INSIDER'S PICK: 2020 PATRICIA GREEN CELLARS 'DOLLAR BILLS ONLY' PINOT NOIR WILLAMETTE VALLEY $22.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

The best wineries are the ones that can make delicious wines out of imperfect fruit. Patricia Green Cellars is definitely one of the great producers in Oregon, and what they would call 'imperfect' by their standards is pretty darn excellent for others. This is a value wine Patty Green Cellars doesn't set out to make every year, but some vintages give them enough fruit for it; not QUITE good enough to make it into their long lived single vineyard series, but not so weak that they choose to sell it off. From the 2020 vintage this is built from five vineyard sites (including the esteemed Freedom Hill Vineyard and their own Estate vineyards in Ribbon Ridge) and these lots were separated out early on to go into this easy-drinking treasure. The jukebox picture on the label (taken from a local Dundee joint) says 'Music For Everyone', and Dollar Bills Only takes that spirit to be a wine for everyone. Pure tank aged fruit on the nose is juicy and immediate, loaded with cherry and spiced raspberry, but also shows the breeding of its vineyard sources as it opens up with subtle notes of tar and savory notes. The palate is very soft and polished, full of juicy flavors that have a nice snap to the finish that's almost crunchy. Many wines like this would feel more extracted and saturated, but because the decision was made on these lots early the juice has a lighter body while still fully ripe in flavor, and cozies in under 13%abv without losing a bit of character. This is a great casual wine with some serious pedigree that really propels it well beyond its pop-and-pour nature. Also one of the rare Oregon Pinots we highly encourage you to NOT age, as this is built to consume on the quick.

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