Wine samples were provided by Willamette Valley Vineyards/Trellis Partners; thoughts and opinions are my own.
This week’s post features another Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley Vineyards. This time I tasted the Estate Pinot Noir, which at $30 a bottle is more of an “everyday” wine than the Bernau Block. The Estate Pinot combines grapes from three of their vineyards - The Estate, which is original plantings by founder Jim Bernau, the Tualatin vineyard and the Elton vineyard.
They describe this as a classic Oregon Pinot Noir with aromas of fresh raspberry, cherry, candied walnut and orange spice, and a taste profile of medium bodied with red fruit, earth, game and almond. It definitely has the aroma of raspberries and cherries, with a strong fruit taste and what I'd describe as a little smoke. It's a very drinkable wine. The 2012 vintage won a Silver Award at the Oregon Wine Awards.
Some suggested pairings for Pinot Noir include this Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin and these Mini Skillet Pizzas.
One of the reasons I love Pinot Noir is that it's a super versatile wine. It goes with so many different things and it's generally light enough that you can even pair it with pasta or chicken dishes. If you are a Pinot drinker or have been looking for a new one to taste, this is a good one to add to your collection for nicer dinners and casual entertaining. Enjoy!
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