The 2017 Pinot Noir Knight's Gambit aged 15 months in 40% new French oak. It has a medium ruby-purple color and a nose of cranberry sauce, red currants and blueberries with notes of cola, woodsmoke, potpourri and an earthy undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate is silky with juicy reds fruits, a grainy frame and a refreshing finish. 363 cases produced.

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Knight's Gambit features crushed blueberry, boysenberry and black cherry with cardamom, nutmeg and floral accents. Medium to full-bodied, it’s packed full of black and blue fruits with potpourri and tilled soil notions and is silky textured with a good frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long. 218 cases produced.

Herbal and short, this offers a very light watermelon flavor, along with plenty of herb and tomato leaf notes. It’s on the slender side, with a quick-to-fade finish. — (3/1/2013) —85

The 2009 Pinot Noir Knight’s Gambit is a solid effort with an alluring nose, spicy flavors, but a narrow, slightly clipped finish. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. 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