Reviews in the Press
The Four Graces
Press Review Sheet
(1.7MB PDF)
Black Family Estate Pinot Noir
Full, saturated red. Explosively perfumed aromas of blackberry jam, cherry-cola, smoky Indian spices and potpourri. Sweet, palate-staining dark berry flavors possess liqueur-like depth and are lifted by tangy blood orange and mineral qualities. Gains a smoky quality with air, which carries through a long, sappy and gently sweet finish. For a big, rich wine, this is surprisingly energetic and focused. 92 points
International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 09
By Josh Raynolds
"Darker color than I'd expect from any Pinot: rich, blood-velvet red. Crisp acidity balanced by a soft mouthfeel. Sour cherry emerges from a background of bitter orange."
December 2008 Sommelier Journal
Ben Narasin
Outstanding! Steve and Paula Black named their young Dundee operation after their four blond-haired daughters, and consulting winemaker Laurent Montalieu ensures their flagship wine is a headturner. Decadent aromas of plums, black cherries, pencil shavings, forest floor, chocolate vanilla and leather help describe the alluring perfume. More blackberries and plums fill the flavor profile within its easy-going and fruit-forward structure. Just a tug of tannin on the finish and perfect acidity translates into a Pinot Noir worthy of holiday fare, cellaring or enjoying it its youth.
Winter 2008/2009 issue of Wine Press Northwest
This wine is quite dark in color, veering toward dark violet and brimming with scents of crushed black cherries and vanilla. High-collared dark stone fruit flavors are discreetly concentrated so that the wine is plush but still light on its feet. An appealing earthiness and smoke add to the intrigue with a silky smooth texture and a tangy, dry finish completing the package."
www.princeofpinot.com • Article 514
By Rusty Gaffney, September 2008
"Deep ruby. Exotic bouquet of ripe red and dark berries, candied cherry, vanilla bean and anise; an emerging floral quality adds vivacity. Luscious raspberry and blackberry flavors are firmed by gentle mineral and bitter chocolate notes, which carry through the long, sappy, pure finish." Score: 90
Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. May/June issue
Reviews by Josh Raynolds
Dundee Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2006
Medium red. Fresh strawberry and raspberry aromas are complicated by pungent floral and herbal qualities, with a subtle blood orange note adding energy. Very fresh on the palate, with tangy red berry flavors and a sexy candied rose quality. Finishes smooth and gently sweet, with the blood orange note repeating. This is pretty lively for the vintage. 89 points.
International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 09
By Josh Raynolds
Recommended. A blend of four clones and time spent in mostly new French oak produced a smooth and stylish release with hallmarks of purple fruit, cherry fruit leather, milk chocolate and pleasing acidity.
Winter 2008/2009 issue of Wine Press Northwest
"The aromas of Bing cherry, cedar and vanilla draw you to the glass. There is the slightest hint of alcohol on the nose. Succulent hi-tone red fruits, especially raspberry, set off by brown sugar and dark chocolate notes, are soft, seamless and comforting. Definitely worthy of a "Reserve" designation. Pinot Geek wanted to drink the whole bottle."
www.princeofpinot.com • Article 514
By Rusty Gaffney, September 2008
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007
Steve and Paula Black began their adventure producing Pinot Noir in 2003 and named their winery after their four daughters: Alexis, Vanessa, Christiana and Jillian. This salmon-friendly release takes on the earthy/smoky side of Pinot Noir with a nose of earthy mushroom, smoky meat, black cherry and toasty vanilla. The palate opens with flavors of spicy dark cherry and evolves to show vanilla, herb and toasty oak.
Pinot Noir with Copper River Salmon
By Chuck Hill Part One
June 15, 2009 Wines Northwest
"Silky dark cherry fruit and long, smoky finish. Love it!"
Andrea Immer - March 2009
The Four Graces 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley. Appealing for its complexity and structure, with integrated red cherry and blackberry fruit, light mushroom and mineral notes, and a long, plummy finish. Delicious now and should age nicely for another four or five years, at least.
Wineskinny.com - June 2009
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2006
"Best Buy"
Wines and Spirits Magazine February 2009
"On the light, elegant side, with red berry and pomegranate fruit laced with baking spices, chocolate and a delicate earthy note. Nicely balanced – the kind of wine I could drink every day. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years."
Outstanding! Consulting winemaker Laurent Montalieu, one of the Northwest's top hired guns, brandishes his weaponry with the entry-level release from the Blacks' 110-acre site. Spicy raspberries, rose hips, moist earth, creamy black cherries and chalkboard dust aromas lead into a jammy entry of mouth-coating black cherry richness. A fanciful squirt of chokecherry adds brightness and complexity to the midpalate while showcasing the acid balance to pair delicously with a holiday serving of turkey breast and cranberries.
Winter 2008/2009 issue of Wine Press Northwest
"If I ever sell my soul to the devil, I'll probably demand payment in Oregon pinot noir. These wines just seem to go from strength to strength. The Four Graces entry is a particularly, er, graceful red wine - with full body, silky texture, a strong backbone and impressive persistence on the palate. The intense black-cherry fruit gives this Burgundian-style wine a distinctively Oregonian swagger. It should go with a wide variety of food pairings."
