“Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”
KAIROS “Axiom” 2019 Pinot Noir
94 points vinous.com
Brilliant ruby-red. High-pitched red fruit, blood orange and floral scents are accompanied by suggestions of sandalwood and cola. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering intense red currant and bitter cherry flavors that deepend and turns sweeter with air. Shows fine delineation of the persistent finish, which features reverberating red fruit character and polished, even tannins.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Limpid ruby-red. Highly perfumed, spice-accented red and blue fruit preserve and floral scents show excellent clarity and pick up an exotic blood orange nuance as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering concentrated raspberry, cherry, boysenberry, candied rose and spicecake flavors that show fine definition and mineral cut. Distinctly lively in style, finishing silky and very long, with harmonious tannins and insistent florality.
MOMTAZI VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Deep, vivid red. Pungent cherry and black raspberry aromas are complemented by succulent herb, earth and floral notes. Chewy, lithe and focused on the palate, offering vibrant bitter cherry, dark berry and floral pastille flavors that unfold and turn sweeter on the back half. Fine-grained tannins add shape to a persistent, incisive finish that leaves a hint of licorice behind.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
92 points vinous.com
Deep magenta. High-pitched, mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruits on the perfumed nose, along with subtle botanical herb and floral nuances. Incisive raspberry, bitter cherry and boysendberry flavors turn sweeter and deeper with air. Shows fine detail and zesty cut on the persistent finish, which features subtle tannins and resonating red fruit character. 25% whole cluster.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
94 points vinous.com
Shimmering ruby-red. Highly fragrant, spice- and mineral-tinged red fruit and floral scents are complemented by deeper licorice and cola notes. Juicy raspberry, kirsch and spicecake flavors show fine definition and a hint of earthiness in the background. Delivers an appealing blend of savory and fruity qualities and finishes very long and supple, with resonating red berry and floral notes and polished tannins that add discreet grip.
PERSONIFY 2019 Pinot Noir
91 points vinous.com
Deep garnet. Vibrant raspberry and rose aromas, along with hints of smoky minerals, blood orange and baking spices. Juicy, seamless and lively on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red fruit and floral pastille flavors that fan out steadily as the wine opens up. Fine-grained tannins frame the lively finish, which shows strong, red-fruit-and spice-driven tenacity.
KAIROS “Sentient” 2018 Pinot Noir
94 points vinous.com
Saturated crimson. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense and Asian spices, along with building mineral and floral overtones. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering alluringly sweet raspberry and cherry preserve, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and elegance and finishes with harmonious tannins, superb clarity, and strong, floral-driven persistence.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Deep, shimmering scarlet. Spice-tinged raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of succulent herbs and candied flowers. Appealingly sweet and fleshy on the palate, offering nicely concentrated red and dark berry and rose pastille flavors complemented by hints of cola and candied licorice. Shows very good clarity and spicy thrust on the finish, which delivers solid punch, harmonious tannins and impressive, floral-driven persistence.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Vivid ruby-red. Ripe cherry, raspberry, exotic spices and a hint of potpourri on the smoke-tinged nose. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offers bitter cherry, red berry, allspice and mocha flavors that are braced by a spine of minerality and sharpened by building spiciness. Fine-grained tannins add shape and subtle grip to a very long, penetrating finish that features a lingering floral pastille quality.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Limpid magenta. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense, cola and potpourri, and a smoky mineral nuance emerges with air. Sweet and focused on the palate, offering lively raspberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors and a discreet vanilla accent. Shows very good clarity and spicy lift on the gently tannic finish, which leaves a sappy red fruit preserve note behind.
MOMTAZI VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Brilliant ruby-red. Ripe red currant and cherry aromas are complemented by building suggestions of pungent flowers, succulent herbs and baking spices. Chewy and broad on entry and then more taut, offering bitter cherry, red berry and rose pastille flavors that turn sweeter through the midpalate. Youthful, gently gripping tannins frame an impressively long, spice- and mineral-tinged finish. No new oak.
