Omero, Iliad Pinot Noir, 2010, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Another killer value ($26 in the tasting room) and surprisingly bold bright Pinot from a cooler vintage.  The nose just sung with wet rock, maple bar frosting, strawberry jam, and a touch of liquid smoke.  The Iliad has a dark crimson brown color.  Tart yet sweet cranberry and juicy blueberry bounce around with each other on the front end of the palate.  A subtle bitterness contrasts with the fruit on the mid-palate.  It’s definitely pretty full bodied for an Oregon Pinot but yet still retains those high tone flavors and subtle acidity of the varietal.  It’s more lively, complex, and complete than the de-Classified.  Tasting these two 2010 wines, it goes to show that you can’t judge every wine but what the critics say about an overall vintage.  Even with tricky weather, good winemakers will find a way to make good wine.