Bergstrom Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve 04
winery: Bergstrom
Wine Spectator rating 92 points for last two vintages, both the 02 and 03 wines, and this wine, imho, is better. The Best Deal of the Bergstrom 2004s. As it was last year.
This is the wine I have been craving to get my hands on. If the Willamette Valley 04 is exceptional, it is a simple reflection of the glorious quality of the Cumberland 04. A succulent nose of vanilla spice, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, and intense hints of violets and roses is followed by flavors of blueberry, blackberry, plum, and sweet spices. A luxuriantly rich and velvety mouthfeel remains for a long, long finish, with perfect acidity incorporating a hint of citrus zest and tannins broad, yet voluptuous and pure. Memorable.
MORE INFORMATION
From the winery:
The Cumberland Reserve is our proprietary blend of Pinot Noir, hailing from the Hyland Vineyard, the Bergstrom Vineyard, the de Lancellotti Vineyard and Palmer Creek Vineyard, showcasing fruit from four different soil types and appellations (McMinnville, Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, and Eola Hills respectively.) The grapes from these vineyards are harvested, fermented and barrel aged separately and then married together after 11 months of ageing in 50% new French oak cooperage (Francois Freres, Meyrieux and Sirugue coopers.)
As always, the Hyland Vineyard's old vines are the base wine with intense perfume, concentration and tannic structure. The Cumberland Reserve is meant to showcase a rustic style of Pinot Noir reminiscent of older Oregon vintages, using mostly Pommard and Wadenswil clone vines to create structure and intensity. The wine is then softened and lifted with additions of Dijon clone selections from the younger vine blocks from the other vineyards to make this wine more accessible in its youth while still retaining great ageability.
The 2004 Cumberland Reserve has a beautiful black cherry robe. The aromas of this wine tend to always showcase deep red cherry, blueberry, savory spice, road tar, pipe tobacco and rich oak tones. The mouthfeel is focused with ample amounts of dark fruit and spice in layers and laced with nice ripe tannin and juicy acidity.
This wine should drink very well upon release and age effortlessly for 10 or more years if aged carefully under proper cellar conditions.
The winery has this to say about the wine: "Blending fruit from the Bergstrom Vineyard, de Lancellotti Vineyard, Shea Vineyard, Broadley Vineyard, Bishop Creek Vineyard, Palmer Creek Vineyard, Vigna Giovanni and of course the old vines from the Hyland Vineyard which year in and year out give this wine it's terrific structure and cellaring potential."
"Aged in approximately 50% new french oak for 10 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2004 Cumberland Reserve is a tour de force highlighting the great natural acidity and ripe tannins of the vintage with a rich and almost decadent mouthful of classic pinot noir fruit flavors. This wine will benefit from 10+ years of careful cellaring."
2003 Vintage tasting Notes: Wine Spectator rating 92 points: "Earthy mineral flavors add extra dimension to this richly textured, elegant Pinot, offering raspberry and cherry notes as the finish persists against firm tannins."
BEST DEAL OF THE BERGSTROM 2003 PINOT NOIRSAnother beautiful Pinot from Josh, Burgundian flavors and lovely hints of violet and rose petal. Nuanced, yet very full bodied, with blueberry, plum, and sweet spice flavors. Velvet in the texture and violets in the nose. Yumm. -jy
Wine Spectator says of the 2002 vintage: "Made from three Willamette Valley vineyards, including older vines in the family's own vineyard, it delivers rich black cherry, plum and tar flavors after a blast of chewy tannins. The flavors well up and bathe the finish as it lingers impressively. Needs time to soften. Best from 2006 through 2012.-H.S.
From the winery: "The 2002 Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir is one of the reasons why I love my job. This is the wine that I always wanted to make-traditionally crafted Burgundian nuances and a sense of terroir matched with New World depth and flare. This wine will excite you and entice you, show you everything and sometimes keep to herself, hiding her potential for a different day. But that's why we love Pinot Noir, the iron fist in a velvet glove. Enough said."
Previous 2001 vintageWine Spectator rating 92 pointsWine Spectator says: "The Bergstr÷m family planted their 41 acres of vineyards in 1997 and made their first wines, from purchased
grapes, in 1999. This one comes from the 30- year-old Hyland Vineyard. It's a crisp wine, with a mouthful of tightly woven flavors, offering peppery blueberry, plum and sweet spice notes that last and last. Impressive now, should unfold with cellaring. Best from 2004 through 2009." -H.S.
2001 Bergstr÷m "Cumberland Reserve" comes exclusively from the Hyland Vineyard - dry-farmed vines that are up to 30 years old and produce wines of astonishing depth, balance, and structure. This dark purple-colored wine is loaded with sweet black fruits, plums, licorice, and fresh-turned earth. It is a mouth filling wine high in glycerol and sweet extract. The natural acidity and smooth ripe tannins will let this bottling age gracefully.