PERSONIFY 2018 Pinot Noir
92 points vinous.com
Deep, shimmering red. Black raspberry, cherry and pungent floral qualities on the fragrant, spice-tinged nose. Fleshy and seamless in texture, offers palate-coating red/dark berry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that take on a hint of smokiness with air. Plays richness off of energy with a smooth hand. Finishes very long and floral, with supple tannins making a late appearance.
SCHLUSSEL 2016 Riesling
91 points vinous.com
Pale, green-tinged yellow. Fresh melon, tangerine, pear and a hint of pungent flowers on the incisive nose. Juicy, focused and lithe on the palate, offering nicely concentrated orchard and citrus fruit flavors and a refreshingly bitter, bracing quinine nuance. Finishes long and seamless, displaying repeating citrus fruit character and a sweetening suggestion of honey.
PERSONIFY 2017 Pinot Noir
91 points vinous.com
Lurid red. Suave, spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry, pungent flowers and cracked pepper, with a subtle mocha note in the background. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that show good depth and a bracing undercurrent of smoky minerality. Shows power as well as a light touch on a long, penetrating finish that's framed by subtle, slow-building tannins.
PERSONIFY 2016 Pinot Noir
91 points vinous.com
Brilliant magenta. Powerful boysenberry, cherry cola, lavender pastille and incense aromas are sharpened by a suggestion of peppery spices. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering concentrated dark berry liqueur, spicecake and mocha flavors that become livelier with aeration. Shows a deft blend of richness and lively character and finishes with impressive, gently tannic persistence and lingering florality.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2017 Pinot Noir
92 points vinous.com
Vivid scarlet color. Slow-open-cherry, raspberry and floral aromas pick up spice and savory herb nuances as the wine stretches out. Smooth and pliant on the palate, offering gently sweet cherry-cola, raspberry and candied rose flavors that are sharpened by a late suggestion of white pepper. Shows very good clarity and a touch of bitter chocolate on the persistent finish, which features a repeating cherry note and a discreet touch of palate-numbing camphor.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2016 Pinot Noir
92 points vinous.com
Lurid ruby-red. Dried cherry, boysenberry, cola and a musky floral quality on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy and nicely concentrated, offering subtly sweet blue fruit, licorice pastille, allspice and cola flavors that are lifted by a spine of juicy acidity. Surprisingly energetic for its heft and shows no rough edges. Smooth tannins build slowly on a very long, spice-inflected finish that echoes the floral and spice notes.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN 2017 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Light, bright-rimmed ruby-red. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet displays spice-tinged raspberry liqueur, cherry and floral pastille qualities, with a deeper licorice accent and a hint of smoky minerality in the background. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering expansive red/blue fruit, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows impressive delineation and finishes very long and spicy, with smooth tannins and an echo of candied flowers. This site, which was planted in 1968 by Dick Erath, is one of Oregon's oldest vineyards.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2016 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Deep red. Fresh dark fruit and floral scents are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, cola and Indian spices. Supple, spice-laced black raspberry, cherry and mocha flavors show appealing sweetness and very good depth. Fine-grained tannins shape the impressively long, smooth finish, which leaves a sexy floral pastille note behind. I really like the interplay of richness and energy here.
KAIROS "Polarity" 2017 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Shimmering red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense, candied flowers, and savory herbs. Baking spice nuances build as the wine opens up. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering concentrated raspberry liqueur, cherry-cola and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral flourish on the back half. Plays power off of finesse with a smooth hand and finishes very long and floral, with fine-grained tannins and resonating spiciness.
KAIROS "Bodhi" 2016 Pinot Noir
93 points vinous.com
Bright ruby-red. Smoke- and spice-accented cherry and black raspberry scents, along with hints of cola, violet and mocha. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense dark berry and cherry pie flavors complicated by allspice, black cardamom and floral pastille flourishes. Concentrated yet lively in style, showing excellent clarity, smooth tannins and lingering florality.
