Scott Paul Pinot noir La Paulee 08
">Burghound 92 points!
Burghound 92 points - A deft touch of wood frames highly nuanced black cherry, spiced plum and cassis that complement well the generous and opulent flavor that despite the richness retain a fine sense of detail and underlying tension on the mouth coating and lingering finish. ... this is an excellent effort and worth your attention. (Dundee Hills, from vines planted in 1989).
Vivid ruby. Fresh red berries and flowers on the nose, with sexy Asian spice and mineral notes adding vivacity. Lively and precise in the mouth, offering sweet strawberry and raspberry flavors and strong spicy cut. Fine-grained tannins come up on the finish, which is impressively focused, juicy and long. This is delicious now but balanced to age. Tanzer - 91 points
Scott Wright says "It isn't enough that they taste good, and I hope that that do," Wright said, "but I'm also looking for that mystery that got me wrapped up in pinot in the first place. You get it in the best Burgundies and that's still the model. Now, more and more people here are starting to get serious about finesse, balance and real complexity and are making pinot that isn't just about upfront fruit. Burgundy has a few centuries' head start but we're growing up pretty fast here." - From Tanzer 8-2010 newsletter
2007 Vintage Tasting Notes
From the winery:
La Paulée – our most complex wine of the vintage. The 2007 version brings together fruit from four different vineyards in four different sub-appellations, and together the combination displays the full spectrum of what Pinot Noir in the Willamette valley can be.
Maresh Vineyard – One of Oregon’s oldest, planted in 1970. We farm 7.29 acres biodynamically here – own-rooted Pommard clone at the top of the Dundee Hills.
Ribbon Ridge Vineyard – A mix of Pommard and Dijon 777 clones from our 4 acres here in the Ribbon Ridge AVA.
Shea Vineyard – This represents the final crop from the original plantings in the historic Block 21 at Shea – the vines were pulled up after harvest, finally succumbing to phylloxera. (Yamhill- Carlton AVA)
Momtazi Vineyard – The jewel of the McMinnville AVA, a mix of Dijon clones from this certified biodynamic vineyard in the foothills of the Coast Range.
The 2007 vintage shows off the best attributes of true cool-climate Pinot Noir – bright red fruits and floral notes on the nose, nicely concentrated berry flavors in the mouth, and a juicy, raspberry-tinged finish that trails on and on. Lovely now with grilled salmon or a simple roast chicken, and at its best 2012+.
Previous vintage tasting notes:
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The nose has complex fruit and flower notes. The palate is textured and silky. Ripe red cheries, raspberry notes and black fruit undertones develop as the wine flows onto the lingering finish. Vineyards: Shea, Stoller, Ribbon Ridge and Momtazi.
The winery says: "Every year in the cellar there are certain lots of wine that simply jump out at you with their intensity of flavors, multiple layers of complexity, and superior length. These are the lots that comprise the La Paulée bottling. Rather than pre-determine which vineyards or blocks this wine will come from year-to-year, we would rather select the best of what the vintage has given us, and craft the best wine we possibly can. "
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2005 vintage tasting notes: Rated by Food and Wine magazine as one of the best American Pinot Noirs. Classic Oregon Pinot, with rich raspberry-driven flavors and balancing acidity for long term cellaring.
2003 vintage tasting notes: Scott Paul Wines La Paulee 03: Wine Spectator rating 90 points: "Ripe, broad and open, with firm tannins around a generous core of peppery, earthy and smoky cherry and berry flavors. Has a bite to it. From the former general manager of Domaine Drouhin. Best from 2006 through 2012." H.S.
