This is what I have been hoping for in the 2008 line up of Oregon pinot noirs, a wine that balances fruit, earth and acid in an effective manner. The Brooks 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.4%) does just that. In the glass, the '08 Brooks pinot was a clear, ruby color delivering that delightful combination of red fruit and earth that I love. On the palate, this wine provides a terrific mouthfeel, with well balanced strawberry and cherry fruit, acidity, and earth/mineral elements. Tannins were evident, but not overbearing. We paired this wine with homemade mac n cheese, a...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:59 AM | Permalink

This Oregon riesling offered a delicious pairing with a spicy, lamb kefta dinner one night. In fact, it became the Brooks 2007 Riesling Willamette Valley became an instant hit with our meal, offering acidity to cut the rich lamb with sweetness to cool the heat. In the glass, the Brooks riesling was a clear, light straw color delivering a slight petrol signature followed by distinct notes of wet stones. There was an appealing minerality to this crisp, light wine, one that carried itself through a long finish. The Brooks (11.2%) offers a style in riesling that is a clear...

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Posted by Thad W. at 02:17 PM | Permalink

The Brooks 2007 Pinot Noir is an interesting wine, for it is one of the lightest Oregon pinots from the '07 vintage I have tasted thus far. It also one with the lowest alcohol tasted to date. This is a wine that screams for food, for it could easily be dismissed as a thin or watery pinot if tasted on its own or even at the beginning of a meal. In the glass, the Brooks is a very light red, with ever so slight cloudiness to it. On the nose, I picked up muted fruit, while notes of raspberry...

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Posted by Thad W. at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

In a recent column, Matt Kramer of The Oregonian and Wine Spectator, suggested that consumers "snap up 2006 pinot noir soon; '07s probably will be thin". In his feature, Matt highlights a single Oregon pinot noir from the 2006 vintage, suggesting this be the yardstick for measuring the quality of the 2007 vintage: Brooks Pinot Noir "Janus" Willamette Valley 2006: With the preceding remarks in mind, let me be blunt: You want to snap up the remaining 2006 pinot noirs from Oregon while they're still around. The reason is simple, if painful: Oregon's 2007 pinot noirs are emerging as rather...

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Posted by Thad W. at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)