(Feb 15, 2021) A twofer today! Got two Erath Pinots - one regular, and one Rose. Erath's a pretty good label and - you know - hometown pride. I've been to their winery showroom and it is appropriately fancy and beautiful and shit, and they generally do a decent wine.
I'm not MAD at these wines, just a little disappointed. Like, I paid 50 bucks for a bottle of good Pinot at their place and had no regrets, and enjoyed the HELL out of that wine when some friends came into town. These are just - they're okay.
The regular Pinot is like 15 bucks for a bottle and that's cheap for a good Oregon Pinot, but the right price for this one. It's like... it's like... It's like Frasier. The TV show with Kelsey Grammer and friends. You'll have a fine time with it and it's got its moments, but it's ultimately meh. I suppose some people really like it? I can't for the life of me remember anything that happened in any of the episodes, though.
I mean, not like a blackout, just like - meh. It's a big corporate meh of a pinot but sometimes that's okay! Like when you want to read a book on a wintery afternoon and have a glass of wine that's a little bit sweet and a little bit watery.
That's the thing I don't like about pinots - they have this watery taste in the mouth that just feels like I'm not getting that Wine-with-a-W experience. You know? Maybe that's just me.
There's a plasticy flavor the next day too - I mean, I think it was there before, but the other flavors mellow over a day and leave some gnarly ones.
Wow - I'm not really selling this, am I? I've bought a bunch of Erath Pinot so it's certainly drinkable. I doubt there will be any wines on this blog that I've bought more bottles of than this one. It's serviceable, and when people who know a little bit about wines come visit I get this because they expect an Oregon Pinot and this one is that thing. And it's fine. It stays in the background during dinner. Serve it with - I dunno - salmon and huckleberry pie so errything seems local and shit. This is a serviceable, work-a-day wine that Gets It Done.
The Pinot Noir Rose is a Rose. If you want to be trendy from two years ago or drink something that's a pink nasty while minimizing the nasty, this is a good choice. Have it with a lunch salad and a sandwich, or with chocolate ice cream on the couch while you watch Frasier to see if it's actually decent, and how it's aged.
Imagine a basic Chardonnay - the baseline, generic kind of white wine. A hint of alcohol, a hint of fruit. Now up the acidity a bit - not with lemon juice but, like, vitamin-C powder to avoid flavors. Not much, just a bit. Make sure there's no tannins or oakyness. Add three drops of red food coloring. That's pretty close to this wine!
Again, I'm not really selling it I don't think. It's fine. Either of these wines are fine. They're good for light conversations and light meals with friends.
The Rose had a little of that sparkliness that whites and whitesish wines get the next day. I like that, personally, but I also like Lima beans so my taste buds are a bit suspect in their desires.
And let's end on the thought that your Wine Snob Friend might be a little suspect in his desires.
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