The 23rd annual International Pinot Noir Celebration ended today with a whirlwind tasting panel at Park Kitchen. Jancis Robinson, the renowned author, educator and Master of Wine, was this year's IPNC host. She finished her weekend with the Oregon Wine Board tasting over fifty wines in less than three hours, judging their character and ageability.Of course, pinot noir is Oregon's most celebrated wine, but the panel examined Chardonnay and Reisling as well. It was among the aged whites that I was most impressed. We tasted some surprising dry reislings from Amity 1988 and 89, and enjoyed Chehalem's 96 Reisling and 97 Chardonnay. With vintages spanning from 1979 to 2006, I have to say that after tasting little more than a dozen wines, I could only judge the quality of my intoxication! Indeed, it does take a professional to evaluate, or even be able to taste so many wines in one sitting.
