Winter Wine Project: A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir

Get excited for the first wine review for 2014 - a Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley, produced by A to Z Wineworks!

I love January! It's a fresh start, everyone has new goals and is excited for the new year. And if you celebrate Christmas, then you may have some extra pep in your step after receiving a perfect gift or two. One of my favorite gifts of the season was a wine tasting journal given to me by my sister. Lately, I have been keeping track of my wine tastings through various wine apps, but  I would argue serious wine tasters should invest in a journal. Writing down your thoughts forces you to slow down and think about the wine in greater detail. The drawback? - it's yet another thing to carry and you will likely look like the biggest nerd at the dinner table. My advice, carry a big bag. (As for looking like a nerd, I'll get back to you on that one).

Another outstanding value from the great state of Oregon. And the people at A to Z Wineworks are winemakers after my own heart, offering "Aristocratic Wines are Democratic Prices." (I love a good political pun, even more so when its paired with wine). A to Z Wineworks is located in Willamette Valley, along with approximately 200 other wineries. The region is known for its cool climate and increasingly popular Pinot Noirs.

Let's nerd out about weather for a second. The weather during the growing season is extremely important to wine quality. The 2011 vintage for Willamette Valley was full of surprises. Early on it seemed that the vintage was going to be disastrous, with large grape production and a concern that it would never get warm enough for the grapes to ripen. Eventually, some late fall weather saved the vintage and the results have been comparable to other quality years. Overall, I think it affect of weather on wine would better explained through a vertical tasting (the same wine across different vintages) - a hopeful goal for 2014! Now, let's get to the specifics...

A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir 2011.

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir.

Where it's From: Willamette Valley, Oregon. The grapes for this wine are sourced from multiple vineyards across Willamette Valley.

Alcohol: 13%

Professional Notes: Apricot, bing cherry, white pepper, sweet tobacco. 

My Thoughts: Initially, I felt this wine was off balanced. It was a beautiful garnet color and a mild cherry aroma, but the taste seemed to be dominated by the alcohol. It wasn't undrinkable, it just seemed to be on mute. However, after 20 minutes the wine really softened and tasted delicious. The initial tastes were complimented by the subtle yet spicy finish.

Generally, this is the first wine from the Winter Wine Project that didn't wow me immediately, but did grow on me over time. Pinot Noir is a tough grape, especially when selling at bargain prices, and 2011 was a tough vintage. So in light of those factors, I would still recommend this wine to a friend, but would recommend decanting it before drinking. Stay tuned for the next wine - Red Knot Shiraz from Australia.

Cheers!