Bob Woehler has been writing about
grapes and wines of the Pacific Northwest since 1978. His columns appear
twice monthly in the Tri-City Herald in Tri-Cities, Wash.
Living in the heart
of Washington's wine country provides an opportunity to taste a lot of
fine wines, especially reds.
Great Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Syrahs and the
occasional Cabernet Franc, Lemberger and Sangiovese are routinely served
at my house.
What's not routinely served are Pinot Noirs, the
great red wine of Burgundy.
So it was with keen anticipation that I took part
in Wine Press Northwest magazine's pinot noir tasting in March at Willamette
Valley Vineyards near Salem, Ore.
Willamette Valley is the mecca of pinot noir for
the Pacific Northwest and has gained an international reputation for this
variety.
A total of 141 Pinots were tasted by a panel of
five. Most of the wines came from Oregon, a few from the Okanagan Valley
of British Columbia and the occasional one from Washington and Idaho.
Pinot Noir grapes prefer a slightly cooler moist
climate.
Some of my favorites:
Montinore
Vineyards, 1999 Parson's Ridge, Willamette Valley, $30 -
A well-integrated wine showing nice spice and berry aromas, mouth-filling
flavors, great structure and a lengthy berry finish. Superb tannins and
a nice, spicy ending make this a keeper or a wine to savor now.
Elk
Cove 1999 Reserve, Oregon, $60 - Heavy toast, dark inky colors.
Blockbuster aromas of black pepper and blackberries. Rich, jammy flavors
including chocolate and tobacco. This should age well thanks to ample
tannins.
Erath
Vineyard 2000, Oregon, $15 - A best buy. Loaded with strawberry
and cherry aromas along with oak. Mouth-filling smooth, complex flavors
of ripe fruit.
This is the best guide, bar none, to Oregon's
wines. Insightful articles, interesting reviews, in depth interviews- you'll
find them all here. Worth every penny if you're interested in Oregon wine.
