Le Cadeau Vineyard Merci Reserve Pinot Noir 2009

Le Cadeau Vineyard Merci Reserve Pinot Noir 2009 is a 750ml estate-grown Oregon Pinot Noir from the Chehalem Mountains AVA, produced from rare heritage Burgundian clones. This library-vintage release draws its character from one of the most singular vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley — a high-elevation, rocky hillside planted exclusively to Pinot Noir with clonal material sourced from legendary estates including Mt. Eden, Calera, Swan, Hanzell, and Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy's Côte de Nuits.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~13–14% (typical for this cuvée)  |  Origin: Chehalem Mountains AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon  |  Vintage: 2009  |  Estate: Le Cadeau Vineyard

Production & Heritage

Le Cadeau Vineyard occupies 16 acres at 610 to 725 feet of elevation in the Chehalem Mountains, widely recognized as one of the rockiest vineyard sites in all of Oregon. The volcanic and sedimentary soils force vines to struggle for nutrients, producing small clusters with concentrated flavor. The Merci Reserve bottling represents a selection from estate plantings of heritage Pinot Noir clones — cuttings originally propagated from storied California and Burgundian sources including Mt. Eden, Calera, Swan, Hanzell, and vines traced back to Vosne-Romanée. This combination of extreme site and rare genetic material gives the Merci Reserve a profile distinct from standard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with fresh, intense aromatics — wild berries and dried herbs give way to deeper tones of turned earth and a subtle hint of mint. With time in the glass, Asian spice notes emerge alongside a flinty mineral quality shaped by the vineyard's rocky soils.

Taste: The palate enters with pure, deep fruit — dark cherry and wild berry — that carries real density without heaviness. Mid-palate, the wine transitions into layers of dried herb, earth, and a savory spice character that reflects its heritage clone origins. The structure is compact and well-integrated, with fine-grained tannins providing a taut framework around the fruit core.

Finish: The finish is measured and persistent, with lingering notes of earth, dried berry, and a faint herbal mintiness. Over fifteen years from vintage, this wine's mature tannins contribute to a smooth, resolved texture that rewards patient sipping.

How to Drink Merci Reserve 2009

A library-vintage Pinot Noir of this caliber is best served slightly below room temperature — around 60–62°F — in a large-bowled Burgundy glass that allows the evolved aromatics to open fully. Decanting for 30 minutes can help integrate any bottle variation. This is fundamentally a wine to drink neat, where its nuanced character can be appreciated without dilution. For food-driven pairings, it excels alongside roasted duck breast with cherry reduction, wild mushroom risotto, or herb-crusted rack of lamb.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Pinot Noir collector seeking Oregon library vintages
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Willamette Valley reserve bottlings
• Pairing with a special dinner featuring game or wild mushroom dishes
• Adding mature Oregon Pinot Noir depth to a cellar collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Merci Reserve 2009 taste like? This wine delivers concentrated wild berry and dark cherry fruit layered with dried herbs, earth, and Asian spice, all held together by fine-grained tannins and a persistent mineral backbone. With over fifteen years of age, the tannins have softened into a smooth, resolved texture.

How does Merci Reserve compare to Beaux Frères Pinot Noir? Both are premium Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs from distinctive vineyard sites, but Le Cadeau's Merci Reserve draws its character from heritage Burgundian clones planted in exceptionally rocky, high-elevation Chehalem Mountains soils. Beaux Frères, located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, tends toward richer, more fruit-forward expressions, while Merci Reserve leans into earthy, herbal complexity shaped by its unique clonal diversity.

Is Merci Reserve 2009 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a contemplative wine designed for quiet, focused drinking. Its evolved aromatics and layered flavor profile reveal themselves gradually in the glass and reward undivided attention.

Where is Merci Reserve made? Merci Reserve is produced entirely from estate fruit grown at Le Cadeau Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, a sub-appellation of Oregon's Willamette Valley. The 16-acre vineyard sits between 610 and 725 feet of elevation on some of the rockiest terrain in the region.

What foods pair well with Merci Reserve 2009? Roasted duck breast complements the wine's dark berry fruit and earthy undertone. Wild mushroom dishes — risotto, tarts, or sautéed chanterelles — mirror the wine's forest-floor character. Herb-crusted lamb benefits from the wine's herbal complexity. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese echoes its savory, nutty mature notes. Braised short ribs provide richness that matches the wine's structured palate.

What sizes does Merci Reserve come in? Le Cadeau Vineyard Merci Reserve Pinot Noir is typically available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Merci Reserve 2009 worth the price? Merci Reserve positions as a premium, limited-production estate Pinot Noir, and the 2009 vintage carries additional value as an increasingly scarce library release. Its heritage clone sourcing, singular vineyard site, and age make it a distinctive offering within the upper tier of Oregon Pinot Noir.

Why Merci Reserve 2009?

What separates this wine from the broader field of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is its clonal DNA — heritage cuttings from Mt. Eden, Calera, Swan, Hanzell, and Vosne-Romanée are vanishingly rare in Oregon and give the Merci Reserve a flavor signature that standard Dijon-clone Pinots simply cannot replicate. The vineyard itself, one of the rockiest in the state, adds a mineral tension and structural precision that elevates the fruit. At over fifteen years old, the 2009 vintage has entered a drinking window where primary fruit has melded with tertiary complexity — earth, spice, and evolved tannin — making it a compelling example of what Oregon Pinot Noir becomes with real age. For collectors and serious Pinot enthusiasts, this is a bottle that tells a story no current release can.