Willamette Valley Vineyards, 'Whole Cluster Fermented', Pinot Noir, 2008
Lots of people love Pinot Noir because of the thrill in the inability to really know what you're going to find inside the bottle. Pinots, more so than other varietals, can be hit and miss. Usually these people (myself included) love the highs so much that they brave (and endure) the lows. And then sometimes, you find something really unusual, like this bottle.
Oregon Pinots are known for being really big and jammy. Often when they're on the lighter side, they're called "Burgundian". But Pinots from Burgundy aren't just lighter, they're generally more earthy and subtle in their flavors. This bottle was neither jammy nor Burgundian.
Instead, it was light and fruity -- almost akin to a really great Beaujolais. The nose was raisin, dust, red cherry, violet, and a hint of wood. The taste started with a flash of sweetness, and then it changed into a strong red cherry and maybe some blackberry. The finish was pomegrante and was really quick. This wine reminded me of another Oregon Pinot we liked: the Phelps Creek, 2007. This wine was really well balanced.
Denise really liked this one. See said it "a wine that dances, and wears chiffon". And then, "this would be perfect to drink when sitting in a red velvet room eating chocolate". She thought it would be great with a Christmas dinner because it wasn't overly heavy.
We never read the marketing descriptions on the wines we review until after (and this was no exception). And too often, those descriptions don't seem all that helpful. However in this case, I think Willamette Valley Vineyards hit the nail on this head in describing this wine: "As refreshing as liquid fruit salad in a glass". Yeah, that's exactly right, it's like liquid fruit salad.
Cost:
($19)Rating:
8.5