2021 Wine Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Review

I started the year determined to keep track of every wine I tasted. My journal is full of notes of 98-ish% of every wine I tasted throughout the year. Part of me wishes I had tasting notes for every single one, but there is something to be said about simply enjoying wine. My top ten list comprises wines that stood out to me over the year. I could easily look over every wine in the journal and systematically compromise a list. Instead, I chose a much more heartfelt approach and went off of memory. At first, the list was over ten, and “knocking” wines off the list felt unfair and mean. I enjoy the people and stories behind the wine a lot! I present to you my top 10 list of 2021. 🍷 Wine : 2016 Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir Earlier this year, I was hunting for a vineyard with old vines that isn’t all that well known. Somehow I stumbled upon the Bednarik Vineyard, which took me down a rabbit hole of producers of the vineyard. Hundred Suns, Project M, and Martin Woods came up for me in early Spring. A few weeks back, I became aware of Andrew Rich doing a Bednarik Pinot. I had the chance to talk with Grant Coulter about the vineyard, and the vineyard sounds fabulous. But, come to find out, I needed an older vineyard for the project. I was still fascinated with the vineyard and purchased a nice collection of Bednarik Pinots. In October, I finally decided to open the 2016 Hundred Suns bottle, and I was blown away. Five years old, and it is still young. Lovely earth tones, with dark fruit integrated with silky smooth tannins. Part of me is sad I opened it, but another part of me feels satisfied to have gotten to know what is possible. There is a reason Hundred Suns sells out so quickly. . . . 📰 Want to know more about Oregon Wine and Wineries sign up for my weekly newsletter. Link in the Bio! 🍷