This is the inaugural post of What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD), a regular feature to share the local wines enjoyed at my table during the previous night's meal.

With a break in the rain yesterday, my wife and I decided to fire up the grill and cook a steak dinner. I was in charge of grilling the filets while my wife oversaw cooking the caramelized onions, pommes frites and tossing a red leaf lettuce salad with apple wedges. I chose the Andrew Rich 2005 Pinot Noir Cuvée B.

Here's the description of the 2005 Pinot Noir Cuvée B from their web site:

"The softer, more "fruit-driven" Pinot bottling, the 2005 Cuvée B comprises vineyards in the Chehalem, Yamhill-Carlton, Dundee Hills, and McMinnville AVAs. Though not a big wine, the entry and mid-palate are plush, and the finish is moderately long, with a nice balance of both red and black fruit aromas and flavors, as well as an intriguing earthy note. Serve it early and often."

I had the opportunity to meet Andrew Rich this past summer at a tasting event organized by Cavatappi Distribuzione. I enjoyed hearing firsthand from Andrew his background and approach to winemaking. Andrew, who studied winemaking in France, cut his teeth in the wine industry at Bonny Doon for a number of years before migrating north to Oregon in 1994. Andrew makes his wines at the Carlton Winemaker's Studio, producing a variety of red and white wines from varietals grown in Oregon and Washington.

With us having steak, I was tempted to pull a cab or merlot but am glad to have decided on the Andrew Rich pinot noir (13.5% alcohol). It paired well with everything, especially complementing the earthy yet sweet taste of the caramelized onions on the grilled beef. The Andrew Rich pinot noir is a bit fruit forward but not in an overpowering way. It has good acidity, which stood up to the steaks and even accentuated the salad's oil and vinegar dressing. It's not a complex pinot noir, rather a simple table wine that drank well with our meal. My wife and I enjoyed the wine and would open another bottle with dinner in the future.