Black Cap Winery

Black Cap Pinot noir
Eyrie's Second Generation Makes Personal Pinot

The Black Cap Pinot noir expresses the elusive, mysterious, cult-creating qualities of the Pinot noir grape, and reflects a very deep knowledge of winemaking. Jason Lett's “Indie Pinot” Black Cap is housed within his family’s Eyrie Vineyards winery.

The last four vintages have created a stir—requests for Black Cap that last months after the wine is gone. The 2006 is one of those rare Oregon Pinot noirs made with the purpose of expressing the character of the Pinot grape, and of the particular Pinot of the vineyard site. The Black Cap 06 is made from one small block of the oldest fruit in Eyrie's vineyard. Jason's dedication to allowing the terroir of these old vines to show through is expressed in the pure, classic style of this wine. Sophisticated, sensuous, and complete.

Read
Black Cap: Eyrie's Second Generation
Expresses Personal Pinot noir Vision

Black Cap- The Wine

BlackCap was named for two native (and tasty) species of Oregon plants- the Black capped Morel and the Black cap raspberry. The name also belongs to a native songbird, the black capped Chickadee.

Jason Lett has been involved in making wine for most of Oregon's vintages through his family's Eyrie Vineyards. Jason's father, David Lett, is one of Oregon's wine industry pioneers. He planted and popularized Pinot gris, and received high scores for his early Pinot noirs from blind tastings in France, leading to the initial recognition of Oregon as a viable wine growing region.

Having grown up working in his family's vineyards and winery, Jason gained a unique perspective on growing and making wine.

Jason explains: "my father's holistic approach to wine growing has been my greatest influence. He has always emphasized that great wine is made in the vineyard."

Jason added to the lessons learned from his family's vineyards by spending summers in his teen years working and living in Burgundy, and visiting family friends who grew win in Germany and Switzerland. Later, in his 20's, Jason worked harvest at New Zealand's Matrinborough Vineyards.

In 2002, longtime friend John Davidson invited Jason to make wine from Davidson's La Cantera vineyard. The resulting wine became Jason's first solo vintage, the BlackCap 2002. In keeping with Jason's philosophy, the project was kept small (3 barrels) and meticulously tended.

Jason says: "For me, making wine is the ultimate way to explore the concept of 'tasting place.' My intention is to express the vineyard as fully as possible. I'm doing that by using traditional tools- cool, small batch fermentations, extended macerations, native yeasts, and bottling without fining or filtration. I also use a very moderate amount of new oak - taking the Burgundian approach to oak that was traditional until the last 15 years or so. When you taste the BlackCap my hope is that you will taste an expression of place and a vintage, without the pretensions of a winemaker getting in the way. I'm proud to be a winegrower."

In January 2003, Jason was offered a job as Bishop Creek Vineyard's managing winegrower.

"When the opportunity with Bishop Creek came along, I jumped at it," says Jason. "I was ready for the challenge of pursuing my own vision of winegrowing in a unique vineyard."



Planted in 1988 at 5x5 spacing, the vineyard is one of the oldest high density plantings in the area. Close spacing, combined with a step slope, have given the vineyard a reputation as one of the area's most challenging sites. Jason saw the potential for the site to produce great Pinot noir. He stopped the use of synthetic chemicals and focused instead on canopy management and soil health. The results were gratifying: Jason selected rows of Bishop Creek fruit for his 2003 vintage BlackCap.

"Making wine from fruit you've grown closes the circle," says Jason. "An intimate knowledge of the vineyard in influences how finesse the wine, and what you learn from the wine guides the management of the vineyard."

Jason and his wife Diane live on a small farm near McMinnville with their 2 girls. In his spare time, Jason stays busy with the kids, the animals and the garden.


$42.26 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $46.95

Qty.

Black Cap Pinot noir 06 unfolds over hours and days. Complex and captivating, it begins with pretty red fruit and earth nuances that, with air, open to a spicy display of lush cherry and raspberry
...read more



$53.95 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $59.95

Qty.

Black Cap Chardonnay 06 challenges Burgundy's best -Black Cap rises miles above the usual Oregon Chardonnay - and stands toe to toe with white Burgundies at five times the price. Save
...read more


Black Cap Pinot noir 05

$37.76 - Case price (any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $41.95

The 2005 Black Cap is heavenly. Beguiling, complex aromas of floral perfume, sweet cherries, and dusky earth notes fill the glass. You can almost sense the mouthwatering juiciness.

Marionber

...read more >>

 

Black Cap Pinot noir 03

$36.00 - Case price (any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $40.00

A very complete wine, a step up from last years well done 02, with the creamy blackbery and raspberry scents following through with a broad palate of black fruit and spice flavors, finegrained tannins
...read more >>