2014 Nicholas Estate RESERVE Pinot Noir

Tasted 1/16/24: MR (Club Member). Had 2014 Reserve Nicholas last evening paired with beet salad, a seared pork chop with veggies and herb basmati rice. The color is still dark, beginning to get that older Burgundian hue, nose has baking spice, some subtle pepper and dark fruit. Palate definitely has the same mineral quality from early on, dark cherry, red berries, smooth almost velvet quality, tannins still lingered on the palate, a well-structured lovely wine perfect with the meal. Going to have it again this evening.

2012 Wine Detail

Details Coming Soon!

Vintage Notes: The year without a summer! the wait for ripeness was drawn to an extreme, with Pinots eventually harvested in November for the latest pick on record at our site. Leaves were pulled from the entire fruit zone to focus every minute of sunshine on the grapes. eventually we had no choice than to pick as the stems had started to wither and carbohydrates were no longer reaching the grapes, Careful farming for the 11 months prior, a south-east facing slope and a wind-blown site paid dividends.

The 2011 Pinot Noirs: 1/19/24 sn The 2011 Pinots have continued to pleasantly surprise! Generally, grapes picked at low residual sugars and so late in the season are very bright and lean while young. But the resulting combination of low alcohols and high acidity portend wines that age beautifully - which has happened here. Reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands: initial impression is a little austere, but soon presents beauty and structure to be enjoyed as much as possible.

2011 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir

21%  New French oak
Clones:     33% Dijon 114; 27%  Dijon 115, 15% Pommard; 11% Dijon 667

Tasted 10/2014: Light, and very elegant

2011 Mark V1 Pinot Noir

 50%  New French oak
Clones:     77% Dijon 777; 13%  Pommard; 10% Dijon 667

Tasted 10/2014: Light, yet elegant. Strawberry seeds

2011 Heather’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

100% Once-filled French Oak
Clones:     100% Dijon 114

Tasted 10/2023: Has evolved beautifully. Not for newcomers to Pinot Noir, but certainly elegant, smooth and dusty. The fruit is fading, but still a wonderful wine. Drink soon.

Vintage Notes: The warm, dry harvest conditions bookended a growing season that began with a relatively dry and warm winter highlighted by the warmest January and February on record to date. But what followed was a cool Spring and early summer and a roller coaster weather pattern. Sometimes called the “Miracle vintage” we were rescued from a cold and wet harvest season by an Indian summer that began in early October and lingered through month’s end. This advanced the ripening of smaller-sized grape clusters and delivered balanced fruit with full flavor development and lower brix levels, great acidity and lower alcohols in the wines.

2010 Mark V Pinot Noir

Barrels:    50%  New French oak; 50% Twice filled
Clones:     77% Dijon 777; 13%  Pommard; 10% Dijon 667;

Our largest percentage of new oak in the vintage. We had intended the Mark series of Pinots to be the mirror opposite of Heather’s. As big and rich as we could craft while keeping true to our ideal of making wines solely from our vineyard with no purchased fruit. Each year we seek the boldest clones and blend only from the Reserve rows and barrels. Named for our son Mark, the Roman numerals denote the wine’s place in the series.

91 points: Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: Bright red. A heady bouquet displays fresh red fruits, candied rose, lavender and Asian spices. Silky and gently sweet, offering intense raspberry and cherry flavors, along with cola and spice cake nuances. A kick of blood orange adds lift to the pliant, persistent finish, which features darker berry and anise qualities. This pinot is balanced to age, but shows very well right now.”

Very Good + PinotFile“Crafted to be big and rich choosing the boldest clones and blend from the Reserve rows and barrels. Named for the Nicholas’ son, the Roman numerals denote the wine’s place in the series. · Deepest reddish-purple color in the lineup. Intensely perfumed with perfectly ripe dark red berries with a complimentary scent of oak and dark rose petals. The most intense wine in this vintage and the wine with the most length. It hits the mid palate with a vengeance, expands in the mouth, and ends with a voluptuous charge of fruit that satiates the senses for a minute. A very young, but remarkable wine that is the best ever Mark release from Anam Cara. Grab a few bottles for your cellar; you will thank me down the line."

Tasted 10/2014: Lovely. Smooth, forest floor.

