02 Cloudline Cellars, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
If I could stop time for something, I would stop time for this wine. It's fully mature already, and not in that cheap 100%-stainless-steel way. It drinks like great pinot drinks after everything's come together. Despite its "entry level" status, it stands with Oregon's better 2002s. The knockout peppered lamb aroma is like California syrah. The silky, yet aggressive texture, and eternal finish are rarely seen outside of 1er cru Burgundy. The fruit is pure dark cherry backed with dark chocolate, summer truffles, cinnamon, and tarry Bordelais soil--the wine's most impressive quality. This is why people love pinot. This is why people love.
posted by 750 mL |
What do you think? (2)
2 Comments:
I was turned on to this wine (which is crafted by the folks at Domaine Drouhin, fyi) by a local retailer who knows I have always treated under-$20 Pinot as the holiest of grails. Real class here, with nothing overdone. Enjoyed it with smothered steak and mac & cheese, of all things, at a NY BYO.
Well said, Tish--"nothing overdone." It's not a fruit bomb, but it has tons of fruit. It's not a rustic wine, but it's very earthy. It's not oaky, but has great chocolatey richness.
It is, indeed, a Vero Drouhin wine. I've enjoyed it more than several of her other Oregon wines.
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