Review: Proud Pour 2016 Sauvignon Blanc and 2014 Pinot Noir

By Christopher Null | March 20, 2018 |

Over time, one becomes naturally skeptical when booze brands say they are doing something good for humanity. Whether it is saving tigers or supporting veterans, you get positively exhausted by all the positive things alcohol purveyors are doing for society.

Well, let’s not hold that against Proud Pour, another charity-focused wine producer whose two wines going toward very different initiatives. A sauvignon blanc supports the ocean, restoring oyster beds in various U.S. estuaries. The pinot noir plants wildflowers to support bee habitats. In case you forget the messaging, all the good you’re doing by drinking the wine is made crystal clear on the label.

These wines are vegan and either organic (the sauvignon blanc) or sustainably grown (the pinot noir). Thoughts on both wines follow.

2016 Proud Pour Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino County – Lightly tropical but amply acidic, this is a perfectly workable sauvignon blanc, crisp with citrus but tempered by a slight herbal, lemongrass-like character. The finish is short but cleansing, with grapefruit notes lingering for a few extra seconds. B+ / $18

2014 Proud Pour Pinot Noir Willamette Valley – The wine is light in body, but slightly peppery, with notes of blackberry, tea leaf, and baking spice all leading to a moderately acidic finish that hints, intriguingly, at chocolate. More complicated than it seems at first blush; give it some time in glass to reveal its charms. B+ / $20

proudpour.com