Oregon’s Wine Country – Falling in Love with Pinot Noir All Over Again
February 17, 2011 by Derek Swanson
This week’s pick comes from Heidi Butzine, Author of Wineopolis Wine Travel Guide book series and Certified Wine Expert Program Director at Bartenders Association Internationale: ”As a wine travel writer and educator, I am lucky to have tasted many fantastic wines from around the world. During my travels through Oregon’s Wine Country, I enjoyed a wide range of styles and characters of the state’s Pinot Noir from Umpqua all the way to the Washington border, but it was the meal at The Joel Palmer House in the heart of the Willamette Valley, where I fell in love with Pinot Noir all over again.
“It was the 2005 Broadley Vineyards Shea Pinot Noir that did it. The perfect balance of smooth, earthy, spicy and fruitiness to go along with the hand-picked wild mushroom tart. The complexity of this Pinot is what is most memorable – it continued to give more as the meal progressed. First, subtle tannins, forest floor, herbal and spice aromas with cherry flavors. For its second act, still smooth and even more aromatic with floral and vanilla perfumes, hearty roast and rich blackberry flavors – which played nicely with the beef stroganoff and the filet mignon with porcini mushroom demi-glace.
“Broadley Vineyards is a family-run vineyard and winery in the Yamhill-Carlton district producing some of the best Pinot from Oregon. The winemaker’s talents clearly shine through in this wine.”
About Heidi:
Heidi Butzine, CWX is the author of the Wineopolis® Wine-travel Guidebook series, curriculum author and Program Director for the Certified Wine Expert® Training and Certification Program. She is also a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association and the Society of Wine Educators. Heidi is a native Californian and she loves wine (but couldn’t grow grapes if her life depended on it). In addition to writing and helping others learn about wine, she dabbles in photography, loves to cook when inspired, plays on the drums once in a while and occasionally speaks French.
