Steve & Paula Black pursued a dream in 2003 and purchased a 110-acre vineyard located in the Red Hills of Dundee creating The Four Graces, named after their four daughters. Medium Ruby with surprisingly complex aromas of red fruits, herb and spice. On the palate cherry and raspberry flavors with tea and espresso notes adding a bit of pepper spice. Well balanced acidity with fine tannins, medium(+) length, ending with earthy notes. Nice value! — 7 months ago
Killer nose at 33 years young from an OK vintage. Chestnuts galore. tar, roses, melting road tar and crazy florals. Woodshop. Old Library books. Macerated cherries. Smells like elite Barolo. Just gorgeous. As it airs the minerals come through and the nose gets more and more expansive. I could smell this all day. Palate is tasting so young. Tannic and structured but with glorious cherry fruit and a mix of dried and fresh cherries. Very delicate yet big. This is so beautiful. Wow what sweet sweet cherry fruit and glorious freshness and acidity. This is terrific. Needs air as these all do. Nose now has burnt ember from a fireplace. Now after aid the complexity and finesse come in spades. It’s so elegant. The cherry fruit gets more defined. Now on Day 2 it has gotten better and better. These wines are timeless and ageless. Nose is a nebbiolo symphony with tar, dried roses, cigar box, dried cherries and huge minerality. So enveloping. Unreal chestnut. Palate is juicy and so clear. Amazing velvety tannins and so silky. Unreal wine. More finesse and better fruit clarity today. — a year ago
Will gladly drink again! — 4 months ago
Deep and ripe nose that is totally giving me Corton Charlemagne vibes. Ripe apple, melon, cantaloupe and pear. Gorgeous in its purity. Man this is like white burgundy mimicry. Gorgeous spicey notes and complex smokey tones and amazing mineral notes. Such an enveloping and evocative nose. Palate is so awesome. Rich and textured and so deep and this has those German iodine and hazelnut notes that make you think your in Corton Charlemagne. Ripe and unctuous and so forward and unreal marzipan notes on the mid and finish. Wow does this really hammer you on the finish and not let up. Remarkable elegance and large scaled but nimble. As this airs it gains remarkable aromatic complexity with pulverized stones and barely ripe tropical fruits. So complex. Rich yet tense is the biography of this wine. One of the best 18’s I’ve had from Germany. — 6 months ago
My favorite Pernand 1er Cru. Classic nose of dark cherry fruit, brambly berry fruit, wild mint, spearmint, desiccated leaves, sous bois and citrus rind. Very complex and pure. So Fichots. Grippy, gritty, silky and dense with dark cherry fruit and forest floor inner mouth aromas and silky but substantial tannins. Needs air. Wonderful. As this airs the tannins smooth out and the energy increases as does the length.
— a year ago
Huge expansive red and black cherries on the nose that are super pure. Just stunning clarity here. Big time cotton candy and also Fun Dip. Stunning depth of aroma and my goodness it is so pure. Palate is super pure, teeming with energy and limestone and wonderful black and red cherry fruit but presented with a pastille like texture. So sapid and deep. Really opening up from its 18 slumber. Super juicy and wonderful acids and big but firm and ripe 18 tannins. Long finish. Will be back as it airs. Super mineral finish. — a year ago
Gorgeous nose of iodine, sweet wood, dark forest, herbs, woodland berries, green apple, salt and more. Palate is so tangy with meyer lemon, lime flesh and so much minerality. Like licking a stone on the finish and also has terrific sucrosity. Sweet tree bark on the nose now and also morning dew and flowers. Terrific inner mouth aromas and great concentration and sapidity. Long, mineral finish and this will open and I am here for the ride. Gets deeper with structure as it airs. Amazing finish. Potentially the best vineyard for Chardonnay in all of the Willamette Valley. After 11 hours open this is singing. Nose has wet moss, mint, hickory, saline and alpine scents. Palate is ripe, chewy, rich and energetic. — 4 months ago
How is this what they are serving at Legends?
HOW?! — 7 months ago
Brilliant nose. Gorgeous mid season cherries with amazing clarity. Ethereal and also some cherry flower. Just the essence of cherries. Remarkable 21 aromatics here. Man, I adore this vintage. Lush and structured palate with tangy mid season cherries, a micro hit of opulence and some velvety, sweet yet substantial tannins. This has structure to burn and will need air but man is this a sexy, juicy Volnay. As this airs the nose gets malted milk balls. Unreal depth. Sickness. As this airs out it gets more focused and the fruit becomes extraordinary. 9.5 to 9.6. — 9 months ago
James Naphen
Rich notes of blackcurrant, cherry, and cedar, with hints of mocha and dried herbs. Full-bodied and elegantly balanced, it boasts silky tannins and a long, polished finish. — 2 days ago