(Mission Valley News, San Diego, CA) – All great wines reflect their time and place, so now may be the biggest change in the range of wines produced. Due to the effects of global warming, many ‘cool climate’ growing regions of the world — which typically struggle to ripen some grape varieties — are becoming major wine producers. There are many recently planted vineyards and relatively new wine producing regions in Tasmania, New Zealand, Canada and Oregon.
In the midst of such worldwide development, Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a particular standout among the crowd. In just four decades, Willamette Valley has transformed from a quiet, pastoral country into one of the world’s top Pinot Noir producers. In its early years, Willamette Valley produced a range of unpredictable wines, from mesmerizing to disappointing, but with time and improved practices the quality of Willamette Pinot Noir became more consistent and ethereal. Its elegance, structure and style has set Willamette Valley’s Pinot Noir apart and given this once sleepy countryside an impeccable international reputation and accolades from around the world.
The special character of Willamette Pinot Noir is created by no single factor. A unique blend of location, soil and climate all contribute to the quality of the wines. Willamette Valley is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and has naturally breezy conditions. Willamette’s range of soil types is derived from a series of massive ice age floods that created many mineral-laden vineyard sites. The climate allows for cool nights and warm days over many months, which builds depth and intensity of flavor. These conditions not only create spectacular Pinot Noir with excellent concentration and complexity but also distinctly fruity Pinot Gris and elegant Chardonnay.
Comparisons can be made to Burgundy, the classic home of Pinot Noir. Not only do Willamette’s Pinots have the ripe cherry fruit components of typical New World Pinot Noirs but also a savory and earthy quality traditionally associated with the great Pinots of Burgundy. A prime example from the region is the 2011 REX HILL Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. 2011 was one of Oregon’s latest and coolest growing seasons on record. It was considered a challenging vintage; many feared the grapes would not fully ripen. Fortunately, fair weather held through mid-November and resulted in surprising quality. The resulting wines are complex, intensely flavored with nice texture and depth. The 2011 REX HILL Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has intense aromas of ripe raspberry and black cherry with undertones of fresh soil, wet stone and spice. The wine is delicately balanced with plush texture, fresh acidity and a long finish with lingering minerality and red fruit flavors.
For $35 a bottle, the 2011 REX HILL Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a great buy for such a beautiful and versatile wine. Better priced than most Burgundies, it has the aging potential with the best of them. It is drinking well now and will become more complex over the next 20 years. It has a wide range of food pairing possibilities and can go well with roasted or braised pork belly, chicken in a mushroom cream sauce or poached salmon. Visit The Wine Bank in downtown San Diego or Harvest Ranch Market in Encinitas to pick up a bottle today. Cheers!
Karen Irizarry is a certified sommelier who has worked vintages in Australia, Germany, New Zealand and France and is currently working in Willamette Valley in Oregon. Originally from New Jersey, Irizarry received her bachelor’s of architecture from Virginia Tech. After moving to California, she developed a passion for wine while working under advanced sommelier and wine director Brian Donegan at San Diego’s Market Restaurant and Bar. Irizarry’s passion for food and wine is reflected in her blog, .
Welcome to the discussion.
Or, use your linked account: