2005 Atticus Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Discovered this off-the-beaten-track little pinot last time I was in Oregon. More a food pinot than a sipping pinot, it has restrained plum and cherry fruit with no obvious oak, some herb and fungal notes and bright acidity. Alcohol's low at 13.3% and it;s a nice value in the upper $20's. Made a nice accompaniament last night for a Meatless Monday meal of black olive and sage bread pudding with steamed baby carrots.
Prior to that a Canadian friend dropped by so we popped a 2006 Kestrel Old Vine Chardonnay, Kestrel View Estate Vineyard. Made from one of the oldest chardonnay vineyards in this state (over 30 years, I believe I was told) by one of the states best makers of traditionally style wines, this wine has the typical Kestrel complexity, low oak and refreshing acidity. Flavors are the usual chardonnay suspects, and what weight this one carries is all in the deeper more concentrated flavors of 30 year vines. Alcohol's nicely in check in the upper 13's. I think they're giving this one away at $20 because it drinks as good or better than the Woodward Canyons and Abejas that fetch twice that (it was my first place wine in a blind WA chardonnay tasting), but I can get it for under $14 a bottle and at that price it's a steal. In fact, I am going to pick up the phone and order two more cases: new house chardonnay, coming up!