This was from a winery that appears to no longer be in business; at least, they have no web presence that I can find, even on the various Oregon wine sites. Only reference I can find is to Alethea Enterprises of Roseburg, Oregon (mentioned on the label as the producer and bottler), on an undated list of wineries. But they must have been around in 1996, because this was in my box of wines purchased during a trip I took to Oregon that year, and I only purchased wines at wineries.
Okay, you know how they say that you should drink most wines while they young and fresh, and that not all wines benefit from aging, especially for a long time? Well, this would be an example that proves that point. I've held onto it just a bit too long, waiting for the "right moment" to open it. It's definitely slid down the far side of when it would have been at its best. I'm sure that a couple of years of aging would have been fine, but nine years since the vintage was a bit too much.
The aroma is stale and oxidized. There are hints of cherry in the flavor, but only hints. It does taste of fruit, just an undifferentiated reddish-fruit flavor. Good acid balance and roundness to it, though, so I'm betting it was pretty good at its prime. Very smooth tannins - you can tell they're present, but they support what flavor is still there. It'd be fine with grilled salmon; Oregon pinot noir is always good with grilled salmon. But you really couldn't have much more than very basic seasonings on the salmon without overwhelming this wine. (Of course, in its prime the wine would have stood up to food with a lot more flavor.)
Well, I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner. I'd have enjoyed it a lot more about 2 or 3 years ago. I think I have one more pinot noir around from that trip; I'll get to it within the next month or so, I'm sure.
$12 - $16 (?), purchased at winery.
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Thoughts about wines I've tasted.