From The Baltimore Sun, Maryland
Wind Find: 2006 The Four Graces (Willamette Valley Pinot Noir)
By Michael Dresser, September 24, 2008
Aromas of oak char, grass and forest floor dominant the ripe dark red fruits present. Cherry and berry flavors are quite juicy and accented by toast and a hint of spice. The wine is very smooth on the palate with silky tannins and a pristine finish. A warm and fuzzy wine."
www.princeofpinot.com • Article 514
By Rusty Gaffney, September 2008
2006 The Four Grances Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
"Bright, youthful purple. Fresh redcurrant and wild strawberry aromas take on darker cherry and raspberry qualities with air. Silky, sweet red berry preserve flavors are complemented by bitter chocolate and a gentle vanilla note. Finishes with good tangy lift and cut, with the red berry flavors repeating. This is delicious." Score: 89 points.
Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. May/June issue
Reviews by Josh Raynolds
2006 The Four Graces Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
"Simply sumptuous--silky and supple, with an earthy element augmenting the bright cherry fruit flavor, giving the wine genuine complexity and more than mere varietal identity. This is New World Pinot Noir at a very high level. Bravo!"
Critics Platinum (Award)
Paul Lukacs
2006 The Four Graces Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
This wine is Dundee Hills Pinot Noir at its best! Enticing, dark ruby-purple in color, it presents ripe pomegranate and cranberry on the palate, laced by an earthy spiciness. The velvet texture, balanced acidity, vibrant freshness, integrated tannins and long, elegant finish are each signature characteristics of the Black family's spectacular vineyard. Enjoy this wine with lamb or wild salmon, or poultry meats such as duck breast and roast chicken.
PDX Monthly: Wine of the Month - March 2008
90 Points.
Vino Challenge International 2008
Silver Medal Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2006
"Delivers an intense blast of red fruit on the nose, with hints of spice and earth, and lovely cherry and cranberry flavours on the palate, which is precise and delicate and exceptionally silky. What's more, it's a great value in Oregon Pinot."
Robert Whitley Wine• Review Online • November 20, 2007
Pinot Noir Doe Ridge Estate Yamhill-Carlton District - 2006
Bright ruby. Powerfully scented bouquet of black raspberry, cherry-vanilla, incense and dried rose. Fleshy, deeply concentrated dark fruit compote flavors are given a bitter edge by licorice and smoky mineral notes. The vanilla note gains strength on the finish, which is broad, sweet and impressively long. On the exotic side, and built to handle rich red meat dishes. 91 points
International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 09
By Josh Raynolds
Dundee Hills Pinot Gris 2008
Medium-light yellow; attractive, floral, pear and lemon aroma with a note of honeysuckle; medium-full body; fairly rich, fleshy, citrus and green apple flavors with a silky mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended.
"California Grapevine" December 2009 — January 2010
Dundee Hills Pinot Gris 2007
A Gris to Grill With. "Rhynard loved the "smoky nose, minerality and earthiness' of this 'spicy' gris, calling it "character-full". I found it robust, with hazelnuts on the nose and minerality and white pepper on the palate. Butler praised its "Supple, rounded mouth feel" and ripe notes of apricot, peaches and cantaloupe, deciding that "this would be a great grilled –chicken wine." Joannides concurred that "it has the weight to take on big flavors."
Mix Magazine, Aug. /Sept. 09, "Selects / Willamette Valley Pinot Gris"
"Excellent." Vines planted in 1993 produced a delicious drink that preserves the fruit while incorporating a creamy midpalate. Notes of dusty apples, pears, grapefruit, cantaloupe, almond, lemongrass and flannel swirl over and inside the glass. Gold 90+ - Best of Appellation 2008
Winter 2008/2009 issue of Wine Press Northwest
"Winemaker Laurent Montalieu used grapes from Alsatian clones planted at a 650-foot elevation - the highest elevation of the 12-acre Black Family Estate. The subtle nose of tangerine, apple and melon is bolstered with dried spice, apple and citrus flavors on the big, rich palate that has a ripe mouthfeel and grassy tang on the bright finish."
San Franscisco Chronicle - 2 stars
Dundee Hills Pinot Gris 2006
"Light straw color. Impressively complex aromas evoke smoked meat, peach skin, pear, anise and white flowers. Pliant pit fruit and melon flavors are clean and concentrated, with a faintly bitter lime pith quality adding grip. Finishes on a strong peach note, with very good breadth and length." Score: 89
Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. May/June issue
Reviews by Josh Raynolds
2006 The Four Graces Pinot Gris Dundee Hills
"the whites here, especially the pinot gris, are among the best in Oregon.""
Portland Monthly, March 2008 - "The Insider's Guide to Oregon Wine Country"
Reviews by Camas Davis & Conde Cox
2006 The Four Graces Pinot Gris Dundee Hills
Gold Medal Pinot Gris 2006
Vino Challenge International 2008
Dundee Hills Pinot Blanc 2007
"A very elegant example of Oregon pinot blanc: crisp, fruity and food loving."
Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Sept. 2009, Dawn Smith
"Excellent." Laurent Montalieu, consulting winemaker at this young winery in Dundee, Ore., shows proper restraint in allowing the rich orchard fruit notes to shine from beginning to finish. Apricots, peaches, apples and pears abound with nice acidity, subtle sweetness and without the intrusion of oak. Try this with an egg-based casserole or Indian-inspired cuisine.
Winter 2008/2009 issue of Wine Press Northwest
Dundee Hills Pinot Blanc 2006
"Pale yellow. Impressively focused lime, pink grapefruit and white peach aromas are deepened by sweet butter and floral honey. Brisk citrus and peach skin flavors are precise and pure, with a snap of dusty minerality adding vibrancy. Turns richer on the finish, leaving behind a musky mango quality. Offers very good complexity and nicely balances richness and energy." Score: 89 points
Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. May/June issue
Reviews by Josh Raynolds
2006 The Four Graces Pinot Blanc Dundee Hills