“Jerry Murray has made a name for himself by producing vibrant, sharply delineated, balanced Pinot Noirs. His 2019s are no exception. I always find plenty of seductive fruit and expressive bouquets in Muray's wines, and while this year's set of releases deliver plenty of flavor depth, they are distinctly graceful, with discreet tannins that won't get in the way of early enjoyment.”
-Josh Raynold, Vinous.com
PERSONIFY 2016 Pinot Noir
90 points Wine Spectator
Sleek and perky, with appealing cherry, sassafras and spice flavors lingering on a long, lively finish. Drink now through 2024.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
94 points Wine Enthusiast
The wine is supersmooth, chocolaty and immediately appealing. The vines from this special site are entering their fourth decade and are still ungrafted. The texture and balance are exceptional, with a plush mix of strawberry and cherry fruit leading the way through a finish dotted with peppery spice.
CHEHALM MOUNTAIN VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
The single vineyard selections from Project M are so specific and distinctive as to seem curated like a fine art exhibit. This vineyard was originally planted in the late 1960s, though has been updated since. This selection is all Pommard clone, with blackberry fruit punching through a foundation of minerally flavors from ancient seabed soils. It seems sure to improve over the rest of the decade and perhaps even longer.
MOMTAZI VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points Wine Enthusiast
Momtazi is fully biodynamic, which adds layers of earth, fungus, herb and flower to the underlying blackberry fruit. Wild yeasts also contribute to the complexity, and the funky characteristics that can sometimes overtake such fermentations are kept well in check. All the 2019s from Project M are lower in alcohol than the same wines in the previous vintage, yet they are every bit as flavorful and perfectly balanced. They are textbook examples of getting the most specific and best flavors possible by letting the vintage guide the winemaking decisions.
PERSONIFY 2019 Pinot Noir
92 points Wine Enthusiast
Editor’s Choice
Forward and aromatic, this inviting wine shows a purity of fruit right from the first sniff. It's been aged in one-quarter new French oak, and juicy blackberry and black cherry flavors come wrapped in nuances of cut tobacco. The tannins and acidity are ripe and refreshing, and there is no flavor fall-away as it trails out the finish.
KAIROS “Axiom” 2019 Pinot Noir
92 points Wine Enthusiast
This blends barrels from the Momtazi, Filament and Bednarik vineyards and bears a unique art label. In this vintage the acidity dominates, with bright and tart red berry fruit. The wine is fresh and clean and still too young to fully express itself. Juicy and lightly toasty, it's good enough to drink right away but would be interesting to track over the next half decade or longer.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
91 points Wine Enthusiast
The low alcohol and high acidity suggest that these grapes were picked a bit early. The wine is tart and slightly peppery, with red berries and citrus components. One-quarter of the ferment was whole cluster, giving the finishing tannins a burst of lemon tea flavors. The vineyard is planted to a mix of clones picked and fermented as a field blend.
PERSONIFY 2018 Pinot Noir
94 points Wine Enthusiast
Editor’s Choice
Lovely fruit is the mainstay here, a tangy mix of blueberry, blackberry and black cherry in equal proportions. The fruit is set nicely against polished but unintrusive tannins, and a hint of black olive permeates the finish. All in all, it is a most compelling and delicious wine.
ANICCA 2018 Chardonnay
91 points Wine Enthusiast
This low-ABV but delicious wine paints a promising picture for future vintages of Project M Chardonnay. Buttery, lemony flavors are focused on apple and white peach fruit, with a touch of thyme adding welcome herbal highlights.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN 2018 Pinot Noir
94 points Wine Enthusiast
Intensely aromatic, this leads you in with rich scents of black fruits. Ripe flavors follow, woven through with pretty spices and a thread of cotton candy. The wine is not candied in a bad way, but you may notice a lemon-drop sweetness to the acids. It's a subtle, lengthy, and compelling wine, with medium-term aging potential.
MOMTAZI VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points Wine Enthusiast
This biodynamic vineyard example stands out among the winery's single-vineyard selections for its texture and expressive details of multiple herb and earth flavors. The black-cherry fruit is a nice counterpoint, though in some respects secondary to the tart acids and umami mushroom accents.
