Experiencing excellence at the source!

Our staff kicked off 2012 with a bang and headed out to Belle Pente Winery yesterday morning for a tour and tasting. It was a crisp, bright and brilliantly sunny morning filled with intriguing tidbits from winemaker/owner Brian O’Donell.

While we experienced many, many drop dead gorgeous wines, the one that I just can’t seem to forget about is a rare “Reserve” Pinot Gris that Brian bottled in 2006. Inspired by the ethereal Grand Cru Pinot Gris wines made in select years in France’s Alsace region, the fruit was left to hang on the vine for weeks after their normal harvest window. What I appreciate most about this wine is that it is at once rich and luscious in texture, leaning toward a more tropical profile, yet retains enough acidity to remain refreshing enough to come back to sip after sip. Just incredible stuff! With only 200 cases produced, and something that they do from time to time when the right conditions come to fruition, this is definitely not a wine you’ll see outside of Carlton. E-mail or call us if I’ve peaked your interest and we’ll get it in for you! $22/Bottle

In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be pouring Belle Pente’s 2008 Estate Pinot Noir. Come on in and experience first hand one of Oregon’s most intuitive winemakers!

2008 Belle Pente Estate Pinot Noir $35. bottle or $378 case

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