As we slowly make our march into November, people start to ask me what wines they should serve at their Thanksgiving table. While a host of wines pair well with turkey, Oregon Pinot Noir is one of my favorite pairings. Particularly by adding cranberry sauce to the equation and now you have an amazing match for red fruit-driven Oregon Pinot Noir with great acidity that can artfully match the richness of turkey.
I rely on my 2018 Oregon Report which was published this summer in which I reviewed more than 500 wines out of Oregon and found many exciting Oregon Pinot Noirs from the fantastic 2016 and 2017 vintages. I have chosen several new release wines with a nice range of pricing, as Oregon Pinot Noir isn’t usually inexpensive but there are several beautiful bottles that you won’t need to break the bank to purchase. We have included pricing as well as how to find the wines online. So without further adieu, here are ten great Oregon Pinot Noirs, listed in alphabetical order, for to consider for your Thanksgiving table.
2017 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir ($45.00; https://bigtablewine.com/index.cfm?method=storeproducts.showlist&productcategoryid=7434BEBB-0935-4DA3-914B-9F7D4D0FFC97)
The 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is another sensational wine made by one of the most underrated winemakers in North America, Brian Marcy. The nose is seductive and highly perfumed with rose petals, guava puree, cigar ash and suggestions of peat moss that all build in the glass. The wine shows off a downright sexy texture, showing a great combination of weight and minerality. Guava puree, red raspberry cordial, blood orange zest and white truffle flavors all dance on the palate. A seriously impressive wine that should continue to cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 94
2017 Cristom Vineyards ‘Mt. Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir ($35.00; https://www.cristomvineyards.com/Buy-Wine/750L-and-375mL)
The 2017 'Mt. Jefferson Cuvee' was sourced from a host of Willamette Valley vineyards and it is another sensational release from Cristom Vineyards in this vintage. On the nose this takes on bright red fruits that mingle with sagebrush, damp earth and orange zest tones that all build once in the glass. The freshness and balance is gorgeous, as is the peat moss and earthy accents that mingle with the citrus rind infused red fruit flavors. Remarkable now, this fantastic Pinot Noir should continue to evolve well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2016 De Ponte ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir ($47.00; https://www6.cleverconcepts.net/depontecellars.com/)
The 2016 De Ponte Dundee Hills Pinot Noir opens with ripe dark fruits with shades of damp earth and citrus blossom that connect on the nose. The palate is refined with good freshness and verve, delivering dark fruits that connect with lighter earthy undertones. This is a terrific effort from De Ponte that should cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 91
2016 Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir ($75.00; https://www.domaineserene.com/product/Evenstad-Reserve-2016-Pinot-Noir-750ml)
This is the 30th Anniversary of this iconic Pinot Noir bottling from Domaine Serene. This particular edition was aged for sixteen months in 65% new French oak prior to bottling. The aromas are simply sensational ranging from cardamon accents to peat moss, black truffle shavings to bright red fruits and citrus zest that all amalgamate marvelously. The texture is beautiful as this silky wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. The seamless character of this wine really entices. as dense dark and red fruits pack this incredible wine. The 2016 Evenstad is once again up there with the best vintages ever produced. Drink 2019-2033- 95
2017 Erath ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir ($19.00; https://www.erath.com/shop/pinot-noir/2017-oregon-pinot-noir)
A downright awesome value at this price point, the 2017 Erath Pinot Noir opens with red fruits that collide with red rose petals and lighter citrus zest tones on the nose. The palate is lithe, delivering lighter to medium bodied cranberry, orange zest and cinnamon flavors that amalgamate nicely with minerals. Drink 2019-2023- 88
2016 King Estate ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir ($30.00; https://store.kingestate.com/product?productid=3F5B3383-AC8D-4E0C-9789-E2260F25E128)
Delicate and fragrant aromas greet you of rose petals and red cherry candy. A touch on the light side, this shows red cherry and citrus rind flavors with a strong astringency. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2017 Le Cadeau ‘Rocheaux’ Pinot Noir ($50.00; https://www.lecadeauvineyard.com/Shop-Wines/Le-Cadeau-Vineyard)
The 2017 'Rocheaux' Pinot Noir was made by consulting winemaker Jim Sanders. Vines for this wine are located on the highly rocky west side of the vineyard. As the wine itself begins to open a whiff of volcanic terroir greets you in the glass alongside peat moss, blood orange and guava aromas. The wine shows a silky mouthful with bright red fruits that connect with citrus rind and suggestions of black truffle shavings. The combination of poise and texture is outstanding. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2017 Lingua Franca ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir ($55.00; https://www.linguafranca.wine/product/2017-Estate-Pinot-Noir1?pageID=367755BC-A7EE-4717-81A6-724E0BD242E2&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=100&&productListName=All%20Wines&position=9)
The 2017 'Estate' Pinot Noir is an exceedingly impressive release from Lingua Franca. The aromatics are highly gratifying, with peat moss and white truffle shavings that combine with cranberries, pomegranate and red cherry candy on the seductive nose. The palate has a seamless quality that shines, as red and dark fruits dance with the earthy and citrus rind tones. This is an utterly stunning wine, which will cellar beautifully over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2032- 94
2015 Maysara ‘Cyrus’ Pinot Noir ($38.00; https://maysara.com/product/cyrus-pinot-noir/)
The 2015 'Cyrus' pinot Noir is a simply sensational wine from this estate in the McMinnville AVA. The mouthfeel is silky smooth and glides through the mid-palate. Copious red and dark fruits capture the heat of the vintage as the wine maintains good acidity with earthy tones and a nice salinity. While highly gratifying now, this has another decade or more left. Drink 2019-2032- 93
2015 Tendril ‘Tightrope’ Pinot Noir ($70.00; https://tendrilwines.orderport.net/product-details/0038/2014-tendril-tightrope)
The 2015 Tendril 'Tightrope' Pinot Noir is a spectacular effort by the talented Tony Rynders. This limited production Pinot Noir was aged for eighteen months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. On the nose this takes on beautiful aromatic range from red and dark fruits to hints of cloves and black truffle shavings. The mouthfeel is downright seductive as layers of dark and red berries connect with earthy undertones and the toasty oak. While this has excellent mid-palate weight, there is also a seamless quality to the wine. The extremely long finish completes this gorgeous new wine. Delightful in its youth, this will continue to cellar well for the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2019-2035- 94