2009 Brooks Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

2009 Brooks Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

I picked up this bottle of Brooks pinot noir at K and L the other day on their recommendation. We don’t always like their “staff picks” but this wine was interesting and, it turns out, worth seeking out.

Brooks is in Oregon, of course. Founded in 1998 by Jimi Brooks, sadly he died in 2004 from an aortic aneurysm at the very young age of 38. Now his teenage son, Pascal, owns Brooks but it sounds like due to his youth, currently Jimi’s sister, Janie Brooks Heuck, “volunteers” to oversee the winery and a family friend, Chris Williams, is in charge of wine production.

The Brooks site makes Jimi sound like a character. Apparently before starting Brooks, he spent a lot of time traveling in France, learning about the culture and wine making techniques. The site says that he lived a “bohemian” life. I like the way that sounds. Eventually he returned to his native Oregon where he quickly developed a name in the wine industry.

The focus at Brooks is on pinot noir and Riesling. They practice organic and biodynamic viticulture. Beginning in 2008 they’ve their own winery. Does that mean that they were working through a cooperative before, like Eric Kent does now?

2009 Brooks Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: The label says that it is blended from various pinot noir clones from multiple vineyards in the Willamette Valley. The wine was a transparent red with brownish edges in the glass. We detected a nose of tree mushroom with lots of woodsy and musky scents. Not hugely fruit forward, it had some raspberry and dark cherry notes. Mostly we were struck by pepper, tobacco, coffee and toffee caramel. It had medium body with a longish finish. This is a good, quite drinkable wine. It wasn’t quite as complex and intriguing as Calera, but inviting nonetheless.