Averaen
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Waltham is a town in the suburbs of Boston, near where Cara's mother lives. Its high street has both Dollar Shops and little boutiques. Its eateries include both inexpensive Cuban diners and hip new restaurants. Red Bird is one such place with its chic decor and unfussy new American dishes. The menu could have been guessed at well ahead of time: beet salad, Brussels, hangar steak. The chicken entree included a spiced apple bread pudding. Tasty but would have been more so served later in the meal with some Creme Anglais. Quantities were enormous.
Decent Massachusetts restaurants often have a common shortcoming: their wine list. Made worse by the illegality of corkage. The options were limited to around ten reds. A Chianti I've never heard of. A Bulgheri wine I've never heard of. A couple of Californian wines I've never heard of. And then there was a Damilano Barolo for $150. No thank you.
With some under the table research on Delectable and Vinous I chose this Oregon Pinot Noir from Averaen. Ripe red cherries but with nice freshness. Sustains well and gained complexity with air. (On an aside, I asked for the bottle to be cooled a little and it made the world of difference.) "Bottled by Banshee" on the label boded well as I'm a fan of what this Sonoma producer is doing, especially for the price.
Waltham is a town in the suburbs of Boston, near where Cara's mother lives. Its high street has both Dollar Shops and little boutiques. Its eateries include both inexpensive Cuban diners and hip new restaurants. Red Bird is one such place with its chic decor and unfussy new American dishes. The menu could have been guessed at well ahead of time: beet salad, Brussels, hangar steak. The chicken entree included a spiced apple bread pudding. Tasty but would have been more so served later in the meal with some Creme Anglais. Quantities were enormous.
Decent Massachusetts restaurants often have a common shortcoming: their wine list. Made worse by the illegality of corkage. The options were limited to around ten reds. A Chianti I've never heard of. A Bulgheri wine I've never heard of. A couple of Californian wines I've never heard of. And then there was a Damilano Barolo for $150. No thank you.
With some under the table research on Delectable and Vinous I chose this Oregon Pinot Noir from Averaen. Ripe red cherries but with nice freshness. Sustains well and gained complexity with air. (On an aside, I asked for the bottle to be cooled a little and it made the world of difference.) "Bottled by Banshee" on the label boded well as I'm a fan of what this Sonoma producer is doing, especially for the price.
Serious Willamette Valley Pinot Noir for less than $20. Bright red fruit, lovely spice aromatics and firm tannins. Decidedly earthy character. But the real appeal of this appellation wine lies in its texture and full yet delicate palate weight. There is a purity and elegance in mouthfeel impact about this wine that is not often found at this price point. Excellent.
Serious Willamette Valley Pinot Noir for less than $20. Bright red fruit, lovely spice aromatics and firm tannins. Decidedly earthy character. But the real appeal of this appellation wine lies in its texture and full yet delicate palate weight. There is a purity and elegance in mouthfeel impact about this wine that is not often found at this price point. Excellent.
1 person found it helpfulMar 20th, 2018
Classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir! Nice!!! Slight briary notes with savory berry & mouthwatering tartness! Thoroughly enjoyable! Would buy again if price is @$20 & under.
Classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir! Nice!!! Slight briary notes with savory berry & mouthwatering tartness! Thoroughly enjoyable! Would buy again if price is @$20 & under.
Apr 19th, 2019
Big, juicy and chewy Pinot. Yum. $19.99 at Whole Foods.
Big, juicy and chewy Pinot. Yum. $19.99 at Whole Foods.
Oct 14th, 2018
Good, not great. But I got for around $13.
Good, not great. But I got for around $13.
Jun 17th, 2018
Nice wine- dinner with Ann and Mark
Nice wine- dinner with Ann and Mark
Apr 28th, 2018
taking a chance on oregon pinots. lighter than central coast. would purchase again and switch up w meiomi
taking a chance on oregon pinots. lighter than central coast. would purchase again and switch up w meiomi
Apr 7th, 2018
Cherry, black tea, and forest floor on the nose. More cherry and a little strawberry on the palate. Medium tannins and light acidity.
Cherry, black tea, and forest floor on the nose. More cherry and a little strawberry on the palate. Medium tannins and light acidity.
Feb 26th, 2018