McKinlay Vineyards Ladd Hill Pinot Noir 2006

Why Buy: A hidden treasure. Buy this before it runs out. 2006 was a very good year in Oregon, and this is it in a bottle.

Price : $38

Details:

Silky and layered. Mouth-watering integration of subtle structure and tantalizing acidity. Sweet berry fruit, tart cherry, cinnamon & clove, with hints of truffle & herb. The luscious finish never lets go. This is a quintessential Pinot Noir experience.

Notes: McKinlay wines are Burgundian in the sense that they are made with the least input from the owners/wine makers, Matt & Holly Kinne. McKinlay Pinots are grown using water and sunshine and Willamette Valley soil. Picked, crushed, and allowed to ferment naturally with native yeasts. Once fermented they are aged in mostly neutral oak. What you get in the bottle is one of the purest expressions of vintage and terrior on the West Coast.

Occasion and Pairing: I'm recommending this as one of my "Holiday Pinots" because the lively texture and silky fruit pair beautifully with the holiday classic, Prime Rib Roast. It would also be great with any big game (venison, elk) or Filet Mignon. It's a Pinot Noir that is worth celebrating.

State: Oregon

Region: Willamette Valley