If you recognize the name “Bryn Mawr” then you are a very specific type of person. Option number one: from the Philly region and recognize it as (1) a posh mainline suburb or (2) the liberal arts college in said town. Option number two: you are a Quaker and know about the utopian Brynmawr Experiment that happened in 1929. The final option is that you really dig Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Or maybe you are all three, which is a cool hat trick. The winery is named “Bryn Mawr” for the Welsh term for “high ground.” Apt for a vineyard located in the Eola Amity Hills outside of Salem, Oregon.
This bottling is a great example of modern Willamette Pinot Noirs. Medium-bodied with a core of warm spices and espresso. On the nose, there is juniper berry and cherry compote, with just a bare hint of fresh roses. The palate is lush and appealing with very ripe red fruit that veers towards strawberry preserves. The oak is balanced but very much present in all aspects of the wine, including the chocolate-and-spiced-pear accented finish.
Wine Rating: 90 Points
Pricing: You can pick this up for $20 in Pennsylvania, but prices range up to $30 in other parts of the US.
