Red Electric Pinot Noir The Pulse Armstrong Vineyard Ribbon Ridge 2016

Pinot people! This is a project that any serious Oregon pinot lover can get behind -- Douglas and Michelle Ackerman of Armstrong Vineyard, and John Grochau (Erath, Brick House, Grochau and many more). It’s named for the commuter train that ran in the early 20th century through what is now winegrowing paradise. Armstrong Vineyard is 16 acres, planted in 2007, and has been farmed organically since 2013. It’s located in the picturesque AVA of Ribbon Ridge of the Willamette Valley. This is ground zero for world-class pinot with luminaries like Beaux Freres and Patricia Green right next door. Fruit from this vineyard has been used in Ayres, Seven of Hearts, Native Flora and Cameron.

Drinking like a Burgundian dream for $25! We suggest tearing open the box the moment it arrives and seeing for yourself! The wine is utterly delicious at $50 -- at half that??!! “Case me!” Wildly perfumey, with lush dark red fruits, black tea, toasted spices and dried herbs, and that all-important line of acidity and minerality from the sedimentary (Willakenzie) soils. The energy and tension here is what takes this wine to the next level, with just fine grained tannins and a long earthy finish. Just 9 barrels were made with native yeasts and about 18% whole cluster fermenation.

Agreed! SO GOOD. Will fly out of here at this superb price!

PAIRING IDEAS: If you have time, make a Beef Wellington. Pinot LOVES mushrooms, and the mushroom duxelle/truffles that coats the meat in this dish is perfection.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: Check out the California Honeydrops. Seen them live a few times, and they are a fun, New Orleans-sounding, bluesey band that gets the blood pumping, and they got their start by busking in train stations in Oakland. Check ‘em out wherever you get your tunes!