Wine & Spirits:  Rated as Exceptional examples of their type. "This savory pinot is so smoky at the outset, with accents of game and wild herbs, that the brilliant freshness of its red cherry fruit almost takes you by surprise, juicing up the middle palate and creating a fine tension. It has the stuffing to age, or serve now with sea trout." Apr 2011

Winery:  "Opening earthy aromas of smoke and mushroom are complemented by lighter notes of fresh melon, almond, citrus and red cherry. The sip has a sweet entry of raspberry and blackberry leading into flavors of tangy cherry and dark plum, with hints of spice and molasses. The medium bodied mouthfeel is smooth and lively with nicely balanced acidity and light, round tannins. The finish is complex with flavors of honeydew and black currant layered over silky tannins and a lingering sweetness."

Really Cool Facts: Jim Bernau, winery founder and winegrower, planted every one of the vines on the South Block in 1986 when the vineyard was founded, according to Duska Jensen, Winery Ambassador at Willamette Valley Vineyards. They are 100% organically grown, and have a lot to do with the superb final product which is the South Block Pinot Noir.

Wired For Wine:  The savory, full flavors of this Willamette Valley Vineyards South Block Pinot Noir make it a real standout among Pinots. Open your first deliciously aromatic bottle and serve it up with a big platter of fresh tomato bruschetta. The lovely red and black berries, wild herb and game notes, seductive smokiness, and exquisite partnership of perfect acidity and gentle tannins of this South Block allow it to work well with a myriad of foods from lean beef and lamb, to chicken, salmon and duck. If you're serving a first course, we say make it linguine with a hearty wild mushroom sauce with just a touch of cream. It will bring out the earthy side of this Willamette Valley Vineyard vixen. For an entree, we must recommend the classic Pinot pairing: salmon. Grill it and give it a lovely soy-ginger glaze. Another terrific choice is roast or rotisserie duck (make sure that skin is crisp!) with a sweet-tart cherry sauce on the side to access the gorgeous fruit in this silky, single vineyard red. You can't go wrong if you finish off the meal with one more bottle and your favorite goat cheese accompanied by a crusty peasant bread. Sounds good to us; when do we eat??! 

Size:  750ml; cork
Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol:  13.4%
Region:   Willamette Valley, Oregon
Limited Production:  791 dozen made