Medium ruby color; raspberry, Bing cherry, plum, boysenberry, strawberry, cranberry, earth, cedar on the nose and palate.
Dry; restrained, soft tannins, moderate acidity (3.64 pH). Light-medium body. Some attitude on the pop-and-pour, refines with time in air. There is mild oak influence from 10% in new oak, but this puts delicious Oregon pinot noir in the front of the flavor parade. Silky mid-palate. Medium-long finish. Well balanced.
The winery notes that 2021 was a “Cinderella vintage: cool and dry, the type of vintage that makes winemakers smile. There were some wide swings in weather conditions, resulting in a lower yield and a resulting spectacular Oregon vintage.” Well, yes, every winemaker claims their current vintage is superb, but this actually does live up to some of the hype. Oregon consistently produces superb pinot noir—Oregon and the Willamette Valley must now rank among the best pinot noir regions in the world. This effort does nothing to diminish that claim, and certainly is to be celebrated at its very approachable price point. 13.5% ABV
Joe Dobbs established his Oregon vineyard and winery in 2002, the original brand was “Wine by Joe Dobbes.” He also has a brand “Dobbs Family Estate.” This effort comes from his roots. Dobbes notes on his website: “After working in the business for others internationally and in Oregon, I started Wine By Joe with a small amount of money in my back pocket, a lot of experience and passion, and a sufficient ignorance of what I was up against. Today, our multi-faceted wine company is one of the largest in the state. We own 214 acres of vineyard and benefit from the work of more than 30 full-time, dedicated employees, as well as dozens of part-time and seasonal workers”
Gretchen Boock is the CEO. She was the first person employed by Dobbes. She notes she has held every job from cellar hand, to cellar master, to CEO. Travis Proctor in the director of winemaking operations. He graduated from USC with a degree in cinema and television, but took a job as a cellar worker and was hooked on wine, starting a more than 20-year career. Andy McVay was the winemaker on this effort.
Dobbes is Oregon’s third-largest wine producer. The winery is located in Dundee, southwest of Portland. Oregon has the strictest winemaking regulations in the United States, prohibiting manipulation with additives and mystery ingredients. The result is Oregon now arguably produces the best pinot noir in the U.S., capturing the etherial deliciousness that heavier handed efforts in California often fail to find. If you want big body cab, buy Napa/Sonoma. If you want pinot noir elegance and sophistication, buy Willamette Valley. If you want a quality pinot noir at a weekday pinot price, Wine By Joe should be on your list.
Wine By Joe Pinot Noir, Oregon 2021 is wonderfully delicious AND affordable Oregon pinot noir. Light-medium body is congenial example of the impressive quality of Oregon pinot noir. Expressive red fruit, silky mouthfeel, integrated tannins and moderate acidity all add up to a very attractive entry-level pinot noir. Pair with barbecue chicken; turkey; salmon and other rich seafood; lighter, leaner cuts of beef; veal; pork chops and pork tenderloin. Cheese—sheep’s milk cheeses; gruyère, comté, emmenthal, gouda, taleggio. $19
