An under $20 distraction for hard times

Not to be cliché, but this week’s blog is a recommendation for an Oregon pinot, a completely overused term that would be nauseating if it weren’t also accurate. Oregon does make a lot of pinot noir, and because of that, vineyards push each other to produce good stuff.

Last week, Spatula Diaries went budget (under $7) to give everyone a decent house wine without having to dip into retirement, but since your golden years fund looks like it’ll be worthless anyway, here’s a bottle to celebrate nihilism and excess. OK, it’s not THAT expensive (around $17), but it does feel celebratory, and it did put me in a good mood, despite the prevailing sense that America is now firmly in the po’ house.

From Belle Vallée Cellars in Willamette Valley, the 2006 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir is smooth and balanced, with good structure and really interesting fruit, making it really food-friendly. I picked up this bottle from Maxwell’s on Perkins on a complete lark, and only because it was $5 cheaper than the bottle my husband had in his hand and had a decent-looking label. But, I really liked it, and upon further research I know why. Wine Spectator and Decanter both recommended it last year, the former for its value and “tomato leaf-scented, ripe currant and raspberry flavors,” and the latter for its being “young, racy and ready to drink.”

Drink now or through 2010, adds WS. Carpe diem, I say.