“Get it while it lasts, because it probably won’t be around for long.”
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So, I found another good Pinot Noir at our friendly neighborhood Costco last week. (Remember, you don’t need a membership to buy alcohol there.) I had been eyeing it for a few weeks, and although I knew next to nothing about the producer, I figured it was worth buying and trying. This turns out to be a good choice more often than not, as was the case on this occasion.
Hyland Estates is located in Oregon’s McMinnville AVA, with roughly 185 acres of vineyards. The first vines were planted in 1971, and have expanded to include Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay, Müller Thurgau and Pinot Noir clones that include Wädenswil, Pommard, Dijon 115 and Coury. There is more background information here for those inclined to explore more thoroughly, but for our purposes, let’s focus on the wine itself.
2021 Hyland Estates Willamette Old Vine Estate Pinot Noir McMinnville,13.5% alc., $18.99: A pleasing-to-the-eye ruby red in color, with an expressive nose of black cherry tinged with a little smoke and tar. Fairly rich and rather intense on the palate, all earthy black cherry and blackberry, underscored with a bit of underbrush. Medium-to-medium-full bodied, with good structure for at least a few years in the cellar. There’s a bit of a tannic-acidic bite at first,but that dissipates with some time in the glass. Extended air really makes a difference with this; with an hour in the decanter, it settles down into a very nice Pinot Noir that is well worth the money. LIVE certified sustainable winegrowing. Find this wine
The Hyland website lists this at $45.00, so the $18.99 Costco price is an exceptional bargain. (The Winesearcher.com link above gives a range from around $27-35, so this is a good price any way you look at it.) Get it while it lasts, because it probably won’t be around for long.
Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo
