The Hedonistic Taster | Lenné Estate 2014 Pinot Noir

Wine should not be regarded simply as a beverage, but as an art of living, a pleasure.” – Henri Jayer

Welcome to The Hedonistic Taster, a binNotes | redThread™ trade sampling of artisan wines.

Today’s Tasting:

Lenné Estate | 2014 Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley

Blind taste the wines of Lenné Estate, and you find any preconceived notions about ‘Oregon Pinot Noirs’ dropping away. Tasting Steve Lutz’s wines from Lenné Estate brings me back to Burgundy – to purity of fruit, expression of site, and a complexity that invariably makes me smile. Yet these wines have their own stories to tell. This is one of them.

You can find out more about the story behind Lenné Estate’s hard-fought road to success here in my article about owners Steve and Karen Lutz in Oregon Wine Press.

Wine: Lenné Estate Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

Vintage: 2014

Alcohol: 14.2%

Suggested Retail: $38.00

Specs

TASTING NOTES:

Robe: Translucent ruby robe.

Nose: Red raspberry, cherry, white mocha.

Palate: The estate’s ‘entry’ level cuvée comprises one half Pommard clones, and the other half of clones 115, 114, 777, and 667. Do not confuse this consumer-friendly wine with their secondary label, Le Nez.

Nothing ‘entry level’ about this wine. Light body, silky tannins, balanced acids, elegant medium-length finish.

Suggested Pairings: This wine sings its own song, and for the price, you’ll be singing, too. Reminiscent of a well-made Santenay, with a lightness and warmth that lends itself well to an Indian Summer repast of salmon and salad, but also a subtlety that shifts right into more complex fall and winter fare. Truly a wine for all seasons.

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Link here to my previous Lenné Estate tasting notes.

You can find out more about the story behind Lenné Estate’s hard-fought road to success here in my article about owners Steve and Karen Lutz in Oregon Wine Press.

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The Hedonistic Taster | Lenné Estate 2014 Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley