Pinot Noir

2011 NORTH VALLEY PINOT NOIR $30 STORY VINEYARD TASTING NOTE 2011 will be remembered as a historically late harvest vintage, where we were picking well into the first week of November to assemble this noteworthy, regional Pinot Noir. The wine offers a compelling and classic Oregon Pinot Noir aroma profile of fresh berries and black cherry, with hints of forest floor and savory spices. The wine is silky on entry, ample and balanced with a real core of sweet fruit. Black cherry and Marionberry dominate, with a lush finish. Good structure and balance prevail throughout, and this is quite possibly the most complete regional blend we have created under the North Valley label. "... brilliantly showcases its vintage's virtues. Sweetly ripe, garlanded with freesia and wisteria, tinged with smoky tea and pungent green herbs... this terrific value will show handsomely through at least 2018." 92 POINTS The Wine Advocate "... appealingly fruit-forward, offering lively red berry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate, very good energy and persistence on the finish, which features fine-grained tannins." 90 POINTS Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar APPELLATION 52% Eola-Amity Hills 43% Yamhill-Carlton 5% Dundee Hills Certified Sustainable Vineyards ELEVAGE 15% new French oak Remaining cooperage: 2-3 yr old barrels 20% whole cluster fermentation CELLARING Drink now or cellar through 2020. ALCOHOL 13.6%