Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir la Source Seven Springs Vineyard has a lovely savory nose with aromas of charcuterie, toasted cardamom, forest floor, potpourri, perfume and bramble berry. Medium-bodied, it has a great silky texture opening to tart wild blackberries, cracked pink peppercorn and savory/meaty touches, with a firm frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with mineral accents. 1,230 cases produced.

The 2014 Pinot Noir la Source Seven Springs Vineyard is pale to medium ruby with a nose of green peppercorn and sliced prosciutto over forest floor and warm blackberries. Medium-bodied, it gives lovely meaty flavors in the mouth with leafy accents, a very firm frame of grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long and minerally. 1,611 cases produced.

The 2012 Pinot Noir la Source Seven Springs Vineyard comes from rocky and shallow soils planted on old Pommard clone. There were twice daily punch-downs aged in 30% new French oak barrels for 16 months. The bouquet is very refined on the nose with black plum, violet and cold wet stone. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, a little more masculine at first, tightly wound with a nicely poised finish. It is a little reticent at the moment but it has the tension and that sense of energy to suggest long-term aging.

The 2009 Pinot Noir La Source Seven Springs Vineyard was sourced from a different set of parcels and clones but was otherwise treated identically to its siblings. It has much to recommend it; spicy flavors, impeccable balance, and superb concentration and length for the vintage but is not obviously better or much different than the Estate cuvee, at least to this taster. Evening Land Vineyards is a group headed by movie magnate Mark Tarlov that also owns Pinot vineyards in the Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills and is making wines in Burgundy. They gained control of one of the Willamette Valley’s prized properties, Seven Springs Vineyard, and created an immediate sensation by signing on Dominique Lafon of Comte Lafon in Burgundy as consulting winemaker. The Evening Land group is also making a major effort to restore the health and vitality of Seven Springs. The most recent development is the addition of renowned Master Sommelier Larry Stone as President and GM of the group in August 2010. Tel. (503) 395-2520; www.eveninglandvineyards.com

The 2008 Pinot Noir La Source received the same elevage but was picked from a different parcel of the vineyard. It is slightly darker in color with more perfumed and complex aromatics with the addition of some earthy minerality. Savory, supple, and elegant, it will benefit from 3-4 years of additional bottle age and offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2023. Evening Land Vineyards is a group headed by movie magnate Mark Tarlov that also owns Pinot vineyards in the Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills and is making wines in Burgundy. They gained control of one of the Willamette Valley’s prized properties, Seven Springs Vineyard, and created an immediate sensation by signing on Dominique Lafon of Comte Lafon in Burgundy as consulting winemaker. The Evening Land group is also making a major effort to restore the health and vitality of Seven Springs. The most recent development is the addition of renowned Master Sommelier Larry Stone as President and GM of the group in August 2010. Over the past 2-3 years there has been an awakening among some of the Willamette Valley’s most distinguished vignerons that their region is capable of producing world class Chardonnay. With Dominique Lafon and Larry Stone on board, there is no question that Evening Lands will be playing a starring role in this drama. There are now two serious Gamay producers in the Willamette Valley, Doug Tunnell of Brick House being the other. www.eveninglandvineyard.com