2010 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir

Meaty, elegant, deep

Tasted 10/2014

2009 Nicholas Estate Riesling

Our off-dry Riesling originates from one acre on the steepest, coolest section of our property. Immediately reminiscent of bright, golden delicious apples, ripe pears and cantaloupe melon on the palate. Aromas of Meyer lemon, honeysuckle and fresh peaches with quince. There’s an elegant creaminess in the texture and the fresh acidity inherent in each of our Rieslings creates a fresh, lovely, balanced and softly-crisp wine. This versatile, ageable Riesling is perfect with fresh crab, fried calamari, tempura, razor clams, pastas in cream sauce and more. The back label carries the new International Riesling Foundation Taste Profile. This indicates the perceived sweetness in a Riesling, calculated by balancing the residual sugar, total acidity and pH in the wine. This is a voluntary option and we’re excited to be among the first in Oregon to use it.

90 Points: Wine Enthusiast “This gentle, lightly off-dry Riesling was fermented primarily in neutral oak, which seems to have softened the entry without impacting the flavors. Aromatic highlights of honeysuckle and orange marmalade introduce a full palate with a complex fruit mix including raspberry, citrus and orange. The finish brings an impression of cotton candy.”

88 Points: Connoisseur’s Guide “…This offering is so well-balanced that one hardly notices its modest sugars and focuses instead on its floral aroma redolent of honeysuckle with a light suggestion of pears. Slightly rounded at entry and firm across the palate, the wine is fresh and inviting and will pair well with pan-grilled white fishes like trout or Dover sole.”

2009 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir

Top Three 2009 Oregon Pinot Noirs: San Francisco Chronicle Sheila and Nick Nicholas faithfully maintain the Oregon vision of small-scale charm with their estate near Newberg. This bottling, from all five estate blocks, offers a classic profile aged in mostly older oak that hints at a lighter style for the vintage. Minty, cool and shady, with camphor and bayberry, and a wonderful floral accent. Almost ethereal in its subtle red fruit, but still built to age.
Highly Recommended: Northwest Palate Direct herb-accented accents of red cherries with subtle tones of graham and earth. Bright tastes of initially sweet cherry fruit have force on the tongue and quickly evolve with darker notes of tart dried cherries, raspberries and a touch of tart cranberry. Still, a sense of fruit sweetness lingers on the mid-palate, joined by both mineral tones and floral notes of dried rose petals. Elegant acidity adds verve, and the merest hint of polished tannins frames the fruit well. An elegant wine with great flavor and a sense of style.
Top 100 Wines of the Year, San Francisco Chronicle
90 Points: Wine Enthusiast This elegant, Burgundian wine carries nuanced flavors of cranberry, crabapple, raspberry and beet root. Tart and acidic, with nicely-balanced tannins, it neither masks nor apologizes for its herbal aspect. Excellent length and structure.
Gold Medal: Oregon Wine Awards
Gold Medal: Northwest Wine Summit

Barrels:                       16%  New French Oak
Clones:                        37% Dijon clone 667,  17%  Pommard, 18%  Dijon clone 115,  13%  Dijon clone 114, 15%  Dijon clone 777    

Our flagship wine represents the entire vineyard with all five mature blocks of Pinot Noir included in the final blend.
This seamless wine is perfect with salmon and other fish dishes as well as lean meats and lightly seasoned dishes.
Bottled in recycled Ecoglass: 25% less weight than our previous glass and made in USA.

Tasted: 10/2014 - Juicy!

2009 Nicholas Estate Gewürztraminer

From only one acre of Gewürztraminer vines planted on the steepest slope of our vineyard. This “ice wine” has opulent aromas of apricot, white flowers and bosc pears which join ripe cantaloupe, warm juicy peaches and tropical fruits on the palate. 

The grapes for this wine were frozen for 10 days before a gentle crush to produce a lovely, lush wine.

This is a sweet wine, but because of the natural acidity, it is fresh and clear with a full mouthfeel and lingering finish. Delicious with seasonal deserts such as apple pie, pears, peach cobbler and persimmon pudding.

