2017 Brooks Winery Rastaban Pinot noir
Brooks Estate Vineyard,
Eola-Amity Hills,
Willamette Valley,
Oregon
13.5% alcohol
Cork closure
600 cases produced
Demeter-certified, biodynamic, organically farmed
Named for one of the dragon’s eyes in the star constellation Draco, Rastaban is made solely with Pinot noir from Brooks Estate Vineyard. If you’ve ever visited the winery and tasting room, it’s perched above the grapevines that grow the Pinot noir that went into this bottle of wine. With an average age of 45 years, these plants have been farmed using organic and biodynamic techniques since 2002 and received official Demeter biodynamic certification almost a decade ago, in 2012.
Made using three clones of Pinot noir– Pommard, 115 & 777– the fruit was handpicked and processed just steps away, where the wine spent 18 months in French oak barrels before bottling. The finished Pinot has abundant red fruit notes with a pleasant tartness and strong tannins. Age in your cellar or decant if you open it in the next couple of years.
Brooks is also a B-corp and member of 1% for the planet, so this is a winery that has doing good as a core value!
Bouquet:
Sweet cherries // gravel dust // eucalyptus // raspberries
Palate:
Red plums // bourbon-soaked cherries // raspberries // tart // prominent tannins // unripe strawberries // sour cherries
Food pairing suggestions:
French onion chicken meatballs // salmon croquettes with dill sauce // eggplant lasagna topped with arugula pesto
Scoop up this wine deal by ordering here:
SRP $65
Be sure to tell us how you like it in the comments!
Don’t miss our other posts about Brooks:
2016 Brooks Extended Tirage Sparkling Riesling
2019 Brooks Winery Amycas white wine
2014 Brooks Winery Sunset View Vineyard Riesling