KAIROS “Sentient” 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points Wine Enthusiast
A special art label distinguishes this cuvée, which is a tribute to family members who have passed away. The flavors are well balanced and proportionate, with tart berries, citrus, sweet spices and a hint of gingerbread. The overall subtlety invites contemplation.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
91 points Wine Enthusiast
Built upon a tart, tangy spine of citrus, it's the acid that frames the wild-raspberry fruit. The earthy, herbal highlights often found in this AVA are here kept in check, though not completely obscured. The vineyard is planted to a mix of Pommard and Dijon clones, picked and fermented as a field blend.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
92 points Wine Enthusiast
In the eastern slopes of the Coast Range, this vineyard brings firm, yet supple fruit flavors of wild blackberries, with ample highlights of stem and savory herbs. The balance is spot-on, and the tannins, though a bit stiff, are ripe with black-tea astringency.
SCHLÜSSEL 2016 Riesling
92 points Wine Enthusiast
True to its name, which translates to “key” in German, this wine unlocks a lively array of well-defined and layered flavors—citrus flesh and rind, crisp apple and even a light hint of tropical fruit, notably banana. It's textured and detailed, finished dry and provides yet another example of exceptional Riesling from the Willamette Valley.
PERSONIFY 2017 Pinot Noir
91 points Wine Enthusiast
A palate-pleasing mix of citrus and berry fruit, along with citrus peel highlights, this well-integrated wine is light and elegant. It will appeal to those who favor a more delicate style of Pinot Noir that yet retains a fair amount of complexity. Drink this now through the late 2020s.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN VINEYARD 2017 Pinot Noir
91 points Wine Enthusiast
One of the winery's nicely varied single site selections, this is the ripest of all the 2017s, delivering big, chunky cherry fruit flavors. It's downright crunchy, with a solid core that is clear and clean, though could be termed one-dimensional. A burst of minerality adds texture through the finish.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2017 Pinot Noir
91 points Wine Enthusiast
Focused and earthy, this carries a hint of funk (the good kind!) in the nose, along with ripe strawberry fruit. Barrel time has added a sprinkling of coffee grounds as it winds down through the finish.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2016 Pinot Noir
90 points Wine Enthusiast
This vineyard-select shows good concentration with a mix of cranberry, plum and black-cherry fruit. There are additional highlights of cola and brown spices, and it plumps up nicely in the mouth, with a juicy fruity finish.
MOMTAZI VINEYARD 2017 Pinot Noir
93 points Wine Enthusiast
This outstanding biodynamic vineyard is well represented in this textural wine with an abundance of earthy, umami-inspired flavors. There's a core of ripe black cherry, and scintillating aromas of composted earth, mushroom and coffee.
KAIROS "Polarity" 2017 Pinot Noir
92 points Wine Enthusiast
Smooth and well proportioned, this reserve level cuvée mixes peppery blueberry with details of stem and leaf. It's a subtle, elegant wine, but generous to those who give it their full attention over its extended finish.
KAIROS "Bodhi" 2016 Pinot Noir
90 points Wine Enthusiast
A reserve-level wine, this shows fully-ripened fruit flavors of black cherry, with aromatic sandalwood scents and Asian spices. There's a streak of cola running through slightly gritty tannins. Drink now and over the early 2020s.
“All the 2019s from Project M are lower in alcohol than the same wines in the previous vintage, yet they are every bit as flavorful and perfectly balanced. They are textbook examples of getting the most specific and best flavors possible by letting the vintage guide the winemaking decisions.”
-Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiest
PERSONIFY 2021 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Perfumed nose of lavender, mulberries, wild strawberries, licorice and some cinnamon. Creamy, spicy and delicious, with a medium body and silky, ripe and caressing tannins. Long and flavorful. Drink or hold.
Momtazi VINEYARD 2021 Pinot Noir
92 points jamessuckling.com
A focused and layered pinot with dried lavender, cherries, watermelon rind, cocoa powder and rosemary stems on the nose. Balanced, with a medium body, fine-grained tannins and dusty minerality coming through. Drink or hold.
