2006 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir "Meyer Vineyard" - Bob Wolfe, Oregon Pinot Noir Club
Joe Dobbes and I go way back. I used to write stories about him in the late 1980s when he was working at Silvan Ridge Winery, then known as Hinman, and I was writing news articles about Oregon for The Wine Spectator. We both moved on, but stayed pals.
Over the years, Joe has jumped around to some major projects. He was the head winemaker at behemoth winery (by Oregon scale) Willamette Valley Vineyards for some years. Then he moved over to Torii Mor. Now he makes a large quantity of the value-priced Wine by Joe, and also much smaller quantities of Dobbes Family Estates wines at the upper tier. In fact, he's occupying a very large warehouse space right on the highway in Dundee, Oregon, with the capacity to become the largest producer in the state.
Joe and I reconnected in an interesting way. Last year, a sales rep brought me a variety of expensive Dobbes pinots, which rejected as being a bit to . . . undistinctive . . . for the money. Joe challenged me to a tasting duel. Well, Joe won that taste-off. Tasting double blind, I preferred Joe's 2005 Cuvee Noir to a 2005 Torii Mor bottling that had just gotten a WS 93 points. That '05 Dobbes Cuvee Noir wine made it into our Reserve Wine Club! So when the sales rep came along with Joe's 2006 lineup, I was eager to give them a try.
There are three top-tier pinots at the same price point, and they are all excellent and distinctive - but this is my favorite of the three. The attack is at once intense, yet elegant and balanced. The middle is exquisitely detailed, multi-layered and underpinned with intricate minerality. The finish is endless. This is a sophisticated pinot that refuses to take the common route of uber-ripeness and scads of oak. Rather, it's a purist's pinot that still displays new world sensibility. This is one I'm going to be taking home to drink -- but you could clearly cellar it as well, if you prefer more integration or mature flavors.
I've always been a fan of Joe Dobbes personally, and also liked many, if not all of his wines. With these releases from '05 and now the '06 vintage, I think he's made the best juice of his career. If there was any doubt before, it's now obvious: Joe has earned a place in the top echelon of Oregon winemakers.
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2006 Dobbes Family Estate Late Harvest Viognier Rogue Valley (half bottle) - 90 - Buy this wine
($20; for 375 ml.) Green-tinged yellow. Fresh peach and honeydew on the nose, with dusty minerals and lime zest lending energy. Silky in texture and not overly sweet, with light-bodied melon and poached pear flavors that gain depth with air. Energetic and brisk for a sweet wine. I'll bet this would make a great aperitif, the way late-harvest Condrieu is often served in the Rhone Valley.
Shelf-Talkers featuring Stephan Tanzer's Reviews:
2006 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Gris Willamette Valley - 89 - Buy this wine
($20) Pale gold. Orange and orchard fruits on the nose, with zesty minerals and lemon pith adding verve. Clean, bracing, focused and light, offering lively pear, quince and Meyer lemon flavors and good mineral lift. Finishes with refreshingly bitter citrus bite and very good energy and persistence.
2005 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Grande Assemblage Cuvee Oregon – 87 - Buy this wine
($24) Bright red. Red plum and cherry aromas along with a light smoky note. Fleshy and medium-bodied, with soft tannins framing candied cherry and plum flavors. Finish on a sweet note, with good persistence. This gained weight with air.
2004 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Cuvee Noir Willamette Valley – 90 - Buy this wine
($50) Deep red. Asian spices accent fresh raspberry and strawberry liqueur on the nose, along with hints of vanilla and mocha. Suave, expressive red and dark berry flavors are framed by lush, round tannins and given a boost by suggestions of white pepper and mace. A very polished, sexy wine that's awfully easy to drink now but will likely gain complexity with a few years in a cellar.
2004 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Quailhurst Vineyard Willamette Valley – 90 - Buy this wine
($65) Dark red. Rich aromas of dark berries and kirsch, with an exotic dusting of black cardamom and nutmeg. A round, supple midweight with silky berry liqueur flavors gently supported by soft tannins. Brighter red berry notes enliven the finish, and the sexy spice notes recur. This is delicious.
Click here to read past accolades and press
Dobbes Family Estate Newsletter
The June 08 issue of the Dobbes Family Estate newsletter is now available.
Click here to read it.
Join Us Every First Thursday for Locals Night!
Beginning in May, Dobbes Family Estate will host an evening party the first Thursday of each month. Whether you live right next door or just a short drive away, everyone is included in this invitation. The first Locals Night party will be held on Thursday, May 1st from 5:00 to 8:00pm. We will be offering 10% off of all wine purchases, $1.00 off wine by the glass and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.
Meet winemaker Joe Dobbes and his small but highly-qualified winery staff. We are very excited to hold this new event and to expand on it throughout the year.
June 19th, 2008 - Joe Dobbes Wine dinner at Glockenspiel Restaurant and Pub
(190 East Charles Street, Mt. Angel) - 6PM - Tickets are $75.00
June 28th, 2008 - Dobbes Family Estate featured wine tasting at Grape Leaf (1269 Bay St Florence, OR 97439) from 3 to 6pm.
July 11th, 2008 - Dobbes Family Estate featured wine tasting at Winchester Inn (35 S 2nd St Ashland, OR 97520) from 3 to 6pm.
July 23rd, 2008 - Joe Dobbes Wine dinner at Valley River Inn (1000 Valley River Way Eugene, OR 97401) at 6pm
July 24th, 2008 - Pre-IPNC dinner with Joe Dobbes and Dominique Lafon
This dinner will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Two world class winemakers are reuniting after 20 years, Joe Dobbes and Dominique Lafon. Dominique is the featured Burgundy winemaker for IPNC this year and is a household name amongst wine enthusiasts. Joe Dobbes apprenticed at Domaine Lafon in the beginning of his career and has become one of the leading Oregon winemakers with his own company. The dinner will feature wines from both winemakers and will be held at Fenouil Restaurant in the Pearl District, Portland.
The final all-inclusive cost is $140.00 per person.
Please contact Malia at the winery 503-538-1141 to make reservations.
July 26th, 2008 - Dobbes Family Estate Summer Concert - 5PM to 7PM
featuring The Band “Hot Club Eugene” - Jazz / Acoustic / Swing
www.myspace.com\hotclubeugene
$10 Adults In Advance Includes a glass of Wine By Joe
$15 Adults At The Door
$5 Children
Food Concessions supplied by Dundee’s own “Huckabee’s Barbecue”