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The Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is a $12.99 Costco Exclusive. This is a wine produced for Costco by Precept Wine and Spirits, a large northwest wine company that controls 4,000 acres of vineyards and has an excellent brand and retail wine portfolio.
The winemaker is Sarah Cabot who is the head winemaker for Precepts Oregon wines. Sarah Cabot previously made boutique $65 Oregon Pinot Noir wines. She is now making large-production wines that have money and time constraints and here is an interesting article where she details the differences between mass-produced and small-lot wine.
The Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is made at the 12th and Maple Wine Company, a custom wine company in Dundee, Oregon. Precept leases space the the workers there do the production and Sarah gives the orders.
Sometimes with these store-brand wines from top growing regions selling at a bargain price, you wonder how the wine ended up as a store brand. Here we get an inside look at the details, the winemaker has to work fast and can not afford mistakes or problems. Time-consuming production processes are avoided, and risky but rewarding details are not on the menu.
This is a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir made by a top winemaker, but made with safe and fast production. Sarah Cabot said that if you make a wine where time and money are no problem it is easy to make a terrific wine. She is most proud of a $15 wine, Primarius, that hits well above its price tag. The alcohol content is 13%.
The Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is a shiny, see-through garnet red. The nose is cherry and spice, herbs, mushrooms, black pepper, exotic tea, and cranberry. The Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is a well-balanced Pinot Noir with subtle, evolving flavors.
This Pinot Noir tastes like cherry with sharp spice, strawberry, herbs, a hint of cream, and dried strawberry. The mid-palate sow orange zest, tart cranberry, a little pull from dusty tannins, and a sweet raspberry. The spice provided an excellent contrast to the fruit.
The acidity allows the flavors to unfold and give this Pinot good length.
The Summary
- The Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 is an excellent Pinot, it may not be a small batch boutique Pinot Noir but it sure is tasty.
- If you want to find out what Willamette Vally Pinot Noir is all about, this is a good place to start.
