----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------from avalonwine.com
Highly Requested Black Cap Pinot noir 04,
Bargain Belle Pente 04's, and St Innocent's Best Value Pinot

The Black Cap Pinot noir 04 expresses the elusive, mysterious, cult-creating qualities of the Pinot noir grape, and reflects a very deep knowledge of winemaking, especially for someone in his early '30s. It's safe to say we are experiencing the early vintages of one of Oregon's star winemakers of the 21st century.

Jason Lett's Black Cap Winery is a tiny production, "Indie" winery now affiliated with his family's Eyrie Vineyards. The last two vintages have zoomed out the door in a few days, and now the long-awaited 2004 vintage is available.

Tasting the 2004 Black Cap, you'll be impressed with its purity and classic style. It's a sophisticated, complex Pinot, a wine for contemplating and admiring, for serving with carefully selected cuisine, a wine for cellaring and re-visiting over ten years or more. The 2004 is not a simple slurper, but a standout in a vintage of classic wines, a prize to save for special times, especially for vertical tastings.

In a vertical tasting of Oregon and Burgundian Pinots conducted in the next ten years, the Black Cap 2004 will provide a near perfect example of classic Pinot making, reminiscent of the highest rated Eyrie Pinots (made by Jason's father) received with controversy and acclaim at famous blind tastings in France in the 1970's.

The 2004 Black Cap is quite young, and is a Pinot made for aging. While drinkable now, we're planning on putting a case aside for periodic enjoyment over the next ten years. It offers the nuanced, complex, layered flavors and scents that go well beyond the "quaffable" Pinots so popular today. If you have a lot of experience with Pinot noir, both Old and New World, you'll find this Pinot one to savour with fellow wine lovers at tastings, special events, and very special dinners

Color: Dark garnet and medium body.

Nose: An immediate sense of black raspberry and Black Cap blackberry mingles with hints of fresh, spicy crushed herbs, freshly turned moist soil, creamy brown sugar, white flowers, and fresh, clean barrel oak.

Fresh herb notes in the nose include tarragon, licorice, and greek oregano, sensed as one would when tearing them apart in your hands.

Flavors: Flavors reiterate the nose with dominant black raspberry and Black Cap blackberry, red pie cherry, and layers of spice, caraway, a streak of fresh herbs that echoes throughout the taste, and a light hint of perfume in the long, complex finish that lasts long and constantly changes.

Balance: Tannins are very supple and well integrated, there's a fresh, uplifting quality to the acidity, and the fruit flavors dance in the mouth. No one aspect of the finish dominates; rather, complexity is the keyword here, as the wine changes in the mouth and as the wine opens in the glass.

The Vintage - 2004 compared to 2003: The 2004 is a sophisticated, feminine, complex, classic Pinot noir for treasuring. Cellar the wine for up to ten years and bring it out for friends who really know Pinot and enjoy the subtleties of the grape. In contrast, the 2003 was a more "forward" wine, a product of a very warm vintage. Jason was masterful in his handling of the 2003 grapes, and produced a very complete and multi-layered 2003 that was quite accessible and easy drinking when young.

The 2004, while not as forward now as the 03 was upon release, will reward the lover of classic Pinot noir with greater complexity and world-class quality over a longer period of aging than the 2003. Of the two wines, the 2004 is the wine that more completely expresses the elusive, mysterious, cult-creating qualities of the Pinot noir grape, and reflects a very deep knowledge of winemaking.

When to Drink: With decanting, the 2004 is fascinating and lovely, but for those heavenly Pinot experiences wine lovers talk about years later, allow this wine to cellar for 2-5 years. The wine should continue to evolve and improve for 8-12 years. We suggest trying it every 18 months or so to get a sense of the state of the 2004 vintage as it evolves over time.

Black Cap Pinot noir 04 $37.76/$41.95
http://www.northwest-wine.com/Black-Cap-pinot-noir.html

Belle Pente on a Budget-
Some of Oregon's Finest $20-$25 Pinot noir

"Anything about $20 from Oregon sells like hotcakes" said a wine rep to me last week. He was speaking of Oregon's trendily popular Pinots, discovered by consumers in the post-Sideways frenzy to try the latest new wine discovery. Any Pinots priced around $20 seem to sell out almost instantly, as we have discovered, to our occasional dismay. Belle Pente makes two, each produced in tiny quantities, usually only available if you live in Oregon and go to the winery:

The Belle Pente Pinot noir Willamette Valley 04 $17.95/$19.95 is a strikingly good Pinot, and a steal at this price. The nose has earth, pepper, and ripe cherry scents. Flavors are of red pie cherry, fresh red raspberries, black pepper, cinnamon, and brambly, well integrated tannins. There's bright acidity and lovely balance.

The Belle Pente Pinot noir Yamhill-Carlton District 04 $22.45/$24.95 Is made with fruit from the winery's own Yamhill Carlton AVA, this is a wine of unusual complexity and quality for the price. In the nose, there's toasty, meaty red raspberry and red cherry. Tasting the wine, the word "juicy" comes to mind, as one experiences fresh red raspberry, red cherry, blackberry, cinnamon and clove spices, and a long, very smooth finish that reiterates the red raspberry and spice notes. It's a bit more concentrated and layered than the WIllamette Valley 04. Quite a deal.

St Innocent Pinot noir Temperance Hill 04 - Style, Complexity and Value

The St Innocent Temperance Hill Pinot noir 04 $22.45/$24.95 hits the ball out of the park again this year. Last year, we were all about the steal that was the 2003 Temperance. At $19.80 it was the deal of the vintage, in our opinion. The 2004 has gone up a bit, to $22.45, but the quality has gone up a bit as well.

Pick up a glass of the Temperance 04, and you're immediately struck with the intensity of the sweet dark cherry and strawberry nose, layered over hints of soft oak, spice, and classic black currant fruit, characteristic of Temperance Hill Vineyard. The flavors are of fruit beautifully married to fresh, uplifting acidity, with dark cherry flavors enhanced by a strong streak of spicy red and black currant fruit. There's an unusual and quite appealing note of dark violets in the nose and flavor. Marcus says he'd like to do a "face plant" - just get his whole head into the glass, the nose is so nice.

The use of oak in the St Innocent Temperance 04 is masterful, enhancing yet never overwhelming. When the wine is first opened, sweet toast dominates the nose, evolving to very focused fruit, as the delightful oak notes subside. The wine, in nose and flavor, hits the "sweet spot" where neither oak nor fruit dominate, but dance together in balance. Mark has taken good fruit and carefully selected barrels to marry the two so completely, neither is in any way separate or overdone. Not easy to do, especially at under $25.

If we may help with an order, please let us know. We're available by phone at 541-752-7418 from 8AM Pacific time until 6PM Pacific time.

Thanks for your support -we appreciate your orders and your suggestions.
Our customers always give us our best ideas!

Jean, Marcus, Chris, Kevin, and Wendy
541-752-7418

Avalon Wine
201 SW 2nd Street
Corvallis OR 97333
541-752-7418
www.avalonwine.com
store@avalonwine.com

Marcus Looze
Manager
marcus@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

Chris Haggerty
Customer Service
store@avalonwine.com
541-752-7418

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