Palate Press Wine of the Week: 2009 White Rose Dundee Hills AVA Pinot Noir

White Rose has consistently produced very good and, more often than not, excellent pinot noirs. The Dundee Hills AVA is a fine example. A nose of raspberry and juniper berries leads the lucky drinker into a velvety, balanced wine of lovely fruit with more light spice tones of cinnamon and nutmeg, perhaps even some hints of cranberry. Finish is slightly short, IMHO, but that may be the bias of my experience tasting White Rose wines. I have had many of their wines I think are even better. (In the interests of full disclosure, this is the one wine club to which I belong.) Retail distribution is spotty, and their wines are best obtained through the website or by joining their wine club. Highly Recommended. GT

WHO: White Rose Vineyards
WHAT: Pinot Noir
WHERE: Dundee Hills, Oregon
WHEN: 2009
HOW MUCH: $45