Before opening the Patricia Green 2008 Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge (13.6%), I enjoyed reading the bottle's label describing where the grapes were sourced (26 acres of mixed clones planted in 1984) and the vineyard manager who oversees their cultivation.

In the glass, this Patricia Green pinot noir was a slightly cloudy garnet red, delivery an earthiness that gave way to red fruit and then to perfumed floral notes. The fruit and floral perfume was then replaced with another level of earth that made this wine very intriguing.

Overall, I liked the texture of this wine and its concentration of fruit. The acidity was a bit understated at first but then revealed itself during different sips with our dinner. Speaking of food, we paired this Oregon pinot noir with roasted chicken thighs with garbanzo beans, cherry tomatoes, and smoked paprika, topped off with Greek yogurt. A tossed, watercress salad and pita bread completed the meal.

We enjoyed the Patricia Green 2008 Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir very much, although I think this might deserve more time in the bottle. It was just over a year ago that the grapes going into this wine were harvested. At $35, I may not stock up on this wine, but would be amenable to picking up another bottle to see how it fares in 6 or 9 months from now.

Related Links
Patricia Green Cellars Web Site