This pinot pioneer winery was started by Dick Erath in the early 70’s. I visited Erath early in my wine career and had the fortune of staying at their winery guesthouse while in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. On the Saturday we stayed there, the toilet backed up and Dick Erath himself (a true rock star legend at this point) showed up to fix it. Jaws dropped, swooning ensued and a pride overcame me. You have GOT to respect that. That was ten years ago, and, in 2006 when Ste. Michelle Wine Estates purchased them (making Dick a mega millionaire), I wondered… worried even… if the quality of the wines could be sustained by a larger entity. It has and does.
At an affordable price of around $20, this wine delivers true value and quality. The grapes are sourced from throughout the state of Oregon, thus the “Oregon” designation on the label. It has well-defined and upfront acidity as a good pinot should, bright red cherry and strawberry flavors, oak spiciness and dusty mushroom earthiness. Light-bodied and easy on the palate.
I liked the 2007 Erath pinot as much as the 2008, so if you see either on a shelf, grab it and growl.
Sweetness: 1 out of 10
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Price: $19- $22
Occasion: This was a sample sent to me from the winery.
Food pairing: Pizza with mushroom and pepperoni, sausage-stuffed portobello mushrooms (recipe)
Availability: High-end grocery stores and some fine wine shops
Locally in Tampa at Carrollwood Fine Wines and Spirits and at B-21.com
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