Dec 10th 2010: Oregon's Best Pinot Noir
This Friday we’ll be featuring our annual “special” Pinot tasting. Once a year in December we always feature three of my absolute favorites each and every year; The J. Thomas and Cameron’s two best Pinots; the “Clos Electrique” and the “Abbey Ridge.” Every year these three rise to the top and this year with all three being of the supreme 08 vintage this will be a special version for sure. As many of you know the Thomas is sold out but I just had to hold back 6 bottles for this tasting to keep the tradition alive. Both of the Cameron’s are almost completely gone but I’ve squirrled away enough to have a small amount available for sale. And I mean a very small amount! Unfortunately when a harvest is of the quality of 2008 the quantities are down and 08 was one of the tiniest ever!
For the other 3 wines I usually pick wines that give exceptional value at their different price points. And this year we’ve selected the DH Porth, which has to be one of the greatest deals EVER at $15. Those of you that have tasted and bought cases know of what I speak! The Ayres has been a steal at $20 for the last five years or so and no one is more fanatical about quality than Brad McLeroy, owner/ winemaker. He has a beautiful spread up on Ribbon Ridge right next to Brick House. The vineyards up there are some of the most beautiful in the Willamette Valley. And last we have a new bottling from Beaux Freres; Les Cousins. Mike has decided to make an early drinking, approachable style of Pinot at a lower price than Beaux Freres and one that you can drink while you cellar the more expensive and age worthy Beaux Freres and Upper Terrace. The 09 vintage is the perfect one for this style of wine. The 09 wines are generally forward, lush and velvety and built for early drinking. The perfect vintage to follow the 08’s where you have wines of solid structure that will benefit greatly those that lay some down for a few years. So, there you have it. The holiday cheer will be alive and well so come on down and enjoy Oregon’s “best” Pinots. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for next weeks “Grower Champagne” tasting which promises to be one of the best ever!
THE LINEUP ($15)
09 DH Porth, Dundee Hills $15
09 Ayres, Willamette Valley $20
09 Beaux Freres, Les Cousins $28
08 Cameron “Abbey Ridge” $53
08 Cameron “Clos Electrique” $53
PREMIUM POUR ($6)
08 J Thomas, Estate N/A
This will be a great evening to pick up the perfect gift for your friends and family. I can’t think of many who wouldn’t be excited to receive a nice bottle of wine.
