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.
The color of Thomas always blows me away. So very light red in comparison to any other Pinot Noir I drink. 13.1% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, citrus, flowers and minerals. Medium body with acidity in spades. The fruit seems darker than when I last had this vintage several years ago. Black cherry, iron, mushrooms and earth on the palate. The finish is long and brooding. I’ll give this another 2-3 years in the cellar before revisiting.
My rating: 93 points.
Thomas Pinot Noir makes a brief appearance at Portland-area shops soon after release, and is priced around $75 per bottle. The 2017 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 2018 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings and Thomas Winery: The Best Pinot Noir You Have Never Heard Of.