I like wines that have bold to outrageous tannins. After all when I blended my Two Coasts wine I used 20 percent Tannat to 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon to help increase the tannins. While on a recent tour of Willamette Valley wineries in Oregon, I wondered if there were Pinot Noirs that offered bold tannins. One of the benefits of touring wineries in the Willamette Valley is that many of the wineries produce several Pinot Noirs. I was able to taste the lighter style Pinots as well as some of the more full-bodied Pinots. However did I discover any with the level of tannins that I like?

The first Pinot I tasted that had more than light or mild tannins was at Eyrie Vineyards in McMinnville. I remember my surprise when I tasted the 2008 Black Cap Pinot Noir realizing the degree of tannins. This Pinot Noir can be paired with many more foods than salmon or chicken. The wine also had a lingering aftertaste. The next day of wine tasting brought us to Archery Summit in Dayton. Their 2007 Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir offered a dark ruby color with cherry and spice on the aroma and taste. But best of all were the bold tannins on the fruity finish. This wine was close to my Cab/Tannat blend in terms of tannins. The wine opens up a whole new food spectrum of pairings. Archery Summit also produces other Pinot Noirs with noticeable tannins. Their 2007 Red Hills Estate had bold tannins and one would also notice the tannins on the 2007 Arcus Estate and the 2007 Premier Cuvée.

Not everyone likes tannins. However I certainly do and I like wines that are produced with bold tannins. Pinot Noir is a versatile grape and can be made into a wine with bold tannins.

Cheers,
Terry