Ebony Pinot noir "The Quarry" 2010

Review:

Wow. I love a winemaker with something new to say and Chris has it. He calls the rows of barrels in his winery his "spice rack", and from it he created this terrific Pinot noir.

The Ebony 2010 Quarry Vineyard Pinot is much bigger than the other 2010 Pinots I've tried so far this year, plump and full bodied. It is a big, well structured wine with a backbone of polished tannins to balance its ample flavors.

Breathe in the scents of bramble, black fruit, and spice and the size of this wine is unmistakable. Juicy black fruit flavors of blueberry, plum, and blackberry are round and expansive. Lots of complexity here, with hints of bramble, graham cracker, cherry hard candy, dried herbs, and a finish of shot silk - smooth in your mouth with a tiny bit of texture. Chris suggests drinking now with decanting or cellar for 3-5 years. -Jean

Sadly, this great wine (at a bargain under $30 price) is only available to Avalon's Wine Club members. It is an April 2012 Club Selection.

2009 Vintage

Oregon Pinot noir - Ebony Wines The Quarry 09 -

Former Shea Wine Cellars winemaker Chris Mazepink has started his own winery!

The “Quarry” Pinot noir 09 at $32 is sophisticated, full bodied, complex and long.

"Quarry" is named for the rocky soils of the vineyards for Pinot's grapes. The wine is inspired by the dense, black, intense character of the wood called Ebony, from trees native to India and Sri Lanka. It has been described as dense, fine in texture and very smooth when finished. All qualities found in Chris's wines.

Quarry is a big, mouth coating wine, dark garnet in color, with a shot silk texture on the palate and a juicy richness that we remember from the wines Chris made at Shea. Chris ferments in wooden vats (not an easy task) and the additional complexity he obtains from the process is evident in the wine. Silky smooth tannins, deep flavors, and a long sleek finish remain vivid memories after the wine is gone. - Jean