Brittan Vineyards Pinot noir Gestalt Block 09

Expressively aromatic, the Gestalt is a balanced melange of black cherry, black raspberry, red licorice, tobacco leaf, and spice box. Intense, concentrated, and vibrant on the palate, this elegant, suave Pinot is beautifully proportioned and exceptionally lengthy. It is one of the stars of the vintage. - Avalon

Robert describes his wines as a gestalt of experience and viewpoint, adding up to more than their parts.His Gestalt Block Pinot epitomizes his philosophy. He is considered the country's expert on Petit Sirah. Yet here we are extolling the merits of his gorgeous Pinots. He's a master winemaker, whatever the grape, and his move to Oregon, and to Pinot noir, is a huge coup for the state and for our wine industry.

The Gestalt Block is a section of Robert and Ellen's own vineyard. It's also a combination of all of Robert's skills coming together into his signature wine.

2009 Wine Advocate - 93 points - Veteran vigneron Robert Brittan had over 30 vintages under his belt when he decided to move from Napa Valley to Willamette Valley in 2004 to make Pinot Noir. He purchased a rugged mountain site within the cool McMinnville AVA from which he makes two cuvees, one called Gestalt Block coming from the most exposed blocks in the vineyard and the other called Basalt Block from the parts of the vineyard that have the heaviest concentrations of broken basalt. He has succeeded in taming the herbaceousness often present in McMinnville fruit while producing wines with low pH (under 3.3 in these wines) and firm acidity (without sacrificing flavor) sure to send bolts of rapture through lovers of great Burgundy. - Jay Miller

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

2008 Wine Spectator - 94 points - Supple, rich and focused. A plush mouthful of blackberry and violet with a hint of verbena, wrapped in polished tannins and persisting into a vivid finish. Distinctive and graceful. Drink now through 2018. - H.S.

A beautifully complex and balanced wine of bright, fruit flavors of black cherry and red plum, along with spicy notes of sweet cinnamon and cardamom, and just a hint of savory tobacco. - the winery

Less than 300 cases made.

The Gestalt Block Pinot Noir comes from the most exposed blocks in the vineyard, resulting in a blend that will always be representative of the vintage and the unique site where these vines are planted. The 2008 vintage in the Willamette Valley was a cool, mild Oregon vintage - just about perfect.

Avalon knows which Oregon wineries have a special presence greater than the sum of their parts - a gestalt. With his Brittan Vineyards Oregon Pinot noirs, Robert Brittan is creating a gestalt of experience and viewpoint, sun and soil, adding up to more than their parts.

Robert Brittan spent 16 years as Winemaker and Estate manager for Stags' Leap Winery in Napa. He is considered possibly the most knowledgeable winemaker on Petit Sirah in the world. Robert created his famed Ne Cede Malis (Never give in to Misfortune) at Stags Leap.

We're betting that he'll create an Oregon Pinot noir with as much fame...

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

Give in to the Dark Side! The Gestalt 07 shows its Darth Vader-like character with a commanding presence. Darker fruits than the Basalt Block wines and even more deeply spiced. A melange of teas - green, black, a smidge of Earl Grey - plus black licorice and cream waft from the glass, leading into a silky-textured palate of black berry and black cherry highlighted by pomegranate, orange peel and savory herbs.

Given the depth of the Gestalt, it's very vibrant. One of the first things Adrienne wrote when she smelled this wine was "totally fantastic" and I wrote "totally mysterious and delicious." You could say we liked it... - Marcus & Adrienne

The Gestalt block comes from the most exposed blocks in the vineyard, resulting in a blend that will always be representative of the vintage and the unique site where these vines are planted. The 2007 vintage in the Willamette Valley was a cool, Oregon vintage resulting in a beautifully complex wine of bright, red fruit flavors along with good acidity, spicy notes of sweet nutmeg, briary undertones and just a hint of tobacco.

The Pinot Noir for the Gestalt Block consists predominantly of clones 115, 667 and 777 on 101-14 and 4453 rootstocks, from mostly southwestern facing blocks that stare down the arriving storms from the Pacific as they travel through the Van Duzer corridor. The fruit for the 2007 vintage was picked in late October and allowed to cold soak for five days before fermentation began. After fermentation, the wine was aged in French Oak barrels, approximately 35% new. The wine went through malo-lactic fermentation in barrel and was aged for 9 months prior to bottling in August 2008. - the winery