Tonight, I opened my first bottle of Pinot Noir in a while.  This week’s Wine Chat focused on Oregon Pinot Noir, a grape that I have never really gotten into.  I know it’s blasphemy not to bow at the alter of this sexy mystical beast, but it just doesn’t do a lot for me.  I’ve had some that are amazing, and they are typically the full bodied dense Pinots with loads of dark fruit.  However, always wanting to expand my wine knowledge, I picked up a bottle and joined in the Wine Chat.
I chose the 2009 Kings Ridge Oregon Pinot ($15 @ Trader Joes).  The appellation is “Oregon”, meaning its grapes come from more than one AVA within the state or from a non-designated area.  King Ridge’s website doesn’t have specs for the 2009, but the 2010 was sourced  76% Willamette Valley and 24% Umpqua Valley.  So i’m guessing the 2009 was similar.
I opened the bottle around 8, and let it open up for about an hour. Â It needed more time. Â After about an hour and a half, some fruit started to emerge on the nose. Â Typical cherry notes and a hint of red hot candies. Â It was a bit one dimensional for me.
The palate was a bit flat for my liking, a little spice a touch of fruit. Â It just didn’t do it for me.
This is an easy drinking wine, but just not my style. Â I prefer heartier wines. Â I think this would be a crowd pleaser, just not a crowd of Locowinos.
