Big leathery and spicy notes on the nose, wrapped around a blackberry/black cherry center. In the mouth the wine is full of plump and sweet dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors, heavily accented by tastes of powdered mocha, fine clean earth, anise, and black pepper as well. Great structure--neither tannins nor acids are out of balance, though both abound. The finish is very long and brings the cherry fruit more forward.
--Craig Broadley, winemaker
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
Named for Claudia Broadley, the co-founder of Broadley Vineyards, "Claudia's Choice" is drawn from 4 acres located in mid-slope of Broadley's estate vineyards. Planted in 1983 of largely Pommard clones, this parcel is positioned on this Willamette Valley hillside much like the Grand Crus of Burgundy are set on the Cote de Nuits. Broadley's vineyards are located a couple hours south of Portland, near Monroe, in a viticultural area known as Oregon's "Banana Belt." The combination of an unusually warm, dry microclimate and 'center cut' positioning virtually guarantees that "Claudia's Choice" reaches full physiological ripeness every year. The superb 2005 vintage is just another example of a long string of superb bottlings.
Previous vintage 2004 tasting notes
Bold, rich, layered and ageworthy, hand-crafted and exceptional. Aromas and flavors of chocolate, cherries, tangerines, prosciutto, earth, and smoke mingle beautifully in this darkly ruby colored wine. The wine's initial layered aromas of black raspberry, dried leaves and dark chocolate are followed by thick, deep dark cherry fruit, oak spice, velvety and round tannins, and a long luscious finish.
From the winery: "Named for Claudia Broadley, beloved wife, mother, and co-founder of Broadley Vineyards, our Claudia's Choice wines are truly the powerhouse wines of our offerings. Our Claudia's Choice bottlings come exclusively from 4 acres located mid-slope in our estate vineyards. Planted in 1983 of primarily Pommard clones, with a few rows of W?densvil clone Pinot noir thrown in for structure, we use whole cluster fruit and ferment in open top French oak fermenters. The wine is aged in 100% French oak for 15 months and is always bottled unfined and unflitered. The 1994 Claudia's Choice Pinot noir is a legendary wine, earning an unprecedented 97 score from the Wine Spectator.
