
2016 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir - 1.5L
Please note: 750ml bottles sold out ... only available in Magnums.
Since it's first release in 1997, our Estate Reserve Pinot Noir has always represented "the best of the best" that we coax out of our Belle Pente estate vineyard each year. It is a selection of outstanding individual barrels, with the core components typically coming from our original 1994 planting next to the winery and the steep section just above it planted in 1998. In this 2016 version, however, the bulk of the blend comes from our Pommard and Dijon 115 blocks further up the hill with a south-east exposure. As our vineyard matures, the selection process becomes more difficult every year, but the pedigree of the resulting wine is unmistakable.
This 2016 version also includes more whole cluster and less new oak than in previous years. We have been slowly increasing our use of whole bunches over the past several years, seeking more aromatic complexity and slightly more pronounced tannins. This also led us to utilize more once-filled than new barrels for this cuvee, better showcasing the sweet ripe fruit of the vintage. Yields were 30% lower in 2016 compared to recent previous vintages, so the wines are very concentrated as a result. Look for dark black fruit flavors and aromas complimented by licorice, dried herbs, and flowers.
Our Estate Reserve Pinot noir routinely takes it place among the most acclaimed bottles from the Willamette Valley each year. It also consistently represents one of the best values in top-shelf New World Pinot noir. Enjoy now and over the next 20 years.
150 Magnums Produced
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2016
Wine Type: Red
Appellation: Yamhill-Carlton