2009 Mark IV Pinot Noir

90 Points: Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar. Light, bright red. Aromas of fresh red berries and orange zest, complicated by suave floral and spice notes. Juicy, focused and energetic, offering sappy strawberry and raspberry flavors that pick up a deeper cherry quality with air. Shows smoke and spice notes on the finish, which lingers with very good tenacity.

Barrels:                       22% new French oak, 11 months
Clones:                        75% Dijon 777,  15% Dijon 114, 6% Pommard, 4% Dijon 115
TA                               5.3 g/L
pH                               3.5                  
Cases produced:         55 

This cuvée is crafted solely from barrels dedicated to reserve rows within the vineyard where fruit is dropped to an average of 1.5 tons/acre. The blend takes its lead from the clone that excels in any given year which, in 2009, was the Dijon 777 known for its fleshy, black-fruit notes. The result is a full-bodied, aromatic wine with the ability to cellar. 

Named for our son Mark, the Roman numeral denotes this vintage’s place in the series.

Tasted 10/2014 sn - Balanced, full exceptional potential

2009 Heather's Vineyard Pinot Noir

“Very Good” PinotFile Rusty Gaffney "Very light reddish-purple color in the glass. Terrific aromatics featuring an enticing perfume of red cherries, red raspberries, Christmas spice, herbs and crusty bread. Light in weight but flavorful, picking up intensity over time in the glass. Cherries are the theme with hints of savory herbs and oak. Silky and feminine in style like fine red lingerie."

Barrels:                        22%  Once-filled French oak,  78%  Two-Year-Old French oak
Clones:                         100% Dijon 114
Cases Produced:          55

As we learn the vineyard, we have identified ten rows of Reserve vines on a cool slope which are producing some of the most elegant grapes on the estate. The vines are cropped to 1.5 tons/acre allowing for greater concentration of flavors.

At blending, we select wines from French oak barrels without overt new oak characteristics, allowing for soft tannins and wonderful integration of flavors.

2009 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

This wine was blended from selected barrels and individual rows bearing only 1.5 tons of grapes to the acre. Its evolution in the glass is remarkable. Wonderfully delicate, yet layered with flavors and aromas, tones of wild blackberries, plums, red cherries combine with earthy notes of cocoa and dusty sandalwood. The underlying minerality is the signature of the vineyard.

Barrels: 24%  New French Oak
Clones: 24%  Pommard, 11%  Dijon clone 115, 34%  Dijon clone 114, 31%  Dijon clone 777    
Cases produced:          240 

Bottled in recycled Ecoglass: 25% less weight than our previous glass. US made.

Rusty Gaffney: PinotFile - Extraordinary! "Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Reserved but welcoming aromas of black cherries and darker red berries. Striking medium-bodied black cherry core which impresses the mid palate and lingers for half a minute on the finish. Smooth as a baby’s bottom with reserved tannins. Very classy and always the best wine in the Anam Cara stable. More reserved and elegant than the 2008 version of this wine, but more Pinot character." 

Vintage Notes: An exceptionally cool growing season ended in full ripening warmth, sun and dryness. The ability to extend hang time allowed for frost-nipped mornings and the ability to pick at any time of the day without worrying about rising sugar levels. Considered at the time to be one of Oregon’s greatest vintages

2008 Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir

This is an aromatic, approachable wine and an excellent representation of the acclaimed 2008 Vintage. Fruit forward with notes of plum, blackberry and the same bright earthiness as the Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir. Our first Pinot under stelvin closure. 

“Medium ruby in color with an expressive nose of spice box, floral notes, and red fruits. Savory, friendly, and easygoing on the palate, this tasty effort is an excellent value.” Wine Advocate 

French oak barrels:                   19%  New, 12%  Once-filled, 69%  Neutral
Time in barrel:                           11 months
Time in cellar before release:      One year
Clones:                                     15%  Pommard, 37%  Dijon 115,  48%  Dijon 114

2008 Rosé of Pinot Noir

Our first Rosé! This lovely wine is the answer to idyllic summer evenings on the deck, light appetizers, or dishes such as port tenderloin, poached salmon, roast chicken with rosemary and soft ripe cheeses.

Crafted in the traditional French saigné method of removing the juice from the dark Pinot Noir skins 48 hours after picking. The result is a charming, light-bodied wine, designed to drink young and perfect for summer sipping.

