Here we have a 2009 pinot noir from the renowned Willamette Valley in Oregon, which costs $15 at Total Wine.
Bias alert! I don’t usually like light pinot noir. This review should be taken with that grain of salt.
Kudos is made by NW Wine Co and has lots going for it: it smells, and tastes, like cherries, with rose petals and dry earth. But it mostly smells and tastes like a natural, untainted, honest pinot noir. It does almost nothing wrong. The cherry is balanced by a nice tartness and moderate acidity. The price is a bargain for any drinkable Oregon pinot. Somebody on Snooth called it “astonishing.” The modest 13.9% alcohol content means it’s not fire-breathing. And it’s far more interesting than most bargain pinots. If you enjoy light pinot noir, I think you’ll like Kudos, and maybe even love it.
On the down side, the fact that it’s a light pinot noir means that I can’t stop dwelling on its leanness, its translucence, its thin, light, not-heavy — OK yes, I do need counseling, but I just wish it were more medium-bodied. I preferred Mark West Santa Lucia Highlands, reviewed here, at this price level. Also Kudos isn’t very complex. But it’s much more interesting than a Mirassou or a Hob Nob. Finally, I feel that Oregon pinots are overpriced these days. But in today’s market, Kudos clearly IS a great value for an Oregon pinot.
Since I liked it despite my bias against its light style, and because it’s an easy-drinking Willamette Valley pinot at a bargain price, Kudos 2009 pinot noir is:
Recommended.
Tip: Mine was better on day 2 (cork in place overnight).
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