KAIROS "Shadow" 2021 Pinot Noir
92 points jamessuckling.com
Lovely wild-berry fruit here, with mulberries, raspberries, currants, honey and violets. Medium-bodied with tight-knit tannins and a pretty core of purple fruit and flowers. Lengthy, tight finish. Drink now or hold.
PERSONIFY 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
A perfumed nose of red plums, redcurrants, forest floor, porcini and cloves. Medium-bodied with lithe tannins and fresh acidity. Concentrated and layered. Supple finish with excellent length and energy. Drink or hold.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
95 points jamessuckling.com
Pretty aromas of raspberries, cherries, sage, chocolate orange and spice box. It’s medium-bodied with sleek tannins and bright acidity. Pure and balanced. Juicy, with a beautifully silky texture. Lots of fresh sour cherries and redcurrants on the mid-palate, following through to a long finish. Try from 2022.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Aromas of raspberries, redcurrants, mushrooms, dried herbs and nutmeg. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and lively acidity. Fresh and juicy with plenty of sour-cherry character. Supple, elegant finish. Drink or hold.
Momtazi VINEYARD 2019 Pinot Noir
92 points jamessuckling.com
An earthy, smoky nose, followed by aromas of dark fruit, dried herbs and sweet spices. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Juicy and fleshy with a savory feel. Drink or hold.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Aromas of forest wood, mushrooms, dried leaves and musk with some sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Round and creamy texture. Spicy and vibrant. Drink or hold.
KAIROS "Axiom" 2019 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Aromas of raspberries, blueberry pie, dark cherries and baking spices. Medium-bodied with crunchy tannins and fresh acidity. Juicy, textured and slightly chewy on the palate. Redcurrant and herbal character to the finish. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two when the tannins will have softened.
PERSONIFY 2018 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
This has terrific concentration and purity with aromas and flavors of dark cherries and blackberries, delivered in a pure yet complex mode with nuances of leaves and sappy forest wood. The tannins are lithe and fresh. There’s plenty to like here already, but more to come in the next couple of years. Drink or hold.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
94 points jamessuckling.com
A very complete style of pinot that offers complex aromas of violets, red cherries, forest wood, leaves and earth, as well as some blue-fruit notes. The palate’s well-rounded shape cradles fresh red cherries, brown spices and red to dark berries in fine tannins, which fan out the finish in fresh, detailed style. Drink or hold.
BEDNARIK VINEYARD 2018 Pinot Noir
95 points jamessuckling.com
This makes a savory impression with assertive blackberries and dark cherries on offer, as well as violets and cedar. It’s all very tightly set for now. The palate follows suit with impressively intense dark cherries and blackberries, bound in firm, slender and taut tannins. Powerful and distinctive pinot here – a real vin de garde. Try from 2023.
PERSONIFY 2017 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Impressively poised and expressive style here with aromas and flavors of vibrant red cherries, delivered in a silky web of fine and long tannin. Long, sleek and really smoothly delivered. Drink over the next six years.
CHEHALEM MOUNTAIN 2017 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Slightly lifted red berries and a swathe of rich spices on offer here, as well as hints of leather and earth. The palate is round and captures flavors boldly. A sweeping curl of fine tannin wraps the finish neatly. Drink or hold.
FILAMENT VINEYARD 2017 Pinot Noir
93 points jamessuckling.com
Impressive clarity of ripe purple cherries on the nose with light lavender notes and plenty of earth and fresh, leafy complexity, too. The palate is clearly defined in a very neat mode. Well-groomed tannins hold blueberry and purple-cherry flavors fresh. Drink in the next six years.
KAIROS "Polarity" 2017 Pinot Noir
92 points jamessuckling.com
An attractively fragrant expression that suits the 2017 vintage with bright, red-fruit aromas, a lick of spice and overall, attractive freshness. The palate has finely detailed tannin grain and a beautifully fleshy and crunchy, red-cherry finish. Drink over the next five years.