Satin-textured palate conjures up memories of elegant Oregon strawberries and fresh white peaches with fresh lavender overtones. Highly-perfumed nose of pressed rose petals, violets, cherry blossoms and wild black raspberries with a hint of white pepper.

WINE ADVOCATE: OREGON TOP VALUE LIST! 89 POINTS.

“… A light cherry-colored with an attractive perfume of strawberry and rhubarb. Dry and exceptionally concentrated on the palate, this is a Rosé with serious weight. Balanced and lengthy, it may well be worth cellaring for a year.”

2008 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir

Our flagship wine represents the entire vineyard with all five mature blocks of Pinot Noir included in the final blend. 

Continuous attention to the vineyard throughout the growing season and great winemaking has resulted in one of our most elegant and expressive Oregon Pinot Noirs produced to date.  Plum, raspberries and dusty rose petals on the nose blend with pomegranate, tea and toasty spices on the palate. All framed by the vineyard’s signature minerality, silky texture and rich yet soft tannins. The nicely rounded mid-palate rolls lingeringly into the sustained finish.

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE TOP 100 WINES This spicy, expressive take is full of bright, tenser notes (perhaps from nearly 40 percent use of the more structured 667 clone). An energetic wine, heady with fennel, toasted spices, moss, bright raspberry and a lemon-peel edge. Layers of bright Pinot fruit deliver immediate pleasure, but clearly have potential to evolve.
90 POINTS: WINE ADVOCATE An alluring nose of cedar, smoke, incense, rose petal, and cherry. This is followed by a medium-bodied, intense, tightly wound wine with enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years, excellent volume, and plenty of length. It will offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2020.
90 POINTS: TANZER Sexy, pungent aromas of wild strawberry, smoked meat, dried rose and underbrush; very perfumed and expressive. Then sweet, plush and silky, with impressive volume to the red and dark fruit flavors. This seamless, high-pitched, juicy wine boasts surprising stuffing and finishes with very good sweetness and length. Fine-grained tannins sneak in with air and add structure without taking away from the lively fruit.
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL OREGON WINE AWARDS
French oak barrels:    18%  New, 12%  One-Year-Old, 70%  Neutral
Clones:                      37%  667; 22%  Pommard;16%  115; 13%  114; 12%  777   |Cases produced:        1,000
tasted 1/2024 sn Bottle variables. All have softness and warm tannins, though fruit is starting to fade. Corks should be pulled carefully. Suggest dringing soon.

2008 Mark III Pinot Noir

The Mark series is crafted solely from barrels dedicated to reserve rows within the vineyard. We select the boldest wines from the reserve barrels and carefully blend to create a full-bodied, aromatic wine with the ability to cellar. Named for our son Mark, the Roman numeral denotes this vintage’s place in the series. 

92 POINTS TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR Bright ruby-red. Powerful, floral-accented scents of black raspberry, incense, Asian spices and sexy oak spices. Sweet, palate-staining red and dark berry flavors show impressive depth but come off as lithe thanks to lively acidity. The spice and vanilla notes return on the juicy finish, which displays excellent smoky complexity and clings impressively. This is seductive now but I'd give it a little time to absorb its oak.
92 POINTS: WINE ADVOCATE “… displays a superb nose of pain grille cinnamon, allspice, cherry and raspberry. Excellent density, a suave personality, layered fruit, and outstanding balance and length.”

Barrels:                       67% new French oak, 11 months
Clones:                      33% Pommard, 67% Dijon 777
Tasted 10/2014 sn Soft and smooth. Filling out well with great mouthfeel.

2008 Heather's Vineyard Pinot Noir

Our Heather’s Vineyard wines represent the most elegant expression of our vineyard, with the lightest touch of oak. We have set aside ten rows for Heather’s potential in a single block of Pinot Dijon clone 114 and crop to a maximum of 1.5 tons/acre.

Once again we blended from a few select barrels, choosing neutral oak to show the wine’s true appeal. This Pinot shares the vineyard’s characteristic profile of ripe plum, black raspberry and an interesting minerality with the Nicholas Estate and Reserve Pinot Noirs, but with an added translucency which will appeal to the Pinot purist.

