The Soter North Valley Pinot noir 06 has its trademark silky mouth feel. 2006's warm vintage helped to make this vintage round, intense, and ready to drink. Flavors of red cherry, strawberries, rose petals, and guava are found. There's a delicacy and lilt, and a hints of faraway spices. - the winery
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
2005 tasting NotesTanzer 90 Points: "Dark red. Ripe, deep aromas of dark berries and cherry, along with an exotic black cardamom note. Round and velvety, with sweet raspberry, cherry and plum flavors perked up by a hint of cinnamon. Finishes long and gently tannic, with striking delicacy and excellent palate coverage. This seduces with finesse rather than power."
Seductive, supple, delicious. A darker Pinot, with aromas of dark chocolate-covered black cherries and subtle earth. Opulent yet elegantly balanced, with layers of fruit that are revealed over time. Black cherry and fresh blackberry flavors give way to oak spice on the lingering finish. Not quite a Pinot fan? This one may change your mind.
The Viticulture: The coarse-grained, ancient marine sediments native to the Yamhill-Carlton Highlands are the oldest soils in the Willamette Valley. These soils drain quickly, establishing a natural deficit-irrigation effect. Thus, the vines stop vegetative growth earlier here than elsewhere, leading to more complete ripening, even in cooler growing seasons. This allows Pinot Noir to develop deep ruby colors and broad, silky tannins. The mouth-filling wines exude powerful fruit aromas of raspberry, blackberry and black cherries accented by a minerality reminiscent of pipe tobacco, notes of espresso, clove and dark chocolate, and completed by scents of rose, violet, lavender and sweet wood smoke. These are alluring, complex, supple gems of Pinot Noir to drink in and savor.
Soter's Estate "North Valley" Pinot noir
Soter Vineyards Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir "North Valley"
At Soter Vineyards, every wine is an Estate wine. No wine is made from purchased fruit. For their signature Pinot Noirs - Beacon Hill and Mineral Springs - only the finest fruit makes it into the final blend. There is a standard of length, complexity, poise, and depth of flavor that they demand of themselves in crafting these wines. Any barrels that simply don't augment the "Grand wines" of the property - even lots of impeccable quality - are declassified in Burgundian style to the Yamhill-Carlton cuv?e.
While some producers around the world "pull from the top" to create a 'reserve' wine, the philosophy of Soter Vineyards is that Beacon Hill and Mineral Springs are the reserve wines, and thus are made from only the best fruit in the finest vintages. For example, the entire crop at Beacon Hill was sold off in 2001; no wine was bottled. Soter prefers to "pull from the bottom," even if that means declassifying an entire harvest.
The Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir is made primarily from Soter's young vines, and sees less new oak than the flagship wines. It is made in a more accessible format that will give pleasure early and over the medium term. The wine often features notes of orange blossoms, cranberries, blackberries, sweet cream, cocoa, noble minerals, and has a very smooth and supple mouthfeel. Long and lush, the wine leaves big, thick tears in the glass and its soft entry invites sip after sip. Pour this wine alongside its peers at the same price - you'll be taken in by its winsome charms and remarkable price/quality rapport.
