The Broadley Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) offers my first taste of the the '08 vintage, a year some folks are already citing as one that will top '07. Before jumping to any conclusions with this tasting note, please know that I am not going to judge an entire vintage by one bottle, especially a wine that is less than a year old.

In the glass, the Broadley '08 pinot noir was a rich garnet red color, suggesting this wine was going to be full and ripe. Notes of black fruit gave way to dusty hints of herb and earth. On the palate, there was juicy blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors with balanced acidity. A bit of heat on the back of the throat on the first night, with this dissipating on the second.

In fact, the '08 Broadley showed much better on the 2nd night, suggesting it needs more time in the bottle. At $20, the jury is still out on this wine, as I am inclined to pick up another bottle in a few months to see how it's evolving. Even still, if I were to compare this wine with the Broadley 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) now, I would go with the '07. But time will tell...

Related Links
Broadley Wine Page