2010 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills – Bottle Notes

The 2010 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills was the winning bottle in the October Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was opened and served shortly thereafter.

One of the most collectible Pinot Noirs made in all of Oregon is from a winery you’ve probably never heard of: Thomas Winery. Located in Carlton, Oregon, winemaker John Thomas has been releasing small amounts of wine from the Thomas Vineyard since 1988. I don’t recall ever seeing ratings from the Wine Advocate or the Wine Spectator, and I don’t think Thomas has ever hosted a public event. The winery has achieved cult like status among wine collectors.

Very light red in color. Almost translucent. 13.1% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, earth, minerals and a little bit of baking spice. Light to medium body with loads of acidity. Very complex. Given the color I anticipated a delicate wine but instead it is surprisingly powerful. Bing cherries, black raspberries, mushrooms and soil on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. If you typically wait for Thomas to reach 10 years of bottle age before pulling a cork, I would suggest opening a bottle sooner rather than later. Entering what should be long drinking window. Best over the next 4-6 years. Oregon Pinot Noir at it’s finest.

My rating: 95 points.

Thomas Pinot Noir makes a brief appearance at Portland-area shops soon after release, and is priced right around $65 per bottle. The 2015 was recently released to members of the mailing list. If you want to put your name on the mailing list you will need track down the winery address and send John a letter. I’ve had the opportunity to taste bottles going back to the late 90’s, and think the wine shows best 7-10 years past the vintage date.

I’ve blogged about Thomas previously in The 2017 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings and Thomas Winery: The Best Pinot Noir You Have Never Heard Of.

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