Insane
Value Pinot. In Time For The Summer. Grapes Sourced from Ponzi. Will Sell Out.
The
toughest grape to make a great wine at a reasonable price is Pinot Noir. The
grape ripens late, does well in cool climates which makes it hard to ripen and
the skins are very thin and prone to splitting. This wine which I tasted today
breaks the mold. This superb Pinot is bursting with juicy red berry fruit, is
fresh and alive, has great balance and length. The wine is drinking superbly
but has the stuffing to improve in the bottle and Wow what a value to enjoy
this summer. I loved the fig notes on the back palate. The 2014 RouteStock 99W Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley is an absolute stunner Under
$20, with a huge 91pts by Spectator very hard to beat. RouteStock is a
label set up by the Wilson Daniels Company who represents some of the finest
Wineries in the US and Europe. They are able to source grapes from some of the
finest vineyards and made by some of the finest Winemakers to make RouteStock.
Route
99W is part of the Pacific Coast Highway which travels north/south through some
of Willamette Valley’s most notable vineyards. On a drive down Route 99W, you
will pass many of the vineyards that supplied perfectly ripe grapes for this
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The grapes and winemaking for this Pinot gem
is one of Willamette’s finest producers, the great Ponzi.
Ponzi is one of the blue chip producers for Oregon Pinot and their wines are
not cheap. Literally double the price of this stunner. The wines was aged in French
oak of which a third was new. I strongly recommend.
91pts Spectator SAVE 20%. Only 20 cases available
“*Smart
Buy* Fresh and inviting, open-textured and refined, with plum, currant and
floral flavors that dance through the supple finish. Shows generosity and
finesse, finishing on a roasted note.” WS
“Nicely
ripened and yet balanced to firmness with a solid streak of youthful, cherry-like
fruit running its length, this well-made, mid-sized Pinot wine goes right to
the varietal point. It is slightly juicy and comes with a careful trim of sweet
oak, and, if not an especially potent wine, it has the fruity confidence and
balance to hold up and improve for several years.” CG