Jean: Maresh fruit, once almost exclusively sold to Rex Hill, is now shared among several top producers - Penner-Ash, St Innocent, and Daedalus, among others. For this wine, Howard was sold two acres of 100% Pommard fruit from vines planted in 1990. The Maresh shows the greater complexity of older vine Pommard, with the sweet red cherry that dominates many younger vine Pommard based Pinots only present in passing.
The nose offers ripe blackberry, black plum, boysenberry, and pie cherry mingled with toasted coffee bean and hints of sweet tobacco. Flavors range from ripe berries to red pie cherry, with sweetly focused fruit in a creamy finish that goes on and on and on. A sense of minerality runs through the wine. Cellarable for 3-8 years, drinking nicely now with aeration.
Marcus: Silky, creamy, ripe boysenberry and blueberry with a smidge of cherry
jam. I've spent more hours than I can recall describing that magical
Pinot characteristic where the perfectly sweet fruit just camps out on
the middle of your palate. The 06 Maresh has it in spades, and yet
retains an elegant balance. The finished is focused and the tannins
linked with a white pepper spice that complements the fruit.
The Winery Says:
Dad: Light color, complex nose & palette of pie cherries & minerals. Lavish mouth feel. Trance-like, long, complex finish
Fille: This wine is grown in the Dundee Hills’ red soil. As such, the color of this wine looks like the earth climbed right up into the glass and settled in. The aroma is highlighted by violet and yields to a palate of chocolate and vanilla. This is smooth luxury- like the curved lines of a Jaguar.
2005 vintage Wine Spectator 93 points
Not currently available to order.
May be out of stock or sold out. Inquire at 541-752-7418 or store@avalonwine.com
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
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2005 Vintage
Wine Spectator 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.-H.S.
Supple, complex, inviting. Very few Oregon vintners get enough Maresh fruit to make a vineyard designate, and Howard's one the lucky ones! Deliciously inviting aromas of incense and vanilla spice, with wide open red and black fruit. The Maresh is beautifully supple with sweet pie cherry and marionberry flavors against a backdrop of complex mineral notes and bright acidity. You're going to have a tough time keeping your hands off of the bottles in the next year, but patience will be rewarded.
Food Pairings: The earth, deep sweet pie cherry fruit, and finesse of this wine would match well with tea smoked game hens and wild rice that has been cooked with star anise infused stock.
