Peter Rosback is one of the most well-known and well-respected winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. Rosback got his start in winemaking in 1985 as a home winemaker experimenting with Pinot Noir. In 1986, he began making Old Vine Zinfandel from The Pines Vineyard. Rosback entered the wine business commercially in 1994 when he and David O’Reilly founded Sineann (pronounced “shuh-nayn”) Winery. O’Reilly went on to start his own Owen Roe Winery, and Rosback has continued with Sineann. Today, Sineann produces between 10,000 and 12,000 cases annually.

Sineann is located in Newberg, Oregon, in the heart of Pinot Noir country. We recently had the opportunity to taste three Oregon Pinot Noirs from Sineann in a blind samples tasting, the 2009 Oregon Pinot Noir, the 2010 Yates Conwill Vineyard Pinot Noir, and the 2010 Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir. We would recommend all three of these Pinots, but we thought that the Oregon and Yates Conwill Pinots definitely stood out. Both were excellent.

I highly encourage you to visit Sineann the next time you are in the Willamette Valley. Their portfolio of wines includes much more than just Pinot. Almost all of the wines are single-vineyard designated from vineyards in Oregon, Washington, California, and even New Zealand. All of Sineann’s wines are sealed with glass closures, with the exception of the Sauvignon Blanc that is closed with a screwcap. Sineann produces a number of wines worth checking out if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list.

2009 Sineann Pinot Noir (Oregon): Deep ruby red. Gorgeous nose with aromas of cinnamon, clove, and red fruit. More red fruit and spice comes through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long finish. A great food wine.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $26 to $35

2010 Sineann Yates Conwill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon): Deep ruby red. Nice nose with molasses and cinnamon aromas. Strawberry, plum, and spice come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $42; Available elsewhere, $34 to $42

2010 Sineann Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon): Medium-deep ruby red. Aromatic with raspberry and barnyard notes on the nose. Red fruits and minerality come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long, chalky finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $42; Available elsewhere, $34 to $50

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