Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Murto Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2018

Overview

A high-elevation Dundee Hills Pinot Noir with red and black cherry, cardamom, forest floor and pronounced spice, framed by fine tannins and bright acidity.

Producer

Belle Pente

Region

Oregon

Appellation

Dundee Hills AVA

Fermentation

84% destemmed; 5–7 day cold maceration; fermented with indigenous and ambient yeasts in 1.25- and 2.75-ton fermenters; hand punch-downs twice daily; average 19-day cuvaison.

Variety

100% Pinot Noir (Pommard clone)

Farming

Dry farmed

Aging

18 months in French oak: 44% new, 22% one-to-two-year-old and 34% three-to-six-year-old barrels; one racking before assemblage; gravity bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Soil

Jory soil derived from volcanic Columbia River basalt

Age of Vines

Planted in 1978; self-rooted