built on the fruit of the vineyard and who, of course, also tried to buy it.

I've had very little experience with the wines. Tasted one pinot that may not have been vineyard specific at a friends house a few years ago when the wines got their first big buzz from The Speck--he sought it out after reading about them--and I have to say I wasn't especially impressed. It wasn't bad, but there was no "oh wow" from me. I did say that about one of his gamays, which is bottled under a label called, I think, 'Celebration'. (If that's not right, it's another name that sounds like a cruise ship.) That causes me to remark that 'Evening Land' isn't that hot a name to my way of thinking either--sounds like one of those low-end names Gallo comes up with to expressly appeal to women, like Gossamer Bay.

Anyway, just wondering what other people's experience is? Just got a flyer from someone in Napa touting some fairly high scores (and prices), as follows:

2010 EVENING LAND Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Seven Springs Vineyard La Source $57.99 Wine Spectator (Advance) - 95 points (2007 shown) "Remarkable for its array of vivid flavors on a sleek, airy frame, shading its juicy raspberry and cherry fruit with a streak of wet rock,crushed rose petal and white pepper, all of it put together seamlessly. The finish just doesn't quit". Drink now through 2020. 971 cases made

2010 EVENING LAND Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Seven Springs Vineyard $42.99 Wine Spectator (Advance)- 93 points
"Light and silky, this is beguiling for the way it deftly plays its polished red berry and black cherry fruit against glints of mineral and white pepper. The finish brings it all together seamlessly". Drink now through 2018. 1,158 cases made

2010 EVENING LAND Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Seven Springs Vineyard Red Queen $71.99 Wine Spectator (Advance) - 92 points (2008 shown)
Lots of ripe cherry and spice flavors play with deftness on an open frame. This is generous with its fruit and shows subtle hints of black pepper and licorice, finishing with intensity and impressive length". Drink now through 2018. 311 cases made

I have tried the Gamay Noir, which (I believe you are correct) is called the "Celebration". The only Pinot of theirs I have tried was the "Blue Label". This is their entry level Pinot from Oregon, and I found it to be very bright, balanced and delightful, as well as affordable. I haven't heard much about their higher end stuff; maybe I'll get a chance to try some when I'm in Willamette. If I do, I will report back.

So what do people think of these wines? Evening Land is the Oregon winery (they may make some wines in California as well?) funded by the splendid Lafon family of Burgundian fame.

My understanding is that Dominique Lafon is only consulting there. And I think the Lafon family has nothing to do with this. The founder name is Tarlow or something like this. I met a miss Elisabeth Webster once who introduced herself as co-owner and partner at Evening Land.

Cheers

Eric

Decent CT scores. I've never tried one.

I think some people (like me) were turned off a bit by this producer's gobbling up of the Seven Springs vineyard, but for people who have tasted the wine, I've read nothing but praise, especially in the last 2-3 years. I still haven't tried one, but would really like to.

[David M. Bueker]

I think some people (like me) were turned off a bit by this producer's gobbling up of the Seven Springs vineyard, but for people who have tasted the wine, I've read nothing but praise, especially in the last 2-3 years. I still haven't tried one, but would really like to.

Count me as one who was turned off by the Seven Springs thing. I have had several of the wines (a friend likes to blind me on them), and I find them almost always candied and overextracted. They even do some actual Burgundies (I have had the Vosne-Romanee), and they taste like Pinot from the Santa Rita Hills.

The St Innocent story also made me hesitant to buy. The one time I ever tried an EL PN was in a blind tasting, I thought it pretty good:
Red #2- good acids, black cherry fruit, I enjoy this. 2010 Evening Land Pinot Noir (Willamette). B/B+

I've had the Celebration Beaujolais (I think there is also a Celebration Gamay from Oregon, never tried), thought it a fine value at $8.