Scott Paul, La Paulée Pinot Noir 2016, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Tasting Note: This pinot noir behaves as though it’s the nephew of syrah with depth and flavor intensity.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of black plum, red cherry, strawberry puree, raspberry, violet blossom and bramble.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied pinot noir delivers just-ripened, medium-plus-intensity, black-fruit flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium acidity and completing with a black-plum-filled, medium-plus-finish.

There is complexity along the midpalate as well as depth of flavor.

The wine is very good in quality because of its depth and range of flavors.

A cabernet-drinker’s pinot noir.

Bottle Note: A Burgundian celebration commemorating the end of grape harvest. Our home in Carlton, Oregon (a 1915 brick creamery) is an ideal spot to revel in the virtues of pinot noir, as we pursue pinot perfection. Our sustainably farmed vineyards are among the Willamette Valley’s finest (and, dare we say, most perfect). Our 2016 bottling is a selection of superior lots from our blocks of Maresh Vineyard in the Dundee Hills along with Ribbon Ridge Vineyard and Azana Vineyard on Chehalem Mountains. Bold, bright berry flavors unite with a bounty of rose, spice and cherry aromas.