89+ 2003 Archery Summit Pinot Noir – premier cuvee (Willamette Valley) 10/11/11 ($27)
14.4% alc
Color: Deep black cherry garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Stewed, candied black cherries with some cola and briar. (3.0) Body: Heavyweight with excellent fruit, acidity and tannin, but also shows some heat. (3.0) Flavor: Ripe and candied with a touch of heat, but relatively well balanced and tasty with a little forestal complexity. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor. (3.0)
Overall: I want to give this an excellent rating, but its overripeness and slight heat hold me back. Nonetheless, this has improved since its youth, when it was more disjointed and imbalanced. It has the structure to continue to develop in the next 2-4 years. At this point, drink it by itself or with Asian fare with a little sweetness, would go well with Peking duck. (15)