-Oregon Pinot noir "Pioneers and Rising Stars" Sampler
The Case includes two bottles each of these four wines:
Pioneers:
Patricia Green Cellars
Estate Vineyard Pinot noir 08
Eyrie Vineyards Estate Pinot noir 09
Rising Stars:
Toluca Lane Pinot noir 09
Roots Cancilla Vineyard Pinot noir 08
Pioneer
Eyrie Vineyards Estate Pinot noir 09
$29.95/$26.95
Why is it we so love Eyrie's wines? Because the winery is at the center of the history of Oregon Wine. Because winemaker Jason Lett's life is woven into the vines he grew up with and he has a visceral, gut understanding of his family's vineyards and the fruit they produce. Jason is the second generation of Eyrie winemakers- his father, David Lett, was a true Oregon winemaking Pioneer and one of the first to plant Pinot noir in Oregon.
Above, Jason Lett in the Eyrie Estate Vineyard.
Photo by Andrea Johnson
Rising Star
Toluca Lane Pinot noir 09 $31.95/$28.75
Very violety, with a lush and juicy attack of red plums and sweet cherries, and a smidge of vanilla bean and earth. This really comes on through the finish, ballooning roundly with a deep red fruit echo. All estate fruit from their tiny 2.5 acre vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. Only 300 cases made.
at right, Lane and Geoffrey Crowther
Pioneer
Patricia Green Cellars
Estate Vineyard Pinot noir 08 $35.95/$32.36
Patricia Green Cellars has a huge following - very time I go pick up wine there's a group of fans hovered around the plank balanced on some barrels in the part of their cement warehouse they call a tasting room. Most people familiar with Patty Green wines say they are accessible from the moment the cork pops, and age well in the cellar. Green is able to get great fruit extraction from her wines, and wonderful aromatics.
At right, Patricia Green in her Estate Vineyard
The flavors of the 2008 Estate Pinot noir are brimming with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cola and slate. The structure leans toward the powerful side with strong tannins providing heft and grip at the back of the wine. This is a substantial number every year and the 2008 packs a real punch. - Patty Green
Rising Star
Roots Cancilla Vineyard Pinot noir 08 $27.94/$25.15
Roots is the winery of Chris and Hilary Berg. Chris Berg makes about 100 cases each each year, and they are on the wine lists of some of Portland's hottest restaurants. Price and value make his Oregon Pinot noirs a mainstay of our wine shop and wine writers' "recommended" lists. He's not just a rising star, he's a dang exploding nebula (photo at right).
The Roots Cancilla Pinot noir flavors are predominantly blackberry, black currant, and earth. The Cancilla Vineyard's characteristic hint of licorice and spice livens things up, and the tannins are smooth and balanced. Pair with lamb or pork and use light flavoring on the meat to let the wine's sweet spice shine through.
