Wine of the Week: 2015 Cameron Hughes Lot 565 Rogue River Valley Pinot Noir

Oregon pinot noirs are justifiably famous. With their elegant fruit and savory notes, the wines are often considered to be more “Burgundian” in style than, say, a lot of California pinot. The truth, however, is that Oregon pinot noir styles can be just as diverse as those from California.

The part of Oregon that’s best known for pinot is the Willamette Valley, south of Portland. But pinot is grown elsewhere in the state, too. Which brings me to this unbelievable value from Cameron Hughes Wines.

The Cameron Hughes Lot 565 Pinot Noir is from the Rogue River Valley, Oregon’s southernmost wine-growing area. It’s around Medford (or, for Shakespeare fans, Ashland). The area is best known for varieties that do well in warmer climates – grapes like cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and syrah – but the western end of the appellation, toward the Pacific, is home to some cooler-climate varieties, like pinot noir.

This pinot would not really be considered Burgundian – no savory nuances of forest floor, for example. But it has a wonderful purity of fruit – lively cherry and raspberry – and a supple texture. And at just $15, it’s a steal. Your best bet is to buy it online; order it by clicking here.

 

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