Brandborg Vineyard & Winery, Elkton (Umpqua Valley, Oregon) White Pinot Noir 2018

 While making White Pinot Noir has become a viable option for many when dealing with recent smoke taint, Brandborg, along with a few other Oregon winemakers, has been making one for several years.  Harvesting the fruit in mid-October at optimal ripeness, Brandborg ferments in neutral oak barrels and puncheons, and then ages the wine “sur lies” before bottling it a year after the harvest.  This extra effort does result in a wine that exceeded my expectations.  It displays lively, fresh strawberry aroma with some secondary floral notes of honeysuckle.  Medium bodied, it offers berry flavors with a little citrus and comes to a rounded finish.  Dry with a rich mouthfeel, it is a white wine that is also food-friendly.