In the 2009 vintage, Soter Vineyards handled the conditions as well as anyone. The entry-level bottling, the dark ruby-colored 2009 North Valley Pinot Noir was aged in only 10-20% new oak. Potpourri, incense, and bright red fruits inform the nose of a savory, round, nicely balanced wine that will deliver considerable pleasure over the next 6+ years. Tel. (503) 852-6944; www.sotervineyards.com

Soter Vineyard's 2008 Pinot Noir North Valley is medium ruby red with an enticing bouquet of smoke, rose petal, spice box, and a mix of cherry, and black raspberry. Firm and concentrated on the palate, it is smooth-textured, ripe, and packed with savory red and black fruit flavors. Like most of the better wines of the vintage, it will benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and offer pleasurable drinking from 2012 to 2020. To complicate matters a bit, in 2011 Soter will be releasing another 2008 Mineral Springs bottling from a selected parcel or parcels of the vineyard, but the name of the cuvee and price are yet to be determined.Tel. (503) 852-6944; www.sotervineyards.com