Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot noir 06

winery: Belle Pente

Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot noir 06 - an exceptional Pinot noir in the Burgundian style, Brian continues to offer some of the best priced highest quality Pinots in Oregon.

Tanzer 92 Points!" Vivid red. Sexy aromas of strawberry and raspberry preserves, potpourri and incense. Lithe, finely etched red berry and bitter cherry flavors are impressively precise, gaining in sweetness with aeration. Finishes sweet, with a strong echo of candied rose. Very nicely balanced pinot."

The 2006 vintage was a "defining moment" for our young estate vineyard. The 4 vineyard blocks planted in 1998, which contribute the majority of the fruit that goes into this bottling, really came into their own in 2006, producing what one of our well known neighboring winemakers described as an "archetypal" Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir!

Although we started producing this wine in 2002, this is the first year that it is really living up to it's potential and delivering on the promise of our terrific site. The nose is deep and complex, with herbal notes of thyme, anise, and lavender accenting the wild black cherry and ripe blackberry aromas. On the palate, the wine is smooth and suave, structured yet lively, and impeccably balanced.

As a "typical" 2006, this wine is immensely pleasurable now, and will reveal even more charms after a few years in the cellar. No longer merely a junior version of our Estate Reserve, this bottling has attained it's own identity and character. - the winery

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Previous Vintage tasting notes

2004 vintage notes: Wine Spectator 89 points: "Light and fragrant, appealing for its delicate cherry and strawberry fruit, lingering softly on the deft finish. Drink now through 2011. 426 cases made." -HS

The winery says: "The wines from this section of the vineyard tend to show flavors and aromas on the "red side" of the black fruit spectrum: cranberry, black raspberry, and plum. This 2004 is quite forward and coats the palate with sweet, silky, sappy fruit. It is absolutely delicious now, but also has sufficient balance for ageing 4-6 years. Although this wine began life as the "little brother" of our Estate Reserve, it has begun to take on an identity of it's own. "

Tasting notes and reviews for 2002 vintage:

Wine Spectator rating 91 points for 2002 vintage: "Lithe in texture, explosive in flavor, bursting with blackberry, plum, and currant, sending off sparks of pepper, violet and cinnamon as it all cruises through a sleek finish. Drink now through 2012." H.S.

From the winery: "The bulk of the grapes (80%) come from 3 Pinot Noir blocks planted in 1998, with a smattering of older and younger vines. Individual lots were selected for their overall quality and varietal correctness, as well as for their approachability in the near term. The resulting blend has a very moderate 20% new oak and displays deep, dark red & black fruits on the nose and palate with good complexity and concentration. Designed for earlier enjoyment than our Estate Reserve, it still has ample structure for mid-term aging. This wine will be a key part of our line-up from now into the future."

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Oregon & Washington Wine Specialists Since 1988

Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot noir 06

winery: Belle Pente