2012 Ransom Wine Company, Pinot Noir, Selection, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Here is a great Pinot from Oregon that will surprise even the most jaded of Pinot lovers, a wonderful vintage shines through in this beautiful wine from Ransom, with fruit coming from good sites in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Ransom does a series of unique wines as well as some remarkable sweet and dry Vermouth, everything I’ve tried from Tad Seestedt recently, were tasty and fun, but the 2012 Selection Pinot is amazingly delicious and vibrant. The wax capsuled 2012 Ransom Selection Willamette Valley starts with red fruits, wilted roses and sweet spices that entices the senses and leads to a palate of blackberry, plum and dark cherry fruits along with hints of earth, pepper and cedar. This bright ruby hued Pinot gains density with air, but remains lively, vivid and transparent throughout, it adds complex layers as it unfolds in the glass with touches of flinty mineral, vanilla, cinnamon, blueberry, anise and dried currant all making appearances in the background of this polished and pleasing offering. This is lovely effort with ripe fruit, tangy acidity and nice textures, it finishes with a superb lingering aftertaste of sweet fruit and saline savory elements. Best to enjoy this Pinot Noir with cuisine, I can see it going great with duck breast and or wild mushroom dishes, and it should age pretty well, though I recommend it now, drink from 2015 to 2018.
($30 Est.) 92+ Points, grapelive
