Belle Pente
Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir
Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Nose has mashed black/red cherries, recently washed blackberries, pink rose and light cedar notes.
Palate has mashed raspberry/cherry, light baking spice, cedar plank and faint anise notes. Tannins are gentle.
Decanted ~2 hours, very cedar-y on opening, but since subsided significantly. I think this wine needs a few more years to gain some concentration on the flavors, but otherwise a very solid bottle at ~5 years past vintage.
We met the winemaker/owner, Brian O'Donnell, at a dinner many years ago and were thrilled with his passion and success with Pinot Noir. We don't come across his wines regularly in retail settings, but do buy them when we see them. We're still letting some older vintages rest in the cellar.
Nose has mashed black/red cherries, recently washed blackberries, pink rose and light cedar notes.
Palate has mashed raspberry/cherry, light baking spice, cedar plank and faint anise notes. Tannins are gentle.
Decanted ~2 hours, very cedar-y on opening, but since subsided significantly. I think this wine needs a few more years to gain some concentration on the flavors, but otherwise a very solid bottle at ~5 years past vintage.
We met the winemaker/owner, Brian O'Donnell, at a dinner many years ago and were thrilled with his passion and success with Pinot Noir. We don't come across his wines regularly in retail settings, but do buy them when we see them. We're still letting some older vintages rest in the cellar.
Belle Pente = "beautiful slope", 70 acre hillside vineyard on a historic 1840s farmstead 2 miles east of Carlton in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Beautiful nose with ripe berry & floral scents. Fresh fruit flavors of raspberry & sweet cherry, hints of vanilla oak spice, great balance with vivid acidity. Smooth tannins, lingering finish ending with cedar tones & a nudge of spice. An enjoyable Pinot at great price. Has aging benefits, but why wait. Small production, grab all bottles you can find. A Fav!
Belle Pente = "beautiful slope", 70 acre hillside vineyard on a historic 1840s farmstead 2 miles east of Carlton in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Beautiful nose with ripe berry & floral scents. Fresh fruit flavors of raspberry & sweet cherry, hints of vanilla oak spice, great balance with vivid acidity. Smooth tannins, lingering finish ending with cedar tones & a nudge of spice. An enjoyable Pinot at great price. Has aging benefits, but why wait. Small production, grab all bottles you can find. A Fav!
Mar 11th, 2019
Very pleasing, light with hint of courant, great with vegetables and humus after a day of skiing.
Very pleasing, light with hint of courant, great with vegetables and humus after a day of skiing.
Feb 11th, 2019
The winemaker gifted me this bottle and I just popped the cork. Stunning - full bodied and very Oregonian!
The winemaker gifted me this bottle and I just popped the cork. Stunning - full bodied and very Oregonian!
Aug 24th, 2018
Oh my, so delicious. I wanted to open our other bottle but we are saving for another special occasion. Silky, rich and balanced- earthy and soft fruit. So very lovely.
Oh my, so delicious. I wanted to open our other bottle but we are saving for another special occasion. Silky, rich and balanced- earthy and soft fruit. So very lovely.
Aug 15th, 2018
Last dinner with my ride or die in DC!
Last dinner with my ride or die in DC!
Jun 6th, 2018
2014 running a little hot but an enjoyable wine.
2014 running a little hot but an enjoyable wine.
May 9th, 2018A very pleasant and unique Pinot from OR. The color is a nice ruby. The nose is filled with red fruit and flowers, very floral. The typical earthiness of a Pinot is not here if you are looking for it. The taste start tart and fruit forward, the the floral and spice notes take control. The finish lingers and the tannins eventually dissipate. At first the tannins were a bit too powerful, but a couple of hours out let them mellow into a very nice balance.
A very pleasant and unique Pinot from OR. The color is a nice ruby. The nose is filled with red fruit and flowers, very floral. The typical earthiness of a Pinot is not here if you are looking for it. The taste start tart and fruit forward, the the floral and spice notes take control. The finish lingers and the tannins eventually dissipate. At first the tannins were a bit too powerful, but a couple of hours out let them mellow into a very nice balance.
Mar 19th, 2018
