2004 White Rose Nekaia Pinot Noir

We opened up this pinot noir (another from our trip to Oregon's Dundee Hills and Willamette Valley a few years ago) to go with some lamb chops I made on Sunday. White Rose has an unusual tasting room at its vineyards that sits atop a hill and looks almost like a medieval great hall in miniature. But don't let this nod to the sci-fi/fantasy convention set fool you. The wine is very good. The 2004 Nekaia has bright rhubarb and cherry notes and just enough tannins to let you know the wine is there. It is a wine meant for food, particularly some mild game (yes, I know that's almost an oxymoron) or lamb. The wine is tart but not thin and has a medium finish.