Traditionally, the 114 is the last Pinot picked because of the coolness of the site. Recently, a neighbor logged several very tall pine trees which had sheltered this corner of the vineyard. This fortuitously opened a wind channel which keeps the fruit fresh and dry as we approach Harvest.

92 POINTS TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR  Fresh raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by dried rose, spicecake and white pepper. Juicy and fruit-driven, with mouthcoating flavors of sweet red fruits and candied flowers. Quite suave and seamless, with striking purity to its red fruit-driven finish. Very appealing right now.
90 POINTS: WINE ADVOCATE  Aromas of smoke, underbrush, spice box, incense, and assorted red fruits lead to a relatively forward, velvety-textured, tasty offering with good balance and an elegant personality.
STELLAR SELECTION: NORTHWEST PALATE  Pretty pastel rose color. Wonderfully spicy scents of vanilla-wrapped cherry fruit are pleasingly assertive, with gentle tinges of chocolate and mint. In the mouth, pure Pinot fruit flavors are clear and composed: cherry and raspberry tastes with a light herbal fringe and distinct minerality. Well-balanced acidity adds verve, while fine-grained tannins give unobtrusive structure. The finish is powerful, with cherry echoes reverberating into the distance. Clean, fruity and forceful.

Barrels:   No new oak, 61% once-filled, 39% twice-filled. 11 months
Clones:   100% Dijon 114

2008 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

As we learn our vineyard, we have been able to identify sections and rows with Reserve potential. This wine was blended from selected barrels and individual rows bearing only 1.5 tons of grapes to the acre.

Exceptionally well-received by chefs who recognize the wine’s versatility and ability to enhance rather than overwhelm a dish, this wine’s evolution in the glass is remarkable. Wonderfully delicate, yet layered with flavors and aromas, tones of wild blackberries, plums, red cherries combine with earthy notes of cocoa and dusty sandalwood. The underlying minerality is the signature of the vineyard.

92 POINTS: TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR A suave, fragrant bouquet evokes fresh red berries, potpourri and spicecake, with a slow-building mineral quality adding vibrancy. Deeper cherry and black raspberry on the palate, with silky tannins adding focus and grip. Becomes sweeter with air, picking up notes of candied rose, white pepper and anise. Very alluring right now, finishing with excellent clarity and lingering sweetness.
92 POINTS: WINE ADVOCATE: Aromas of wood smoke, Asian spices, underbrush, black cherry, and black raspberry are followed by an already complex, concentrated, densely packed wine that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2023.

Winemaking:
French oak barrels:    17%  New, 52%  Once-filled, 31%  Twice-filled
Clones:                       48%  Dijon clone 114; 35%  Dijon clone 777; 17%  Pommard    

Cases produced:        175

The 2007 Vintage:  Snow in April and late bud break set the tone for a cool growing season, but summer rainfall was low which kept the vines on track. Cool rains at Harvest might have derailed earlier vintages, but advances in viticulture and continuous attention to the vineyard for the previous 11 months paid big dividends. The resulting wines are elegant, higher in acid, lower in sugars and alcohols. In the hands of experienced winemakers, this vintage truly shines.

2007 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir

Continuous attention to the vineyard throughout the growing season and great winemaking has resulted in one of the most elegant Oregon Pinot Noirs produced to date from our vineyard. Plum, raspberries and dusty rose petals on the nose blend with pomegranate, tea and toasty spices on the palate. All framed by the vineyard’s signature minerality, silky texture and rich yet soft tannins. The nicely rounded mid-palate rolls lingeringly into the sustained finish.

Tasted 10/14 sn Shows weight and character. Additional year or more to peak.

