HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. One of the best surprises of the 2005 vintage. Sun-ripened blackberries and milk chocolate aromas are the gateway to a silky, creamy, elegant dark berry and plum core that sweetens perfectly as the finish unfolds. Fantastic value.
Anam Cara's Estate Pinot Noir is an elegant, full bodied wine with soft tannins. On the nose there are hazelnuts, milk chocolate and warm black fruits. The palate shows ripe plum and black raspberry tones and the same interesting minerality as previous vintages which would indicate a unique characteristic of this young vineyard. 11 months in French oak barrels (25% new).
The 2005 Estate Pinot noir received a gold medal at the 2007 NorthWest Wine Summit.
Rusty Gaffney's "Pinotfile" email newsletter reviewed the Estate 05: "...this made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. It was soft and elegant, but packed with charming red and black Pinot fruits. Most striking was the peacock tail finish which I rarely encounter." Rusty Gaffney: PinotFile Vol 6, Issue 36
The prestigious Burghound Website reviewed the 2005 Pinot: "This is pretty and elegant though slightly riper [than the Heather's] with a touch of briar to go with the red berry fruit aromas that marry into the rich, round and nicely full flavors that are very pinot in character, all wrapped in a finish of good detail and length. Interestingly, while there is more concentration and depth, the mouthfeel is distinctly different from the Heather's. A qualitative choice. 89/2009+" Burghound.com. October 2007. Comments by Allen Meadows
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
From the winery:
Located on a southeast facing slope between the towns of Sherwood and Newberg in Oregon's northern Willamette Valley, our vineyard comprises 28 acres of Pinot noir, one acre of Riesling and one acre of Gwertzraminer. The first two blocks of Pinot noir, the Pommard and 667 clones which made up the 2003 Pinot, were planted in 2000.
Today the Pinot noir includes five blocks, each with a different Dijon clone (114, 115 and 777) providing the best blending options for quality wine. Our 2004 Pinot noir will be the first wine to be blended from all five clones.
During the day we work in the vineyard, Nick as "tractor-man" and Sheila supervises. Our vineyard manager, Buddy Beck, keeps an eye on our progress, and winemaker Aron Hess guides us through the wonderful art of winemaking.
And in the evening we sit on the deck and watch the vines grow.
