Big beautiful fruit on the nose with wiffs of aromatic rosemary. The wine opens up on the palette with intense red raspberry and candied red currant. Sweet baking spices and a slight hint of white pepper throughout. Luscious sweet violets persist on the long and lingering finish. Mid-weight in the mouth with well integrated tannins.
This is an elegant wine which would pair nicely with hazelnut, rosemary and mint crusted lamb chops on Persian spiced couscous.
Made by Ken Wright of Ken Wright Cellars for Carlton Cellars. This is Ken's only blended pinot, the remainder of his wines are all single vineyard selections. The 2006 Roads End features the debut of Carlton Cellars estate fruit from Russell-Grooters vineyard along with the historical blend of McCrone and Canary Hill vineyards fruit.
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
This is Ken Wright's only blended Pinot noir. It was made by Ken for Carlton Cellars with grapes from three of the vineyards he uses for his single vineyard wines. The wine is plush, fruit forward, deeply flavored, with a richness and complete range of flavors and textures that say "Ken Wright" with a distinct voice. The Carlton Cellars "Roads End" Pinot noir is made with fruit from three vineyards:
Canary Hills Vineyard is located at the southern end of the Eola Hills and faces southeast. The vines were planted in 1982 and 1983. They are vertically trellised and are of the Pommard clone. Elevation is 450' to 550'. The soil is a mix of Jory and Nekia. Both are formed from igneous rock and have a reddish-brown tint. This site, however, has less depth than similar soils in the Dundee Hills. Wine from this vineyard is typically very forward, with aromas of black cherry and cola.
McCrone Vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton District, this is a densely planted vineyard (1 meter x 2 meters). The sedimentary soil, know as Wellsdale, is extremely well drained and promotes early ripening. Elevation is 400' with a south-southwest inclination. Slopes are 5 to 15 degrees. Half of the vineyard was planted in 1992 to the Dijon 115 clone grafted on 3309. The second half was originally planted to Dijon Chardonnay clones but was grafted in 2000 to the Dijon 777 clone of Pinot noir. The wine from this site is powerful, dense and deeply colored focusing mainly on black fruits.
Nysa Vineyard was planted in 1990 to own-rooted Pommard and Wadenswil. It is located in the heart of the Dundee Hills between Domaine Drouhin and Archery Summit with a southeast to northeast inclination. Jory soil. The scent of wines made from this vineyard exhibits a mix of red and black fruits. The wines are forward, textural and elegant. The vineyard is owned and managed by Michael Mega.
Wine Spectator says of the 2002 vintage (rating 92 points): "Ken Wright is the single-vineyard Pinot Noir king of Oregon, but for Carlton Cellars he blends Nysa, McCrone and Canary Hill. Generous and brilliantly focused, presenting its blueberry, plum and subtle spice flavors with digital clarity. Tannins are very fine and it all lasts impressively. Best from 2005 through 2010.-H.S.
