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By Chuck Hill

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Wines of the Week
Published July 26, 2007

Pinot Noir with Summer Salmon
Part Three (Part One, Part Two)
By Chuck Hill

If you are a salmon lover, your weekly menu must include several meals from the bountiful availability of fresh Copper River sockeye, and even frozen-at-sea silver salmon (the Nerka brand, based in LaConner, WA, is available throughout the year and is consistently delicious). To accompany these rich fish dinners, select a Pinot Noir from the offerings below.  (See also Part One, Part Two of this Pinot-with-Salmon series.)

Henry Estate
2005 Oregon Pinot Noir
$16.00

The Henry Estate Winery near Roseburg, Oregon, should be on everyone's list of visits when you are touring the wine country of Southern Oregon. Great wines and great hospitality have been the hallmarks of this Oregon pioneer vintner. This Pinot sparkles in the glass with an inviting garnet hue. The nose is ripe cherry and plum, leading to a fresh palate of black cherry, spice and earthy notes with a finish that is crisp with acidity. A great wine at a great price for your next salmon barbecue.

Cherry Hill Winery
2004 Estate Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$29.00

Cherry Hill's 2004 Estate Pinot was crafted from Pommard clone grapes which make up 55% of their 55 acre estate vineyard. The wine is bright and elegant with delicate aromas of strawberry, cherry and light earthy notes. The palate is light and refreshing with true Pinot flavors dancing on the tongue and leading to a finish laced with supple tannins. Best with salmon poached or baked - hearty flavors from the grill are best saved for the following wine.

Cherry Hill Winery
2004 Papillon Estate Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$22.00

Cherry Hill's Papillon Pinot Noir (named after the French breed of winery dog Daisy) is a blend of two Dijon clones 115 and 113. Rich aromas of black cherry, cocoa and earthy spice lead to hearty Pinot flavors and moderate tannins. Bring out the grill and add a little smoky flavor to your salmon to accompany this fun wine.

 

Four Graces
2005 Estate Pinot Noir
$25.00

Four Graces Black Family Estate Vineyard is located in the Dundee Hills AVA in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Pommard and Wadenswil clones were planted in 1990, and Dijon clones 114, 115 and 777 were planted in 1992. Yield is limited to 2 tons per acre or less. This wine shows rich Pinot aromas of cherry, plum, earth, with meaty/spicy notes and hints of cola. The palate adds cocoa amid the black fruits, and the wine finishes with silky tannins and hints of French oak. Good with any salmon preparation, and perhaps even better with red meat!

Maysara
2005 Jamsheed Pinot Noir
$25.00

In 1997 Moe and Flora Momtazi purchased the land south of McMinnville, Oregon that would become Maysara Vineyards. Developed to be a biodynamic property, the vineyard is now at 200 acres producing different varietals and clones of popular Oregon grapes. Blended from different lots from all around the estate vineyard, the wine is complex and very approachable. Aromas of smoky black fruits, earth and spice lead to a rich palate that adds blackberry, coffee and cocoa to the earthy Pinot Noir mélange of the wine. It is very nice with salmon from the grill or the oven.

Maysara
2003 Estate Cuvee Pinot Noir
$32.00

Crafted from selected lots of Dijon- and Pommard-clone Pinot from the Maysara Estate, this wine offers elegance and ageability as well as immediate enjoyment. Aromas of cherry, plum, spice and earth mingle with notes of toasty oak and chocolate. Flavors are carried on a firmly structured palate featuring red fruits, spice, coffee and smoky oak. It is versatile with rich fish dishes or medium-bodied red meats.

Sockeye
2006 Pinot Noir
Chile
$13.00

Imported by Precept Brands, this tasty Pinot comes in at a price point that will please almost everyone. The bright garnet color attracts the eye, while aromas of ripe cherries, plum and spice tingle the nose. The flavors on the palate echo the aromatic profile with velvety tannins and ample acidity creating a food wine bridge in the mouth. Stock up for your next salmon dinner party!

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