Duck Pond Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2020

An exuberant and overtly fruity expression of pinot noir, this wine quickly pumps up notes of strawberry and ripe raspberry — rather sweet up top — before evoking elements of licorice candy and some dark chocolate later down the road.

While atypical of pinot noir — from any region — it’s got enough chewy fruit character to make for a “crushable” experience — and make you forget that it was supposed to be pinot.