What’s In My Glass Today?

Today I discovered a Willamette Valley gem that has the quality of a very pricey wine, but costs less than $25 a bottle. It’s a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir  made by Matello’s winemaker, Marcus Goodfellow, out of Gaston, Oregon.

At first pour, I was taken back by the hot pink color of the Matello 2010 Lazarus Pinot Noir.  My initial assumption was that it was going to be extremely light bodied and possibly lack depth of character. Wow, was I ever wrong.

Aromas of cranberry and bright fruits dominated and matched the full bodied flavors with a silky mouthfeel and spicy, lingering finish. Thirty minutes after my first taste, the wine had completely transformed in both aroma and flavor. The aromas foundation was now earth, one of the qualities I love in Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs, with hints of red fruit, oak and cloves. The taste was mellowed with dark fruit flavors of blueberries, blackberries and earth along with a delicious pie spice finish. Layers of silky flavors flowed from beginning to end and showcased an impressive depth of character. So much for my initial thoughts.

The Matello 2010 Lazarus Pinot Noir is a darn good Pinot Noir, and I’m glad it is what’s in my glass today!

Read about where I discovered this wine in this weeks Wine Down Eugene, only on Eugene Daily News.