In The Glass: Elizabeth Chambers Cellar Winemaker’s Cuvée Pinot Noir 2011

In the world of wine writing, I’ve been watching my colleagues over the past few months use the Delectable Wine App more and more.  When I questioned one of my fellow wine writer’s about this new craze, another wine industry friend chimed in and wrote, “All the cool wine writer’s are using it.”  After a good giggle, I decided I didn’t want to be one of the “uncool” writers on the block, so I downloaded the app.

For more reasons than you can imagine, many of them clearly outlined on the wine blog, Vinography, by respected wine writer Alder Yarrow’s post, “Delectable: the Only Wine App Worth a Damn,”  I’m quickly realizing why it’s the coolest app ever for people in the wine industry.  Even for those that simply enjoy wine,  it’s a super easy-to-use tracking device of what’s been consumed that can be saved, shared and later reflected upon.

The first wine to make its way into my Delectable Wine App was the 2011 Elizabeth Chambers Cellar Winemaker’s Cuvée Pinot Noir ($32).  As I noted along with a picture of the label, the Winemaker’s Cuvée Pinot Noir was super feminine in nature and style with elegant soft tannins and vibrant acidity.  Juicy entrance and silky on the palate.  Aromas of cherries, earth and brown spices with hints of violets and licorice.  Really lovely.

Located in McMinnville, Oregon, in the heart of the Willamette Valley, the 2011 Winemaker’s Cuvée Pinot Noir was among this boutique winery’s first wines to be released on a national basis.  Oregon native Liz Chambers passion for Pinot Noir, pairing up with Willamette Valley’s winemaking veteran of 20 years, Micheal Stevenson, was obviously a wise choice – the ’11 Pinot Noir certainly stands out among the crowd.  Together, Liz and Michael carefully select fruit from stellar vineyards around the state to produce both cuvée and single vineyard Pinot Noirs.  Fruit for the 2011 Winemaker’s Cuvée Pinot Noir was sourced from the highly sought after Freedom Hill vineyard and Lazy River Vineyard, noted by Michael that, “90% of what’s in the bottle is determined by what’s in the vineyard.”

With a current case production of 3,500, I’m looking forward to trying more wine from one of the Willamette Valley’s newest wineries.  Other nationally available (but in limited quantities) Pinot Noirs include two single vineyard bottlings: 2011 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2011 Freedom Hill Pinot Noir.  I recently found out from Dai Crisp (winemaker and co-owner of Lumos Wine Company and General Manager of one of my favorite Pinot vineyards in the entire Willamette Valley-Temperance Hill), that Liz and Michael bought some fruit from a very special block on Temperpance Hill – a Pinot I’m truly looking forward to pouring into my favorite Zalto Burgundy glass.

Follow me on the Delectable Wine App under Julia Crowley.  Don’t have the app? Check out  delectable.com