Winemaker Notes
The 2018 A to Z Essence Pinot Noir is a charming Oregon wine. With the extra time in bottle, they see a wine with both primary and secondary characteristics. There is a generous amount of fruit on the nose and palate; with bruised raspberries, fresh strawberries, cranberry, cherries, and plums all showing up. The acidity of the wine reinforces the freshness and the judicious usage of French oak beings texture, flavor, and personality. Balanced and complex with both savory and sweet flavors. This wine presents spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, sandalwood, and mint, floral notes of rose petals and peony, earth notes of fresh loam, truffle, and dusty oak. Marshmallow, mocha, chocolate, cherry vanilla chew, fruit leather and candy.
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 A to Z Wineworks Essence of Pinot Noir is flavorful and slightly elevated on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of boysenberries, dried earthy notes, and suggestions of oak. Pair it with grilled, rosemary garlic-infused lamb chops. (Tasted: April 2, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
While the Willamette Valley and Pinot Noir are a like a fairy tale match made in heaven, most of Oregon is in fact, a glorious source of Pinot noir. Claiming over half of its total area under vine, Pinot noir also thrives in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua and Rogue Valleys where sedimentary and volcanic soils dominate hillside vineyards and cool temperatures create the perfect environment for Pinot noir. Also, Oregon’s Columbia Gorge is becoming increasingly popular for Pinot noir production. What sets Oregon Pinot noir apart from the Pinot of other regions, both New and Old World, is its innate combination of grace with both power and restraint.