2010 Bergstrom, Pinot Noir “Cumberland Reserve” Willamette Valley.
This Pinot Noir is a stunning example of why Oregon continues to intrigue the wine world with this grape, without question it is a wine that seduces the senses and fills the imagination. The earthiness and acidity are remarkably like top Premier Cru Burgundy wines and the intensity and vigor are a welcome surprise considering the difficulties of the vintage. Bergstrom used grapes from some of his favorite sites to craft this wine and of course the famed Shea Vineyard was included adding pedigree, even though Josh Bergstrom is already a star and his wines highly acclaimed and in demand. The nose starts with bright fruit, smoke, truffle, spice and hints of forrest floor notes before opening on the palate to blackberry, tangy cherry and dusty plum fruits while touches of red mineral, nectarine and floral tea spice play in the background. As good as this wine is now, it should be given plenty of air at this point, but I highly recommend letting it cellar for a few years as it should really gain complexity and fill out with bottle age. As with most of Bergstrom’s organic wines a touch of savory funk, classic Burgundy like notes, comes out when the bottle is first opened, but blows off quickly to reveal the purity of fruit and terroir.
($42 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive

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