2005 Talcott Cellars Columbia Valley Pinot Noir

[dananne]

Yes, that's right. A Washington state Pinot Noir from the Columbia Valley. Rather odd. The grapes come from a small parcel within Evergreen Vineyard, located near George, WA in the Columbia Gorge. Because it's cooler, they are able to get away with varieties that wouldn't work elsewhere in the Columbia Valley. It's a label put out by Harlequin, a winery located in the Walla Walla area. Anyway, it got a good review from one of our local wine haunts, so we thought we'd give it a try.

Dark garnet in color, with some purple flashes. Nose was like that of a Beaujolais, in Dan's opinion, while Anne thought it just smelled and tasted "like a New Zealand Pinot" (don't know what that means, but she compared it to Brancott Pinot Noir). Red fruits, a touch of sweetness, some Pinot character, though a bit hot. We'd have been happier if it ran closer to $10, although our "house Pinot" (Queen of Hearts) trumps it easily. Pun unintentional. Alas, it ran $19. Alc. 13.9%. Happy to have tried something kinda unique and different, but we'll likely pass on it in the future.