Carabella, Chehalem Mountains (Willamette Valley, Oregon) Pinot Noir 2017

 This is terrific young Pinot, with brightness as well as tannic grip, and a long and exceptionally promising future ahead of it.  It is much spicier in character than overtly fruity (much less syrupy), but with plenty of fruit to counterbalance the oak involved in its aging, this is fresh and formidable at once.  The back label mentions black cherry, and though I’d rather fly solo when writing tasting notes, there’s no disputing that that’s the right call by way of analogy.  Just a little tight when opened, this unwinds impressively over the course of a few hours, but it really best laid down for at least two or three years if you can summon sufficient patience.  By the way, this house also makes an “Estate” Pinot, but sadly, my press sample of the 2017 was corked.  As stylish as the “Inchinnan” is, I’ll be striving to try both whenever I can.