94 POINTS: PINOTREPORT “…Medium-deep ruby color; earthy, dark cherry and earthy aromas with forest floor notes; deep, complex black cherry flavors with some pepper and forest floor notes, some oak and tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Deep, complex and earthy Pinot with a great future ahead of it. Delicious flavors now but needs time in the glass to open up."
90 POINTS: WINE ADVOCATE “… a lovely perfume of toast, mineral, spice box, cherry and raspberry. Round, ripe and elegant, this silky, savory wine is well balanced, lengthy and nicely priced.”
88 POINTS: BURGHOUND “… A pretty and reasonably ripe nose features both upper and lower register pinot fruit aromas laced with hints of underbrush and briar that continue onto the light to medium-weight flavors … solid if not truly special length.
88 POINTS: WINE ENTHUSIAST “…Fashioned from a careful mix of clones … a very pretty wine, wrapped in toasty mocha and caramel, but highlighted with fine red fruit flavors. This is a delicate, elegant wine that does not overreach, but makes the best possible use of the fruit from the vintage.”
EXCELLENT: WINE PRESS NORTHWEST “… Raspberry is a theme throughout, along with notes of strawberry fruit leather, smoky cherry, rose petals and moist earth. It's smooth and subtle on the attack with graceful oak and shiny acidity. Pair this with cedar-planked king salmon or lox."

2007 Mark II Pinot Noir

Our intent with the Mark's series is to craft the vineyard's boldest Pinot Noir, using as much new oak as the vintage can support and preserving the balance and elegance. In 2007, the wine was aged in 51% new French oak barrels for 11 months. The fruit was drawn from the two blocks with the heaviest flavors and aromatics in this vintage: Pommard and Dijon 777, and only from reserve rows cropped to 1.5 tons to the acre. The outcome is a full-bodied, aromatic wine with the ability to cellar. Named for our son Mark, the Roman numeral denotes this vintage’s place in the series. Only 70 cases produced.

UPDATE: 93 POINTS Wine Advocate, October 2013   Tasted along with the estate’s 2011s, Anam Cara’s 2007 Pinot Noir Mark II utterly belies its origins in “the vintage from hell.” The seeming near-miracle here begins with the wine’s healthy, deep color, because Sheila Nicholas swears “it was all gained in bottle; at the beginning this looked as light as our 2011s do now.” An utterly fascinating nose of black tea, kelp, and lightly cooked dark berries leads into a sappy, improbably energetic palate that features invigorating and incisive impingements of cardamom and black pepper along with an uncanny evocation of sweet, saline, iodine-inflected steamed blue crab with bay seasoning. (Your metaphor may differ.) Finishing with superb, mouthwatering and downright exhilarating length, this is mind-bending in the context of its vintage, not to mention profoundly delicious. I suspect it will continue to generously reward tasters for at least 2-3 more years. Nick and Sheila Nicholas – for much more about whom and about whose Chehalem Mountains estate consult my Issue 202 introduction – did not pick their 2011 vintage Pinots until early November, and even then at must weights that resulted in low-mid 12s in alcoholic percentage and a lightness of color and carriage that some tasters might find off-putting. I found the results delightfully distinctive. A highly memorable 2007 – indeed, the sort of wine that has a profound influence on one’s thinking about early vintage assessments as well as the bottle evolution of Pinot Noir generally – concluded the outstanding line-up of Anam Cara 2011s that I tasted this July. Taken together, these wines taught me a great deal more respect and admiration for this estate.

92 POINTS: WINE ADVOCATE, OCTOBER 2009 Displays a superb nose of pain grille cinnamon, allspice, cherry and raspberry. Excellent density, a suave personality, layered fruit, and outstanding balance and length.
90 POINTS: SNOOTH “Big and toasty …on the palate this is really texturally complete with great balance to the integrated yet prominent acids and the sweetness from the oak … incipient complexity and fun fruit.”
EXCELLENT! PINOTFILE Brooding aromatics slowly revealing dark stone fruits, mocha java and toasted oak. Delicious attack of plums, blackberries, cola and mocha flavors that are still evolving. Great stuffing and amazing persistence on the fruit-filled finish.

Tasted 10/2014 sn: licorice - delicious!

2007 Heather's Vineyard Pinot Noir

The cool 2007 growing season produced elegant Pinot Noirs reminiscent of those that put Oregon on the world’s wine map, and our third “Heather’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir is no exception.

Once again we blended from a few select barrels of Dijon clone 114, choosing neutral oak to show the wine’s true appeal. As we continue to learn our vineyard, we have been able to identify ten rows in this 5-acre block for “Heather’s” potential. These rows were cropped to only 1.5 tons of fruit to the acre.

