Winery:  "Brilliant saturated clear garnet from rim to the center.  Aromas of bing cherries, ripe raspberries, blueberries, red currants, minerals, tobacco, game and Indian spices jump from the glass when the wine is poured.  In time the wine opens to reveal notes of juicy red fruits, beeswax, cloves, sweet oak and more savory/musky notes of crushed herbs, tea and clean earth.

Deep red fruit flavors cascade over the palate on the attack and lead to a lush, deep mid-palate.  Showing the power and concentration of the 2006 vintage, the wine hits its stride on the finish.  Strong structure from the ripe tannins and depth of fruit give great length and focus to the finish.  While large scaled and weighty, the 2006 Rex Hill Willamette Valley Pinot Noir still shows the integrity and balance that has become the hallmark of classic Oregon Pinot Noir and that will allow it to become more complex over the next 10 years."

Wired For Wine:  This yummy Rex Hill half-bottle is the perfect vehicle to transform an otherwise ordinary dinner into a special event.  Start with an appetizer paired with a lighter, white wine, and then continue to build the meal with this deep, delicious Pinot.  It is a truly versatile wine, which allows terrific flexibility depending on your preferences.  Salmon is our first choice for a pairing, and we hear that it is the required local pairing in Oregon!  Because this Pinot Noir is great with dishes that pick up on its inherently spicy flavors, we would do salmon on the grill with a soy, ginger, sake sauce.  A grilled pork loin glazed with pomegranate and orange is another wonderful alternative.  The sweet-salt combination of the char from the grill and the glaze is ideal with this Willamette Valley gem.  Smoked and grilled foods will play up the sweet oak in the Rex Hill beautifully.  A lighter choice of entree would be a smoked chicken salad with fennel and a Dijon vinaigrette.  This Pinot's earthy side guarantees that is will be a hit with vegetables.  If you're not pairing the Rex Hill with an entree, it is fantastic with a French Cabecou Feuille.  It's a small disk of goat cheese that's been dipped in plum brandy, and sprinkled with coarse peppercorns before being wrapped in chestnut leaves to mature.  The flavor is smooth and creamy with aromatic brandy flavors and a tangy bite.  Trust us, you won't be able to stop at just one!

Size:  375ml
Vintage:  2006
Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Ageing:  9-10 months in French oak
Alcohol:  13.5%
Region:  Willamette Valley, Oregon