INSIDER'S PICK: 2014 EMERSON VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR WILLAMETTE VALLEY $21.99

​One of the great things about Pinot Noir can also be the most frustrating for many consumers. Pinot tends to perform the best in growing areas whose conditions can push the fringes of dependably ripening and succeeding season after season. When it works, the wines can be magical and capable of producing some of the best wines in the world. But natural changes from season to season can also produce more variety from the exact same vines year to year than almost any others, which makes many Pinot Noir fans more vintage picky. The back to back vintages of 2013 and 2014 in Oregon's Willamette Valley are prime examples: steady rains arriving in the middle of the 2013 harvest forced early picking and a lighter less alcoholic style with more natural acidity from most, while one of the warmest growing seasons on record brought about very early ripening grapes that NEEDED to be harvested earlier. Fans of a more elegant, 'prettier' Pinot Noir may well prefer the 2013 vintage and want to start filling up while some are still available. If you prefer the juicier side of the spectrum, however, 2014 is going to be YOUR vintage, and there should be a fair amount of it as the yields overall were fairly high.
As a very nice 'basic' bottling from a smaller producer, this sees lots of the same care as the nicer, single site bottlings but is built from younger vines and does not see as much oak aging. Bright and deep ruby color in the glass, the warmth of the vintage shows in the aromas with lots of cherry and bright red fruits that even show a hint of sweeter spices. Cooler vintages will tend to have more savory, earthier aromas since the sugars in the grapes don't develop as quickly. On the palate the fruit comes across a bit darker, but the texture is super juicy for the price point, with super fine tannins on the finish that bring a touch of dryness to the deep black cherry tones. If this is the type of Pinot that makes you happy, you will be singing and dancing all the way through the 2014s that come through the store.

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