For summer, I’ve chosen to highlight this wine for a couple of reasons. On one hand, you’ve got a wine that is a great deal with some serious street cred, and on the other hand, you get a 100-percent Willamette pinot noir for a song. The Drouhin family has been making top-notch Burgundy for decades, and makes world renowned pinot noir and chardonnay. They have another not-so-new venture right around the same latitude in Willamette Valley, Oregon, where they have continued with great success concerning these two grape varietals. However, they know not everyone is looking for $50 red wine. A sleeper of a deal is the Cloudline pinot noir, which I would market as a “second” wine (a very common practice). I highly recommend this entry level pinot noir. It’s got French oak, great fruit flavors, and it’s light and easy drinking.
Kevin Castellano is the general manager of Wayzata Wine & Spirits and a lake-area wine and liquor expert.
