I recently tasted what I think is the best Pinot Noir from Oregon out there:

St. Innocent 2003 Temperance Hill Vinyard Pinot Noir

We bought this wine while visiting my brother-in-law in Eugene. He took us up to a Memorial Day event at this small winery and we were blown away. I think St. Innocent is one of, if not the best Oregon Pinot producers. It’s small compared to many Oregon producers, and not widely distributed, but you can find it on the internet, at some specialty wine stores, and order it direct from the winery.

Some Notes:

This wine is bright and floral right away, with two intertwined layers - first the bright fruits like currant, red cherry, and blackberry that are common in Pinot, but then this distinct undertone of earthy, nutty flavors and even a bit of green peppercorn. It was perfect with grilled quail and I think would go very well with chicken or pork as well. 95.

At $22 this is such a bargain for a fantastic wine. And I have a feeling it will continue to get better for a few years to come.