What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD)

Last Sunday evening, Kari warmed up a Greek stew she had made a couple of days before that had been "resting" in our fridge for the weekend. It was yet another incredible slow cooked dish made in our red Le Creuset, a French oven that seems to create magical meals regardless of what ingredients Kari combines in it.

Kari's parents were joining us for this meal which was kicking off the Christmas holiday weekend. I decided to pair the stew with a 2005 Erath Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Estate Selection, a wine that ended up stealing the show during our meal.

I came upon this bottle of Erath pinot noir while shopping at our local Whole Foods. I had yet to try an Erath, therefore was excited to find something from their 2005 vintage at such a reasonable price ($29.95).

Erath is a well known name in Oregon pinot noir, with Dick Erath being one of the pinot pioneers in the state who started his winery over forty years ago. Erath is now a 65,000 plus case winery, making it one of the larger producers in the state.

Little did I know what was awaiting us with this wine. On the nose, there was a beautiful bouquet of fresh cherry fruit and hints of herbal earthiness. On the palate, the fruit was present but not over-the-top due to the balanced acidity. This balance was supported by the low alcohol (12.5%), which was surprising considering how much fruit was there.

We certainly enjoyed the Greek stew, but the wine captivated us even more. As I have come to know Oregon pinot noir more, I am becoming a huge fan of the Pommard clone. The 2005 Erath Pinot Noir is 86% Pommard and 14% Dijon, which explains its distinctive taste profile.

And tasting fruit grown in the Jory soil of the Dundee Hills offers a unique characteristic to this varietal. The more I explore this area of Willamette Valley, the more I like what I taste. I look forward to visiting Erath's tasting room on my next visit to Dundee.

Considering it's price point, this is a great value for a bottle of Dundee Hills pinot noir. And to not let a good thing pass me by, I went out the next day and bought half a case to cellar over the next few years. I picked up another two bottles for my father-in-law, Bob, who was also taken with this wine.

There is nothing more enjoyable than discovering a new wine with others around the dinner table. I encourage you to pick up a bottle of the 2005 Erath Pinot Noir Estate Selection and taste it for yourself.