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Good morning?

Here we are on Good Friday, commemorating one of the most gruesome and horrific sacrifices in history, and I’m about to blabber away about Pinot Noir. The cup of wine that Jesus said represented his shed blood had now been literally poured out in his own death. There is something heavy and solemn about this sacred holiday that makes one feel a little off kilter, and it feels completely foreign to talk about celebrating on a day like this. Even my coffee demands to be drunk black today because anything else seems wrong.

But the end is not unknown, and there exists the hopeful realization that in just two days it will be Resurrection Sunday. Death doesn’t have the final say and the great suffering borne out of love accomplishes its purpose.

With that all kinds of fooding and feasting will commence, so it’s up to me to prepare you for such things and get you your wine recs in time. 🙂

I gabbed with you last year about the delights of Pinot Noir and Easter fare, and since my Pinot Noir recommendation cup runneth over, we are circling back to the same leitmotif with two new ones for 2024.

These two wines stole my heart last year at the McMinnville Food + Wine Classic, and while I gave them some brief lip service in my review of last year’s event, I have not spilled all the exclusive juicy details… until now!

Pinot Noir is one of the most food-friendly red wines available, thanks to its usually light to medium body and fruit/acid/tannin profile. These two elegant, refined, and beautiful Pinots are both worthy of a fine Easter meal (or whatever the occasion may be). They are fantastic on their own, but they are the awesome sauce to pork, lamb, duck, chicken, turkey, beef, fish, and vegetable/grain mains. You name it, it tends to work great with it!

Without further ado, here are two excellent Pinot Noirs for your consideration:

Patton Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Lange Estate Vineyard
Dundee Hills AVA
$60/bottle
14.7% ABV
Per the bottle: “Planted in 2004, the Jory soils from this high elevation Dundee Hills site produce grapes that yield vibrant and aromatic wines. Partial whole cluster fermentation, combined with naturally vibrant acidity, gives this wine structure to balance the ripe and luscious profile.”
Absolutely enchanting and divine, is what I call this Pinot. And no wonder, as the grapes herald from one of my top favorite Willamette Valley AVAs (Dundee Hills). It’s got good acid so it makes for a good food-pairing Pinot. Do yourself a favor and pick up this wine, which boasts a “lush red fruited nose” and a “broad and silky palate.”
https://www.pattonvalley.com/

Domaine de Broglie 2019 Pinot Noir
(N.B.: The winery is now known as Domaine Lumineux but they are still selling some of their wines with the former Domaine de Broglie labels)
A Francis Coppola Wine | Clone 777 | Domaine de Broglie Vineyard, Dundee Hills

• $62/bottle
• ABV 13.4%
• Medium garnet color
• Bouquet that unfolds exquisitely in the mouth
• Cherry, strawberry, chocolate, earth, mushroom, tea, and some subtle anise/licorice
• Acidity is there and just right
• Fruit is present but gentle and balanced
• Long-lasting finish
• From the bottle: “Clone 777 is known for producing low yielding, compact clusters that lead to rich, dark fruit flavors and notes of spicy leather on the velvety finish.”
• My tasting notes at the time: “Wow! Heck yes. Awesome!”

Yet another Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, but what a stellar one! I clearly have my favorites. 🙂 (I will delve into some other really great Oregon Pinot AVAs in the future). Among other accolades, this particular wine won “Best of Show” and “Best Red Wine” at the 2023 McMinnville Wine Competition. I knew I had encountered something truly special when I first sipped it.
https://domainelumineux.com/

Ahhhhhhhh….

So there you have it: primo Pinot. The fancy sort that I find quite irresistible and perfect for opening up on special occasions. Perfect for celebrating the greatest universe-altering day in human history: when grace conquered sin and life conquered death.

Have you sipped either of these wines or others from Patton Valley Wines or Domaine Lumineux? What are you drinking for Easter? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Spring and Happy Easter. 🌷