What I Drank With Dinner (WIDWD)

To their credit, Syncline describes their 2006 Celilo Vineyard Pinot Noir (13.8%) accurately on the back label, with the emphasis on "flavors of pie cherry". This wine does taste like one of those Dolly Madison cherry fruit pies. This is not my style in pinot noir, but I am excited to see a Washington producer taking a stab at this varietal with Columbia Gorge fruit.

"Situated on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, Celilo Vineyard's deep volcanic soils are the origin of this provocative Pinot Noir. Intense perfume of black cherry and raspberry is echoed by flavors of pie cherry and soft lingering tannins".

The dry-farmed Celilo Vineyard is one of Washington state's oldest vineyards, planted in the early 1970's. Chardonnay, riesling and gewürztraminer comprise most of the acreage in this vineyard, with small plots of cab, pinot noir, and pinot gris as well. Paul Gregutt profiled Celilo Vineyard several years ago in a column for The Seattle Times, detailing many of the wineries who source fruit from this location - it's worth reading for the turkey story alone.

On the eyes, the Syncline pinot noir has a deep, ruby red color, comparable to a syrah or grenache wine. On the nose, the cherry fruit is most prevalent, with strong, candied fruit notes overtaking the palate. Acidity helps cut the sweetness, but this pinot is far too fruity for my taste. And it proved too much during dinner for both Kari and me. Tasting it again the next day, it had opened up a bit more, but the candied fruit was still too much.

As the label states, this is a "provocative pinot noir", but not in a way that would provoke me to purchase another bottle, which retails for $25.