Daedalus Cellars Pinot noir Willamette Valley 08

Very nice and well priced. Just released in the Spring of 2011, the winemaker, Aron Hess, cellared the wine for two years longer than many of the Oregon 2008's. The wine comes to market with a maturity that can be enjoyed now or cellared for several years.

Black raspberry in the nose, intense berry and cherry flavors, classic and elegant, balanced and held together by smooth tannins that add a sense of fullness to the long finish. Very much a food wine, it drinks more like a well made Burgundy than a simple under $30 Pinot. Sophisticated and formal, but pairing with lots of different styles of food, I'd have this Pinot with roast lamb, but I'd also have it with ribs, as long as the sauce wasn't too sweet. And fried chicken with pepper gravy and biscuits sounds good too. - Jean

2004 Vintage tasting Notes

BEST BUY - Outstanding quality at this price, scents of sandalwood, red raspberry, red and black cherry, and warm pie spice. Flavors are hugely expressive red raspberry and cherry, black cherry, blackberry, black currant, and hints of white pepper. The wine gives the sense of opening and expanding in the mouth as it warms. A beautiful racy acidity and very finegrained tannins balanced the layers and layers of fruit flavors. Not much made, restaurants are going to snap this one up quickly. -jy

45% Momtazi Vineyard
20% Seven Springs Vineyard
20% Hawks View Vineyard
15% Murto Vineyard

A complex blend of several different vineyards and clones. It has old Pommard from Murto and Seven Springs Vineyards, Dijon clones from Momtazi Vineyard, and Wadenswil from Hawks View Vineyard. Partial whole-cluster fermentations yield a wine of sandalwood, minerals, dried herbs and cherries. - the winery

It should drink well on release with decanting, but will develop greater nuance and richness over the next seven to eight years.