The 2009 Pinot Noir Prince Hill Clone 777 ratchets up the depth, intensity, and structure. It will prove longer-lived than most wines of the vintage with a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2021+. Erath is once again a name to be reckoned with in the Willamette Valley wine scene as the investment by the Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Group is starting to pay dividends.Tel. (800) 456-6789; www.erath.com

A single clone selection from this vineyard, this has a high-toned pungency that captures your attention. Flavors of tea and wild cherry, mixed in with hints of volatility, give the wine lift and life. As a stand-alone wine it is incomplete, but captivating. It needs a finish. ——P.G.(3/1/2011)—— 88