Cottonwood Winery of Oregon 2012 Marina Piper Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $25
It’s no surprise this wine has been so well-received considering its pedigree of Winter’s Hill Vineyard in the Dundee Hills and Anam Cara Cellars’ Nicholas Estate of Chehalem Mountains. Aaron Lieberman, who worked at acclaimed Owen Roe for several years, takes a light hand with oak to showcase a fruit-forward Pinot Noir. Aromas of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry and blood orange pick up a sense of minerality and a snap of Graham cracker. It’s a lighter-styled Pinot Noir that keeps coming with cherry, strawberry and raspberry juice, supported by cherry-skin tannins and capped with a delicious finish. Suggested pairings include spinach mushroom soufflé, rosemary chicken and Salmon Braised in Garlic-Infused Butter with Truffle Salt. At an annual total production of 1,500 cases, this wine would seem to be its flagship — an appropriately so.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 676 cases
Alcohol: 13.9%
Had to think out the math problem… We can’t thank you enough.