It shares many of the same vineyard characteristics of ripe plum, black raspberry and an interesting minerality as the Nicholas Estate and Reserve Pinot Noirs, but with an added translucency which will appeal to the Pinot purist.

Like its inspiration, our daughter Heather, we think this wine is beautiful and deeply expressive. 

93 POINTS: PINOTREPORT “Medium-deep ruby color; deep aromas of dark cherry, roses, herbs and some pepper; deep, rich, black cherry flavors with sweet oak and some tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Very aromatic and complex Pinot.”
91 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE “… an alluring bouquet of smoke, cinnamon, allspice, cherry and raspberry. Medium-bodied and feminine on the palate, it has a velvety texture, good depth, impeccable balance and a lengthy finish.”
90 POINTS: TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR “… “Brisk, perfumed aromas of strawberry, raspberry and rose, with slow-building note of blood orange. Racy, finely etched red fruit flavors are underscored by a nervy mineral quality and framed by silky Tannins. Gains weight with air and picks up a bitter cherry element that extends through the long finish. Delicate and precise pinot.”
EXCELLENT!   WINE PRESS NORTHWEST “… The pride of Nick and Sheila Nicholas shows in this release - named for their daughter. Hints of strawberry, blueberry, cassis and pie cherries gain complexity from cocoa powder, Earl Gray tea and smoked paprika. Sophistication and approachable describe the palate with delicious flavors of strawberry freezer jam, blueberries and Lakewood Black Cherry Juice. Raspberry acidity, a touch of minerality and restrained tannins help describe the structure.”

Vintage Notes: Frut set was ideal with a mild Spring. Months that followed were warm and dry, with short-lived heat spikes in June and September, advancing fruit ripeness. Continued warmth in September and October, despite cooling rains, resulted in a compressed harvest and we picked the entire vineyard in two days. This will go down in the record books as being one of the most compressed harvests ever.

2006 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir

This wine has Italian plum, wet soil, raw meat and vanilla on the nose as well as ferrous minerality, framed by subtle toast and vanilla. Sweet, rich and harmonious attack, with a flavor profile closely mirroring the nose. The tannins are rich and surprisingly soft, and the nicely rounded mid-palate rolls lingeringly into the sustained finish.

Enjoy with duck confit, pork tenderloin. The lush fruit quality would also pair well with baked quail with mushrooms. 

91-POINTS: THE WINE ADVOCATE: >>
Offers up mineral notes in its attractive bouquet. Velvety-textured, ripe, rich and layered. It is nicely balanced and has 2-3 years of aging potential. .. The future looks bright for this family-owned winery.
92-POINTS: INTERNATIONAL WINE REVIEW. TOP 2006 OREGON PINOT UNDER $35. >>
…The attack is soft and silky with an elegant velvety mouthfeel and intriguing flavors of mushrooms and light red cherry. The finish is beautiful and long with round tannins.
89 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST >>
...it is the new–oak scents of toasted hazelnuts and burnt butter that dominate the entry of this young Pinot Noir... It’s a pretty Pinot, with plums, berry and herb flavors; the tannins have some earthy flavors as well, and the barrel influence continues into the finish with coffee grounds and baking chocolate.
“EXCELLENT” WINE PRESS NORTHWEST >>
…Blackberry, boysenberry, cranberry sauce, mocha, bay rum, smoke and crushed leaf accents only begin to describe the nose...
“RECOMMENDED” NORTHWEST PALATE >>
Aromas of dark berry fruit mingle with notes of pipe tobacco and coffee on the savory-leaning nose... sweet and forward black cherry fruit is nicely framed by crisp acidity and constrained tannins… the finish is warm and long...

Tasted 10/2014 sn: Still hot - as if we bottled what the vintage delivered. Dense with the perception of sweetness.

2006 Reserve Pinot Noir

Refined, bright, Chambolle-like nose of red cherries, raspberries, cinnamon spice on a light toasty oak frame. Firm, with lovely balance of acidity creating an immediate juiciness. Classically varietal flavors of red and black cherries and raspberry.

The Reserve is both a barrel and vineyard selection, with specific rows cropped to 1.5 tons per acre to concentrate fruit flavor and kept separate throughout the winemaking process. The final blend was determined not only by the excellence of the individual wines in barrel, but also their ability to harmonize and add a deeper dimension to the whole.

