A broad-shouldered beauty. Super-ripe, yet with all the necessary
"stuffing"--tons of blueberry and dark dried cherry with spicy
cinnamon cream accents. For fans of bigger Pinots, the Kalita hits it
out of the park.
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
Wine Spectator Et Fille Pinot noir 2005 vintage ratings:
2005 ET FILLE Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard 93 points
"Supple and velvety in texture, this bursts with blueberry and currant fruit, with creamy, spicy overtones adding depth to the distinctive finish. Has tremendous presence and style, yet remains refined. Best from 2008 through 2015. 125 cases made." –HS
2005 Et Fille Pinot noir Elton Vineyard 93 points
"
Crisp and immensely generous, pumping away at its blackberry, cherry and delicate spice flavors on a lithe, medium-weight frame, with a finish that won't quit. An expressive wine with great presence. Best from 2008 through 2015. 126 cases made. –HS
2005 ET FILLE Pinot Noir Kalita Vineyard 91 points "On the light side, with a polished edge to the raspberry and sweet cream flavors, lingering on the delicious finish. Drink now through 2015. 91 cases made." –HS
2005 ET FILLE Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 88 points Lithe, open-textured and appealing for its plum and dried tomato flavors that linger nicely against refined acidity. Drink now through 2011. 140 cases made. –HS
2005 tasting Notes
Retasted January 2007- The wine has gotten even better -- everything mentioned above is still present, but the wine has a sense of integration as compared to the November notes. The nose is even more intensely perfumed, the sweet initial flavor is accompanied by a bit more layered complexity, and the balance of acid, tannin and fruit has settled and smoothed. SO pleasant and quite reasonably priced for this level of winemaking. 1-15-07 -jy
Howard says this wine is different in its flavors from his other wines, with darker fruit flavors, softer acids, a bit of cola in the nose and flavor, and a slightly less perfumed quality. He attributes a lot of the differences to the soils in the vineyard. Last year the wine was a bruiser. This vintage, it's a bit less massive, allowing the distinctive flavors of Kalita to show through clearly. -jy
2004 Tasting Notes
Wine Spectator rating 90 Points: "Rich with spices, a noseful of cinnamon and cardamom, with strawberry
and plum flavors at the center that persist onto the fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2011." H.S.
Yow! The blockbuster of Et Fille's 2004 Pinot noirs, this wine is big, and as Howard told me, not as representative of the more nuanced, Burgundian style he strives for. Nevertheless, the wine is a total crowd pleaser, with big, big flavors, yet not a hint of over-alcohol or flaws. As a "big" Pinot from a "non-big" Pinot maker, it's wonderful for me. I love the richness, yet it hasn't lost the character of the varietal. There's sweetness, yes, but it's the sweetness of fruit, spice, and floral notes typical specifically to Pinot noir.
The nose is redolent of toasty oak, toasted coffee and cocoa bean, and sweet blackberry. Flavors are sweet blackberry, black currant, cassis, black plum, cinnamon and clove spices, cola, and espresso. The mouth feel is viscous and rich, the finish is long, with a bit of youthful tannins dancing with a nice level of acidity that says the wine can be cellared, and will last a few years. More of a drink me now wine, it will stand 2-5 years of aging, but will be drinking well this year, and will be a crowd pleaser. Showy, yet still Pinot.From the winery:
We are proud to introduce you to our first bottling from Kalita Vineyards, located in the Yamhill-Carlton viticultural district. This beautiful bowl-shaped vineyard near the town of Yamhill is on Willakenzie soil, known to produce dark wines with black fruit overtones. Owned by Arthur and Sherry Kalita, the vineyard is near Willakenzie and Shea Vineyards. Rising from 400 to 800 feet, with our fruit going all the way to the top, this young vineyard has thus far had small yields of intense fruit. We source Pommard and Wadensvil clones from Kalita Vineyards.
Dad: Big and intense. Powerful black fruit, chocolate and coffee flavors. Unctuous mouthfeel.
Fille: Our 2004 Kalita is pure Angelina Jolie - what you see is what you get - and you see the sexy, attention-grabbing, spotlight-stealing power right up front. It has a dark red color and a dynamic nose that starts grassy and woody with a hint of barnyard but yields over time to sweet black cherry and chocolate. The sweet plum palate is layered with hints of tobacco, coffee, and cola. The firm tannin structure of this wine, combined with its alcohol content, would allow it to be paired either with heavy meat or simply with appetizers.
