Tiny production Pinot
noirs from several highly regarded, relatively unknown
wineries are available this week, personal favorites
of everyone at Avalon Wine.
Soter
Pinot noir Beacon Hill 2005
$49.50/$44.55
Most wine collectors know all about Tony Soter's
California wines, but this amazing Pinot from his
Oregon winery, Soter Vineyards, remains less known.
Tasting Notes: Gorgeously complex,
toasty nose with wafts of baking spices and dark
berries. Fresh raspberries, blackberries, and a
streak of blueberry expand on your tongue. Very
fine tannins provide the structure for long-term
cellaring. Decant now and enjoy with a hearty grilled
pork loin. The ’05 Beacon Hill reminds us of why Food & Wine
magazine named the 2002 Beacon Hill “America's Best
Pinot Noir over $20.” The 2005 is on par
with the 2002. - Marcus
Carabella
Pinot noir 2005
$42.95/$38.66
This is a beautiful follow up to the 2004. This is
quickly becoming one of our favorite vineyard sites,
and judging from your response to the 2004, one of
yours as well.
Tasting Notes: Aromas
of sun-ripened black cherries covered with fresh
cream and hints of vanilla, studded with cinnamon
and lavender. Mouth-coating dark cherry and berry
flavors are framed by juicy acidity and fine tannins
that seamlessly integrated. Great finesse and depth,
with a finish of subtle spicy herbs and earth. -Marcus
Coeur
de Terre Pinot noir Renelle’s Block 2005
$37.95/$34.16
Scott Neal is not yet well known, but this second
vintage from his vineyard is so out of the ordinary,
Avalon believes this "Indie"
will break onto the national scene in a big way.
Tasting Notes: The Renelle's
Block Pinot opens with rich aromas of raspberries,
cherries, mixed peppercorns, pie spices,
violets, and butterscotch-caramel notes.
Wow--there's a lot going on! Complex flavors
of red berries, sweet fresh cherries, and
baked Italiam plums mingling with bramble
notes. The tannins are there but beautifully
smooth, complemented by lively acidity
that creates the structure for cellaring.
Delicious with food now, stunning in years
to come. The Neals' commitment to value
is highly commendable. -Marcus
Et
Fille Pinot noir Elton 2005
$35.95/$32.36
Howard's most structured, cellarable Pinot from 2005,
he has found exceptional fruit for the last three
years and made wine that shows every bit of the fruit's
potential. Miniscule production keeps his wines little
known outside of Oregon, at least for now. The Elton
is the one to cellar.
Tasting Notes: The
nose is wonderfully perfumed, with scents of cherry
candy and mixed berry, cola spice, cinnamon, graham,
creamy milk chocolate, and bits of dried herbs and
roses. The focused flavors of wild raspberry are
framed with cherry, black berry, and currant. There’s
an initial silky burst of fruit, which transitions
to spice accents and minerals on the finish. The
Elton Pinot is VERY PRETTY when you give it a little
time or pair it with rack of lamb with pinenut and
pomegranate couscous. -Marcus