Today I am tasting the 2009 Porta Reserva Pinot Noir from the Bio Bio Valley region in Chile. This bottle was purchased for under $10 and is made with fruit from the Negrete Estate Vineyard. It is aged in oak for 8 to 10 months.
Color
In the glass this wine is a very light ruby red. You can easily see through it. This isn’t a red flag as pure Pinot Noir based wines are often thin.
Aroma
On the nose I get a fair amount of the oak, but there is also a blackberry component which is nice. In addition, I get substantial notes of tar and burnt wood. It doesn’t have an explosive nose, but it is interesting. None of the sulfur notes some Pinot Noir wines show. If you are put off by the poopy smells of some Pinot Noirs (I am not), then this wine will not affect your sensitivity to that aroma.
Flavor
On the attack there is a subtle strawberry flavor mixed with a hint of red cherry. The mid-palate shows a lot more cherries and the finish is average with some decent tannins. This is not a complex wine and is on the lighter-bodied side. It is not over-oaked. I think the winemaker has done a good job of letting the grapes show us what they have to offer and has not over extracted it. This wine will go very well with pork and chicken dishes.
Rating
I think this is a solid wine for pairing with a meal. For me it is a bit plain for me to get too excited about it. It might match your palate better. I rate it 85 points.
