Quite a while back I had tried a previous vintage of this wine (the 2009, I think) at a restaurant and was unimpressed. To be fair, my view was likely altered by having paid the 3x mark-up. In the time since this I have basically steered clear of Evening Land’s entry level blue label pinot noir in favor of the many other excellent Oregon pinots in this similar price range. But recently I received a bottle of the 2011 in my wine club shipment and so I had the opportunity to give it another go. This time, drinking it in the comfort of my own home, I had a very different experience. I found this 2011 version to be a very solid effort and a quite enjoyable wine. Not earth-shattering or breaking any new pinot noir ground, but still a very well-made pinot with flavor and aroma profiles consist with the Oregon style. Lots of blueberry and red cherry on the nose with cherry-berry pie flavors and some noticeable spicy notes at the end. It has a nice weight – a bit heavier than anticipated – with good overall balance. I paid $27 for this wine and, at this price, I would give this a “thumbs-up” for overall value. Try a sip right after opening, but give it a half-hour in the decanter for greater depth.
