R. Stuart "Autograph" Pinot Noir 2006 - Great Deal!

R. Stuart & Company

"Autograph"

Pinot Noir 2006

We just learned about a great new price on one of our favorite Oregon Pinot Noirs, R. Stuart & Company "Autograph" Pinot Noir 2006!

When this first hit Maine, the price was $35-40 a bottle. Then, it came down to $31.99 and then $29.99. Now, it is $17.99!

Why?

The slow economy.

Wine above $30 is barely selling anywhere in the world. And, wine above $20 is moving much more slowly than in previous years. Wineries need the cashflow, so they are dropping prices as the new vintages come to market and the older vintage is still in the warehouse. And, this vintage (2006) is still young - the one waiting in the warehouse is the 2007 and it's still a baby....not even close to being ready to drink. The '06 is just coming into its own!

Rob Stuart was here in late January and we did a tasting with him at the Hilton Garden Inn. He's as nice a guy as you'd ever want to meet and as engaging & unprententious as can be! And passionate about making fabulous, hand-crafted wines!

Rob, a longtime veteran of the Oregon wine world, was formerly the winemaker at Erath Vineyards. He started his own winery in early 2002. Rob has a degree in biochemistry from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in New York. He worked in chemistry briefly and then started in the wine industry at Hans Kornell (one of the California pioneer winemakers) in Napa valley. Then he joined Valley View Vineyards (Southern Oregon's original winery in the 1850's) and after that on to Staton Hills in Yakima, Washington where he made wine for ten years. Finally, Rob returned to Oregon in 1994 as the winemaker at Erath Vineyards - working for and with Oregon legend AND PIONEER Dick Erath. Now, he makes the wines he loves: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and sparkling wine! We're thrilled to be able to sell this to you at such a great price!

R. Stuart & Co. Autograph Pinot Noir 2006 (Oregon) Reg. $39.99 Sale $17.99 - The wine Rob Stuart calls his best! Intensely flavored and yet, still restrained. Aromas & flavors of black cherry, chocolate, dusty earth, violets, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, lavender, ginger & baking spices. Grapes blended from 5 vineyards - Daffodil Hill, Temperance Hill, Elkhorn Ridge, Goldschmidt and Weber. Unfiltered and unfined. Aged 10 months in new to 5th use oak barrels. When to drink - now through 2012. Food pairing - salmon, duck, tuna, lamb, beef, etc. Decant for an hour.