1994 OR Pinot Noir Death Premature

[Bucko]

I admit that I was almost swayed myself. The 1994 OR vintage for Pinot Noir was exceptional, producing some very voluptuous wines. They never seemed to go into a dumb phase, continued to drink well until 1998, then seemed to all of a sudden fall apart. I have seen various notes of the premature death of the 1994 vintage -- I now believe that that report is itself premature. I think that the 1994 vintage was just shedding its baby fat. We opened a 1994 Starr Bert's Blend Pinot Noir tonight with Copper River Salmon and both were exceptional. The wine has dark fruit and tea aromas, with complex black cherry fruit, forest floor, very well integrated oak, crisp acidity, soft to moderate tannins, all packaged up to make a very lovely wine. This wine still has at least a couple of good years of good life left in it. This on top of a recent 94 Springhill Pinot and a St. Innocent Seven Hills, both not yet ready, leads me have to faith in my other 94s.

Bucko