Tasting Notes: The Wallace Brook Pinot Noir was a surprising treat at a Second Label Wine dinner party earlier this year. It’s a very light bodied Pinot that is bursting with fresh cherries and figs as well as light plums, raspberries, clove and rose petal. The mild tannins make it an extremely versatile wine and for under $20, I find it to be an exceptional value. For a grape that can be fickle and a wine style that is prone to inconsistency in other parts of the world, I never cease to be impressed with the quality and reliability of the Pinot Noir coming out of Oregon. Food Pairing Suggestions: There are a lot of different dishes that would go with this Pinot Noir, including the usual suspects of duck, chicken or salmon. At our dinner party, however, I chose a dish of fresh Atlantic Cod on a Bacalao brandade with garlic chips, pickled eggs mimosa and fried parsley. Normally the dish would call for a rose wine, but this Wallace Brook Pinot was so light bodied that we thought it was worth a try. The results were magical – a truly perfect combination and another reason why sometimes it’s a good idea to take chances with your pairings. Yes, it could blow up in your face, but when all the stars align, you’ll see fireworks.
Light & Fruity
