Best Buy! Seattle-based Precept Wine named its top-tier Oregon Pinot Noir house for the Latin term signifying “distinguished” and that applies to many of the wines across the state from this spectacular vintage. Estate sites Battle Creek Vineyard and Waldo Hills near Salem, as well as Kraemer Vineyard near Silverton and Red Hills Vineyard, supplied the berries, and a 12-month French barrel program under the direction of Hal Landvoigt — Precept’s top winemaker — shows restraint with just 20% new oak. The nose offers hints of strawberry jam, raspberry fruit leather, moist earth and dark chocolate. There’s some sturdiness to the structure behind flavors of black cherry and black currant as juicy acidity and a rub of sage make this an ideal foil for game hens or roasted chicken.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 20,000 cases
Alcohol: 12%
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