A classic Pinot Noir from Brella in Willamette Valley, Oregon…
We enjoyed Brella’s Pinot Noir, a very good representation of the varietal. It offered classic red fruit and mushroom notes, as well as nice degrees of balance and complexity. It shined on its own, but also paired nicely with a creamy, camembert-like cheese from Quebec, La Trappe à Fromage’s l’Attrappe Coeur. It would also pair beautifully with poultry or other lighter fare.
It’s easy to see why Oregon and, more specifically, the Willamette Valley, is becoming a star on the international Pinot Noir stage. This offering from Brella, at less than $25 CAD per bottle, offers very good value and would compete with many of the excellent offerings from the traditional home of Pinot Noir, Bourgogne, France. We will definitely pick up another bottle of Brella’s Pinot Noir to enjoy with our friends.
Rating (from 70 to 100): 89/100
Value: 4/5
The Bottle Details…
Name: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Producer: Brella
Region/Country: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Grape Varietals: Pinot Noir
Alcohol content: 13.9%
Consumed: At home on a Friday night, to unwind
Recommended By: LCBO Vintages magazine
Cost: $24.95 CAD at the LCBO
Bottle Presentation: Sophisticated, educated, monochrome label with a touch of red (we loved the red umbrella).
The Tasting Details…
Appearance: Pale ruby red.
Nose: Medium nose, with classic red fruit (cherries, raspberries), and a touch of medicinal notes. We also noted moss, cedar, mushroom, and perfume.
Taste: Medium-bodied, with noticeable, sharp tannins and a high level of acidity. Again, we noted red cherries and raspberries, and maybe a touch of cranberry. We also tasted green wood, cedar, earth, and wet stone.
Finish: A long, bitter of cedar and earth.