91 POINTS: WINE SPECTATOR: “Supple, generous and appealing for its spicy, licorice-accented cherry and blackberry flavors, lingering with fine balance on the harmonious finish.”
90 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE: “… reveals smoke, toast, mocha and earth notes… plenty of sweet fruit on the mid-palate…”
90 POINTS: WINE ENTHUSIAST: “Delicious…the Burgundian fruit, expressive and elegant with a pleasing mix of raspberries, cherries and cinnamon spice nicely balances… this rather soft, substantial, yet elegant wine delivers the goods.”
90 POINTS: ALLEN MEADOWS: BURGHOUND REPORT: “…earth notes that complement the nicely-fresh, round and well-detailed flavors …good mid-palate concentration, and a sappy, delicious and complex and solidly long finish…”
TWO STARS SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE “Lovely earth, blackberry jam, sweet red cherry, plum and slight spice aromas. The earthy barnyard note carries through to a palate that has juicy ripe cherry and a hint of baking spice. Well made.”

2006 Mark 1 Pinot Noir

An estate vineyard and barrel selection, this is a full-bodied, aromatic wine with the ability to cellar. Named for our son Mark, the Roman numeral denotes this vintage’s place in the series.  

Big brooding nose of dark, damp, freshly-turned earth. A big plum, juicy entry is followed by waves of dark cherries, Damson plums, chocolate, wet soil loaded with minerals, and toasted vanilla bean. Harmoniously rounded and elegant at its core, yet showing lovely, fine-grained tannins.

92 POINTS: PINOTREPORT   JULY, 2010 Deep, earthy, forest floor aromas and flavors with some rich black cherry, pepper, herbs and earthy notes. Moderate tannin with good balance and a long finish. Complex, well-structured Pinot, especially good with a steak.
91 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE  OCT/NOV, 2008 “… is especially fragrant with a perfume that jumps from the glass. Spice, toast, and red fruit aromas lead to a smooth-textured, layered yet elegant wine. On the palate mineral notes and darker fruits emerge. The finish is lengthy and fruit-filled …”
91 POINTS: INTERNATIONAL WINE REVIEW. APRIL, 2009
“…The velvety soft palate is beautiful with layered flavors of red cherry fruit and spice.”
GOLD MEDAL: 2009 CRITICS CHALLENGE INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

Tasted 10/2014 sn: Hint of mint

2006 Riesling

Tasted 1.6.24 - sn A stunning wine, showing the ability of cool climate Riesling to mellow with time. Smooth mouthfeel, whiff of petrol and some elegant glycerin coconut on the finish.

Vintage Notes: Hot!

2004 Nicholas Estate Pinot Noir:
Clones:  Pommard, Dijon 667, 777, 114, 115 on three different rootstocks
Barrels:                         12 months in French Oak, 25% new, 30% 1-year-old barrels
Cases produced:            765

The grapes for this wine are the first to represent the entire vineyard: the second harvest from our Pommard and 667, and the first for the 777, 114 and 115 blocks of three-year-old vines. We believe that care in the vineyard is essential for great wine making. To this end, we took no shortcuts and dropped the fruit for the vines’ first three years and thinned the remaining crop to less than 1.5 tons per acre encouraging the vines to focus their efforts into producing full flavored grapes.

The result is an exceptionally elegant Pinot Noir: well-balanced and with a full mouthfeel and soft tannins.

On the nose there are dusty rose petals, white chocolate and a lovely smokiness. The palate shows an attractive minerality, with the same ripe plum and black raspberry tones as the 2003. The finish is soft and warm.

Our first wine was made under the guidance of a very “hands-off” winemaker … which we thought was a good thing. It wasn’t until we proudly boasted to a veteran Oregon winemaker that our ferments were “bubbling away like crazy” that it was brought to our attention that this wasn’t ideal. We had traded half of our first Pommard and Dijon 667 fruit for his winemaking skills and ended up with 100 cases of a powerful Pinot that we sold one bottle at a time to folks who liked Syrah.

Tasted 10/2023 sn Best not drunk at this point, though one out of 4 bottles is quite astonishing - if you like Syrah.