Penner-Ash Pinot Noir, Willematte Valley ****+ $57

First, before you freak out about the price, $57 is not out of line for a fantastic Oregon Pinot Noir. And second, we managed to make a deal with the distributer by buying way too much of it, so that we've managed to get the price down to $42 which for a world class Pinot Noir is chicken feed (and is less that what you'd pay if you bought directly from the winery). And make no mistake, this wine is world class. It has the lush red cherry of a new world Pinot Noir but with the chocolate and spice that adds incredible complexity leading to a long an luxurious finish of vanilla. The Wine Spectator mode it one of it's Top 100 of 2009, the Wine Advocate gave it 90 points and Steven Tanzer gave it 92 points. This wine is an experience not to be missed.