Best New 2007 Oregon Pinot noirs - January 2009
Avalon's Wines of the Week for January 2009
Shea, Le Cadeau, Et Fille, Westrey, Matello, Carlton Cellars
Burgundy fans take note! Some of the best early-release 2007 Oregon Pinots are here, delivering elegance and balance, ripe and juicy fruit. If you like to pair Pinot with food, you'll love these wines. 2007 is our favorite of the last three vintages for food and wine pairing!
Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate's Oregon reviewer, had glowing praise for the 2007 Pinots: "These wines will be lower in alcohol than the 2006 but with better concentration, more elegance, and very good aging potential. In other words, it will be a vintage to please both the intellect and the senses."
Here are our recommendations for Pinots to please your senses!
Try our
Best of the New 2007
Pinot noir Sampler $199.95
Shea Wine Cellars
Estate Pinot noir 07
$47.95/$43.16
The Shea Wine Cellars Shea Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2007 has awesome, effusive aromas of deeply spiced dark raspberries, roses, doug fir forest and hints of violets. A supple initial burst of fruit turns juicy, concealing the fine tannins that linger on the finish with sweet earth. The flavors are still developing, with yummy raspberries and black cherries. An especially sophisticated Shea Estate bottling that will age with ease over the next several years. Highly recommended.
Le Cadeau
Equinoxe Pinot noir 07
$49.95/$44.95
Le Cadeau's Equinoxe Pinot noir 07 is sublime. Nicely concentrated palate of ripe, sweet, juicy fruit - blackberry, dark raspberry, currant, blueberry, and red cherry - mingles with a sappy licorice hint. An ethereal, smoky note persists on the finish with fresh thyme. The Equinoxe is delicious right now, and has the balance and structure to age. Highly recommended.
Et Fille Wines Pinot noir
Kalita Vineyard 07
$37.95/$34.16
Et Fille Pinot noir Kalita Vineyard 07 is enthralling, and our favorite Kalita to date. Imagine carrying a glass of your favorite Pinot noir while walking through a pristine old growth forest- that's what the 07 Kalita smells like. Ripe, bright berry fruit flavors mingle pleasingly with creamy, nutty tannins. The initial impression of sweet fruit leads to an intriguing savory element of wild mushroom. The Kalita 07 is unique and unforgettable.
Matello
Willamette Valley Pinot noir 07
$20.95/$18.86
Matello Pinot noir Willamette Valley 07 - Raspberries, cream and earth combine into a seamless, drink-me-now Pinot. Marcus Goodfellow's Matello wines continue to impress us for their style, substance, and value.
Westrey
"Justice" Pinot noir 07
$26.95/$24.25
A melange of dark berry fruit glides over fine tannins in this youthful, structured wine. Westrey Pinot noir Justice Vineyard 07 is the fourth vintage of this single vineyard Pinot noir made from Bethel Heights' Justice Vineyard fruit. Justice has evolved into a vineyard producing exceptional Pinot noir grapes, and Westrey's experience with it further enhances a skillful and sophisticated wine.
Carlton Cellars
Cape Lookout Pinot noir 07
$39.95/$35.96
Situated between the estate vineyards of Soter (Mineral Springs) and Ken Wright (Abbott's Claim), Carlton Cellars' Russell Grooter Vineyard is an exciting new source for Pinot noir.
Wild raspberry and cinnamon scents introduce the Cape Lookout. Creamy red raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors are accented by a hint of sweet spice. The wine expands in the mouth - red cherries and a sense of minerality join the mix. Silky tannins are discernable and enhance the sense of this as an ideally complete wine. The Cape Lookout has rich complexity and a layered, voluptuous finish. 177 cases made.
2007 Pinot noir Sampler $199.95
Shea, Le Cadeau, Et Fille, Westrey, Matello, Carlton Cellars
Contains:
1 - Shea Estate 07 $47.95
1- Le Cadeau Equinoxe 07 $49.95
1- Et Fille Kalita 07 $37.95
1 - Westrey "Justice" 07 $26.95
1 - Matello Willamette Valley 07 $20.95
1 - Carlton Cellars "Cape Lookout" 07 $39.95
$199.95 - save $23.75 from $223.70 retail
