2014 Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Pinot Noir “Life” Willamette Valley, Oregon.
The Life Pinot Noir from Cooper Mountain Vineyards is a biodynamic natural wine without the use of sulfur or sulfites with native yeasts and a more vineyard intensive approach to achieve balance and healthy structure/stability in the wine. The 2014 Life shows the ripe and forward natural of the vintage without being too sweet fruited or heavy, it comes in at about 13% alcohol and has rich layered black and red fruits, a hint of earth and spice and nice detail with plenty of extract and textural pleasure, it has a bit of what you find in the no sulfur cuvees that you see from Cru Beaujolais, I was suggest it might be modeled after Lapierre of Morgon in style. It is very direct, not overly complex and still has an allure with blackberry, cherry, plum and fig fruits along with kick of juicy acidity, blueberry tanginess with loam, sweet herbs, a touch of cedar and baking spice. For those seeking vegan, low sulfur, organic wine that has a sense of terroir and value might want explore Cooper Mountain Vineyards, especially this Life Pinot Noir, this Demeter certified biodynamic all estate grown producer is making some solid efforts, I also liked their slightly lessy Pinot Gris, which is a bargain at about $15.
($25 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive
