Wines We’re Drinking Now

A Stellar 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir For Under $50

By James Brock // Jul 21, 2015

A pinot noir from a single vineyard.

I love it when I come across a wine new to my drinking experience, something recommended by a friend or sommelier. The most recent example of this is a wonderful pinot noir from Oregon, the Willamette Valley to be exact. I’m talking about the 2008 Lemelson Vineyards “Meyer Vineyard” Pinot Noir, and I will be adding some more Lemelson to my Eurocave soon. It was evening, and we had some charcuterie (sausage, a bit of Serrano ham, some prosciutto), and my friend pulled the bottle from his cool bag. It was at an ideal temperature (58 Fahrenheit) and we poured a bit. Raspberry was my first taste, then pencil lead (slight). Color was a bit darker than the “average” pinot noir, but the taste was bright. As we poured more, chocolate appeared, and we got cherries. Acid and tannin are well balanced. Finish is smooth and complex.

The winery produced 806 cases of this vintage, and the alcohol is at 14 percent; 16 months in 53 percent new and 47 percent previously-filled French oak barrels. (And for those of you who like to know these kinds of things, the grapes were harvested on October 12 and 17.) The vintage was released on June 1, 2010. The 2008 – a superb year for Oregon pinot noir – will be difficult to find, and I think this bottle should be consumed now, but the 2013 Meyer Vineyard can be yours for $48.

Looking for more wines? Check out these links:

http://www.papercitymag.com/culture/wines-were-drinking-now-a-california-zin-from-a-famous-family-name/

http://www.papercitymag.com/culture/wine-talk-opening-bottles-and-minds-with-one-of-houstons-top-sommeliers/

http://www.papercitymag.com/culture/wines-were-drinking-now-2013-chateau-ste-michelle-riesling/